The Wings Of Pegasus Part 3

"So,that'sthewayit'llbe,huh?"

"Yes,ifyoureloquencedoesn'tfalterwithforeknowledge."

"Huh?How'sthat?"

"Youhavebeengivenaprescienceoftheimmediatefuture.Suchknowledgecould,initself,alterthecirc.u.mstancesofthefuture.Wedonotalwayshaveeitherthepersonnelortheforesighttomodifythefuture.Inyourcase,wemakeanexception.ALaboriteMajorityisnotagoodthingfortheTalented."

GovernorLawsonnoddedinappreciationofthatexpediency.

"Yourmanwillinterceptthebullet?"

Henrynodded.

"Andthenutwillbeputaway?That'sbetterthanleavinghimfreeforanothershot.Good!Howmanypoliticalfiguresdoesyourgroupprotect?"

"Thosewhoneedit.Andwe'dappreciateakindlywordfortheCenterwhenStevedivertsthatbullet."

Lawsonnoddedagreement."Thosewhoneedprotection?Orthosewhomyouneed,Darrow?No,don'tanswerthatone.Answerthis...willIwinthiselection?"

Henrysmiledslowly."Youknowtheanswertothatone,Governor,b.u.t.thefunliesinmakingcertainyou'veplayedthegameright."

"Howfardoyouguysplayfunandgames?"

"Justfarenough!"

"Now,Mr.Rambley,whatseemstobeyourproblem?"

"Notmyproblem,Mr.Darrow.Yours!"TheInternalRevenueDepartmentmansmiledathinsmugsmileandbegantopullIBMcardsfromhisneatfakepigcase.

"Really?"

"WehavehereWTformsfromtheDepartmentofLawEnforcementandOrder,fromJohnsHopkins,BethelGeneral,MidtownfromDupont,MerckPharmaceuticals...needIgoon?"

"Justasyouplease."

"ThesesalarychitsrepresenttheearningsofBarbaraHolland,t.i.tterBeyley,CharityMcGillicuddy,GilGracie,FrankNegelscoAugustusMolnar..."AgaintheIRDrepresentativeregardedHenryDarrowwithacuteexpressiononhisfleshlessface."Icouldcontinue..."

"Justasyouplease.Igiveeverygovernmentofficialthecourtesyduehisoffice."HenryinclinedhisheadtowardMr.Rambleywhoforthefirsttimesincehe'dmincedintoHenry'stinylair,lookednonplussed.

"Afterall,someofmybestpeopleareemployedbythegovernment."

Withanirritatedsigh,Rambleyclosedthestackofcardsandtappedtheminanadmonitoryfashiononthedesk.

"Comenow,Mr.Darrow.Thesepeople,"andhebrandishedthecards,"earntremendoussalariesandyetthereisnorecordofasingletaxdeduction,noreturns..."

"TheydonatetheirsalariesintotototheParapsychicCenter.Theyleasetheirservicescontractuallytothevariousemployers.TheParapsychicCenterfilesacorporateformtocoverthem.UnderCorporationLaw..."

"Nooneintheirrightmindswould..."Rambleybouncedontheendofhischairwithindignationanddisbelief.

"IneversaidanyoftheparapsychicTalentswereinarightmind.Infact,"Henrywentonwithgentleamus.e.m.e.nt,"thereiseveryreasontobelievethatthecoreoftheparapsychicis,ifanywhere,inthelefthandpartofthebrain."

"Mr.Darrow,"Mr.Rambleywasonhisfeet."Youdidsaythatyougavegovernmentofficialsthecourtesyduetheiroffice?"

"Yes,didn'tI?Consequently,you'rewastingtime,yourgovernment'sandmine,Mr.Rambley.TheindividualsrepresentedbythoseneatlyslottedcardsdodonatetheirtotalincometotheParapsychicCenter.

Ouraccountantwillbegladtoshowyoutheappropriaterecordsandcontractualagreements..."

"But...butIknowthatthatt.i.tterBeyleycreatureisdrivingafourpa.s.senger350horsepowervehicle!"SuchanincongruityshockedMr.Rambley.

"Yes,t.i.tter'salwayswantedtodriveabigone.ThecarbelongstotheCenter.Youcanchecktheregistrationpapers."

"Andthat...thatCharityMcGillicuddyhasablueranchminkcoat."

"Indeedshehas.SherequisitioneditfromStoresaboutfourmonthsago."

"Sherequisitioned...fromStores?"

"ShehasapositiontomaintainnowandherappearanceisofgreatconcerntotheLEOoffice.Thinkhowembarra.s.singitwouldbeforsomeoneemployedbytheLEOCommissiontobearrestedforwearingstolenfurs.Ofcourse,Charitysaysthatnowshecanbuy'eminsteadof'lifting''em,halfthefun'sgone.But.i.tgivesheragreatmoralboosttowearblueranchminkintheLEOBlock.Wetrytokeepourworkershappy."

RambleyhadstaredatHenryDarrowthroughthisingenuous.e.xplanationbuthisindignationrosewitheverygentlyspokenword.

"Thiswon'tbethelastyou'llhearfromme,Mr.Darrow.YoudonotmocktheInternalRevenueDepartment,Mr.Darrow."Heslammedthefilecardsintohiscase,handstremblingwithoutrageddignity.

"You'llhearfromus."

"That'sfinebyme.Justcallaheadforanappointment.OnlyconsiderthefactthatSenatorsMaxwell,Abrahams,MontelloandGratzapprovedourcorporatestructure."

Rambley'seyeswidened.

"Andthepresidentialadvisor,Mr.Killiney,actedasourfinanciala.s.sistant.Don'tyouhavehiscardinthatfile?"

Rambleyexited,reducedtomutterings.

"Doyouoftentrickyourwayintoaprivatehome,Mr.Darrow?"

"WhenI'vebeenunabletosecureanappointmentanyotherway,yes,Mr.Henner."Henrysmiledpleasantly,tryingnottoglancewithobviousenvyatthes.p.a.ciousnessofthemagnificentlyfurnishedlivingroom.

Suchaccommodationwasalmostarchaic.

GeorgeHennerappearedmoreamusedthanirritatedbyHenryDarrowsimpertinenceasheleanedbackinhisItalianbrocadearmchair.

"Ifit'smoneyforyourpalmreading,tabletiltingcrystalgazing'tricks,forget.i.t."

"Onthecontrary,sir.I'veaffirmationthatIcanaskyoutojoinourhappyband."HenrysmiledatthesurpriseinHenner'syellowedeyes.

"Joinyou?"Hennerburstoutlaughing.Hisheadwentbackshowingaveritablegoldfieldoffillingsinhisupperteeth."ByG.o.d,Darrow,you'vemademyday!Ifyoucan'tlick'em,recruit'em?"

"Actually,"Henrywentonsmoothly,seatinghimselfandcrossinghislegs,counterfeitinganeasehedidn'tfeel.HenotedtheflickerofirritationinHenner'sfaceb.u.t.thefinancierhadareputationoflettingamanhaveenoughropetohanghimself."Actually,Mr.Henner,yourabilitiesinthefinancialworldarea.s.solidlyderivedfromtheparapsychicasmyown.Incidentally,you'rethecrystalballreader...althoughIseeyou'vegotamoderncomputerforstockmarketprintoutinsteadoftheoldgla.s.scase."

Hennergaveanamusedgruntbutsaidnothing,hissilenceasubtleprodtokeepHenrytalking.

"You'reknown,"Henrycontinuedobediently,becausethatwasthewaytheinterviewoughttoproceed,"tohaveagenius,asecond.sightintowhatstocksaregoingtorise,whichwillfall,whatbond;issueswillpaythekeenestlongtermprofit.AndIcanprovethatyou'reparapsychic."

Hennerc.o.c.kedhisheadslightlytooneside,hisamus.e.m.e.ntdeepening,ashetacitlyencouragedHenrytoproducehisproof.Darrowspreadthegraphoutonthetable."Iknowyou'vefollowedthenewsmediacoverageonus,soyou'refamiliarwiththissortofgraph.Whatyoumaynotimmediatelyappreciateisthefactthatthisisyourgraph."

Hennerbecameimmobilewithattention.

"Whenyouhadyourlastroutinephysicalamonthago,yourphysicianemployedaGoosegg.Hedidn'trealizethat.i.twasn'thisownofficemodelsohe'sblameless.Youdid,however,experiencewhatwecallanIncidentanditisrecordedonthisgraph,hereandhere.IbelievetheIncidentwasinconnectionwiththeAlliedMetalsandMiningmergerinwhichyoumanagedquitea'killing."

""Youdon'treadthoughtfromanEEGgraph,Darrow."

"Hardly.Butyouplacedaphonecalldirectlyyouwerethroughyourphysicaltoyourofficeandwithinthenextfewhoursthemergerwasannounced...butnotbeforeyouhadacquiredatidypileofAlliedstock.Aremyfactscorrect?"

Hennernoddedslowly,hiseyes,narrowedtointenseslits,watchingHenryDarrow'sface.

"That'sproof,"Henrysaid,rustlingthegraphpaper,"thatyou'reparapsychic,Mr.Henner."

Thesilencewhichensued,designedtomakeDarrowexceedinglyuncomfortable,didnot.Foralongs.p.a.ce,HenryreturnedGeorgeHenner'sstare,thenfoldedhisarmsandgazedaroundthebeautifulroom.FinallyheturnedbacktoHennerandsmiled.

"Blackmail?"askedHenner.

Darrowshookhishead.

"No.You'dbefartoocleverforthat.No,I'dhazardtheguessthatyouwanttoborrowmyTalent,asyoucallit,tomakeyourfortunes?

Thatwouldstillbeessentiallyblackmail,wouldn't.i.t,Darrow?"

Henrypursedhislipsalittle,expressingdubiety.

"Well,thenwhatisityouwantfromme?It'ssomething."

"Actually,it'sthetwelveacretractoflandonthePalisades."

OnceagainHenrywishedhewereatelepathtoreadtheemotionsswiftlypa.s.singthroughGeorgeHenner'smind.Hehadstartledthefinancier,hehadtouchedthemostvulnerablepointoftheshrewdman'slife:hisintenselove,andneedfor,thebeautifulestateofBeechwoods.IthadbeeninHenner'sfamilyforahundredandfortyyears,wasashowplacewhichfewsaw.AndHenner'sneedofBeechwoodswasasgreatandforthesamereasonsasHenryDarrow's."

"Howcouldyouknow?"demandedHennerinahoa.r.s.ewhisper.

"ThattheStateintendstoconfiscateallprivatelyheldlandswithinahundredmileradiusoftheJerhattancitylimits?Iknowbecauseitisasimportanttomeasitistoyoutoknowthesethings."Hennerwasonhisfeet,pacingtoreleasetheenergyofhisanger.Inabarelyaudiblemonotoneheinventivelya.s.signeddestinationstotheStateenma.s.se,theneedsoftheunhoused,unwashedmult.i.tudesingeneralandthoseparticularofficialswhohadfailedtokeepHenner'sancestralhomeinviolate.

"If,however,thepropertyisalreadyownedbyareligious,medical,educationalorcharitableinst.i.tutionwhichwillaccommodateasufficientnumberofoureverexpandingpopulation,theycannotconfiscateyourpropertyevenunderthetermsofSection91,Paragraph12oftheHousingActof1998."

"Thisis1997,man.ThatActisn'tpa.s.sedyet.Icanstilldefeat.i.t."

"No.Itwillbepa.s.sed."

HennertriedtostarethatknowledgeoutofHenry'smind.

"Andyouknowtheinevitability,Mr.Henner.Noneofyourcontactscanholdoutanyhopeofdefeatingthatmeasure,norofdefendingyourBeechwoods?"

"Andit'syourtabletiltingtealeafreaderswho'llinfestmyhome?"

"Yourphysicalconditionispoor,Mr.Henner,andyournervesd.a.m.nednearthebreakingpoint.Thesolitudeandprivacyofthishouseanditsgroundsarevitaltoyourlife.Itwouldbetoanyparapsychicmindforcedtotuneinontheemotionalchaosthathauntstheveryairwebreathe.Youknowyou'vebeenlivingonborrowedtimeforthepastyear.Youknowwhatalternativedwellingaccommodationswilldotoyou."

"Doyouhappentoknow,"askedHennercasuallyforhe'dgotcontrolofhimself.a.gain,"theexactdateofmydeath?"

"AsIknowtheexacttimeofmine,Mr.Henner.Youwilldieofa'heartattack,theaortawillbeclosedbyaglobuleofthearterioscleroticmattercoatingyourveins,atninetwentyonePM,exactlyoneyear,ninemonthsandfourteendaysfromnow."

AgleamofchallengelivenedthedeadlyintentofHenner'sgaze."AndifIdon't?"

"Ifyoudon't,thenrevokethegrantofBeechwoodstotheCenter.Inthemeantime,you'llhavesecuredyourlastdaysintheancestralhome,whichisyourprimeconcernatthemoment."

"Icouldhaveahearttransplant..."Hennerwasclearlyenjoyingthis.

"Notwithadiseasedliverandtheconditionofyourarteries."

"Andthat'syourprophecy,Darrow?"

"Amedicalcertainty,"Henrysaid."I'vetoyedwiththenotionofatransplantmyselfsincemydeathwillalsooccurfrommyocardialinfarctiononacertainMaytwelfth,attenfiftytwoPM.ButbyMaytwelfthofthatyear,Iintendtohaveaccomplishedthemajorpartofwhatneedstobedonetoestablishaviable,selfsufficientParapsychicCenterinNorthAmerica..."

"OntheBeechwoodsestate?"

"OntheBeechwoodsestate.ByMaytwelfth,Ishallbegratefulforthepeaceandtranquillityofmygrave."Henner'seyesflickedfromDarrow'stosomeinnermiddledistance,theharshcynicallinesofthefinancier'sfacesoftened.

"'Easeafterwar,deathafterlifedoesgreatlyplease'?"Thewordsweresoftlyspokenb.u.t.therewasnoquarterinthehardlookHennerthenturnedonHenryDarrow.

"Inyourschemingwheredoesthishouseendup?"

"AsanintegralpartoftheCenter."

Henner's.e.xpressionwasironic."Andmymoney?I'venonextofkin."

Darrowlaughed."Youkeepharpingonyourmoney,Mr.Henner.Wedon'tneedyourmoney.Checkourbooksonthat.ButonlytheCentercanofferoneofitsownmemberswhathismoneyhasn'tbeenabletosecureforhim."

ForalongtimeHennergazedouttheFrenchwindowsthatgaveontheflaggedterrace,towardthesweepofmagnificentlawnandthesuperbbeechtrees.WhenHennerfinallyturnedbacktoHenry,hishandwas.e.xtended.Thetwomenshookthreetimesintheancientcustomofbindingabargain.

"Answermeonething,Darrow!Didyouforeseewinning?"

"IknewthatwewouldeventuallysecureBeechwoods,Mr.Henner,"hesaid,permittingregrettotingehisvoice."ButIwantedyourcooperation."

"Cooperation?YouG.o.dd.a.m.nwellknowIhadnochoice!"

"Didn'tyou?"

GeorgeHennerhadwanderedintotheGraphroomjustasthefirstofthethreeIncidentswasrecorded.Hehadthehabitofappearinginthevariousdepartments,takingwhathecalledaperverseinterestintheeventualevictionoftheCenterfromBeechwoods.Inpointoffact,HennerhadadmittedtoMollyDarrowthattheCenterhadgivenhimsomethingtolivefor.He'dbeenfeelingmuchbettersinceHenry'dconnedhimoutofBeechwoods.Despitehisprofessedintentionofhara.s.singHenry,GeorgeHenner'spa.s.singsuggestionswereusuallysolidadvice.Anddespitehiscrotchetyandoftenirasciblemanner,theTalentsbecamefondofhim.

"GotastrongIncident,"BenAvedon,thedutyofficer,toldHenryontheintercomjustasGeorgeHennerwanderedintotheGraphroom.

"PatsyTucker."