Pegasus In Space

Watari paused. "We are required to deliver mail from bona fide relations on the authorized list accompanying the detention order."

"Would you kindly copy us that list?" Boris asked.

A flick of Watari's fingers sent the major to another console where such a list was generated. A small window appeared on the Padrugoi screen and Dash Sakai was quick to trigger the copy icon.

"I can't believe that we forgot about Shimaz, Peter," Rhyssa said, taking advantage of the lull to speak. She had been watching him intently, initially relieved by the glint of exhilaration in his thin face. He had come through a testing time and stood up well to the challenge. She was inwardly seething that that dreadful Malaysian prince had resurfaced.

"I'm not likely to see him, Rhyssa," Peter said with a wry smile. "The prison wing is not on my agenda. Anyway I'm keeping my shields up." He smiled reassuringly.

Rhyssa. She stared and the little smile on Peter's face turned up in one comer. Did you hear me speak your name? Just nod your head once.

PETER! Rhyssa gripped the arms of her chair in shocked amazement. She managed to nod.

Don't worry, Dorotea was saying, evidently totally unaware that Peter was also 'pathing Rhyssa. Peter's "voice" was clearer. Shimaz can't get to Peter.

No need to shout, Rhyssa. I can hear you perfectly. You know I can use gestalt with any generator, Peter went on.

WHY ARE YOU DOING IT NOW? She was aware that that was an inane question.

First, I wanted to thank you for that shout of yours. It saved our lives, you know. And second, I've just never had the occasion to try to link from this distance. His mental tone rippled with amusement and a certain satisfaction.

Rhyssa had difficulty coping with what he said. Then she felt Dorotea's hand close on hers, the concern the older woman was feeling, and was severely disoriented. She agitatedly waved her hand to still Dorotea's voice in her mind so she could concentrate on hearing Peter, not quite digesting the fact that Peter's mental tone was much stronger than that of the woman sitting beside her.

I can hear you very, very clearly, Rhyssa. Peter modulated his voice as if encouraging her not to scream at him. Now I know what Madlyn must have sounded like when she was just learning.

PE-ter and between one syllable and the next, Rhyssa exercised stem control and lowered her tone. She exhaled deeply. Is it just me you're talking to?

Yup! And he winked. Dorotea knows you're upset. She thinks it's about Shimaz.

You can read her all the way from First Base?

I can see her on the screen. But I shouldn't 'path more or the engineering gauges here at First Base may just start spiking with my usage. Perhaps we should both concentrate on this meeting.

Peter, don't leave me.

Now we've made contact, I'm never more than a thought away. And the mental chuckle he sent her was mischievously self-satisfied.

Dorotea's elbow nudged Rhyssa's ribs. Don't worry about that monster, Rhyssa. Watari's the last man in the world who would let that scuzball near Peter.

Rhyssa shook her head and smiled reassuringly at Dorotea.

"I know Peter's safe," Rhyssa whispered, patting Dorotea's hand. She could not, however, keep her mind on the comments about the condition and readiness of Limo-34 being exhaustively discussed. She took surreptitiously deep breaths to control her mental ferment. Not only had she been able to reach him in the Limo, but also Peter had now been able to make telepathic contact with her when she was some four hundred thousand kilometers away from him? The rarnifications of such a range boggled her mind. 'Pathing was not Peter's strongest parapsychic suit so if he could do this… Oh, Lord! she thought, reeling slightly in the chair. How else had his range broadened when he'd had to save the Limo? Was a dire circumstance the catalyst required to release Talent from inhibition? As Johnny Greene had saved himself from sure death in that etop crash? Would Peter know how he'd done it? asked another part of her brain. She shook her head. She'd had no real details about the extent of the sabotage now being discussed. She must concentrate on that. She could think of this astonishing development later.

"The release clips of the escape pods had been epoxied shut," Watari was saying, reading from his notepad. "Only one airlock is functional; the tail assembly must be replaced. The old Mylar has to be scraped off before a new coating can be applied. The sabotaged MPUs will be sent back to you so that you can compare our findings with yours."

"So, when," Admiral Coetzer broke in, "will the general and Peter be able to return here?"

Watari blinked. "We do have two other Limos at First Base," he replied in a slightly injured tone as if the admiral should have known. "As soon as Mr. Reidinger has completed his survey," and Watari turned to the young man in question. Rhyssa thought there was a respectful dimension in his manner toward Peter, "we will have a totally secured shuttle to send him and General Greene back to Padrugoi."