Pegasus In Space
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Talents #3
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Pegasus In Space». Краткое содержание книги:
For an overpopulated Earth whose resources are strained to the breaking point, there is only one place to look for relief: straight up. With the successful completion of the Padrugoi Space Station, humanity has at last achieved its first large-scale permanent presence in space. But there are those who, for motives of their own, want Padrugoi to fail. Standing in their way are the Talented, men and women gifted with extraordinary mental powers that have made them as feared as they are respected--and utterly indispensable to the colonization effort. Now, as sabotage and attempted murder strike the Station, it's up to the Talented to save the day. Only who is going to save the Talented?
Pegasus in Space is the tale of Peter Reidinger, first Tower Prime!
"You're not taking a vacation from your exercises, are you, Peter m'dear," Rhyssa said as she dunked her pastry in her coffee.
As if I'd have the chance with Martin, Mark, and Mike-three formidable M's-choreographing my 'week off,' Peter said with some asperity.
"Helping me in the garden is exercise," Amariyah said. "And I will massage you."
Peter grinned. "I've missed it, dear." He laid his right hand on hers and squeezed.
"That's much stronger," the girl said with all the solemn approval of an adult.
Very privately Peter wondered that these days people only felt free to mention his physical condition because his paralysis was being reversed.
Definitely I felt more heft in you, Peter, Dorotea added, then her eyes filmed briefly. Just as Amariyah did. Even squeezing for a hug. So telling. So reassuring.
Dorotea, Peter exclaimed, hiding what he had discovered about her body.
I suppose there's no indication yet how long it will take you?" Dorotea went on more briskly.
Peter replied meekly. I must work hard and not shirk my exercises no matter how painful." And if I'm a good boy, I should be fit for the marathon in October.
MARATHON? The two women exclaimed together.
"I will see that you do, Peter," Amariyah said.
You both know what I want the most, he said on an entirely sober note.
Dorotea nodded. Daily teleporting to the Moon has not been a strain on you with all that strenuous physical exercise?
A snap, Peter said, accepting the change of subject. If I can tune myself into the available generator, I can 'port it. Opening his perceptions wide, he watched Rhyssa's face to see her reaction to that very broad, if accurate, statement. He was surprised that she didn't take him up on that. She probably had more urgent problems. Just as well, since he hadn't completed his theory. He really would have to get back to those reports.
Would that it was true for more psychics, she said with a rueful expression in her eyes and a lift of one shoulder. Remember the basketball incident?
Yes, and Peter couldn't think why she would remind him.
One of the villains of the occasion, and then she spoke out loud.
"Scott Gates is demonstrating strong kinetic ability."
Sascha will be training him on the Gadriel gestalt, won't he?
Of course, and Rhyssa sounded surprised that he would question that.
Just how much, Peter wondered, would tuning into the Gadriel circuits alter telekinesis along the range of such abilities? Certainly it would alter the limits that he had to believe were self-imposed. Certainly he had proved that he could both 'port and 'path farther than anyone-including himself-had suspected. And Scott Gates would begin training on the Gadriel. Good!
"Scott helps me in the garden," Amariyah said. Then she frowned a bit. "I don't know why he volunteered, but I think he's coming to like it."
"He's only fourteen," Rhyssa said with a grin. "Sascha's got a lot of basic training to do before he can specialize. With all you have to do right now, Peter, you really won't have time for anything else."
"That's true," Peter admitted, but he didn't want to miss an opportunity to catch a Talent early enough.
"I'm training him, too," Amariyah put in.
"And doing a good job of it, I'm sure," Peter said, smiling at her.
"What are you up to, Peter Reidinger?" Dorotea asked, as blunt as ever.
"Yes, what?" Rhyssa reinforced the query.
He grinned at them both. "My prime directive from you, Rhyssa, has always been to find other kinetics who can make a gestalt." Remember that I was not quite Scott's age when I discovered it.
That is a good point, Rhyssa agreed. "You could certainly meet him, get his mettle, as it were. That would certainly do no harm."
"No, it wouldn't." To himself Peter added, and quite possibly a lot of good.
Rhyssa then cocked her head at him. What else did you learn between here and First Base, Peter?
Peter smiled for an answer and, when he felt her unmistakable push at his mind, he raised one hand and slowly made his index finger move in admonition. Tsck, tsck, Rhyssa. Wasn't it you who taught me never to peek?
Both women were so impressed by that gesture that they were distracted.
Speaking of peeking, he went on to keep the advantage, Johnny told me about Georg Fraga and Mai Leitao.
That's sad, though, Rhyssa said, then her mental tone oozed distaste. So, Shimaz is implicated?
Peripherally at least, Peter replied. Johnny said that they traced the voiceprint Fraga took when he was blackmailed. It identified a Riz Naztuk who is Shimazs uncle. Of whom he has many, including cousins by the dozens, he said, trying to lighten the revulsion both Rhyssa and Dorotea felt at the mention of the Malaysian. Riz Naztuk's face appears on Barchenka's surveillance tapes as a visitor but their conversation, while undoubtedly ambiguous, doesn't implicate them. Yet.
How wide did Shimaz's connections spread? Dorotea asked, appalled that the wretched pervert still figured in their lives.
That's going to take time to discover, Peter said. There are only so many psychics available for that kind of work.
hyssa's expression was full of regret.
"I have finished breakfast," Amariyah announced. "All of it," she added, glancing sideways at Dorotea. "You may now see my gardens, Peter." She got down from her chair and held her hand out to him in unspoken command.
Obediently, Peter rose to his feet and took it, grinning sheepishly at the two women.
Come for dinner at our place, Rhyssa said. Dorotea may not hog you to herself. The boys are demanding a share of your company.
When Dorotea nodded her head in agreement, he accepted. And allowed Amariyah to haul him outside. He found the tour oddly relaxing and was able to answer almost all her questions about the gardens on First Base.
"I've got to do my physio now, Maree," he said almost regretfully.
"I'll come with you. I will do massage after. I do very good massage. You said so yourself." She gave him a level adult stare, waiting for his affirmative response.
He ruffled her blue-black hair. He'd done that before, of course, but never being able to feel its silkiness on the palm of his hand.
"You do the best massage in the world, Maree dear," he assured her. Peter had wondered just how he could avail of her expertise without drawing undo attention to it. He'd talk the physio into agreeing. "I know you have Teacher this morning."
She made a face, reverting to a child's annoyance. "Do I have to?"
"If you want to do hydroponic gardening in space, you have to."
"Oh, very well," she said with a long-suffering sigh. "But you come right back."
Don't you dare try to probe, Peter Reidinger, Dorotea said at her sternest.
I wouldn't dream of it.
Amariyah was an entirely different facet of potential Talent than Scott Gates was. Scott already knew he could teleport. Maree's unique ability must be nourished as tenderly as she would her most delicate plants. Would she, too, grow into her Talent?