The Wings Of Pegasus Part 27

"Whyblametheteens?"Madlynasked,bridling.

"Theywon'thavebeenscannedforTalentyet.Okay,"Saschaaddedgraciously,"tryanyonefacedwithasuddenlackofmobility.I'lladdtheprisonsystems,too."HegrinnedatMadlyn'sgroan."Oneofthemostfamouswasaguyescapingas.a.d.i.s.ticjailor."

Madlyn'seyeswidened."CantheCentergetprisonersreleased?"

Budworthchortled."Don'tyourememberyourCenterhistory?Thisplacewa.s.startedbyrejectsfromprisonsandmentalinst.i.tutions"HeshotaslylookatSascha."andallkindsofotherwiseasocialand/oreccentricpersonalities."

"Ifmybrotherwerehere..."SaschawaggledanadmonitoryfingeratBudworth.

"Huh!"Budworthsnorted."I'mnotafraidofyourbrotherevenifheisthehighandmightyLawEnforcementandOrdercommissioner."

"Iwouldbe,"Saschareplied."Whichremindsme,I'mlateforthatappointment.Gettheprogramstartedoncheckinghospitalsandprisons.Andbuddyboy,youcandothementalinst.i.tutions.Iappreciatethereminder."

"Ha!"MadlynsaidtoBudwortha.s.saschalefttheControlRoom.

"HowcantherebethatmanyillegalchildrenintheResidentials?"

JerhattanCityManagerTeresaAiellodemandedofMedicalChiefHarvDunster."Yourpeoplearesupposedtotieoffafterasecondpregnancy."

Harv'sangularfacewasgrim."Onlyifwegettodeliver'em.Youknowthatsomeethnicgroupsstillrefusetopracticecontraception.

Untilwehavetherighttouseinfertilitydrugsinsubsistencelevelfood,there'llbeunreportedbirthsandcontinuedtrafficinpre-adolescentsfors.e.xualperversions,orcheaplaborinillegalfactories.Andtheoneswiththerightbloodfactorsandhealthyorganswillstillbestashedawaybytheveryrichfortransplantsasneeded."HegesturedatthefaxsheetsonTeresaAiello'sdesk.

"Andruthlesspeoplewillstilldisposeoftheusedones,"addedBorisRoznine,commissionerofLawEnforcementandOrder."Evenillegalkidshaverights."Heglancedobliquelyatthefaxesscatteredontheworktop.

Teresainadvertentlyglanceddown.Shewasatoughmindedwoman,butshehadatenyearolddaughter,andthefaxofthebloatedbodiesdiscoveredasflotsamofftheNorthSh.o.r.eofLongIslandsparednoone'ssensibilities.Sheavertedhereyes.Thecoronerreportedthattheoldesthadbeentwelve,theyoungestfive.

BorisRozninehadcontactedherthemomenttheappallingdiscoveryhadbeenmade.ThetemperofJerhattanwasalwaysuncertainwhenfacedwithsuchnews,andTeresahadcalledanemergencymeetingofhercommissionerstoprepareforapossibleeruptionifthenewswasleakedtothemedia.Boris'stwinbrotherSascha,wasduetoarrivewiththeParapsychicCenter'ssuggestions.Toinsurethetightsecurityaroundthetragedy,thefourweremeetingintheshieldedprivacyofthecitymanager'stoweroffice.

"Ah,"BorisinterruptedwhatTeresahadbeenabouttosay,hisrighthandlightlytouchinghistempleinindicationthathewasreceivingatelepathicmessage."PositiveIDofone,theWaddellgirlwhowaskidnappedsixweeksago..."

Teresawincedandletoutagroan.TheWaddellswereacquaintancesofhers,hightechexecutives;thechild,brightandextremelypretty,hadbeenaschoolfriendofherdaughter.Teresahadputatoppriorityontheabduction,andhadofficiallyrequestedthatRhyssaOwena.s.signherbestfindertothecase.

"Twoothersarelistedasrunaways,reportedmissingtwomonthsago.

Oftheothers..."Roznineshrugged,glancingatthemedicalofficer.

"Thebestthelabcandoisgenotypes,andit'sallsorts."

EverycitizenoftheUnitedWorldwaspermittedprovidedtheydidnotcarrytheproscribedgeneticrecessivestoproduceareplacement.Oneparent,onechild.Twoparents,twochildren.ZPGwa.s.stringentlyenforceduntilthepressureofEarth'spopulationcouldbereleasedonthenewhabitableworlds,identifiedbutnotyetattainable.ThePropagationLawswereeasiertoenforceinruralcommunitiesthaninthehugeresidentialwarrensofcitieslikeJerhattan,withitspopulationofoverthirtymillion.

TeresaturnedtotheLEOcommissioner."Youhaven'tstoppedthespotchecks,haveyou,Boris?"

"h.e.l.l,no,butwe'restillnotlocatingtheearlypregnanciesnomatterhowwetry.IfIhadthepersonneltomountsimultaneouslevelsearches,we'dcatchmore."Borisbroughthisclaspedhandstogetherasifclosinganet.Hegaveaghostof.a.grin."WedidprettywellattheResidentials,sixweeksafterthelastbigpoweroutage,b.u.t.thatwasaonceoff."Thenhespreadhishandswide,matchingDunster'sresignation."Youknowoursituation.Wemanagetokeepalidonmostofthetroubleifwe'reallsittingdownashardaswecan.Itisn'tasifweneedmorebodies."

"Theonesthatignorethelegalcontrol,"Harvsaiddejectedly,"areexactlytheoneseducationalandhygieneprogramsdon'treachinanylanguage."

Teresagrimaced."Sothere'snoindicationwheretherestofthosepoorkidsweres.n.a.t.c.hed?"

Roznineshookhishead."Couldhavecomefromanysubsistencelevel."

"Inthelastgruesomechucking,threemonthsbackorso,onlyfourwererecognizableethnictypes,"HarvDunstersaidgrimly."NearEasternersLebaneseandArabic.TwowereTaySachs,tenweredarkskinned,andonewasanHIVcarrierwhichmaywellbewhytheywereall...disposedof."Themedicsighedheavily."IsuspectLabmayalsofindantibodypositivesamongthislatest""Spareme,Harv,"Teresasaidfirmly,andcalledupthemainJerhattanmaponherscreen.

"We'vejusthadagoroundoftheResidentialswithPublicHealth.Wehaven'tgotthefundsavailableforanother.Exactlywherewerethebodiesfound,Boris?"Herfingershoveredovertheterminala.s.shewaitedforananswer.

"WashedupoutbyGlenCove,notfarfromsomeofthemoreexclusiveresidentialhivesborderingtheSound."

"Great!"Teresa'sfrustrationcameouta.s.sarcasm."NoIncidentlogged?"sheaskedBoris,thoughthatwouldhavebeenincludedintheinitialreport.

"Thestorm,yes.Theflotsam,no."

"Shouldn'tyourbrotherbeherebynow?"Teresafrowned,glancingattheclocktickingoffthesecondsinthecornerofthemainscreen.

"Weneedallthehelpwecangetonthis."

ThefocusofBorisRoznine'sblueeyeslockedbrieflyashelinkedmindswithhisyoungerbrother."Trafficsnarl'sbreakingup.Buthesays"hisvoicesuddenlydeepenedastheTalentpeculiartothetwinbrothersallowedonetospeakthroughtheother"Look,Iwanttosavetimeyoursandmine.ThesemurdersG.o.deeperthanthelossofthirtyjuveniles.ForgettheHIVfactorit'sirrelevanthere.Theyweredisposedofbecausewe'dgottooclosetothem,butnotcloseenough,soonenough.Teresa,Carmen'sbeenonsearchandfinddutyeversinceyouhandedustheWaddellkidnapfile.Shegotawhiffortwoofterror,butneverenoughlighttopinpoint.Exceptthatshegotahintofwater."Boris'swidemouthquirkedbriefly,reflectinghisbrother'schagrin."Mostofthosechildrenhadtobeillegals.Weallknowthatthatgroupofpederastsisactiveandsupplieddespiteinternationaleffortstoeradicatethatsortoftraffic.Weknowthatkidsareboughtascheaplaborandshippedwhoknowswhere.Andthatsomearealsosecretedaspossibletransplantdonors.

'Wehaven'tbeenidle,"Sascha'svoicecontinued."Thiscould,infact,bethebreakwe'vebeenwaitingfor.Wegottooclose.It'dbenicetoknow"andatthatwordthedoortoTeresaAiello'sofficeswungopenandSaschaRozninestrodein,smilingateveryone.Ashegavehisbrother'sshoulderagratefulsqueeze,hecontinued,"whereexactlywegotsoclose.We'reworkingonit,andwithyoura.s.sistance,HarvandTeresa,Ithinkwehavealinetothrowouttothosesharks."Hissmiletookineachofhislisteners,buthec.o.c.kedhisheadathisbrotherandwinked.

SlowlyasmilebegantolightenBoris'sfaceashereadthedetailedthoughtsinSascha'smind."Tagkidswithstrandsthroughtheschoolsystem?Thatmightjustwork!Wemightevencatchtheb.a.s.t.a.r.dchildstealersthistime."Borisleanedforwardacrossthetable.

"Youareallfamiliarwiththerestraintfilamentsthatwererecentlydeveloped?Sometimesthosewetanglewiththestrandsescapebeforetheycanbesecured.Asecondapplicationhasbeenmadewithaslightlyalteredformula,andnowthealteredstrandcanbetracedforuptosixmonths.There'recertainanomaliestoberesolved,but.i.t'sworththeefforttotageverychildinthevulnerablegroup."

"Youmean,thissideoftheriver?"Teresawavedatthepanoramavisiblefromhertoweroffice,theuptowncl.u.s.terofbeehive,cone,andsingletowerResidentialbuildingsclearlyvisibleonthisbrightmorning."Butstatistically,it'stheillegalsintheLinearResidentialswh.o.a.remoreatrisk."

"IfwecouldcatchLinearkidstostrand'em,"Borissaid,raisinghishandspalmsupinresignation,"we'dbewayahead.Meanwhilewe'llstrandasmanykidsaswecanonbothsidesoftheriverandhope."

"Hope?"Saschaaskedsoftly.

Rhyssa!SherecognizedthementaltouchofJohnGreene,theTalentedbodyguardofSecretaryofs.p.a.ceVernonAltenbach.

Wegotproblems?sheasked.

Girl,youreallydeservealltheheadachesofadministrationifyoucanguessthatmuchfromjusthearingmespeakyourname.

Noprecogneeded,JG,becauseyouneverbothermeunlessthere'spoliticalp.u.s.s.yfooting.Whatisitthistime?

AbilltodrafttheTalentedintowhateverpositionthegovernmentneedsthem!

Notagain?Rhyssa'sresponsewashalfamused,halfirritated.

Concertedattemptshadbeenmadeinthepastbygovernmentagenciestocirc.u.mscribethefreedomofchoiceoriginallygrantedtotheTalented.

ThatwaspriortothepointatwhichthegovernmentbegantoappreciatetheapplicationsofTalentafterthedayswhenDaffydopOwen,herill.u.s.triousgrandfather,abettedbySenatorJoelAndres,hadfoughttogainlegalimmunityforTalents.e.xercisingtheirabilities.

Immunityhadbeenparticularlyvitalforprecogsbecause,whentheywarnedofdisasterswhichwere,bythosewarnings,averted,theyhadbeensubjectedtoexpensiveandtimeconsuminglawsuits.Therehadbeenattemptssincethen,fromtheridiculoustothedeadlyserious,toregulateorrestrict,allmannerofTalentstomilitary,civilservice,ormercantileuses.

b.u.t.theTalentedhadalwaysmanaged,quitelegallyandwithnountowardexerciseoftheirparticularabilities,tocirc.u.mventsuchattempts.

ManyTalentshadwillinglysacrificedpersonalfreedomstoserveinthepublicsectors,someonalifelongbasis,topreservetherightfortheirpeerstochoose.Rhyssa'sparentshaddonethat,togivehertheopportunitytoachievethepositionshenowheld.

Again,andthisisn'tfunny,Rhyssa,JohnnyGreenewenton,s.p.a.ceisinabind.Theplatformhastobefinishedonschedulebeforeth.e.s.h.eerweightofnumbersonEarthbecomesmoreunmanageablethanitalreadyis.

SoLudmilla'sbeenlobbying?

She'sgotsomeheftyhelp,andVernon'sgottremendouspressureonhim.

I'mtheloudestoftheWashington/Luxembourgvoices,soI'mmakingthecontactwithyoufortherestoftheminders.We'vebeenexcludedfromfarmoresessionsthanweoughttobesessionsthathavebeenattendedbysomeofthemostantagonisticRightMutesthathaveeverbeenlinedupagainstTalents.AndwhenyouthinkthatIhelpedhimdevelophisshieldsagainstunauthorizedpeeking,Icouldspit!Thenerveofhimclosingmeout!

OneofthemoresensitiveprofessionsopentoempathicTalentswasthatof"minding"vulnerabletoprankingofficials.Terrorismwa.s.stillafactofpoliticallife,andalthoughtheproblemofthedisplacedandtheminoritieshadbeensomewhateasedbythema.s.sresettlementsandtheinst.i.tutionoftheLineardevelopmentsneareverymajorurbanarea,andtheincidenceofa.s.sa.s.sinationshadbeendrasticallyreduced,empathswerestillemployedto"mind"thoseofficialswhomightbetargetsforthefanaticswhostilloccasionallyemerged.RhyssacouldhearthehurtinJohnny'svoicethatVernonAltenbachhadbeenshieldinghisthoughtsfromhisminder,especiallysinceJohnnywasalsoVernon'sbestfriend,aswellashisbrother-inlaw.Inhisofficialcapacity,Johnnyservedasundersecretaryinthes.p.a.ceSecretariat.Priortothathehadbeenatrainedetop-earthtoplatformpilotwithtwentysuccessfullaunches...untilthetwentyfirsthadgroundedhimforever.HisTalenthadsavedhiscrewfromdeathbutnothimselffromlosingbothleftlegandarm.Despitestateoftheartprostheses,anewcareerhadseemedadvisable.SofarJohnnyhadalreadypreventedfourattemptstokillorkidnapSecretaryofs.p.a.ceAltenbach.

Johnny:Ishouldabeenincludedintheselatesttalks,butIwasn't.

Rhyssa:WhichmeansthatTalentwasbeingdiscussed.BarchenkaandDuomlwantmorekineticsontheplatformintheworstway.I'mdoingmybesttohelp...

Johnny,inanuncompromisingtone:AnyonethoughtoftellingBarchenkathatshe'sthereasonwhyTalentswon'tworkupthere?

Rhyssa:LanceBadendid.Hethinkssheha.s.selectiveamnesia.Can'tevengetherreplaced,notwiththeperformancerecordshe'sgot!

Vernon'stried!She'ssob.l.o.o.d.ygoodatwhatshedoesit'sonlyhowshedoesit.I'llkeepintouch,butwefeltyououghttoheforewarned.

Therewasahintofcriticisminhisvoice.

Nothinghascomeupwithanyprecog,Johnny.

Iknow,Iknow.Thatworriesmeasmuch.Thisthingcouldbeveryverybig,andnotevenMallie'sgotawhiff!

Rhyssa:Then.o.bviouslythematterissolvedbeforeitreachescritical.

Shetriedtosoundfirmlyoptimisticevenasalittleshudderrippleddownherbackbone.Someoneshouldhavebeensensingsomething!MallieVadenwasoneofthemostsensitiveprecogstheCenterhadeverproduced,andherlackofforesightifJohnny'sreadingofthesituationwascorrectwa.s.surprising.

I'llbeintouch,Johnnya.s.suredher.I'llevenseewhattheghoststhink.Youknowhowthey'dliketoseeourTalentednosesoutofjoint.

IthinkI'lltryafrontalattack,Rhyssasaid.Mightjogafewbraincellsloose.

When'llIseeyouthen?Johnnyasked,histonebrightening.

Ifpossible,today.RunmethroughVernon'sschedule.WhenJohnnydid,Rhyssastoppedhimatthelunchtimeengagement.Ilikethefoodthere.I'lljustdropin!

Rhyssaalways.e.xperiencedamildshockwhensheencounteredJohnnyintheflesh,forthelighttenorofhismentalvoicewasatvariancewithhisstrongphysicalappearance.Mediumtall,hekepthimselfphysicallytrim,andonewouldneverguesshisseriousinjuriesfromseeinghimwalkormanageeatingutensils.Somelatentkineticabilityhadprovedtobeana.s.setwithhisprostheticlimbs.HeroseashespottedRhyssaapproachingthetablewherehe,Secretaryofs.p.a.ceVernonAltenbach,ExaltedEngineerLudmillaBarchenka,andPadrugoiPersonnelManagerPerDuomlwereseated.Johnny'sbroadsmilewelcomedher,andtheyexchangedtouchandakiss.

WouldyouhavedaredlooksostunningiftheamorousPhanibalhadcome,too?Johnny'sgreenfleckedambereyestwinkledwithdevilment.

Rhyssa:Whydoesn'tthatodiousmangobacktothePacificislandthatsp.a.w.nedhimandattendtothefamily'splantations?

Johnny:Allyouneedisastronghandsomemanwho'llscarehimoff.

Rightnowyou'vegotthislotembarra.s.sedbyyourappearance,andyettheyhaven'tsaidathingoutofline,headded,allinthesplitsecondsofthegreeting.

RhyssagaveAltenbachagenuinelygladsmile,thennoddedpolitelytothefiercelyscowlingBarchenkaandtheblandfacedPerDuoml."JustthepeopleIhopedtosee.WhenIsawyouweretobeinWashington,MadameBarchenka,IrealizedthatIshouldputinanappearancebeforemattersgetoutofhand."

"Now,Rhyssa,"Altenbachsaid,signalingawaitertobringachairandsetupanotherplaceforhisunexpectedguest,"youcan'tdisrupttheestablishedprocedureoflobbying.That'snotthewaytoplaythegame."

"Norisgoingbehindmyback,"Rhyssasaid,smilingtotakethestingoutofhercriticism.SheturnedtoBarchenka."Youhaveascheduletokeep.WhatyouwillnotappreciateisthatonecannotscheduleTalentorlobbyit.Thekineticsyousodesperatelyneedcannotmaterializetohelpyoumeetyourschedule.Thatmanykineticsdon'texist.Talentisarandomandhighlyindividualtrait,notanimposedone.NoonecandictatetoaTalentandexpectthepersontoperformtothebestofherorhisability.ThatdictationinhibitstheTalenta.s.surelya.s.seasicknessinhibitsappet.i.te.Thereisnolegislationintheworldthatmaychainthemind."

"Thereislegislationthatwillrecruitthoseneededtodothejobthattheentireworldhasdecidedmustbedone."Barchenka'sstolidwordscomplimentedheruncompromisingexpression."Theplatformwillbefinisheda.s.scheduled.Thekineticswillpartic.i.p.ate."

Rhyssacaughtanotherstrongemanation,thistimefromPerDuoml,whonoddedsolemnlytosupportBarchenka'sstatement.

"Thereareways,"Barchenkaadded,hercoldeyesscanningRhyssa'swholeappearancefromtheelegantlycoiffedhairandsubtlemakeuptothecoutureoutfit.

"Legal?"Rhyssaaskedwithaslightsmile.

ThesecretaryclearedhisthroatandhandedRhyssaamenu."I'mstilloftheopinionthatthisimpa.s.secanbenegotiatedtothesatisfactionofallconcerned."

Barchenkamadeamonosyllabicnoiseofdisbeliefandresumedherperusalofthemenu.Afteronlyseconds,shetosseditnegligentlytothetable."Iwouldprefernutritiousfoodtothis..."

JohnnyGreenebeckonedtothemaitred',whowasfamousforhispoiseunderthemosttryingsituationsthatWashingtoncouldproduce.

"D'Amato,ManagerBarchenkarequirestheothermenu."

AtasnapofD'Amato'sfingers,anunderlingappearedandhandedhimaslimfolder,whichhepresentedtoBarchenkawithaflourish.Shegavehim,thenJohnny,asardoniclookthatturnedtoagreeablesurprisea.s.shescannedamenucomposedofthefoodstuffsavailableontheplatform.

"Five,twelve,andtwenty,takenwithtea,"shesaidinavoicethatstillvibratedwithcontrolledanger.

Watchit,Rhyssa!Johnnycautioned.Didyoucatchthatfash?She'spoisonsureshe'sgotuswhereshewantsus.

Simultaneouslythreeotherminders,diningwiththeirchargesinthesameroom,sentRhyssasimilarwarnings.ShewasparticularlygladtofeelthementaltouchofGordonHavers,theyoungestSupremeCourtjusticeeverappointed,whoseexpertisemightbeextremelyuseful.

Fine!Nowdiscoverwhat?Rhyssasaidmentallyasvocallyshechoseherluncheonofcoldfruit,soup,andsalad.Gordie,areyouavailableforsomequickscansofobsoletestatutesthatcouldcoversuchacontingency?

Beendrivingmyselfandmyclerksallhourstryingtofndone,Rhyssa,repliedGordonHavers.There'snothinginourconst.i.tution,butsincetheRussianswonthecontractforPadrugoi,theremaybesomethingintheRussiansectionthatdoes!Theirlegalsystemisasconvolutedastheirgrammar!

"Youcan,ofcourse,invokesomeforgottenbutstillactivestatute,"Rhyssaremarkedalltooblandly,waitingforreactions,"toconscriptTalents..."BothBarchenkaandDuomllookedstartled.

Bingo!Gordiecried.I'llconcentrateontheRussianendofs.p.a.celaw.

"But,"Rhyssacontinuedsoothingly,"ithasalwaysprovedunwisetoforceTalenttoperforminanareathatiseitherpersonallyorprofessionallydistastefultothem,andunderpunitiveconditions."

'Wehavebeentoolenientwithyourtemperamentaltricksandtraits,"Barchenkasaid,leaningacrossthetableinanger."Youwilldothis,youwon'tdothat!"Sheaffectedachild'spetulanttone."ManyconcessionsweremadetocatertothewhimsandfadsofyourTalents,andstillnosignificantnumberswillvolunteerforthemostimportantworldprojectofallhistory.Youratt.i.tudeisunacceptable."

"Iamprotectingmycolleagues,notbeingobstructive.Imustrepeat,"Rhyssacontinuedsmoothly,"ithasalwaysprovedunwisetoforceTalenttoperformdutiesunacceptabletothemandunderpunitivelivingconditions."

"Thatwillchange!Willbechanged!Theplatformwillbefinishedonschedule!"Barchenka'svoicehadrisenwitheachsentenceuntilitstoppedconversationthroughouttheopulentdiningroom.Shepushedherselffromherchair,wobblingslightlyashermovements,moresuitedtohalfgrav,broughtherstockybodyponderouslytoanuprightposition.Shekickedthechairawayfromher."Idonottolerateinsubordination!"Andsheclumpedawayfromthetable.

"Iwasdoingmybestforyou,"VernonAltenbachsaidtoRhyssa,hisfaceandmannerresignedasherose,hischairpulledbackbyahoveringwaiter.

"Youdonotunderstandourposition,DirectorOwen,"PerDuomladded,buthemadenomovetoleavethetable."Weareforcedtouseunpleasantalternativestoavertfarmoreseriousdisastersovertakingtheworld!"