The Wings Of Pegasus Part 31

"Pleasedtameetcha!"Petermanagedtogetout.MizAllenclearedherthroatwarningly.

"Thankyou,Mrs.Allen,I'lljustchatabitwithPeter,"DoroteaHorvathsaid,pullingachairtoPeter'sbedsideanddismissingMizAlleninamannerthatastoundedtheboy."MizAllendoesn'treallybelieveintelepathyandTalents.Andwejusthaven'thadthechancetogoaroundthepediatricwardslately.Sowemissedyou."

"Missedme?"

Doroteasmiledagain,asmilethatwasmagicalbecauseitseemedtoenvelopPeterwithwarmthandcaring.Thehardknotofself-pityandresentmentthathadbeenbuildingupatthethoughtofanotherbodybracesessiondispersed.

"Thatis,untilyoustartedvisitingRhyssa."

"Rhyssa?"

Intohismindcameanewtouch.I'mRhyssa.IsentDoroteatoyoubecauseyourunawayfromme.Doroteasaysyoucan'trunawayfromherrightnow,PeterReidinger.PleasecomelivewithuswhereIknowyoulongtobe.

"Nowthatyou'vehadanofficialinvitation,w.i.l.l.youaccept?"Doroteaasked,br.i.m.m.i.n.goverwithamus.e.m.e.ntathisstunnedreaction.

"ButIcan't.I'mcrippled.Ican'tgoanywhere..."

Ahahahaha!Doroteachidedhim,stillsmiling.AboywhocangooutofbodyontoursofJerhattanatthreeinthemorningisnocripple!

"ButIcan'tusethebodybrace!"Peterwashorrifiedtohearhimselfblubberingandtofeeltearsstreamingdownhisface.Hehadnotcriedinmonths.

Crying'sanaturalreleaseforemotionalpressures,Doroteasaida.s.sheblottedhischeeksmatteroffactly.AllthatmanlyrepressionhasalsobeenblockingTalent.Idobelievethatthebracealsoposedaninhibition.Ithinkitshortcircuitednaturalability.We'llsort.i.tout.OfthatI'mpositive.

AndsuddenlyPeterhadnodoubtatall.

"First,ofcourse,wehavetogetyourparents'permission."Doroteawasalwayspractical."Doyouthinkthey'llmind?"

"Mind?"Peternearlyshouted.Heknewthatthehospitalfees,evenwiththehugecompensationthecitywasforcedtopaysincehehadbeeninjuredoncityownedproperty,hadbeenaterriblefinancialdrainonhisparents.Hismothercametoseehimregularly,buthisfather'svisitsgrewfewerandshorter.HismotheralwayshadsomeplausibleexplanationforDad'sabsence,butPeterhadnotbeenfooled.

SuddenlyDorotea'seyeswidenedinpleasedsurprise."Idon'tthinkyou'llneedmuchtrainingafterall,"shesaid,pointingathim.

"What?"AndatthatmomentPeterrealizedthathewashoveringabovehisbedandthata.n.a.larmjustbeneathithadgoneoff.

Rhyssa!Dorotea'smentalshoutwasaverywelcomediversionforRhyssa.

TheEasterndirectorhadnotbeenabletomakethatfirstcontactforseveralreasons,theforemostonebeingthePadrugoipriority.TheotherreasonwasthatDoroteawa.s.stillthemostaccurateTalentdivinerintheentireworld,withthedeftesttouchtoallayfearandsuspicion.

Rhyssa,PeterReidingerreeksofTalent.Ican'timaginewhytheresidentdidn'ttumbletoitalongtimeago,despitethefactthatPeter'sbeensuppressinghisnaturalfeelingstobeconsideredabraveboy.Beinginahospitalsituation,he'dhavetoblankoutallperipheralstaticorgetwoundupineveryoneelse'spain.Thoughhe'snotyourgardenvarietykineticortelepath.Infact,I'venevertouchedanyonequitelikehim.Onething'ssure,henomoreneededabodybracethanyouneedavideophone.

Canyouexpeditehisreleasetous?Rhyssaasked.

Inmybestgrannymode!Idon'tantic.i.p.ateanytroublewiththefamilythey'vebeenstrugglingunderthemedicalcosts.Igatherthefatherhastroublevisitinghis"crippled"son.TheyshouldregainsomeperspectivenowthatPeter'llbeabletopayhisownway.

Howmedicalishe?

Doroteagaveamentalsnort.Withalittlehelpfromhisfriends,hewon'tbemedicalpastthegateoftheCenter.Whoops!We'vejustbeenchargedbyanirateelectricianandastupefiedconsultant,andmyG.o.d!

Doroteabrokeoffcontact,startlingRhyssaDoroteausuallyhadnotroubledoubletalking.Rhyssawaitedfortheoldwomantocomebackandexplainherabruptdisappearance.Afterthreeminuteswithnofurtherwordfromher,Rhyssareluctantlyresumedherimmediatetask.

WorriedaboutDoroteaandtheboy,itwasdifficultforhertokeephermindontherea.s.signmentofkineticTalents,b.u.t.thematterhadtobeclearedupa.s.soonaspossible.TheEasternCenterwouldbeleftwithjusttentodotheworkofthirty,alongwithfivetraineeswhocouldbeslottedintosomeoftheless.e.xactinghoistwork.Airshuttleclients,pa.s.sengersorcommercial,werejustgoingtohavetowaitlongertocollecttheirluggage;allconstructionfirmswouldlosekinetics,savethoseontwonearlycompletedprojectswherekinesiswastheonlywaytosafelyinstallheavyequipmentontheuppermoststories.

SheandMiklosHorvath,Dorotea'sgrandsonontheWestCoast,alsohadtoarrange"fetchandcarry"teams,telepathsandkineticswhocouldworkintandemandatlongdistance.Butsuchskillswereexhaustingandwouldhavetobereservedforemergencies.

DaveLehardthadcomeupwithyetanothervalidsuggestionthatmightnotimproverelationswithBarchenkaandDuomlbutwouldcertainlymakemoreeffectiveuseofthefourhourshiftofeachkinetic.

"Ilookedatsomeofthemotionstudies,"hehadtoldher,"andsomevideosofanactualworkingday.SamjanmentionedthathespentagoodportionofeveryshiftonPadrugoidoingnothingwaitinguntilmaterielwasorganizedfromthestorageyardorbins,orwhiletheengineerssortedoutminordiscrepancies.SoIgotSamjanandBelaRondomanski,whowa.s.s.p.a.ceLabdesigner,togetherwithLanceBaden,who'satrainedengineer.Belasaidalotofthedelaysons.p.a.ceLabwerecausedbyachronicdisorganizationinSupply.Lancesaidthattheproblemshadn'tbeencompletelysolvedwhenhedidtwotoursatPadrugoi,butoneofBarchenka'sstrengthsisherorganizationalskills.Takethemonemorestepforward,and,inafourhourshift,akineticcangeteverythinginaspokesectionlinedupsothatallthegruntsneedtododuringthenexttwentyhoursofshifttimeisgiveatinyshoveandtheelementswillfallintoplace.

"Ofcourse,it'llmeanagooddealofreorganizationinthestoresandmaterielalreadyupatPadrugoi,andmaybesomeshipmentrearranging,lightingafireunderthetardysuppliers,b.u.t.thetimespentdoingthatwillcutdownonthemanhoursupstairs."

"Duoml'sreturnedtothestation,"Rhyssasaid.

"We'lljustborrowHangarQagainforanotherhandylittledemonstration.I'llworkoutthedetails.Hey,you'relookingmightygoodtoday.Newhairstyle?Sureshowsoffyourskunkstreak."Herscreendiffusedonanotherofhisfamousconfidenceinspiringgrins.

Skunkstreakindeed,shethought,herfingerssmoothingitback.Atleasthehadnoticed.Withasigh,shewentbacktohera.n.a.lyses,untilsherealizedthatshehadnotheardanothersqueakfromDorotea.

Then,asabruptlyasthecontacthadbeenbroken,Doroteareturned.

Well,IsaidI'dcomebacka.s.soonasIcould.It'stoosoontobesurewhathedoesdo,Rhyssa,butheapparentlytapsintoelectricalsources.He'sbeenglitchingthehospitalcircuitsfittodrivetheelectricianandahighpricedconsultantbarmy.Anditalsoexplainswhyhecouldn'tcopewiththebodybrace:theimpulseswhichwerefeddirectlyintohissynapseswereshort-circuitinginherentabilities,sothepoorladwastryingtocopewithanoverload.SueRomeroisinbitsthinkingofallshe'sbeendoingtoPeter,andhe'sinastatebecausehehadnowayofexplainingwhythebodybracewasallwrongforhim...andtheheadnurse,MizAllen,isoneofthoseby-thebookersandcompoundedtheproblem.Oh,hisfamilyaredelighted,especiallytoknowthatPeterwillnotbe"handicapped"b.u.t.theirheadsread"crippled,useless,financialdrain."It'llbestandardcontractuntilhe'seighteenandfullytrained.Here'sonekineticBarchenkawon'tgethers.p.a.cegloveson!

Whencanyoubringhimhome?

We'reonourway!Dorotearepliedtriumphantly.GetRoddy'sroominmyhouseready.SheshotRhyssaamentalglimpseofs.p.a.ceForcepostersoneverywall,modelsofs.p.a.ceshuttles,ma.s.spa.s.sengerhotols,stealths,s.p.a.celabs,andgenerationshipsdependingfromtheceiling,andabunkbedwithdesks.p.a.cebelow.Nothingcouldbemoredistantfromtheantisepticenvironmenthe'sbeenlivinginformonths.

ThephysicalmeetingbetweenRhyssaOwenandPeterReidingerwasnotquiteananticlimax.DoroteahadwarnedherthatPeter'smotherandoldersisterwereaccompanyinghimintheheliamb,excitedbutslightlyapprehensiveathisnewcirc.u.mstances.

IlsaReidingerwasapleasantenoughwoman,terriblyconcernedforandcertainlyextremelyproudofherPetey.Shestruggledwithalessthancongenialjobinordertohelpmeetthemedicalbills.Thesixteenyearoldsister,Katya,waswhatDoroteacalled"pushy,"tryingtofigureouthowherbrother'sgoodfortunemightspilloveronheranddisgruntledthatPeterhadTalentandshehadnone.DoroteasaidthatKatyaresentedPeterbecausethecostofhishospitalizationhadkeptherfromhavingmanyofthethingsthatshe,theelderchild,oughttohavebeenabletoenjoy.

Perfectlyunderstandablereaction,DoroteatoldRhyssaasthewomendeftlymaneuveredPeter'sgurneyintoDorotea'shouseandonthroughintoRoddy'sroom.

BothtelepathscouldfeelPeter'sspiritliftingashesawtheunmedicalfurnishingsandartifacts.

"Buthow'llyoudoallthathastobedoneforhimallthetime?"IlsaReidingerbeganinsurprise.

"Oh,Peter'llonlyneedalittlehelpinthebeginning,Mrs.Reidinger,"Doroteasaid.HermentalAlleyoopwasthesignalforRickHobsonto"lift"Peterupintothebunkbed."Now,let'sallclearoutandlethimsettlehimselfin.And,"Doroteaaddeda.s.sheshooedeveryonebeforeher,"theheliambiswaitingtotakeyouandyourdaughterhome.Here'sthevidnumber.Asyousaw,Peterhasasetintheroom.Callhimanytime.Unlikethehospital,hereyoucanseewhatmischiefhe'sgettinginto.Allright?"

Dorotea'spositivemannermaderefusalimpossible,andsoontheheliambwasthunkingitswayupoutoftheCenter'sgrounds.

Rick,hookmeupalinefromthe4.5kpmgeneratorinthegardenshedandbringitrightintotheroomwithPeter,Dorotearequested.

Whatisthisallabout?Rhyssademanded.

Itoldyou,Doroteasaid,thenaddedaloudsincetheywerenowalone,"heseemstotapintotheelectricalsystemandusethatforpower.

Somesortof.a.gestalt.IwantsomeofourengineerTalentstolinkwithmewhenhe'srestedenoughforustodosometesting.But.i.t'llhavetobeyouandmeforawhile,Rhyssa.He'shadsuchaterribletime."

Dorotea'seyeswelledwithtears,andautomaticallyRhyssagatheredtheolderwomanintoherarms,smotheringherwithlove,affection,andadmiration.

"I'msorry,dear,"Doroteasaidwithalittlesniff,pullingherselfaway."You'vehadalottocopewithnow,andyoudon'tneedmeturningintoawateringpot,but"ShepouredintoRhyssa'smindthejumbleofpain/despondency/anguish/guilt,theselfaccusation,andthesouldestroyingterrorthatPeterhadbeenenduring.

EasingDoroteatothecouch,Rhyssasatbesideher,shakenbythataccountingdespiteyearsofdealingwiththebizarrementalstatesofemergentTalents.

"IthinkaspotofteawouldG.o.downwellrightnow,"Doroteasaid,andRhyssagaveaweaklittlelaughatDorotea'severpracticalmind.

Peter?Acupoftea?Lemon,milk,sugar?

Yes,please,wasPeter'sanswer,surprisingRhyssa.

Yousee?Heneededonlyalittlehelptoprojecthisthoughtsinsteadofsquashingthemdown.Dorotea'sfaceworeanexaggeratedlysmugsmile.

TheywereallenjoyingacupofteawhenRickHobsonbouncedin,festoonedwithanelectrician'sbeltandheavydutycable.

"Idon'tknowwhatkindofanoutletorreceptacleyouneedDorotea,"hesaid,winkingather,noddingtoRhyssa,andthenwavingahandatPeter,whowaswatchingitallfromhisbunk"Well,Peter,whatdoyouthinkyouneed?"Doroteaasked."He'djustbeensortofhookingintotheelectronicgadgetsofthebed,"shetoldRick.

BothwomencaughtPeter'shesitationandconcern.

"Oh,well,it'saseasytosortthespecificsoutlater,"Ricksaideasily,catchingRhyssa'swarninglook."Atanyrate,thegenerator'srightoutsideandpoweredup.Anytimeyouneedit,it'sthere."Withacheerywavetoall,heleft.

"It'sallabitmuch,isn't.i.t,Peter?"Rhyssasaidgently.

"Idon'tknowwhatIdidthatmakesyouthinkI'manygoodatall,"Petersaidinavoiceaspaleashiscomplexionjustthen.

"Doroteathinksyouusedavailableelectricalpowertoa.s.sistthosedawnvisitsyoumadetome,"Rhyssatoldhim.Shegavehimamischievoussmiletorea.s.surehim."I'mhonoredthat.i.twasmymindyoulinkedwithtobringyouwhereyouwantedtobe."

"Youare?"PeterturnedhisheadawayfromthedrinkingstrawinhisteacupsothathecouldlookdownatRhyssa.

"Idon'tgetmanymeninvadingmybedroom,Ia.s.sureyou."

SubtlyDoroteawa.s.supportingher,increasingforPeterthesensethathisintrusionhadbeencleverandoriginal.Bothwomengeneratedsubliminalthoughtstobolsterhisperceptionofhimselfreversingthelowselfesteemthatwascurrentlyinhibitinganyforwardprogress.

"Ididn'tmeantointrude."

"Youwillsoonunderstandthatamongtelepathsamidnightknockonthedoorisn'tconsideredanintrusion."

"Butallthoselights..."

Rhyssaletherthoughtsechotheannoyanceshehadfeltatthatproprietarysupervision."Youdidn'thearmechewingthemoutforscaringyouoff,either."

"Ooooh,Rhyssawasangry,"Doroteaadded.

"Youweredoingwhatmanyhavetriedandfailedatmiserably,"Rhyssawenton.

"Iwas?"

"It'swhatwecallanoutofbodyexperience,"Rhyssawenton."Veryfewpeopleeverachievethatdegreeofmentalcontrol."

"Theydon't?"Peterwaswideeyedinawe."But.i.t'snothard."

DoroteaandRhyssaexchangedamusedglances.

"Nothing'shardwhenyouknowexactlyhowtodoit,Peter,"Rhyssasaid,"andyou'veapparentlymasteredtheart.DoroteaandIarebothhopingyoucanteachus.Idon'thavemuchkineticability..."

Sascha:Andaren'tyougladofthatrightnow?Hesentanimageofas.p.a.cesuitedRhyssawhirlingaboutPadrugoichasedbyawhip-wieldingBarchenka.

Rhyssa:Don'tyoudareinterfere,Bearman!Thisistrickyenoughasitiswithoutyouinmymind!Ob,myG.o.d!AndsuddenlyRhyssabegantofathomthepotentialoftheboy.GiveyoungPeterReidingeraccesstosufficientlypowerfulelectronicsources,andhiskineticTalentmightbogglethemindofthemostoptimistictheorist.Why,hisTalentwasasfarfromspoonbendingasmodernprecognitionwasfrompriestlyauguriesdivinedfromoxintestines!

TherewasaninstantresponsefromSascha,Dorotea,Sirikit,Rick,andMadlyn.Dampitdown,Rhyssa.Haveaheart!

Dorotea:Well,you'veallgotthepicturenow,soleaveusalonewiththeboy.Wecan'tmessthisoneup.

Rhyssahadtotakeadeepbreath,hopingthatthesuddenrevelationshehadbeenunabletokeepfromotherstrongtelepathsintheCenterhadnotalsobeenpickedupbyPeterReidinger'sstill-emergingskill.Hewascertainlynotreacting.

Dorotea:Iblockedhim,Rhyssa.Getaholdofyourself"So,Peter,"Rhyssamanagedtogoon,"ifIcouldgetthehangofwhatyou'redoingwiththegenerators,itcouldbeanextremelyvaluableaddedwhammy."

Dorotea:Icouldn'thaveput.i.tmorediscreetlymyselfRhyssa:Thanks.

"Idon'tknowwhatI'mdoing,"Petersaidsadly.

"It'sthesortofthingyoudon'tthinkaboutdoing,Peter.Youjustdoitbecauseyouwantto,becauseyouneedto.AndDoroteaandIwillhelp."Rhyssagrinnedathim."Communicationiswheretelepathyexcels.Thespokenwordsometimesisn'tasclearasitshouldbe:wordscanbemisused,inappropriatelya.s.signedmuddymeanings.You'reaccustomedtoawordmeaningonething;someoneelsewillthinkitmeanssomethingelseentirelyandmisunderstandwhatyoujustsaid.

Speakingmindtomindclearsupalotofsuchconfusions.OrhaveIjustconfusedyoumore?"

Peterbegantosmilesuddenly."LikehowIcouldn'texplaintoMizRomerojustwhyIhatedthebodybrace."

"That'saveryaptexample,Peter.Youjustdidn'thavethewordsfortheconceptofthatsortofinterference."

"Buthow'llImovewithoutabrace?"

"Bythepowerofyourmindalone,whichis.e.xactlywhatyoudidwhenyouweregoingoutofbody.Onlywe'llteachyouhowtotakeyourbodyalongwithyou!Ana'managemostofyourdailycare.Youwon'tbedependentonnursesororderliesoranyone.InonesenseitwaswhatSuewastryingtogetyoutodomakeyourmindmotivateyourbodytorememberwhat.i.toncecoulddo.Onlyyoutookitonestepbeyondthat,andneitherofyouknewyouhadlatentkineticability.So,ofcourseyoucouldn'tdowhatshewanted.Youwereagoodjumpaheadofher."

Hewa.s.stillskeptical."I'mkinetic?"

"Doyouknowwhatthewordmeans?"

"Sure.ButIdidn'tthinkIwas."

Rhyssarose."Well,youare.Sothinkabout.i.t."

Dorotearetrievedhiscup."Youtakearestnow,dear.ThenI'llshowyouaboutthehousesoyou'llknowwhereeverythingiswhenyouwant.i.t."

Chapter7.

AlthoughSaschausuallyhandledtraining,theaffinityestablishedbetweenPeterandRhyssamadeitsensibleforhertoguidehisinitiation.