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"So!ThatleavesuswithAmaldainhibitingRoznine?"
"Heshould'vebeenhereotherwise."
Daffydwasturningoverthisinterestingpossibilityinhismindwhenthecomsetbeeped.
"Boss,wegotpicketsoutinfront,"saidLesterinathoroughlydisgustedtoneofvoice."Payyourfairshare.Everyoneelseistaxed.Whynotyou?NoMinorityprivileges."
Daffydsighedlonganddeeply.
"Pete'sonreceptionandhesaysthey'vegotlegalpoliticalplatforms,theirIdsareupstateandthey'reregisteredpartymembers.Legally,underthePoliticalPlatformAct,theycanpicketthegroundsbecausethereislegislationconcerningourtaxstatusbeforetheStateSenaterightnow."
"DidyouinformGillings?"
"Hah!Theyinformedusaboutthetimethefirstpicketersforegatheredonourgatestep.What'n'h.e.l.lhappenedtoyourMachiavelliannonsenseofyesterday?"
"'There'smanyasliptwixtcupandlip!"
"Daffydreplied.Sallygaspedandsignaledsurrender.
"Huh?"Lesterwantedanexplanation.
"ImustaskGillingsifRoznine'shadavisitfromAaronGreenfieldsincethehearingyesterday,"wasDaffyd'sreply.
"Didyougoof,boss?Nowwhatdowedo?"
"Keeptabsthattheonlookersremainquiescent,andalertriotcontrol.
""AmaldaandRed?"
"No,plunkHaroldinthegatelodgewithPete.AskGillings..."
"Askhimyourself:Charliesayshe'sjustcalledthrough."
BeforeDaffydcouldrequestadefermentofthatcall,CharliehadpatcheditthroughandDaffydhopedhisflinchingwasn'tapparenttotheLEOCommissioner.
"Yougottroubles?"Gillings'sfacewasimpa.s.sive.
"Nothingwecan'thandle..."
"Oh,thetrap'ssprung?"Gillingslookedalmostpleased.
"Hmmmm...butI'dlikeafewofyourriotmobilesaround."
Gillings's.e.xpressionchangedrapidlytosourdiscontent.
"Likethat,huh?IthoughtRozninewa.s.supposedtocomelikealamb?"
DaffydshotaglanceatSallywhowas.m.u.tteringsomethingaboutmetaphorsbeingillegal.Herlevitywasnotappropriatetothegravityofthepresentsituationandyet...ithelped.
"Roznine'sastrongpersonality...""I'mgoingafterhim..."
Gillingsnowlookedlikeatrapsprung.
"Gillings,"andDaffyd'stoneofvoicewasfarsternerthanpeoplewereapttouseinaddressingtheLEOCommissioner,"don'tgoafterRoznine.
We'veexertedallthepressurepossibleunderthecirc.u.mstances.
He'llcome..."
TheCommissionerregardedtheDirectorforalongmoment.
"Youbetterknowwhattheh.e.l.lyou'redoing,opOwen."
"Ido."
"Well,yousoundasifyoudo,"Sallysaidwhenthecallwasdisconnected.
"IreallythinkIdo,Sally."DaffydlookedoutofhiswindowtowardthebuildingwhichhousedAmaldaandRed."Twobirdsinonebush,twobasketswiththesameeggs,twomindswiththesamegreatthought..."
"Spareme!Uncle!Iyield!"
"Good,thenlet'sfigureouthowtounwindAmalda.IdidnotsuggesttoRozninethathebringGreatBirnamWoodtoDunsinane."
"IshouldhaveguessedthatShakespearewouldbenext."
"ConsideringmypropensityforquotingAlexanderPope,Iwonderyoudared."
"He'scomingforme,"saidAmaldawhensheandRednoticedthecirclingpicketersandthegatheringofcuriousbystanders.
BruceVadenthrewbackhisheadandroared.Hewasn'tcounterfeitingtheamus.e.m.e.ntthoughithadabitternote.Butherwoebegoneexpressionwasludicrousandhislaughterwasnotthesympathyshe'dexpected.
"Mydearchild,ifRozninehastosalvehisSlavicegobyresortingtothatkindofsubterfuge..."
"Whatonearthdoyoumean?"
"ImeanthatRozninesimplycan'twalkinhere,nomatterwhatsuggestionopOwenplantedinhismindwhenhewasunconscious."
Herirritationwasreplacedbyashudder.VadencouldfeeltherepugnancesheexperiencedwhentouchingRoznine'smind.ButherimpressionnolongerdominatedhisreactiontoRoznine.NotafterseeingthemaninCourtyesterday.
"DidyoureallylookatVsevolodRoznineyesterday?"
Amaldagavehimthatwideeyedinnocentstareandhefelthergoing"dead"onhim.AtfirstBrucethought.i.twasbecauseshewasafraidofRoznineandcensoredanyreferencestohim.Nowheknewdifferently.
"Mallyhon,"andhetookherbytheshoulders,forcinghertolookhimintheeye."IlookedatRoznine.Ilookedhimovergoodandstrangelyenough,IlikedwhatIsaw."Thatgotherwhereshelived,andRedtookadeepbreath,openinghisowninnermindsoshecouldn'tfailtoseethesincerityofhiswords."He'sthekindofguyI'dtrustandrespectevenifIcouldprobablytakehimapartinafairfight.Oh,Iknow.I'veheardallthisstaticabouthissewersinkmindandhispowerinthecityandIdon'tknowasmypublicmindwouldbeallthatcleanandpure.I'velearnedtodomyimproperthinkingcarefullybutnoone'swarnedRozninethatthere'reguysaroundreadinghimnowandagain."
Amaldawa.s.staringupathim.Hereyeshadgoneallbigandherlipswereparted.Hewantedtokissher,toloveandrea.s.sureher,butnotjustthen.
"Mindyou,Idon'tthinkRoznine'sacrusadingsaintbutf.e.c.kitall,Mally,he'supagainstCityHallandwhenyou'refightingCityHallyouuseeveryadvantageyoucanbeg,borrowor,"heclippedherlightlyonthejaw,"kidnap.NotthatIblamehimforflippinghisnutoveryou."Hecouldn'tkeephisvoicesteadyandheknewhewasplayingbacktheirinitialmeeting."IfyouaffectRozninethewayyoudome,I'md.a.m.nedsorryforthepoorguy.Itmustbeh.e.l.lforhimtowantyouandnotgetyou."
Amaldadiscardedallrestraintandnowremorse/love/appreciation/agreement/understanding/pride/loyaltywashedoverhim.
"Don'tdothat,Mally.I'vegottothink."
Shebitherlipapologeticallyand"b.u.t.toned"heremotionsup.
"Thanks.Now,wherewasl?Yeah.Asofyesterday,Idon'tthinkRozninecoulduseyou.Notnow.Oronlyifyoulethim.Andyouwon't.Ifthat'swhat'sbuggingyou,forget.i.t.Ordon'tyourememberhoweasilyyouknockedhimout?Yougottatakeiteasyontheguy,hon.Helovesyouevenifhedoesn'tknowit."
"It'syouI'mworriedabout,Bruce,"shesaidinaverylowvoice,hereyeswideandfulloftears.
Soheembracedher,pressingherslenderbodyagainsthim,soshe'd"feel"allhecouldn'texpress.Hisknowledgethatyouaren'tselfishwithTalent,whateverkindyoupossessed:thattheyhadarelationshiptoostrongtobebrokenordiminishedbytheacceptanceofathirdparty:thatTalenthadobligationsbeyondthepersonalandthiswasoneofthem,forbothAmaldaandBruce.
Shereacheduptenderlytostrokehisface,herfingersenjoyingthetactilecontactwiththesilkyhairofhisbeard,lettingherfingers.e.xpresswhatshedidn'tarticulate.a.s.shehadlearnedtoacceptBruce'srighttodecideforthemboth,sheacceptedhisdecisionnow.
"Thestageisset,honey,"hesaidfinally."Extrasallmillingabout,waitingforthedirector.Areyougoingtolethimcome?"
Shegaveanimpatientlittleshrug,thensquaredhershouldersandsmiledathim,readytomovemountains,fromthelookofher.HelikedthataboutAmalda,amongathousandotherthings.Heconveyedthatapprovalwithagentle,mindblownhug.Talenthasadvantages,too.
Rozninerubbedathistemples,wonderingwhatkindoffakepowderthemedichadsoldhimasaheadacheremedy.
Theyhaddonesomethingtohimwhenhewasunconscious.Justashe,VsevolodRoznine,knewthattheyhadcausedhimtoblackoutatthehearing.No,not"they"!Her!
Theconvictionthathehadtogettoher,bewithher,returnedwithrenewedandirresistibleforce.AndRozninefought.i.tagain,fought.i.tashisheadthrobbed,andhishandsclenchedintofistsofefforttowithstandthecompulsion.
Heflunghimselffromthetable,catchingthelegwithhisfootandupsettingtheuntouchedmeal,halfstumblingagainstthedoorandstrikinghistempleontheframe.Hehithisheadasecond,athirdtime.Andclutchingthemolding,threwbackhisheadinbitterlaughter.
"Rozninehastobeathisownhead,becauseitfeelssogoodwhenhestops!"
Hisfingersdugintotheframeuntilhisnailsbentagainstthedurableplastic.Hisheadturnedslowly,asifhecouldseestraightthroughconcreteandplastic,acrossthemilestotheCenterinwhichdirectionheunerringlyturned.
"NO!"Thistimehisfiststhuddedintoplastic."Rozninedoesnotcomeatawoman'scall.Shecomestohim!"
Howhadtheydonethistohim?Howcouldshecallhim?Oncehe'dknownhernameandthatshewasattheCenter,he'dhadhispeoplefindoutalltheycould.Shewasregisteredasatelempath.Rozninehadlookedthatupandtheanswerhadonlyconfirmedwhathe'dguessedhimself:shecouldtransmitemotionsandprobablyreceivethem.
Rozninepoundedthewallviciously,transmittingsuchhatredanddiscontentasboiledupinhimfromthefrustrationofnothavingherandthehumiliationofbeingknockedunconscious...infullviewofhisconst.i.tuents...byaslipof.a.girlhecouldbreakintwopieceswithonehand.
Andwhowastheredbeardedmanwhoworkedwithher?Howclosedidheworkwithher?
JealousywasaddedtotheseethingemotionsofVsevolodRoznine.Andtheskinofhisskullpulsedwithasurfeitofhisangryblood.
TheintensityofhisdesiretoseeAmaldareachedanotherpeak.Hefought.i.t.Hewouldnotgotoher.Shemustcometohim!Hecouldnotgotoher.Shehadtocometohim.She,whocouldreadhisthoughts,letherreadthatone.Letherreadhisfeelings.
"No!"
Rozninestopped.Everythingabouthimstopped,hisheart,hislungs,theoxygenmoleculesinhisblood.Thenhetookadeepbreathandexhaled,hiswidemouthforminganoddsmileinasuddenlycalmface.
Nowondershehadnotcometohim,thelittleone.Shecouldreadhisthoughts.Shewouldbeterrifiedofhim,Roznine:terrifiedoftheangerhehadfelttowardhislittlebird.Hehadfeltherfearbefore,feltherspiritflutteringawayfromhim.ThatwaswhyshehadrunfromtheFact.Butsheshouldn'tfearhim,VsevolodRoznine.Everyman,boyandadultsheshouldfearbutnotVsevolodRoznine.Hewouldgotoher.Hewouldexplain.
Chortvozmi!Wouldhisheadneverstopaching?
Hiscomsetbuzzed.Thenoisestabbedpiercinglythroughhisskull.Hegrabbedfranticallyforthesettostopthenoise,answeringinasavagetone.
"Everyone'sinposition,Gospodeen."
"Position?"Roznineshookhisbatteredhead,unabletorecollectwhichpositionandwhere.
"ThepicketershavebeencheckedbytheCenter'sguards,wh.o.a.retwooldmen:nothingtoworryabout."
Picketers?Pickets?AttheCenter?Oh,yes.He'ddiscussedthatwiththelittlemanfromupstate.Howcouldhehaveforgotten?
"Andtheriotsquad?"
"Parkedatorworkingconvenientlynearby.Thedisposalmen..."
"Goodenough!"Hisheadpoundedlikeadrillpressbutheremembered.
Howcouldhehaveforgotten?Soshewasariotcontrolteam,wa.s.she?
Well,lethercontrolthisriot!MenwouldpourintotheCenter'ssoprivate,sosecluded,sosacrosanctgroundsfromalloverthecity:menfrommanyethnicgroupssoitcouldn'tbeblamedonhissection.
Ithadmeantcancellinghalfthefavorshewasowedbut,justlethimgethishandsonthatlittleriotcontrollerand...
Hethrewopentheillegallyunsealedwindowandsliddowntheairshaftontheescapeline.Heopenedthewindowintherearflat,whichconvenientlybelongedtoarelativewhowasblindanyhow,andexitedthroughthebackdoor.Foundtheironprybarandflippedupthesewerlid,snaggingitdeftlybackoverthemanholewhenhewaswithin.Hewalkedbrisklyoverthethinstreamwhichtrickleddownthepipesatthistimeofday.Tworightsandaleftbroughthimtoawidersectionconduitwithacatwalkononeside.Twomorerightsandtwoleftsandheclimbedaladder.ThemanholehadbeenshieldedandaDisposaltruckwasjustdrawingup.Swiftlyhewaswithinthetruckandissuingorderstothedriver.
ThesensitivesignalledLEOheadquartersthatRozninehadlefthisquarters.ImmediatelyGillingswarnedtheCenterandcirculatedthealerttoallstations.
CharlieMoorfieldranthroughtoDaffyd'squarters.
"RingAmaldaandtellherI'monmywayover."
Sallywa.s.strugglingintohercoverall,excitementmakingherfingersfumblesothatDaffydheldthecollaruntilshecouldfindthearmholes.
"Heiscoming.Youweretoomuchforhim."
"Possibly."
DaffydcouldalsoseeanotherinterpretationofRoznine'ssecretexit,particularlywiththepicketersoutsideandtheobserversformingalargerandlargerraggedsemicirclebeyondthegatestotheCenter.
"Yes,Iseewhatyoumean,Dai."
"Let'sreinforceAmalda."
Thebuzzersoundedagain."Boss,IgetnoanswerfromAmalda."
"TellGillingstogetallriotunitshereonthedouble.AlertOurs."
DaffydopOwensworeashegrabbedSally'shandandpulledheroutthedoor.Shortofteleporting,he'dneverbeendownthestairssofast.
