The Wings Of Pegasus Part 9

"Now,it'snotasbadasthat,"opOwensaidfirmly."Infact,stopfeelingguiltyandlookattheverypositivesideRuthactuallyhasbeenabletosuppressyourstrongTalent."

"Andthat'spositive?"

"Yes.TheunderlyingproblemisRuth'slackofTalent.Wenowcanproveconclusivelythatshehasone.Shehasdemonstrateditsuperbly.

Severefrustrationoftenbreaksdownblocks.Andshe'shadthat."

"Ofcourse."Lajos'sfacebegantolightup."Whoa.Yousaidshedoesn'tknowshe'sdoingit?"

"I'veproofforher.Andthefurtherproofwillbetherenewalofyourprecogs.I'llhaveatalkwithherandstraightenthisouttoday."

HemadethecallasLajosleft.TherewasmoretotheproblemofRuthHorvaththantouchedthelittlefamily.Ifyoudon'ttellallyouknow,howmuchisenough?opOwenwondered.

"Allright,I'mforcedtobelieveyou,"Ruthsaid,herdefensivenesswaningunderopOwen'sgentleredirection,becauseshealsocouldnotdenytheevidenceofthegraphs:ofthatremarkable,infinitesimalvariationthathadtobeanIncident.

DaffydopOwenfelthimselfbegintorelaxwithheradmission.Hehadknownitwouldbeastormyconfrontation:onereasonwhyhehadnotdelayedit.RuthhadbeenappalledbytheknowledgethatshehadsubconsciouslyblockedLajos.ShefinallyadmittedthatDoroteascaredher:thatshehadlostalljoyinherdaughterandwasterrifiedofpredisposingthechildtowardsher.

"Yes,Ihavetobelieveyou,"sherepeated,notbotheringtostifleresentment,"but.i.t'saprettypoorexcuseofaTalent,"sheaddedbitterly,"ifallIcandoisblockmyhusband's,andnotevenknowI'mdoingthat."

"Onthecontrary,"opOwenrepliedwithalaugh,"it's.e.xactlytheoneyouneedthemost...appliedproperly."

Ruthglaredathim,waitingpointedlyforanexplanation.

"You'veastrongmoralcode,Ruth.Youwouldnotpermityourselftoactagainstyourdaughter,thoughherTalentfrightenedyou.Butyouwillhavetowaivethatmostlaudableprinciple.UntilDoroteahasdevelopedsufficientdiscretiontohandlehermentalgift,youaregoingtohavetoblockit."

Ruthblinkedinsurpriseandthenhereyesbrightened,hermouthformedan"O"ofastonishmenta.s.shebegantounderstand.

"Ofcourse.Ofcourse,Iunderstand."Tearsofreliefwelledinhereyes."Oh,ofcourse."

OpOwensmiledather."Yes,Doroteacannotbepermittedtodipintoanymindshechooses.Youmustrestrictherbyyourabilitytoblock.

Youwon'tneedmuchpressuretodissuadeherfrombroadcastingoreavesdropping."

"Butwon'tDorotearesent.i.t?Imean,she'llfeelmedoingit,won'tshe?"

"Allchildrenrequirelimits.Wantthem.Aslongasthoselimitsareconsistentandreasonable,achildasawareasDoroteaofherparents'approvalandaffectionwon'tresist.Inanyevent,bythetimeshecould,orwould,weshallhavebeenabletoinstilldiscretionandyourmoralcode.Rightnow,Ruth,youhaveallthat'srequiredtokeepDoroteafrombecominganuisanceandabrat."

Ruthinstantlyreactedwithindignationtohiscalculatedinsultandthenlaugheda.s.sherecognizedthebait.Shelefthisofficeconsiderablyrea.s.sured,onceagainatharmonywithhersituation.

OpOwenenviedherthatcarefreea.s.surance.Hestilldidn'tknowwhattocallwhatshe'ddone.Yes,shehadsuppressedLajos'sprecogoverthelastsixweeks,butinthefourmonthspriortothatLajos'sabilitieshadincreasedinstrengthandefficiencyand,exceptfordurationandwidth,byasimilarapplicationofpsioniceffortonRuth'spart.WhatdidherTalentactuallyaffect?Andwouldit,ashehadsoblithelya.s.suredher,beableto"block"Dorotea?

Well,ifshethinksshecan,shewill.Atleastsheisnolongerafraidofherprecociouschild,hethought.Heswunghischairround,gazingoutatthepeacefulviewofthegroundsofBeechwoods,seeingthecitybeyondwithitsspires,towersandlivingblocks.

WasIrightinmya.n.a.logythatTalentisinitsinfancy,andthepublicistheparent?Withthedutytoblocktheundisciplinedchild?TheTalentsaremoredisciplinedthattheaveragecitizenweoftenhavetosearchoutandrebuke,protectandcherish.Itwouldbecatastrophicfortheparenttofearthechild.Howmuchofthewholetruthwouldrea.s.sure,asithadRuth?

Thosewhotrulyunderstandpsionicpowersneednoexplanation.Thosewhoneedexplanationwillneverunderstand.

Twomorningslater,whilereviewingcontractscoveringinst.i.tutionsholdinggovernmentresearchgrants,Lajos.e.xperiencedoneofhisstrongestIncidents.Sopowerfulwastheflamefearthat.i.twasallhecoulddotopulltheGooseggrecordingwebtohisskullanddepressthekeythatwouldrelaythereadingbacktotheCenter.

"Flames!"hesaid,gasping;hismindreeledwiththepanoramicintensepreview.

"Where?"hewasprompted.

"Asheet,infrontofahugewindow,overlooking...thegrounds.

Rhododendrons.Redones.Theclockinthechurchtower...nearlytwelve.Toomuchheat!Theconverterisflawed.It'llblow.Therearesomanypeoplewatching.Theydon'tbelongthere."Lajoswasabstractedlycuriousatthesoundofindignationinhisvoice."Theycausedthefire.Meddling.Iknowhim!"Lajosstruggledtogetaclearpictureofthatface.

"Youdon'tlikehim.Whoishe?"

"Ahhh...theflames.Obscuringeverything."Lajosfellbackinhischair,shakenandsweating.

"CanyoumakeittotheCenter?I'llsendtransport,"thedutyofficersaid.

BythetimeLajosreachedthecomputerroomintheCenter,thesystemwasalreadychucklingawayatthedetails,locatingwhichlaboratorieshadscheduledvisitorsinthea.m.:laboratoriesusingheatconverters.

Thechurchclocktowersuggestedacollegesothatdatawasaddedaswellastheplantingofredrhododendrons.

OpOwengreetedLajoswithagrinofapproval."Thatwasthemostintensepatternyou'veeverprojected.Haveyouanyideawhythatpremonitionshouldaffectyouso?"

"None,sir,"Lajosreplied,takingtheseatopOwenindicated.Hewa.s.stillshaken.

"Themanyouknew:hewa.s.someoneyouobviouslydislike.Doyouhavetheimpressionthatyou'vemethimpersonally?"

"No.Irecognizedhisface,that'sall.Thentheflamesleapedup."

"Wedon'thavemuchtime,"andopOwen'seyesglancedtowardsthewallclock,registeringquartertoeleven."Yourprecogcameat10:12.

Unfortunatelythisappearstobeappropriationtimeandeverylabinthecountryishavingitsshareofvisitations.Iwanttoplaybackyouranswer,Lajos.Iwa.s.struckbytwothingsandifyoucanpinpointthemalso,we'llhavethe'where'atleast."

"Anything."Lajoscouldseethevividoverprintoftheflamesinhismindandtriedtoseebeyondtheirobscuringcurtain."Andoneday,figureoutwhyIhaveapyroaffinity."

"Keepsinsurancerateslow,Horvath,"Welchsaiddrilyasherewoundthetape."Don'tknocksmallfavors."

Lajoslistenedasobjectivelyashecould,appalledattheoddwoodenqualityofhisvoice,thefearwhenhementionedtheflames.

"I'vegot.i.t,sir,"hesaid."Theconverter,thelab,thechurchtower.Knowingthatthepeopledidn'tbelongthere.Whereveritis,isfamiliartome."

"Charlie,"Welchspokeoverhisshouldertotheprogrammer,"addHorvath'splaceandtravelcard."

Almostimmediatelyaprintoutappeared.

"Sir,it'sNorthEastUniversity.Checksout,clockinchurchtower,visiblefromresearchlaboratorywhichusesaheatconverter."

"Anyvisitorsscheduledtoday?"

"Noreportonthatyet,sir,b.u.t.theydohaveagovernmentfundedresearchprojectinneoproteinandsubcellularengineering."

"Checktheuniversitydirect,"WelchsaidafteranodfromopOwen.

"Onlylimit.i.ttoarequestaboutvisitors,"opOwenadded."Therewa.s.somethingelseIwanttocheckfirst."

"Excuseme,sir,"CharlesbrokeinasopOwenliftedhisdeskphone.

"Severalpartiesareexpectedduringthecourseoftheday.Dr.Rizorwishestospeaktoyou."

"Whenyourofficeputsinaguardedcall,DaffydopOwen,I'mcurious.

Comeclean."

"Henry,wearenotalarmists..."

"Precisely.So...?"

"We'vehadavalidIncidentthatappearsplacedatNorthEast.Severalofthedetailshavenotcoincided,however.Wearefallibleyouknow."

Rizor'ssnortwasderogatory."What'stherestoftheprecog?"

"Itcentersaroundtheheatconverterinthelabbuildingoppositethechurchtower."

"And?G.o.d,it'slikepullingnailsfromyou,Dave."

"Theheatconvertermaybefaulty.Theprecogwasthat.i.twillblowduetoasuddenhotlabfire,justbeforenoon,whilevisitorsareonthepremises."

"I'dhateforsomethingtohappentherenow,Dave.We'reonthevergeofabreakthroughintheneoproteins.Runningteststhatareawfullygood.Butnovisitorsareexpectedthere."

"Thenavariablehasalreadyalteredtheprecog."

"That'stooglibadismissal,Dave.Whywouldalabfirestimulateyourprecog?Ididn'tthinktheyusuallyworkedoutoftheirownarea."

"Ourprecogrecognizedoneofthevisitors."

WelchsignaledurgentlytoopOwen.

"Look,Dave,"Rizorwa.s.saying,"I'mtakingnochances.I'llhavethatconvertercheckedandthebuildingcleared.That'llaltercirc.u.mstances,too.BesidesIdon'twantvisitorsinthatbuildinguntilwecompletetheprogram.Abreakthroughwillwarrantgovernmentfundingallnextyear.Iappreciateyourcalling,Dave.LetmeknowwhenIcanhelpagain."

WelchwaspracticallyapoplecticbeforeopOwenhungup.

"WashingtonsentinanurgentpersonalprecogforMansfieldZeusman!"

"That'swhoIsaw,"Lajoscried,jumpingtohisfeet.

"GetSenatorZeusman'sofficeonthephone,Charlie,anddon'tindicatetheorigin,"opOwensaid.

"Dave,"andLesWelchhadapeculiarexpressiononhislongface,"he'sthelastpersontowarn.One,hewon'tbelieveyou.Two,he'sourprinc.i.p.alantagonist.Letthatd.a.m.nedheroperish."

"Les,youhaveadrysenseofmisplacedhumor."

"I'mpracticalasallh.e.l.l,too,"Welchadded.

"CanyoutellmeifSenatorZeusmanis.e.xpectedintheofficethismorning?"Charlie'svoicecarriedclearlyinthetensesilence."Oh,Isee.Canyoutellmewhereheplanstobeinthemorninghours?

Butsurely,heleftanitinerary?Thankyou."Charlie'svoicewaswoodenandhisfaceexpressionless."Heisnotintheoffice.Thea.s.sistantisaveryrude,uncouthb.u.mptioustwit."

"Ifhe'snotintheoffice,"opOwensaid,"he'scollegehoppinghimandthatResearchAppropriationsCommitteeofhis.He'stheslykindisZeusman,lovestoarriveunannounced."

"HecouldbeonhiswaytoNorthEastthen,"Lajossaid.

OpOwentoldCharlietogetRizorbackontheline.

"Sir,"Charliereported,concerned,"Dr.Rizorhaslefthisoffice.

Isthereamessage?"

OpOwenpickedupanextensionphone."MissGalt?DaffydopOwenhere.WehavereasontobelievethatSenatorMansfieldZeusmanwillpayanunscheduledvisittoyourcampusbeforenoon.w.i.l.l.youpleaseinformDr.Rizorimmediately?Good.Thankyou.IcanbereachedattheCenteronaprioritycallbasis.Yes,thesituationcouldbeconsideredcritical."

Lajosfelthimselfunwindatriflebuthisapprehensiondidnotcompletelyabate.HesmiledweaklyatopOwen.

"Paradoxtime."

"Howso,lad?"

"Dr.Rizorbelieves.Heisalreadyalteringthecirc.u.mstancesIforesaw.Wemayhaveundoneourselves!"

OpOwen'seyesflashed."AttheriskofZeusman'slife,andthatofhowmanyothersyousawintheprecog?"

"No,sir,Ididn'tmeanitthatway,"Lajosreplied,stungbyopOwen'sscorn."Imean,thatfirecan'thappennowbecauseRizorwillpreventZeusmanfromenteringthelab."

"I'dstillprefertoseethatsparrowfall!"Welch's.m.u.tterwasclearlyaudible.

OpOwenswunghischairinidlehalfarcsbuthiseyesremainedonhisdissidentengineer.

"Iamnotintheleasttempted,gentlemen,"hesaidinhisusualeasyvoice."WearenotG.o.d.NorarewetryingtoreplaceG.o.d.Thepsionicartsarepreventive,notmiraculous.Wearefallible,andbecauseofthatfallibilitywehavetobescrupulouslyimpartial,andtrytohelpanymanoursensestouch,whoeverhemaybe,wheneverwecan.Lajosisright.Wehavealready..."

"Sir,"Charlie'sinterruptionwasapologeticbutdetermined,"twomoredangerprecogsinvolvingMansfieldZeusman.OnefromDeltaandoneinQuebec.NeithercouldgetthroughtoZeusmanandareapplyingtous."

OpOwenlookedasifhemightbeswearingsilently.Heglancedupattheclock,itshandsinexorablyhalfwaypasteleven.

"Wehaven'talteredthefutureenough,"Lajossaidwithagroan.

"Charlie,alertallrescueteamsintheNorthEastarea,"opOwensaid,hiswordscrispbutcalm."I'lltryforRizor.Les,getLajosasedative.Henry,f;mgladIcouldreachyou..."

"Don'tworryaboutathing,"Dr.Rizorrepliedcheerily."I'veacrewcheckingtheconverterandthebuildingiscompletelyofflimits.

What'sthisMissGaltsaysaboutZeusmanpayingusanunexpectedvisit?"

"Evidencepointsinthatdirection,andwe'venewprecogsofdangerforhim."

"Look,we'reallsethere,Dave,"Rizortoldhiminaneasydrawl."Noonecanpa.s.sthegatewithoutcheckingthroughmyofficeand...Oh,no!No!"