The Wings Of Pegasus Part 15

Websterranouttocontrolthevehicles.Peopleturnedcuriously.

Stoppedandstaredafterthetrio.

"Don't,"opOwensaidashesawGillingsmoveahandtowardsthebullhorn."There'snothingwrongwithherhearing."

Orleybegantomovefasternowthathehadreachedthefartherside.

Hewantedtogorightthroughinterveningbuildings.

"Guidehimlefttothesidewalk,Heis,"opOwensaid."Ithinkhe'sstillamenable.Heisn'trunningyet."

"He'sbreathinghard,Mr.Owen,"Heissoundeddubious."Andhisfaceischanging."

OpOwennoddedtohimself,alltoofamiliarwiththestartlingphenomenonofwatchingtheblanknessofOrley'sfacetakeonthecla.s.sicmaskofwhateveremotionshewasreceiving.Itwouldbeaparticularlyunnervingtransitionundertheseconditions.

"Whatdoesheshow?"

"I'dsay...hatred,"Heis'svoicedroppedonthelastword.Thenheaddedinhisusualtone,"He'ssmiling,too,anditisn'tnice."

TheyhadeasedOrleytothesidewalkheadingwest.Hekeptpus.h.i.+ngWebstertotherightandhis.p.a.ceincreaseduntilitwasclosetoarun.WebsterandHeisbegantogesturepeopleoutoftheirwaybut.i.twoulds...o...b..obvioustotheneighborhoodthatsomethingwasamiss.

Woulditbebettertolandmorepolicetorea.s.surepeopleandkeeptheiremanationsdown?Orwouldtheybroadcasttoomuchsuppressedexcitementatpoliceinterference?She'dcatchthat.ShouldhewarnHeisandWebstertokeeptheirthoughtsonHaroldOrley?Orwouldthatbelikewarningthemagainstallthoughtsofthecamel'sleftknee?

Orleybrokeintoarun.WebsterandHeiswerehardputtokeephimtothesidewalk.

"What'sinthenextblock?"opOwenaskedGillings.

TheCommissionerconsultedthemap,holdingitjustabovethescannersohecouldkeeponeeyeonthetriobelow.

"Residencesandanareaparkingfacilityforinterstatetrucking."

GillingsturnedtoopOwennow,hisheavyeyebrowsraisedinquestion.

"No,she'sstilltherebecauseOrleyishominginonherprojection."

"Lookathisface!MyG.o.d!"Heis.e.xclaimedoverthehandunit.Onthescreen,hisfigurehadstopped.HewaspointingatOrley.ButWebster'sfacewasclearlyvisibletothesurveillersandwhathesawunnervedhim.

Orleybrokefromhisguides.Hewasrunning,slowlyatfirstbutgatheringspeedsteadily,mindlesslybrus.h.i.+ngasideanythingthatstoodinhisway.HeisandWebsterwentafterhimbutbothmenwereshakingtheirheadsasifsomethingwerebotheringthem.

Orleytriedtoplungethroughabrickstorewall.Hebouncedoffit,sawtheunimpededviewofhisobjectiveandchargedforward.Websterhaddartedaheadofhim,blowinghiswhistletostoptheoncomingtraffic.Heisalternatelyyelledintothehandunitandatstartledbystanders.Nowsomeofthemwereafflictedandweregrabbingtheirheads.

"Putusontheroof,"opOwentoldthepilot."Gillings,getmentocovereveryentranceandexittothatparkinglot.Getthecopterstohoverbytheopenlevels.Themen'llbesparedsomeofthelash."

Itwouldn'tdomuchgood,opOwenrealized,evenashefeltthefirstshockofthegirl'sawarenessofimminentdanger.

"Closeyourmind,"heyelledatthepilotandGillings."Don'tthink."

"Myhead,myhead."ItwasHeisgroaning.

"ConcentrateonOrley,"opOwensaid,hishandsgoingtohistemplesinreactiontotheknottingpressure.Heis'sfigureonthescannerstaggeredafterOrleywhohadnowenteredtheparkingfacility.

OpOwencaughtthementalpressureanddispersedit,projectingbackrea.s.surance/help/protection/compa.s.sion.HecouldforgiveherGilGracie'sdeath.SowouldanyTalent.Ifshewouldinstantlysurrender,somehowtheCenterwouldprotectherfromthelegalaspectsofheract.Onlysurrendernow.

Someonescreamed.Anothermanechoedthatpiercingcry.Thecopterbuckedandjoltedthem.Thepilotwasgroaningandgasping.Gillingsplungedforward,grabbingthecontrols.

OpOwen,fightinganincrediblebattle,wasblindtophysicalrealities.Ifhecouldjustoccupyalltheattentionofthatoverchargedmind...holditlongenough...pain/fear/black/red/moiledorange/purples...breathing...shock.Utterdisbelief/fear/lossofconfidence.Franticphysicaleffort.

Concretesc.r.a.pedopOwen'scheek.Hisfingersbledasheclawedatalockedsteelexitdoorontheroof.Hecouldnotenter.HebadtoreachherFIRST!

Somehowhisfeetfoundthestairsashepropelledhimselfdownthefireescape,deliberatelynumbinghismindtotheintensivepoundingreceived.Apoundingthatbecameaudible.

Thenhesawher,fingersclawingforleverageonthestairpost,footpoisedforthestepfromthelanding.Atoothinadolescentfigure,frozenforasecondwithindecisionandshock;strandsofblackhairlikeviciousscarsacrossathinface,distortedanduglyfromthetremendousphysicalandmentaleffortsofthefranticwill.Herhugeeyes,blackwithinsanefuryandterror,bloodshotwithdespairandthesaltysweatofherdesperatestrivingforescape,lookedintohis.

Sheknewhimforwhathewas;andherhatredcrackledinhismind.

ThosewordsafterGilGracie'sdeathhadbeenhers,nothisdistressedimagining.Shehadknowhimthenasherrealantagonist.Onlynowwasheforcedtorecognizeherforwhatshewas,allshewasandregrettably,allshewouldnotbe.

Hefoughttheinexorabledecisionofthatsplitsecondconfrontation,wantingmorethananythingelseinhislifethat.i.tdidnothavetobeso.

Shewasthewiser!Shewhirled!

Shewa.s.suddenlybeyondtheheavyfiredoorwithoutopeningit.HaroldOrley,chargingupthestairsbehindher,hadnosuchTalent.Hecrashedwithsickeningforceintothemetaldoor.Daffydhadnoalternative.Shehadteleported.Hesteadiedthetelempath,depressedthelockbarandthrewthedoorwide.

Orleywasaftertheslenderfigurefleeingacrossthedimlylit,lowceilingconcretefloor.Shewasheadingtowardsthedownrampnow.

"Stop,stop,"opOwenheardhisvoicebeggingher.

Heiscamestaggeringfromthestairway.

"Shoothim.ForChrist'ssake,shootOrley,Heis,"opOwenyelled.

Heiscouldn'tseemtocoordinate.OpOwentriedtopushasidehisfumblinghandsandgrabthetrankgunhimself.Heis'strainedreflexesmadehimclingallthetightertohisweapon.Justthen,opOwenheardthegirl'sdespairingshriek.

Twomenhadappearedatthetopoftheramp.Theybothfired,thedullreportsoftrankpistolsaccentuatedbyherchokedgasp.

"Nother.ShootOrley.Shoottheman,"opOwencriedbut.i.twastoolate.

Evenasthegirlcrumpledtothefloor,Orleygrabbedher.Grabbedandtoreandbeatatthesourceoftheemotionswhichsodisturbedhim.

Beatandtoreandstampedherphysicallya.s.shehada.s.saultedhimmentally.

Orley'sbodyjerkedastranks.h.i.+thimfromallsides,but.i.ttookfartoolongforthemtooverridetheadrenalreactionsoftheoverchargedtelempath.

TherewaspainandpityaswellashorrorinGillings'seyeswhenhecamerunningontothelevel.Thepolicestoodatadistancefromthebloodspatteredbodies.

"Gawd,couldn'tsomeonehavestoppedhimfromgettingher?"thecopterpilotmurmured,turningawayfromtheshapelessbloodiedthinghalfcoveredbyOrley'sunconsciousbody.

"ThedoorwouldhavestoppedOrleybuthe,"andHeisgrimlypointedatopOwen,"openeditforhim."

"Sheteleportedthroughthedoor,"opOwensaidweakly.Hehadtoleanagainstthewall.Hewasbeginningtoshudderuncontrollablyfromreaction."Shehadtobestopped.Now.Here.Beforesherealizedwhatshe'ddone.Whatshecoulddo."Hiskneesbuckled."Sheteleportedthroughthedoor!"

UnexpectedlyitwasGillingswhocametohisaid,aGillingswhosemindwasnolongers.h.i.+eldedbutbroadcastingcompa.s.sionandawe,andunderstanding.

"Sodidyou."

ThephrasebarelyregisteredinopOwen'smindwhenhepa.s.sedout.

"That'sallthatremainsofthelateSolangeBoshe,"Gillingssaid,tossingthefilereeltothedesk."Asmuchofherlifeaswe'vebeenabletopiecetogether.Gypsiesdon'tstaylonganywhere."

"There'resomeleft?"LesterWelchasked,frowningatthethree-inchcondensationoffifteenyearsofahumanlife.

"Ohthereare,Ia.s.sureyou,"Gillingsreplied,histonesouringslightlyforthefirsttimesincehehadenteredtheoffice."ThetapealsohasalengthyinterviewwithBillJones,thecousinthesocialworkerlocatedafterSolangehadrecoveredfromthebronchialpneumonia.Hehadnoidea,"Gillingshastilya.s.suredthem,"thattherewasanyreasonotherthanaroutinecheckonthewhereaboutsofarunawaycountyward.Hehadahunch,"andGillingsgrimaced,"thatthefamilyhadgoneontoToronto.Theyhad.Healsothoughtthattheyhadprobablygiventhegirlupfordeadwhenshecollapsedonthestreet.TheTorontoreportsubstantiatesthat.SoIdon'timagineitwillsurpriseyou,opOwen,thathertribe,accordingtoJones,aretheonlyonesstillmakingalivingatfortunetelling,palmreading,tealeavesandthatbit."

"Now,justaminute,Gillings,"Lesterbegan,bristling.HesubsidedwhenhesawthathisbossandthePoliceCommissionerweregrinningateachother.

"So...justasyoususpected,opOwen,shewasafreakTalent.Weknowfromthewardnursesthatshewatchedyourpropagandabroadcastsduringherhospitalization.Wecana.s.sumethatshewasawareofthesearcheitherwhenGilGracie'found'thecoat,orwhenthedefinitefixwasmade.It'snothardtoguesshermotivationinmakingtheheistinthefirstplace,norherinstinctivedesiretohide."

Gillingsgavehisheadanabruptviolentjerkandstoodup.Hestartedtoholdouthishand,rememberedandraiseditinafarewellgesture.

"Youarecontinuingthosebroadcasts,aren'tyou?"

LesterWelchglaredsobalefullyattheCommissionerthatopOwenhadtochuckle.

"Withcertaindeletions,yes."

"Good.Talentmustbeidentifiedandtrained.TrainedyoungandwelliftheyaretousetheirTalentproperly."GillingsstaredopOwenintheeye."TheBoshegirlwasbad,opOwen,badclearthrough.ListentowhatJonessaidaboutherandyouwon'tregretTuesdaytoomuch.

Sometimestheyoungareinflexible,too."

"Iagree,Commissioner,"Daffydsaid,escortingthemantothedoorascalmlyasifhehadn'theardwhatGillingswasthinkingsoclearly.

"AndweappreciateyourhelpinthecoveryarnsthatexplainedTuesday'soddoccurrences."

"Acaseofmutualunderstanding,"Gillingssaid,hiseyesglinting.

"Oh,noneedtoseemeout.Icanopenthisdoor."

ThatdoorwasnosoonerfirmlyshutbehindhimthanLesterWelchturnedonhissuperior.

"Andjustwhowa.s.scratchingwhosebackthen?"hedemanded."Don'tyoudarecomeoverinnocent,either,DaffydopOwen.Twodaysagothatmanwasyourenemy,bristlingwithenoughhateanddistrusttoantagonizeme."

"RememberwhatyousaidaboutGillingsTuesday?"

"There'sbeenanawfullotofidlecommentaroundherelately."

"FrankGillingsistelepathic."ThenheaddedasLesterwaschokingonthenews:"Andhedoesn'twanttobe.Sohe'ssuppressedit.

Naturallyhe'dbeantagonistic."

"Hah!"

"He'snottooold,buthe'snotflexibleenoughtoadapttoTalent,havingdenieditsolong."

"I'llbuythat.Butwhatwasthatpartingshot'Icanopenthisdoor'?"

LestermimickedtheCommissioner'sdeepvoice.

"I'mtoooldtolearnnewtricks,too,Les.Iteleportedthroughtheroofdoorofthatparkingfacility.Hesawmedoit.Andshesawthememoryofitinmymind.Ifshe'dlived,she'd'vepickedmymindclean.AndIdidn'twanthertodie."

OpOwenturnedabruptlytothewindow,tryingtoletthetranquillityofthescenerestorehisequilibrium.ItdiduntilhesawHaroldOrleyploddingalongthepathwithhisguide.Instantlyawhite,wideeyed,hairstreakedfacewa.s.superimposedovertheview.

Theintercombeepedandhedepressedthekeyforhissanity'ssake.

"We'vegotaliveone,Boss,"andSallyIselin'sgayvoicerestoredhim."Astrongprecogwithkineticpossibilities.Andguesswhat?"

Sally's.e.xcitementmadehervoicebreathless."Hesaidthecoponhisbeattoldhimtocomein.Hedoesn'twantanymoretroublewiththecopssohe..."

"WouldhisnamebeBillJones?"

"Howeverdidyouknow?"

"Andthat'snoprecog,Sally,"opOwensaidwithaghostofalaugh,awarehewasbeginningtolookforwardagain."Asurething'snoprecog,isitLes?"

PARTFOUR

ABRIDLEFORPEGASUS.

JulianPennstrak,JerhattanCityManager,DaffydopOwen,DirectoroftheEastAmericanParapsychicCenter,andFrankGillings,CommissionerofLawEnforcementandOrder,hadgatheredinthelatter'soffice:anappropriatesettingasthefoursidesofthetowerofficeweretoughplexigla.s.ssotheoccupantshadafullpanoramicviewofthecitytheymanagedorforesawandprotected.

"TheMaggieOaffairwasnotwithoutsomereward,"DaffydopOwenremindedtheothertwo."Her...relation...inwhateverdegreeofcousins.h.i.+pBillJonesstood...isprovingtobeasoundprecog."

Gillingsgruntedandrubbedthesideofhisfleshynose,registeringskepticism.

"Halfacitysemiparalyzedwithblindingheadaches,twodead,andalotofpubliclyingandyousaytherewa.s.somereward!"

"Youdotendtoadoptanegativeatt.i.tude,don'tyou,Frank?"theCityManagerremarked,halfamused.HewaswatchingopOwenfromthecornerofhiseye.HeknewthattheDirectoroftheParapsychicCenterhadbeendeeplyshakenbythedeathsofGilGracieandSolangeBoshe,a.k.a.MaggieO.AndthecurioussparringbetweenGillingsandopOwendatedfromthatincident:theonegrudgingadmirationandtheotherexhibitingwistfulregret.Well,Pennstrakpossessedacertainempathyhimselfwhichtoldhimnottodelvetoodeeplyintothedenouementofthatincident.Sufficeittosay,thetruthaboutMaggie'ssuddenriseanddemisehadbeensuccessfullyobscuredfrompublicnoticeand,ifDaffydweresatisfiedthatsomeprofitexistedontheblacksideoftheledger,theCityManagerwouldbecontent."Nonetheless,"JulianPennstrakcontinued,"theProfessionalImmunityLawisnow,asofyesterday,programmedintoFederalBooksandStateLawMachinery.

What'syourproblemnow,Frank?"

"It'sthis:ifrenegadeslikeSolangeBoshecanexist,howdowesmell'emoutbeforetheycausetrouble?Now,"andhehelduphishandasDaffydopOwenopenedhismouthtospeak,"Iknowyou'vegotasubliminalTRIDprogramgoing,Dave,butjusthowsuccessfulisitinroutingouttheoddb.a.l.l.s?"