The Wings Of Pegasus Part 4

Inmoments,HenryandMollyarrivedintimeforPatsy'sphonecallofsuchdetailsa.s.she'd"seen."

"I'monthewateragain,"shesaid,breathlessinanattempttoverbalizebeforedetailsescapedher."Andthere'reboats.Four.

Sun'satalateafternoonangle,onmyleftsoImustbelookingnorth.

There'slandbeyondtheboats,pines,abluff.Andoilonthewater.

Icanseeitallrainbowy.Theoilscaresme.It'sgoingtoignite,andthenthewater'scoveredwithflamesandtheboatsareeatenupand...oh,it'sgoingtobewicked,Ben.Canyoulocate?HaveIgivenyouenough?Ican'trememberanymoreandtheflamescoveranydetails."

"Itisasooner?"

"Awfulsoon.Today.I'msureofit.But.i.t'smorning,andIsawlateafternoon...istheretimeenough?"

"Sure.Plentyoftime.I'mfeedingthecomputerwiththedatarightnow.Olddidacticwillpintheplacedown,Pat.Buthaveyouanotionaboutthesizeoftheboatsinvolved?"

"Oh,yes,ofcourse.Howstupidofme.Iforgetyouhaven'tseen.

One'ssmall,apleasurecraft...apowerboat...nosails.That'stheonethatgoesonfire.Twolonglowboats...Iguessthey'dbetankers.Andahigherboat...Imean,onehigherabovethewater...

Andthey'reallmuchtooclosetogether.That'stheproblembecausethey'llallcatchfire."

"Apleasureboat,twotankersandafreighterinthelateafternoon.

That'sfine,Pat.Andthepinesandbluffandbeingclosetogetherindicateachannelofsomedescription.Now...thinkhardagain,Pat.

Didyouseeanymarkingsontheboats,funnelmarkings,ensigns,names?"

AfterasilencePatmournfullyadmitted"seeing"nothingbecausethefireandsmokeoccluded.

"Getoneofthepyrosonit,"HenrytoldBen."Patsy,Henryhere.

That'sagoodjob,la.s.s.Nowtakeiteasy.We'llbuzzyoubackwithconfirmation.Grandwork,Pat."Henrydisconnectedherline,shakinghishead,knowinghowworriedthegirlwouldbeuntilsheheardthey'dpreventedthecollision.Ifonlythere'dbeenmarkingstospeedupidentification,andthenifthepartic.i.p.antscouldbedissuadedfromarrivingonthepreviewedscene....Hemoveddeliberatelytothecomputerpanelandbegantappingoutqueries."Undoubtedlyaseaway.

CouldbeSheepsheadBayarea,EastRiver...no,notthere.Oroneoftheca.n.a.ls..."

"St.Lawrence,withtankersandfreighters..."suggestedBen.

"OrtheGreatLakes..."saidMolly.

Beforethere'dbeenaprintoutonpossiblelocationsorwhattrafficwasalreadyintheSt.LawrenceSeaway,asecondgraphbegantochatter.

"Rightontime,"saidBen."Here'sTerry,ourlocalfriendlyreliablepyro."

"Howcomeyoudon'tknow,Hank?"GeorgeHennerasked,settlinghimselfonastoolinthecorner.

"Notenoughpeopleinvolved,George,andtooclosearangeforme.

That'sPatsy'sspecialtycliffhangers.Besides,don'tyouagreethatthegoodexecutivemakesallthelongrangedecisionsandleavesthepicayunenittygrittydetailstokeephisstaffoccupied?"

Georgegrinnedbuthesaidnothingmore,listeningasintentlyastheotherstoTerryCle'sverbalizationofhis"sight."ThebroadoutlinecorrelatedwithPatsy'salthoughhe"saw"theeventfromadifferentperspective.HehadsufficientdetailononetankerandthesmallcrafttoresultinexactIds...o...b..thfromShipRegistration.AndtherewasatankeroftheIricoilLineproceedingdowntheSeawayenrouteforToronto,ETA7:48PMatthatport.Thesmallcraft,theAitchBee,wasregisteredtoanA.Frascati,andwasatthatmomentmooredinasmallboatbasinontheAmericansideoftheSeaway.

ProbabilityfiguresthecostofthecollisionandfireatseveralmillionsandathirtysixhourtieupofSeawaytraffic,plusdelayedcargoeswhichwouldcomplicateschedulesandroutinesforninety-twocompanies,involvingworklossofsomeeighteenthousandpeople.

"Okay,Ben,getouttheusualwarningformat.SeeifIricoilwilllistentous."

"AndifIricoildoesn'twanttobelieve?"

"WegetafterthisFrascati.Infact,he'dbeeasiertobullythanIricoilbutwe'vegottowarnthem,too."

Iricoilwa.s.suspiciousanduncooperativeand,inphrasesjustshortofinsult,refusedtoconsiderdivertingthetanker.ItssupplieswereurgentlyrequiredinTorontobylateevening.Frascatiwasnotathishomenorinhisbusinessoffice.UrgentmessageswereleftforthemantocontacttheCenterbeforetakingouthispleasurecraft.HenrywasdialingtheSeawayAuthorityControlwhenGeorgecuttheconnection.

"I'vegotanidea,Hank,"Georgesaid."I'vewatchedthisroutinesooftenandseenyouinsulted,ignored,andcalumniated.Noonetruststhealtruistanymore,whetherhe'sTalentedornot.You'vewarnedIricoil,triedtodothemafavor.Theyaren'tbuying.Well,likethepuppywholeavestoomanymessages,let'srubtheirnoseinit."

"Youmean,lettheaccidentoccur?"

"Moreorless.Consideringwhat'sinvolvedintermsofcreditandworkloss,andconsideringthatIhavesharesinfourofthecompaniestobeaffectedbythesnarlup,w.i.l.l.youplayitmyway,thisonce?"

Henrybegantorelax."Whathaveyouinmind,George?"

"YoudidleavetimedmessagesatIricoilandforFrascati,didn'tyou?"

BenAvedontappedthecomputerpanel."Alltimesealed,George."

"Fine.Now,issueafaxwarningtoSeawayAuthority.ThengivemeafewcomlinestoworkfromandMollytohelpme.IreneewastellingmeabouttheirnewoilpollutantatDupont.ThiswouldbegoodPRforhim.

Alwaysliketoobligefriends.Whichremindsme,yougetontoJimLawson...ourreveredGovernorowesyouafavorortwoforthatbulletStevestopped.AndaskhimforafewmoreVTOLsandacoupleoffrogmen."

"Why?"

"Youdon'tknow?"

Henrygrinned."Wouldyoubelieveaneducatedguess?"

Hennerchuckled."My,my,howthemightyhavefallen!Guessing!"

"Runtheshowyourway,George."

"Yes,letaproshowyouhow,HenryDarrow.You'retood.a.m.nedsoft.

Youtalktoomuch.ActionspeakslouderthanahundredofyourTalentedwords."

Atexactly16:32hoursofabrightspringafternoon,anIricoiltankerproceedingdowntheSt.LawrenceSeawayfouleditspropelloronatangleofsteelcables,originunknown.ThetankerdriftedathwartthecurrentasaUnitedLinefreighterenteredthenarrowchannelfromtheoppositedirection.Asecondtanker,alsoUnitedLine,makingspeedenoughtoreachTorontoportbydark,cruisedintothedangerzone,althoughitwasapparentthattheIricoilboatwasindistress.BothUnitedLineshipscontinued,evidentlyhopingtopa.s.stheinjuredvessel,oneontheport,theotheronthestarboard.Likelytheywouldhavesucceededb.u.t.theAitchBee,alsoimpatienttoreachport,camebucketingdownthesearoute.Itswungratherclosetothedistressedvessel.AsFrascatieveraftermaintained,hewantedtoseeifhecouldbeofanya.s.sistanceingettingamessageash.o.r.e:aridiculousalibisincethetankerwaswellequippedbyradioandshipsh.o.r.etelephone.Frascati'spropellorbecamefouledonthesamevillaincable.Thefreighterbegantopa.s.sthedisabledpairandherwashslammedthesmallcraftintotheIricoiltanker.TheUnitedLinetankerwasbroadsideoftheIricoilwhenherbowswungout.Tanker#2swungtostarboardtoavoidacollisionandhersternbangedintoIricoil,splittingaseamintheaftoilholdjustasthesmallcraftwasgroundbetweenthetwobiggerhulls.Itsgalleyfirescaughtoldgreaseandspreadinthecabinastheyacht'sgasolinetankwasbreached.OilpouringfromtheIricoilvesselwouldshortlyignitefromthatflame.

Atthispointthehoveringrescuecoptersintervenedasnewsmediacamerasrecordedtheeventfromeveryangle.Foamquicklydousedtheyachtfire,theoilpollutionmaterialgobbledupthesplitpetroleumandkineticsheldbackadditionaloillossbypressureuntiltheteleportscouldgettheconvenientlyhandyplatesintoposition.Otherkineticsandthefrogmenworkedloosethesteelcableanditwashoistedoutoftheway."Captain"Frascatiandthetwocrewmembers(hissons)ofthedamagedyachtwereliftedupandanotherteamofkineticskeptthelittleshipfloatinguntilthebelatedlyarrivingcoastguardcuttercouldtowitintoport.

TheSeawaywas...o...b..ockedsinceallfourvesselswereclearedoutofthenarrowchannelbeforeothersmadethepa.s.sage.Therewasnolossoflifeandnolongtermpollutionofthewater.TheParapsychicteamswerevolublyandembarra.s.singlythankedforpreventingamajordisaster,andbyc.o.c.ktailtimeeveryonewaspleasedbythedenouement,especiallyPatsyTuckerandTerryCle.

Thecongratulatoryeuphorialastedtwelvehours,atwhichpointtheSeawayAuthoritybegantorealizethatmattershadcometoneardisasterinanunprecedentedway.

"Whatwasthemeaningofsendingusonlyafaxtoannounceamajordisaster?"theSeawayCommissionerdemandedinsuchstentoriantonesthatGeorgeHennerneednothavelistenedinonthesecondcomunitinHenry'soffice.

"Youwereinformedbyfaxasusual,"Henryrepliedinamildtoneofvoice.

"Byfax!Whencountlessmillionsofcreditswereatstake?Andblockageofthemostimportant.w.a.terwayinNorthAmerica?Anddoyourealizethatwehaveonlyjustbalancedthesealifeecologyinthatstripofwaterway?Thatoil..."

"Youwereinformed..."

"Well,I'minformingyouthatyou'reinforasuitofcriminalnegligence..."

"Negligenceofwhat,Commissioner?Youwereinformedninehoursandthirtyeightminutespriortotheaccidentbythis.e.xofficiogroup,whichisnotagovernmentsponsoredoraccreditedagency.Weactforandinthepublicinterest.Butweareunderstaffedandoverworked.

Youcouldhavequeriedthisofficeformoreparticulars,althoughallwehadwereincludedinthatfax.YourAuthoritycouldhaveheldbackanyoneofthefourvesselsinvolved,thuspreventingthe..."

"AreyouaccusingtheSeawayAuthorityofnegligence?"

Henryheldthereceiverawayfromhisear,shookhishead,andrepliedinhismildestmanner,"Forewarnedisforearmed,sir."HecaughtGeorgeHennergivingthehighsignofapproval.

"You'llhearfromus,Darrow.Youpeoplecan'tgetawaywithirresponsiblebehaviorlikethis."

Theconnectionwasrudelyandnoisilybroken.

"Didyoufigurealawsuitinyourcalculations,George?"askedHenry.

Hennerrubbedhishandstogetheringlee."Iftheysue,we'dwin."

Henrycouldn'texactlyshareinHenner'sgleefulantic.i.p.ation.Theprecogknewofthemult.i.tudeoflawsuitswhichwouldbeservedonTalentsinthenextdecadesandth.e.s.h.eercostofinspireddefensemadehimshudder.Themoneywouldbeavailablebut.i.twascreditthatcouldbeusedtobetteradvantageintrainingandidentifyingTalent,notdefendingagainstmisunderstandingandgreed.Bylateafternoon,Henry'spremonitionsofimmediatedisasterwereborneoutbyadditionalsuitsofnegligencewhicharrivedfromUnitedLine,IricoilTankersandA.Frascati.

"Letmehandlethis,"GeorgeHennertoldHenryandhishastilyconvenedexecutivestaff."Idon'tneedanycrystalballoranerodicgraphneedletotellmehowtomanagethissortofc.r.a.p."

BeforehehadHenry'svoicedapproval,hewasonthewirestothemajormedianetworks,chattingfamiliarlywithpresidentsandcommissioners.

BythetimethefilmsoftheParapsychicCenter'sa.s.sistancehadbeenwidelyaired,withafewchoicecommentsonhowtheCenteroperatedtoforestallmajordisasters,thethreatenedlegalactionagainsttheTalentswaswithdrawn.SuitswereenteredagainsttheSeawayforcriminalnegligence.ThentheCenter,onGeorgeHenner'sadvice("Make'empayforit,whentheydon'tlistentoyou."),sentbillsfortherescueoperationstoFrascati,UnitedLineandIricoilTankers.

"Andfromnowon,Henry,"Georgesaid,"don'teverfollowupyourfaxedwarningswithpersonalphonecalls.Don'tbethesupplicant,d.a.m.nit.

Betheprelate!"

Henrywatchedwithinneramus.e.m.e.ntasGeorgeHennerpacedupanddownthefloor,hiseyesflashing,evenhisstridefirmandaggressivesothatHenrycouldseetracesofthestrengthswhichhadama.s.sedGeorgeHennerhisconsiderablefortuneandwhichhadoverwhelmedlessdeterminedadversariesinthebusinessworld.

"There'snopointinyoubruisingyourlarynxwithpersuasion.You'veprovedyourworthoverandoveragainandthisSeawaybollixoughttomakeavalidatedParapsychicwarningworththepaperit'sprintedon,evenatthedreadfulpriceofpaperthesedays."

"Asoundargument,George,andIappreciateyourhelp..."

Georgestoppedmidstride,glaringatHenrythroughnarrowedlids.

"Yes,Iamhelpingyou,aren'tI?Shouldn'tdothat,shouldI?"

"Myfriendlyenemy,"repliedHenrywithalaugh.

"Ha!Tellmethatwhenmyexecutorss.n.a.t.c.htherugofBeechwoodsfromunderyourtelepatheticfeet..."

"Andweneedyou,George,"HenryraisedhisvoicetooverwhelmHenner'ssnideremarks."IfIcanconvinceaskepticlikeyou,I'mwellawaytoswayingJohn(Publictomyside.He'smorevariablethanyou,andhewillbethehardesttowinover."

JohnOPublic,however,quixoticallydecidedtheSeawayAuthorityhadbeenfoolishtoignoretheParapsychicwarning.CriticismwasheapedontheSeawayfromeveryquarter.LatertheAuthoritywa.s.somewhatexoneratedofprimaryguiltsincetheCourtfeltthatgoodjudgmentonthepartofanyoneoftheotherthreeskipperswouldhavepreventedtheaccidentandnocostswereawardedtheclaimants.TheofficialrecordscitedandcreditedtheParapsychicCenterwithavertingamajorcalamity,andlossoflifeandproperty.AllTransportAuthoritieswereseverelyenjoinedtoheedanywarningsfromtheCenterwhichinvolvedpublictransport.

Forthenextfewweeksallprecogsoftrafficproblems,possiblefire,stormorspringfloodsthroughouttheworldwereinstantlyactedupon.

TheCenterwasbesiegedwithanxiouscallsaboutwhetherMr.Scouldundertakethatlongdistanceflight,orMrs.JcouldsafelymakeherannualpilgrimagefromFloridatoWisconsin,andiftherehadbeenanyprecogaboutthetransferofcyanidecylinderstotheauthorizedAtlanticTrenchdump.ThousandsofhopefulpeopleappliedforthesimpletestswhichwouldindicateiftheypossessedsomeusefulTalent.

"It'sanillwindthatblowsnogood,"HenryremarkedtoMollyafteranotherhecticdayansweringurgentcallsanddealingwithanxiousqueries.

"Isupposeso,"shesaid,sinkingwearilyintothearmchairoftheirprivatesuiteinthemainhouse."ButIwishwehadmoreGooseggsorasurerwayofspottingtheliveones."

"Anytoday?"HenryfixedMollyastiffdrink.

"Yes,"andshebrightenedasifshe'dtemporarilyforgottentheevent.

"Oneverystrongreceivingtelepathoutoffortyfiveaspirants."Sheacceptedthedrink,turningthegla.s.sinherhandasiftheamberliquidheldsomeotheranswer."Henry,theycomeinsohopeful...

andsomeofthemleavesoangryanddisappointed.Asifweoughttobeabletofindwhatdoesn'texist..."

"Notyourfault,love.Everyonewantstobe,insomeway,unique,andcan'trealizethatbeinguniqueisaresponsibilityaswellasaprivilege.Youcan'tcurethat.Howstrong'sthetelepath?"

Mollybrightened."Ithinkhe'sverystrong,buthe'sbeenblockingthoughts,thewaytheyalldo.Outoffear.Hemayneedalotoftraining."

"No,nottoomuch,"Henrysaideasily,pullinghischairclosetoMollyandclaspingherfreehand."Youngfellow,isn'the?Welshextraction,Welshname.Right?"

"Ijustsentthereportin..."Mollybegan,startled,andstoppedmidsentence,arrestedbyHenry'sknowinglook."Notanotherone,Henry?"

"Theydoseemtoappearrightonschedule,"Henrygrinnedatherb.u.t.therewasashadowinhiseyes."Rightonschedule.OnedayI'llbewrong."

"Don't,Henry."Sheclaspedhishandtightly,rea.s.suringly,knowingthestrainofhisunfortunateinfallibility,knowingthatsomeoftheeventsheforesawhe'drathernothaveseen."And,heis,asyoupredicted,Welsh,"shewentoninalightvoice,"byname,DaffydopOwen.Verylikeablechap.He'simportant?"

Henrynodded."Hewon'tneedmorethansomebasicpointersandafewquietweeksheretowashthe'noise'outofhismindandlearntoprojectaswellasreceive."

"Well,that'soneontheplussideoftheledger."Sherotatedhershoulderstoeasetheday'sstrainsbutHenry'sdisclosureaboutyoungopOwenmadeherfeelmuchbetteraboutherlabors.

"Whenishemovingin?"

"Don'tyouknow?"sheaskedinabanteringfashion.

"WhatIknowIwishIdidn't.WhatI'dgiveanythingtoknow,Ihavetowaitandsee."

Shesmiledathimlovingly."Youmean,ifweretainBeechwoods?"Whenhenodded,shechidedhimgently."Howoftenhaveyoubeenwronginthemerestdetail?"

"It'snothowoftenI'mright,Mollyluv,it'swillIbewrongthistime,thisonce?Thisimportant,crucial,criticalonce?Suchaterriblegift,luv.Terriblewhenyourknowledgemeansthelossofafriend..."

"Henry,yourrecognition,theverychallengeoftheCenter,"andherarmgestureencompa.s.sedallofBeechwoods,"havekeptGeorgeHenneralive...andkicking."ShepeeredintoHenry'sface,rea.s.suringhimbytouch,wordandlook."He'sdeterminedtodoyououtofBeechwoods,ifonlybyaminute.Thatdeterminationaloneha.s.strengthenedhisholdonlife.I'veseenhismedicalreports,Henry,Iknow."Sheleanedbackinherchair."You'vedonehimquiteafavorandheknowsit.Ishouldn'tbesurprisedifhehasn'tlefttheCenterBeechwoodsanyway."