The Wings Of Pegasus Part 48

"ThenIwon'tbeabletogoshoppingagain?"

Saschawasnotimpervioustoherbrokenvoiceandhersadexpression.

"Shopallyouwant.Lookineveryd.a.m.nedmallonManhattan,LongIsland,andtheJerseySh.o.r.e.Justdon'tbuyanything.Windowshoptoyourheart'scontent."

"Neverbuyanythingagain?"

Ladada,dadadadah!Doroteasang,mimickinganostalgicviolinair.

Allright,Sascharetorted.Andhowwouldyoucurbakidwho'sneverhadmuchinherlifeandsuddenlycanhaveanythingshewants?

Moreorlessasyou'redoing,Doroteaadmitted.Justdon'twaveratthesightoftearsinherbigblackeyes!

SaschacaughtanundertoneinDorotea'svoicethatpuzzledhim.ButheignoreditandreturnedhisfullattentiontoTirla."No,chip,notnever.Justnotsomuchsoconstantly,thingsyoudon'treallyneedrightnow,becauseyou'vegotenoughofpracticallyeverything,asfarasIcansee."

Shesanktotheedgeofherbarelyvisiblebed."But.i.t'snotfuntowindowshopunlessyou'vegotsomeonewithyou.Where'sCa.s.s?Shelovestoshop."

"Ca.s.sisoutona.s.signment."

Tirlac.o.c.kedherheadupathim,nolongeradisappointedandconfusedtwelveyearold."Morekidsmissing?"

"Notyet,"hesaidmendaciously."Wewanttokeepitthatway."

"IssheinaLinear?"Excitementbrightenedherexpression.

Saschanodded.

Dorotea:Fortheloveoflittleapples,don'ttellherwhere,orshe'lltrackCa.s.sdown.

"Whydon'tyouletmeworkundercoverwithher?Icouldbeherkidand""No!"

Tirlarockedbackonthebedatthevehemenceofhisresponse.Shelookedhurtandconfusedagainandevenyoungerthanherchronologicalage.

"Sorry,chip."Sascharuffledhersleekandshininghairinanefforttocompensateforhistactlessness."Giveyourselfalittlebreak.Wedidn'tcatchYa.s.sim,andifhespotsyou,he'dhaveyouwastedsofast,noneofuscouldhelpyou."

Tirlanoticeablypaled.

Dorotea:Well,she'sstillafraidofYa.s.sim!

TirlaseemedsoafraidthatSaschagatheredherupinhisarmsandrockedher."Ya.s.simcan'tgetyouhereintheCenter,Tirla.You'resafehere.IwanttokeepyousafesoyoucangrowupandusethatrareTalentyouhave...toearnenoughmoneytopayforallyou'vebeenbuying."Hetriedtomakeajokeofit.Hefeltherstiffeninhisarms."No,notyourfloaters!"Andhehadtolaugh.Thelittlewitch.Herh.o.a.rdwasprecioustoher,nevertobebroached."Justthinkhowlittleyou'dhaveleftifyouhadspentyourstash.Thinkofthatthenexttimeyouwanttobuysomething.Pretendyou'respendingyourmoney."

"Iwouldn'tspendmymoney,"shemumbledagainsthischest.

Withtheslenderlittlebodycurledtrustfullyinhislap,Saschapermittedhimselfjustafewmomentstocaressherhairandsavorthefeelofherinhisarms.WhyTirla?Ofallthewomenintheworld,howcouldthislittlewaif,streetwiseandprecocious,havebecomesoentangledinhisemotionsandheart?Shecouldnotpossiblyunderstandhowmuchshemeanttohim.Shewasfartooyoungforthataspectofmaturingtohavetouchedher.Andyet...sherespondedtohima.s.shedidtonooneelse.Withafinallittlehug,heputherfromhimasgentlyashecould.Oneday,eightornineyearsinthefuture...

Doroteahadnocommenttomake.Tohissurprise,Tirlaobedientlybegantofoldupherpossessions,neatlyandcarefully.Saschawatchedforafewmoremomentsandthenwenttoarrangefortrunks.

PeterandRhyssareturnedinquiettriumphthedaythatCa.s.sCutlerreportedtoBoristhatthreeNeestersandtwoHispanicsinLinearEweresuspiciouslymoreaffluentthantheyhadanyrighttobe.BorisdecidedthathewouldnotdarkenthehappyreturnwithsuchnewsanddidnoteveninformSaschaoftheevent.

DoroteaandTirlabothexclaimedoverhowwellPeterlooked,tannedandhealthyandmovingwithmoreconfidence,whileRhyssalistened,anoddlysoftsmileonherface.DaveLehardthadremainedbehindinFloridatofinalizehisPRcampaign,settingthestageforColonelJohnnyGreenetoa.s.sumetheroleofSkeleteam.

Inhisturn,PetertookfullnoticeofTirla'sneweleganceandwasamazedthatshehadshoppedthemallsherself.

"Well,Saschatookmethefirsttime,"sheadmitted.

Dorotea,privatelytoRhyssa:Andsaid"OpenSesame,"andinaweekTirla'sroomwasasfullasabazaar.

Sascha:Iheardthat.Knockitoff!

Rhyssa:Didshepickthatoutherself?

Dorotea:Shepickedouteverythingherselfandalotofthingsatwelve-yearoldgirlhasnoneedofyet.

Rhyssa:She'sgotgoodtasteinwhatshe'swearingnow.

Dorotea:Goodtasteallround.Justatriflesophisticated.

AwarethatSaschawa.s.seething,Doroteachangedthesubject.

PeterandTirlaslippedoutoftheroom.

"Howcomeyou'reallowedtogotothemallallthetime?"PeteraskedTirla,enviousofherfreedom.Hewasneverallowedtogoanywhereonhisown.

Tirlashrugged."Oh,theytriedtotellmehowdangerousitwas."Shegiggled."AsifIdidn'tknowhowtotakecareofmyselfinanyoldLinear.Particularlyonea.s.straightastheoneshereinJerhattan."

"Andyougowheneveryouwant?"

"Nearlyeveryday."Shec.o.c.kedherheadathim."YoueverbeentotheOldFashionedParlorofGastronomicalDelights?"

"Me?"Peterthumpedhishandagainsthischest,thengrimaced.Hestilldidn'thavethesmallmusclecontrolneededtousejustathumborafinger.Hewasfeelingaggrievedonseveralcounts."Oh,IheardabouttheParlor."Hepretendedindifference,b.u.t.thenhisposefaltered."Isitreallythatgood?"

"Good?"Tirla'senthusiasmbubbledoutofher."It'sspectacular.

Youwouldn'tbelievetheconcoctionstheyserve."Themost,'"shequotedfromthemenu,"'scrumptious,delectablemonstrositiesofconfectionsyou'lleverexperience.""SensingPeter'slonging,Tirladeliberatelyencouragedit."Anykindofflavoroficecream,3allhomemade,everytoppingknowntoman..."

"Andyoujustgo?".

"Sure.Whynot?It'sonlyfourstopsawayonthesubway."Shejerkedherthumbatthemurmurofadultvoicescomingfromthed.livingroom.

"Who'dmissusforhalfanhour,anyway?"Whenshesawthehesitationonhisface,sheaddedalmostchallengingly,"They'rebusy.We'dbebackbeforethey'dknowwe'dgone!"

ThatdecidedPeter,thoughheknewperfectlywellthathisphysicalcirc.u.mstanceswerefardifferentfromTirla's.Nevertheless,shewasyoungerthanhewas,andifshewasallowed,hewas,too.

Theyleftthehousebythesidedoor,TirlaskippingbesidePeterindelightathiscompany.Itwasgoingtobesuchfunshowinghimjusthowwellsheknewherwayaround.

petercouldsensehowpleasedTirlawastobeabletotakehimsomeplacefamiliartoherbutnewtohim.SohejustsmiledastheytooktheirseatsonthesubwayfromtheCenterplatform.OtherTalentsonthesamecargrinnedatthetwo,sendingtelepathicgreetingsandcongratulationstoPeter,whohadlearnedtoa.s.sumeamodestdemeanorinpublic,evenamongotherTalents.

Tirlawasdescribingingreatdetailherfavoritegastronomicaldelighttheonewithfourkindsoficecream,fourkindsoftoppings,fourkindsofnuts,andcherries,coconut,andmulticoloredsprinkles.

"Mymothertookmetoaplacelikethat,"Petersaid,"oh,alongtimeagonow.Formytenthbirthday.Mysistergoesalot;Mothersaysthat'swhysheha.s.spotssooften."

"Spots?"

"Pimples.Zits.Facialeruptions."

"Oh,"Tirlarepliedinatonethatexpressedunenlightenment.Peterimagedapimpledfaceather."Oh!Thatsort."Surrept.i.tiouslysheranherhandoverherface.

Peterlaughed."Youmaynevergetspots,Tirla,"Petersaidencouragingly."Theykeepusonahealthydietanyhow.Notsubbiefood."

"WhatwasFloridalike?"Tirlaasked.

PeterhadlearnedalotfromwatchingDaveLehardtanswerdifficultquestionstactfully.Sohetoldherabouttheflatlandandthepalmtrees,thesand,thegoodfood,thepool,andthesunbeds,andsheseemedquitecontentathisimplicationthatheandRhyssahadbeentakingaholiday.

Shea.s.sumedleadershipa.s.soonastheyreachedtherightstationandeagerlystartedrunningupthestepsaheadofhimbeforesherememberedhisdisability.Whenshestopped,hewasrightbesideher.

"Yourvacationdidyoualotofgood,didn't.i.t?"shesaid,andplowedonupward."Seethere'stheParlor,justinsidethemallentrance,"sheadded,pointing.

Neitheryoungsternoticedthattheirprogresswasbeingcloselyobservedbytwomen,justdescendingfromanelegantprivatehopperparkedonthemall'shelipad.Theshortermantookasmallblackinstrumentfromhispocketandpointeditatthem.

"Howexceedinglycareless.Neitherofthemhasbeenstranded!Iwantthemtaken!Especiallythatodiouslittleboy!Iwantnoslipup,noexcuses.Youwon'thavetoomuchtroublewiththeboy,buthiscompanionmustn'tbeallowedtospreada.n.a.larm.Doitasfastasyoucana.s.sembleacrew.HaveImademyselfplain?"

"Yes,sir."

Peterwasabletoshoutjustonce,hiscrymoreindignanttha.n.a.larmed.

ThenanominoussilencedescendeddespiteRhyssa'sattemptstoreestablishcommunications.Shewastednomoretimeonthesilencebutbroadcastonthewidestbandpossible.

ALERT,ALLTALENTS,ALLLEOPERSONNEL!PeterReidingermayhavebeenabducted.PresumablyinvicinityofOldFashionedParlor.Tirlawaswithhim.

TIRLA!Sascha'sblastwasnearlyasloudashers.

Complying!cameBoris'scalmingba.s.stone.Allunitsintheareaaretocommencesearchprocedures.Faxphotosofthechildrenarebeingdispatchedtoallvehicles.I'mproceedingimmediatelytoquestionanypossiblewitnesses.ThisisaTopPriority.

ThisisaGandHPriority!SaschaaddedwithbittervehemenceSirikit,whatdoesBudworthhaveonthestrandscanner?Therewasalongandstunnedpause.Ob,myG.o.d.IneverstrandedTirla.

Rhyssa?

Peterneither,wasRhyssa'shorrifiedreply.Howcouldwehavebeensostupid?

Youweren't,Doroteasaidinabracingtone.TheirIDbraceletscanbetracedfarmoreaccuratelythanastrandedkid.

TheexchangeshadtakenbaresecondswhileRhyssa,Sascha,andDoroteaspedtowardtheControlRoom,wherethemonitoringequipmentwould,theyhoped,beabletogivethemsomeindicationofwherethechildrenwere.

Budworthwasinfrontoftheappropriatescreen,hisfacetwistedbyangeranddistress."Braceletswerecutoff.Scannerhas'eminasewerdraininthemallhelilot."

"Oh,myG.o.d!"Sascha's.e.xclamationcameoutinasob,thenheshookhimself.Carmen,getinhere.Bertha,Auer,youcome,too.Dorotea,anychancethatyoucanreachTirla?

Ifyoucan't,I'mnotlikelyto.Therewasaqualityofineffablesorrowinherresponse.She'skeyedtoyoulikenooneelse.

"There'snothing,nothingthereatall,"Rhyssamurmured,hervoicebreaking."I'vealwaysbeenabletohearPeter'smind."

"Notifhe'sbeenanesthetized,mydear,"Doroteasaid."That'stheonlytimehecouldn'thearoranswer."ThenshespoketoSirikitonaverytightband.PhoneDaveLehardtandtellhimtogethereasfastasbecan.

Sirikit,herowneyesbleak,discreetlycomplied.

"C'mon,Bro,c'mon!Howlongdoesittakeyoursquadstogetmoving!"

Saschademanded,pacinganxiously.

TheTalentshadtowaitanotherfiveagonizingminutesbeforeBoriscontactedthem.

ThekidssatbythemselvesTirla'swellknownhere,andsheintroducedherfriend,Peter,toherusualwaitress.Shesawthemleavetheplace.ShecaughtaglimpseofthementeringasmallhopperwiththeTalentCenteremblem.Therewerefourmen,butshedidn'tseetheirfaces.Shedidn'tseeanythinG.o.dd,exceptthattheboywalkedfunnyandthenseemedtobea.s.sistedbyoneofthemen.Andno,shedidn'tnoticetheregistration.I'veanAPBonsmallhopperswithTalentemblemsinJerhattan,but.i.t'dbehelpfulifyourscannershavepickeduptheirbracelets.

Sascha:TheID'swerecutoff.Leftintheseweroutsidethemall.

Boris:Thatwouldbethefirstthing.So,canyoupicksomethingupyetonthestrandscanners?

Rhyssa,heavily:NeitherPeternorTirlawa.s.stranded.

Boris,exploding:Inthenameofallthat'sholy,whynot?ThetwomostimportantyoungTalents?Youhaveeveryonerunningaboutlikelunatics,strandingdumbsubbiekidsandpamperedhivechildren,andyoudon'tstrandPeterandTirla?Thesilencefollowinghisouthurstwasmoreeloquentthananythinghecouldhaveadded.

Rhyssabegantoweep,andDoroteatriedtocomforther,tactilelyandtelepathically.

Allright,then,Boriswentoninacalmertone.Wehavetoa.s.sumetheabductorsarefollowingtheirlatestprocedures.That'stheonlythingthatwouldaccountfortotaltelepathicsilence.Thekidswerega.s.sedThey'regoingtobestashedsomeplaceandinthoseneatlittlecoc.o.o.ns.

Sorry,Rhyssa,butI'mtooangrytobediplomatic.Sascha,haveyoucalledCarmenin?Myfindersareallonthecase.Somehow,we'llfnd'em.Thosekidsaresmart.Oncetheywakeup,they'llbeabletohelpusfndthem.

SuzandCa.s.sfurtherdampenedthespiritsoftheTalentsbyreportingthatinexcessofthirtychildrenineachResidentialhadbeensold,orjusttaken.Ranjit,workingcovertlyinResidentialW,alsoconfirmedevidenceofmoreactivityinthemallmarketsthancouldbediscreetlyignored.SuchscopeandaudacitywasmorethanLEOortheCenterhadantic.i.p.ated.AllhadhappenedsosmoothlyandsimultaneouslythatboththeCenterandLEOhadbeencaughtunawares.

"MysympathiesgoouttoRhyssaandtheotherTalents.It'sincrediblethattwovaluableyoungpeoplelikethatcouldalsobevulnerabletothisdespicablegroup,"thecitymanagertoldBoris,whopa.s.sedhermessageontoSaschaandRhyssa."Thishastoppriority,andalltheresourcesofthecityareatyourdisposal.Noeffortwillbespared.

IsthereanythingI,personally,cando?Offerareward?Tradeimmunityforinformation?"

"Getyourdepartmentheadsthinking,"BoristoldCityManagerTeresaAiello,"wheresuchasignificantnumberofchildrencouldbedetained.

I'vegoteveryavailablepersonontransportsurveillance.Theycan'thavebeenmovedoutoftheJerhattanarea,notinagrouporsingly.

Iputaholdonallrailfreightandeverycontainerisbeingexamined.Anycargoofasuspicioussizeisbeingopened.They'vegottobesomewherenearbyforawhile."

"Everyoneonthisstaffwillstartexaminingpossibilitiesunusedwarehouses,oldbuildings,undergroundstores,"Teresaa.s.suredBorisgrimly.

BorisRozninedidnothavequiteallhispeopleontransportdutyhehadagoodthirdpickingupasmanyladronesandsa.s.sinsashisteamsfoundinmallorfactoryareas.LEOmightjustluckoutanddislodgeacluefromanapprehensivesubbie.

"Peterisalive,isn'the?"Budworthasked,tooconcernedtobetactful.

"He'salive.It'snotadeadsilence,"Rhyssasaid,wincingatherchoiceofadjective,hervoicelowwithtension."Buthe'snotconscious."

"Nothingyet,Carmen?"Saschaaskedthefinder,whosehandswerestrokingthelockofTirla'shair.Shecouldnotmeethiseyesa.s.sheshookherheadslowly.