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Tirlagrinned.SoMamahadabigheadthismorning,causedbythevodkashehadmadefromthepotatoesTirlahadnickedforher..Inthatstate,shewouldbeeasytowheedleoutofacredit.
"It'sTirla,andthePublicHealtharealreadyontheConcourse."
"Bojemoi!Etotak?HaveInotenoughpaininmylife?"b.u.t.thedoorwaspushedopenwideenoughforTirlatoslipinside."Whathaveyousaid?ThePublicHealthagain?Sosoon?Why?"
"Anothervaccinationbythelooksofit.They'regrabbingeveryone,ablebodies,students,handiesandtheirmothers."
"Ah,wemusthurry.Elpidia,Zaveta..."MamaBobchikbeganrecitingthenamesofherusualmaternitypatients.
Tirlatuggedherarm.
"Nu,whatdoyouwantfromme?"
"IcannothelpunlessIhavecleanissue,"Tirlasaid,managingtolookpiteousandsoundefficientatthesametime.
Burilhadfixedtheclothingissueslotinhismother'ssquatsothat.i.tcouldbecoaxedtoextrudemorethanitought.HistakingwayshadbeenveryusefuluntilYa.s.simTirlamadethewardingsignatjustthethoughtofthatmanhadpaidMamaahugesumforhim.Buril'sunusualtalentfor"fixing"officialequipmentmadehimquitevaluablehehadnotgonetheusualrouteofYa.s.sim'spurchases,andMamahadbeenpaidenoughfloaterstokeephercomfortableinheroldage.
MamaBobchikblinkedherreddenedandblearyeyesandlookedatthetinygirl."Da,thatisso!"ShepattedTirla'sheadbeforeshewenttotheclothingslotanddidsomethingthatherheavyframeobscuredfromthegirl'ssight.Whensheturnedback,shehadapacketinherhand.
"Iwashedthismorning,"Tirlasaid,immediatelyunfasteningandsteppingoutoftheoldsuit.Shehadtorollupthesleevesandlegsofthefreshissue,butwhenshehadneatlyfoldedeachrolloverwristandankleandpressedtheedgestosealthem,sleeveandlegblousedoutnicelytogiveherapparelmorestyle.Sheretiedtheprettybraidedropebeltthatshehadinheritedfromhermotherandtuckedtheexcessmaterialneatlyback."Now,I'lltellMirdaKhan,dothislevel,andthenupanddown.That'llbeallIthinkIhavetimefor.
What'llIdoforanID?They'llgrabmeifmywrist'sbare."
WhatTirlawantedmostinherlifewasagenuine,validIDbraceletthatwouldallowherasquatright,theuseofatrid,threemealsaday,andafreshweeklyissueofclothing.AnIDthatwasallherownandhadneverbeenanyoneelse's!Onethatwouldallowherintotheschoolprogramsthatsofewofthekidssheknewseemedtocareaboutatall.
Nowshec.o.c.kedherheadatMamaBobchik,knowingperfectlywellthatanIDwasessentialwhenthePHOswereswarmingtheLinear.MamaBobchikpretendedtoconsider,givingTirlajustafewmomentsofanxiety.
"Etotak!ForPHOs,weuseone."Withaflounceofherskirts,forMamawouldnotwearthesinglepiececoverallwithoutproperskirtstoconcealherlimbs,sheturnedherbackonTirlaagain.NomatterhowhardTirlalistened,shecouldnottellwhereMamasecretedthosepreciouscounterfeitIdsthatBurilhadalsocontrived.Theyweregoodforoneday'suseonlyoneday,becausewhilethebandwouldbeacceptedbyaportablereadersuchasthePHOwouldhavetorecordvaccinations,itwouldshowupasafraudlater,whentheday'sentrieswerechecked.
MamaBobchikturnedaround,danglingthepreciousIDband."Yousplitthetakeforthewarningwithme.Asusual."
Tirlanoddedsolemnagreementtotheterms,hereyeswatchingtheswingoftheband.
"Andifyoucanstealenoughvaccine,Iwillgiveyouthirtypercentofthattake,"Mamaadded.
Tirlagaveanincreduloussnort."Sixty.Icouldgetcaughtstealing."
"Forty,then.Noonehascaughtyouyet.Afterall,IgaveyoutheIDatnocosttoyouandhavetheexpenseofthespraygun."
"Fortyfive!"
Thetwohagglerseyedeachother,andthenMama'sbroadfacebeameddownatTirla'sunyieldingexpression.ShespitinherpalmandengulfedTirla'sdelicatehandinherowntosealthearrangement.
"Youareacleverone.Youmusthurrynow."
Thegirlwasalreadyslippingthroughthehalfopeneddooranddownthehalltospreadthewarning.
Despiteherspeed,TirlabarelyfinishedherroutebeforethePHofficersbegantopenetratethelevels,checkingtheIdsofeachsquat'soccupantsandherdingthemoutanddowntolineupfortheirhypospray.Shesoonlearnedthatthehealththreatwasnota'muneplaguebutavirulentintestinaldiseasethathadstartedinLinearBwithdevastatingresults.AllLinearswerebeingvaccinatedinanattempttostemthespreadoftheailment.ThePHpublicaddresssystemdronedonconstantlygivingashortexplanationinallthelanguagesregisteredinLinearG;Tirladidsomerapidtranslationsofherownwhenrequestedbynervousmothers.
"It'sonlyanotherfoodcontamination,"shea.s.suredtheskeptical.
"They'veisolatedthesource,whohavebeenheavilyfinedandlosttheirlicense."
"Huh!"MirdaKhansaid,herdarkeyesglisteningwithskepticism.
"Thatwillbegoneaslongasittakestosendinenoughcredittoreissueit.Howlongwilltheprotectionlastus?"
"Oh,thisone'lldousforayear!"
"Ayear?Theyareimproving."
Trudgingforwardstepbystepinthelongline,TirlaandMamaBobchikfinallyreachedthePH,droppedtheirwristsacrossthereader,andreceivedtheirshots.ImmediatelyMamapretendedtobecomefaintandstaggeredagainstthetable.WhilethePHwomanwascopingwiththat,TirlasweptanentiretrayofthevaccineampoulesintotheshoppingsackMirdaKhanhadreadya.s.she,too,cametoMama'sa.s.sistance.
"Okh,kakbolitgolova!"Mamasaidinanappropriatelywispytone,thebackofherfathandagainstherhead.Thepaininhervoicewasnotentirelyfaked,consideringthehangoverheadache.
"What'sshesaying?"thePHofficerasked,hoveringbetweenconcernandannoyance.
"Herheadhurts,"Tirlareplied.
"Notfromthisinjection,"wasthecallousresponseofthePHer."Nowmovealong!"
SolicitouslyMirdaKhanandTirlaproppedupMamaBobchika.s.shemadeherwayslowlytowardthenearestsideaisle.Oncesafelyoutofsight,MamaimmediatelyreachedforMirda'ssackandpeeredinsideit.
"Onewholetray?Miraculous,Tirla,trulymiraculous.Therearemorethanenough.Runaheadandtellthemtocomeinsmallgroups.ThePHOshavealreadycheckedourthreelevels.Itwillbesafe."
Inthecourseofhererrands,TirlatriedherIDbraceletonasmanypublicdispensersa.s.shepa.s.sed,nomatterwhatcommodityemergedfromtheslot.Shetuckedeachpurloineditemintotheextramaterialatthebackofhercoverall,orintoasleeveoratrouserleg.Itbecamehardertomovequickly,butshemanaged.Byevening,shehadenoughsmallfloatersandillegallyacquireditemstokeepherwellfedandcontentforthenextmonth.Ifshestretchedabit,itmightevenbesixweeksbeforesheneedbotheraboutworkingagain.
Chapter2.
"Therewasnoauraofmenaceorthreat,"RhyssaOwentoldSaschaRoznineashestoodglaringdownather.Toreducehisthreateningglowertoamoreproductive,thoughtfulmood,shetouchedhisarm,reinforcingherstatementwithamentalSee?Curiosity.Animpingement,notathreat.
Saschasubsided,buthecontinuedtoglareatthegraphrecordingofRhyssa'searlymorningsleeppattern,wherethewideblackmarkofthespokeshowedthatshehadbeenrousedfromanREMdreamsequencetofullalertnessbyamentalintruder.
AsthedirectoroftheCenterforParapsychicTalentsontheNorthAmericanEastCoast,RhyssaOwenlivedonwhathadbeentheHennerestate,areserveoftrees,lawn,andmaturegardensabovetheHudsonRiveronthePalisades.ThisarchaicremainderofthetwentiethcenturyresidentialsuburbsinterruptedtheflowofLinearstructuresthathousedthemillionswholivedandworkedinthema.s.siveJerhattancomplex.Rhyssa'squarterswereundistinguishedfromanyoftheotherthreestoryapartmentblockssetamongthegardensandtrees.
AswithalldwellingsfortheTalented,theseweresecuredandshieldedfromunannouncedentry.Infact,eventhosewhotenantedtheLinearconstructionsrunningonthelongsidesoftheCenter's.e.xtensivegroundsdidnotknowofits.e.xistence,soartfulwereitsscreens.NooneshouldhavebeenabletointrudeonRhyssa,muchlessinhersleep.
"Awkward,rousingyousothoroughly.Youneedalltherestyoucanget."SaschaprojectedavisionofhimselfandRhyssacurledtogetherinherbed,thedoublethickduvettuckedaroundtheirspoonedbodies.
Yes,yes,Rhyssareplied.SherespondedwithavisionofafirmfootpushingtheSaschabodyoutofthebed.Butevenifyouhadbeentherephysically,youcouldn't'vehelped,Saschabear.Itwasallinmymind,inmydreams.Andthat'syourduvet,notmine.Ineveruseplaids.
Rhyssasmiledupathim,flutteringhereyelashestomockhisprojection.Heraisedhisbrowsinresignation.Theybothenjoyedthisgame.Theyhadbeenplayingitforyears.
Picky,picky.Don'tavoidtheissue,Saschasaid."Who,I'dliketoknow,couldknockinonyourmind?Andwhy?"
"Indeed!"RhyssacrossedherarmsandstaredoffintoaviewoftheloweringcloudsanddismalrainthatobscuredausuallybreathtakingviewofJerhattan.That'swhatperplexesme.
Don'trange,Streaky.Sendingyourmindoutsearchingforhimtakestoomuchoutofyou.You'regoingtoneedallyourenergytodealwiththeZealots.HeprojectedthevisionofthreepersonswithlimbssoentangledtheyresembledanOrientalfetish,eachcaricaturedfacewearinganexpressionofmixedintransigenceandskepticism.
Oh,don't!Shelaughedasherreturnimageuntangledarmsandlegsandseteachpersonupright,awhiskbroomsmoothingtunicandtrouserswhileemblemsofrankwerestraightened.Ican'trememberthatwhenIhavetodealsoberlywiththeirurgentrequestsforTalentsIdon'thave.They'relaughableenoughasitis.
"Good.That'salltheydeserve.ShallIhaveSirikitcheckbackandseewhenthisphenomenonfirstregistered?"Sheerimpudence!Saschasnortedhisannoyance.
"That'sanidea."Rhyssasmiledruefullya.s.shepulledclothesfromdrawerandcloset.Shecontinuedtotalka.s.shedressedinthebathroom."Ionlythoughtofcheckingmygraphthismorning.Ireallydoneedmysleep."
"ProbablysomeemergentTalentwhodoesn'tunderstandprotocol.Idowishtheydidn'talwaysfeelrequiredtooverreacttotheirnewfoundmindpowers."
"d.a.m.nedstrongone!"Maliciously,RhyssaprojectedanimageofaveryyoungMadlynLuvaro,mouthwideopen,andthecircleofpeoplecringingawayfromthewavesofsoundemanatingfromher.
Saschagrimaced.MadlynLuvarohadamentalshoutthatcouldpenetratetothes.p.a.cestationandanyofitsperipheraldockyards.IthadbeenSascha'stask,ashewasnominallyinchargeofTrainingandDevelopment,toteachherhowtofocusandmoderatehermentalvoice.
Madlynadoredhimpa.s.sionatelyandwasembarra.s.singlypossessiveofhim,anadulationhewasfindingincreasinglydifficulttodiscount.i.twasthereasonthathea.s.siduouslycultivatedthenotionthatheandRhyssawereonthebrinkofatotalpartnership.Kindly,Rhyssadidnotdisclaimtherumor.
"I'llhaveSirikitrunacheckonpossibleemergents,"hetoldher,thensenttherequesttoSirikitintheControlRoom,alsoaskinghertocheckRhyssa'sencephalographchartsforthepreviousmonths.
Emergingwashedanddressed,RhyssabeckonedSaschatofollowherthroughtoheroffice,whichadjoinedherlivingsuite.Sheyawneda.s.shesatdownatherdesk,kineticallypullingsomepencilfilesintoherreach,fanningthemout,andturningeachuntiltheindexcodesidewasvisible.Sheselectedtheoneshewantedandneatlypiledtheothersinfrontofher,codesideoutward,asherfirstselectioninserteditselfinthereplyslot.Simultaneouslythereadernetcameoffitshookandsettledlightlyonherhead.Withonefinger,shepokedtheleftcontactpadagainsthertempleinafinaladjustment.
"Wewon'tfindhimthere,"shesaid,andwasa.s.startleda.s.saschawasthatsheusedagender."Well,IknowatriflemorethanIthoughtIdidfromthatfleetingnudge."
"Asecretlover?"
"Couldbe,"Rhyssamurmured,projectinganimageofaslygrinandacomehitherexpressiondirectedatanamorphousshadow.Althoughhertonewaslight,Saschaperceivedthathersurpriseatmakinganykindofanidentificationwentdeep.
"I'llfollowthrough,"Saschasaid,andleftheroffice.Ashetooktheantigravshaftdownfromhertowertothevastbas.e.m.e.ntcomplexwheremostoftheCenter'strainingandresearchwasconducted,hecarriedwithhimavividmentalpictureofRhyssaOwenatherdesk,thereadernetcoveringherblackhair,aspiderwebbingacrossthewidesilverlockthatshehadhadsinceherearlyteens.Thatstreakgrewbroadereveryyear,andbyherlatethirtiesherhairwouldbeallCelticsilver.Rhyssawouldalwayshaveayoungface,Saschathought,asbothherfatherandherill.u.s.triousgrandfather,DaffydopOwen,hadhad:young,vibrant,withdarkblueeyesthatsparkledandgleamedwithintelligence,humor,anduna.s.sailableenergy.Rhyssawasnearlyastallasthemalesinherfamilyandashadetoothin,sheclothedherlongbonesinelegant,ifoftenbizarrestyles:generallylongflowinggarmentsthatsetheroffinasocietywhichhadstrippedappareltotheminimum.
Shewasnotprettyherfeatures,thoughsmall,weretoounevenandmismatched,herrighteyesocketcantedabovethecheekbone,givingheragamineexpressionthatnoonewhoknewherwouldmisjudge.Hernosehadaslightb.u.mp,makingherprofilelookhaughty,andhermouthwastoogenerousaboveastrongjawline.Still,oneforgotsuchdetailswithinmomentsofmeetingher.Shehadinheritedthefullmeasureofcharismaticpersonality,aswellasthestrongpsionictalents,ofherparentsandofthegrandfatherwhohadbattledtosecurethepositionofTalentsinthepresentsocioeconomicpoliticalatmosphere.
SaschaRoznine,himselfathirdgenerationTalentandyoungerthanRhyssabythreemonths,preferredhiscurrentroleaschieftrainerandrecruiterintheCenter.NotforhimthepettypowerploysthatRhyssacopedwithadmirably,forhehadstruggledallhislifetomanageaquixotictemper.ThenerverackingsessionswithJerhattan'smanagersandallthepicayunedetailsshehadtodealwithwouldhavesethimraginginfiveminutes.Sascha,ontheotherhand,hadimmensepatiencewithemergentTalents,coaxing,cosseting,andcurbing,gentlyallayingtheirdoubtsandbuildingtheirconfidence.WhenRhyssahadoncepointedoutthat,intheirownway,emergentTalentswereasobnoxiousasmanagers,SaschahadrepliedthatatleastTalentslearnedfromtheirmistakes.
ThereweresomanystrengthsandvarietiesofTalent.Oftheprecogs,therewerethosewhocouldforeseeevents,generallythosewhichwouldhaveamajoreffectonalargenumberofotherpeople;thosewhosepresciencewaslimitedtopeopletheykneworwerea.s.signedtowatch;andthosewhoseprecognitionshadaffinitieswithfire,water,malesorfemales,childrentherewasaswideana.s.sortmentoffocuspointsastherewerestrengthsofperception.
TelepathywasthemostcommonTalent,thoughsomepeoplecouldonlyreceivethought,andothersonlysendit.Telempathsfeltemotionsandrespondedtothepervadingones.Atrainedtelempathcouldeitherdampennegativeaurasorreinforcepositiveones,aTalentusefulforalteringthetensioninacrowd,preventingrampagingemotionsfromturninggroupsofpeopleintodisorderlymobs.
FinderswerethoseTalentswhocouldlocatethings,usingonlyafacsimileofthedesireditem,or,inthecaseofamissinghumanoranimal,agarmentorsomeotherpersonalobject.
Telekineticscouldworkonthelargestobjects,orthemostminuteparticlesthatcouldnotbeseenwiththenakedeyeorevenamicroscope,thoughtherehadonlybeenoneknowngeneticmanipulator,RuthHorvath.TelekineticswereinvaluableinsomanywalksoflifethatthosewiththisTalentwereencouragedtohaveasmanychildrenaspossible.
TherarestoftheTalentswerethepureanddoubletelepathslikeRhyssa,whocouldsendandreceivecommunicationsacrosstheworldaslonga.s.shehadmetthepersonshewishedtocontactShecouldpenetrateanymindnotshieldedbythethinmetalcapsthenervousworeorbythenaturalmentalshieldthatsomenormalpeoplewerebornwith.
Sascha,alsoastrongdoubletelepath,lackedthephenomenalrangethatRhyssapossessed,butheneverresentedherforitOnceherstrengthhadbeenestablishedbyhergrandfather,RhyssahadbeencommittedtoaCenterdirectorshipandallitsresponsibilitiesresponsibilitiesthatSaschawouldneverwanttotakeon.Asfarashewasconcerned,RhyssawaswelcometoherTalentHeheardMadlynLuvarobeforehelandedontheshaftcushionatthebas.e.m.e.ntlevel.Shewastryingtobequiet,butshewasa.s.successfulasifshehadbeentapdancingacrossasoundresonantsurface.
Untilyoulearntodampdownyouraura,itwon'twork,Madlyn,hetoldher.Improperflow!Lowpositiveenergyiswhatyouneedtobe"silent."
Dammit,Ithoughtthat'swhatIhad!Hermentalresponsewascontritelydiscouraged.
Saschapushedoutoftheshaftandthereshewas,flattenedagainstthewall.
"Idid'hear'youcoming,"shesaidaloud.
Sasha:Giantstepforward!Madlynwasapowerfulsender,butgenerallyshecould"hear"onlythoseinherimmediatevicinity.
Hetuggedastrandofhertangledmaneofblackhairashepa.s.sed,andshefellintostepbehindhim,herlargeandexpressiveeyesrueful.
Madlynwasavoluptuouseighteenyearoldwithasensualnaturetomatchherappearance.She,andherTalent,hadmaturedatfourteen,andsincethenSaschahadbeenstrugglingtoteachherthenecessarydisciplinethatanyTalenthadtomaster,andthatshewouldcertainlyrequirebeforeherpenetratingmentalshoutcouldbeutilized.
Sirikit'salreadycheckingRhyssa'sGooseggreadings.Saschahadnottriedtodampenhisimmediateconcern.Withsomanytelepathsawareofthealarm,keepingtheinvestigationunderwrapshadbeenimpossible.
SomeoneactuallyintrudedonRhyssa?Madlynprojectedanimageofherselfthrottlingalarge,amorphousintruderandsquashingitintoalittleballwhichshethenflusheddownthetoilet.
Saschasnorted.MadlynwasquitecapableofattackinganythingthatthreatenedRhyssa.WhointheCenterwasn't?
TheyfoundSirikitalreadyscanningRhyssa'sGooseggencephalographsforthepreviousmonth.Severalwerepausedatthespokingthatindicatedintrusivewakenings.TheGoosegg,initiallydevelopedtomonitortheoddlightflashes.e.xperiencedbyastronauts,wasespeciallysensitiveinregisteringdeltabrainwaves,whichhadbeendiscoveredtobetheseatofparanormalorextrasensoryperceptions.ATalent,trainedtorecognizehisorherownslightmentalalterationpriortoparanormalactivity,slippedonanetthatcouldreadbrainactivity.
ManyTalents,particularlytheprecognitivesandclairvoyants,worethemnightandday.Theywerelightweight,ofastrongfinemeshmatchingthewearer'shaircolor.ThenettransmittedtotheCenter'smainbanks,sothatIncidentsofparanormalactivitycouldbeofficiallyrecorded,studied,andconsulted.Itwasproofpositivetoanyskepticsthattheextrasensoryperceptionsdidoccur.
"LookatRhyssa'srecordings,Sascha.There'snoquestionthattheIncidentshavebeenincreasing,"Sirikitsaida.s.saschastrodetothebankofhorizontalspindlesusedinsuchcomparisons."Firstonethreeweeksago,secondfourdayslater,thenthree,andthispastweekonceanightaboutfourish."
Sasha:Oddtimeforavoyeur!
Sirikit:Withthreequartersofthepopulationasleepinbed.
Madlyn:Insomniac?
Saschasmiled,fornotonlywashermentaltoneappropriatelysoftbutshehadcaughtthequickexchanges.
Sasha:Anadolescentgenerallyhastobepriedfromhissleep.Rhyssathinksit'sanemergentTalent.
Madlyn:YoukeeptellingmethatemergentTalentsfollownorule.
"Anystatisticsoninsomniacs?"Sirikitasked.
"I'llprogramit,"Madlynsaid,flippingherhairbacka.s.sheseatedherselfatamonitor,keyingindirectoriesthatcouldaccessanycomputerbankintheworldunderthespecialconcessionsgrantedtheCenters.Shewasclearedfornormaluse,althoughpa.s.swordswereneededforanysensitivefiles.Madlynmighthavebeenblatantinhers.e.xuality,buthermind,opentoinspectionatalltimes,wasastransparentlyguilelessasachild's."Well,thiswon'tbeproductive.
Anyonecanhaveinsomniacphases.Anxietyisthebiggestcause.
Therearesomepeople,theelderlyinparticular,whocangetalongononlyfourhoursofsleepanight!"Hermentalpicturewasofahorrifiedgrimacesuperimposedonatossingbodyinarumpledbed.
"I'mwreckedwithouteighthours!"
Sirikitleanedbackfromthespools,whichhadallpausedtodisplaythetelltalespokeofintrusion.
Sirikit:Threethirtytofour,predawn,tooearlyformostshiftworkers,evenairandroadhaulers.