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!
"I know you live on the other side of the estate, Scott. How did you get here so fast?" Peter asked. Scott was getting tall and filling out, though at the moment his face color was pasty. "Were you just in the basketball court?"
Scott gulped, gray eyes showing a trace of panic and astonishment.
"No, I was at home, at Teacher. I heard Amariyah scream. I just got here."
"You just got here. I certainly appreciate your quick response, Scott. And I know Amariyah does. Thanks."
"No problem. We're all supposed to keep an eye out for them, you know."
And, thrusting his hands in his pockets, Scott slouched away. He turned back once, when the medicopter could be heard lifting off.
They all watched it go. If Peter had had any idea of where it was supposed to go, he would have sent it.
That wouldn't be a good idea, Pete, Johnny said, squinting up at the sky through the leafing trees. Too much casual air traffic. It'll get there fast enough.
And 'porting Dorotea might just upset her, Rhyssa said. Not that we're all not upset. Then she held out her hand to Amariyah. "I need a cup of tea, Maree. Dorotea will be fine with Dr. McNulty to care for her."
"I know she's fine," Amariyah said blithely, but it was Peter's hand she took as they walked back to the house. "Did you really hear me, Peter?"
"Loud and clear." He stared hard at Rhyssa, because he wouldn't equivocate and betray Maree's trust in him. Just don't call 'wolf.' He paused but Amariyah didn't ask what he meant. If she'd heard him, she would have wanted him to explain.
"Can you stay?" she asked, pushing open the kitchen door.
"For a cup, yes."
"I've the tea you like, Peter. Will Dorotea's blend be all right for you, Rhyssa?" Moving about the kitchen with complete poise, Amariyah flicked on the kettle, took milk from the fridge and cups from the cupboard. "I believe you prefer coffee, don't you, General?"
"Yes, I'd prefer that, Amariyah."
The adults settled at the kitchen table.
Did you hear her, too, Rhyssa? Johnny asked. "Cookies would go nicely with coffee, Maree."
"There are always cookies in this house," Amariyah said firmly with a prideful tilt of her square young chin.
Her voice lifted me right out of my chair, Rhyssa replied, glancing sideways at the general.
And she lifted us right down here, Johnny replied. "I take two sugars."
"Too much sugar is bad for you!" Amariyah replied disapprovingly.
"I need sweetening."
Peter damned near tripped over his feet to get into the carrier, Johnny said.
You were holding me back, was Peter's reply.
But she didn't hear you remark about crying 'wolf,' did she? Rhyssa went on. "Oh, thank you, dear. Coconut and shortbread." Rhyssa took a nicely browned coconut cookie and passed the plate to Peter. What a range! She sighed with melancholy.
Teamed up with Madlyn, who knows how far they would be heard? Peter thought very, very privately.
She's awful young, Johnny said, selecting shortbread. She may not be able to 'path as a normal way of communicating.
She's got a little while longer to go, I think, before she hits puberty. Rhyssa sighed again, taking a sip of the tea Amariyah had served her.
Let's not make Amariyah a damned pronoun, Peter said.
Peter! Rhyssa gave him a stem look.
You know how I hate being a 'pronoun.' And we're talking behind her back.
And over her head, Johnny said, eyeing Peter with a "calm down" stare.
Peter subsided.
"Would you mind staying with me and the boys, Maree, while Dorotea's in the hospital?"
"Will she have to stay as long as Peter did? May I bake her her favorite pie?" Having served everyone, Amariyah sat down with a glass of milk. Noticing the adults' positions, she put her arms on the table, too.
"We'll see, dear," Rhyssa said reassuringly.
We'll see, Peter said in a very droll tone, reaching out his hand to ruffle Amariyah's hair.
Won't we just! Johnny put in. Rather pinpoints her psychic ability.
Not precisely, and Rhyssa spoke slowly, thoughtfully. She may well be an example of a micro-Talent that is so instinctive she won't be able to access it.
Well, she accessed it damned cleverly for Dorotea, dissolving that blood clot before it could do any damage.
That's what we think it did, Rhyssa corrected Johnny.
Whatever. Did the trick.
"When may I see Dorotea at the hospital?" Amariyah asked, using a paper napkin to wipe away a milk moustache.
"As soon as Dr. McNulty says we may," Rhyssa replied.
They finished their tea, coffee, and milk, and then cleared up the dishes. Rhyssa and Peter helped Amariyah pack a few things for her stay at Rhyssa's and lock up the house. Amariyah insisted that she walk with Peter and Johnny to the personnel carrier because she wanted to see one, having slept through the trip from Bangladesh on Carmen's lap.
In all, Peter and Johnny were gone less than an hour. Only Madlyn had any inkling they had ever been absent.
16
They returned to Padrugoi and almost immediately had a call from Dirk Coetzer who asked could he interrupt them now for a few minutes.
"Interrupt?" Johnny exclaimed. He looked guiltily at Peter.
"I thought Madlyn was going to cover for us."
I did. But you're back now and the admiral is very anxious to see you. I had Nicola tell him you had some very heavy 'ports on this morning's schedule.
"Dirk sounds smug," Johnny said after a moment's thought. He no longer looked guilty. Peter tried to emulate him. "At least he's not Watari, who'd snoop at our 'ported list while he's here."
The admiral did seem extremely pleased with himself as he entered the conference room. He did look around it. The two kinetics exchanged nervous glances and Johnny pulled a scowl that looked very like Watari's.
Counting the silver? Johnny said.
Peter agreed that the admiral looked as if he was inspecting the premises.
No white glove, he remarked.
"Dirk?" Johnny got to his feet, straightening his tunic, "To what do we owe this visit?"
"Come see," Dirk said.
What canary has our dear commander swallowed? Johnny asked.
Dirk made hurrying motions with his hands and, since speed seemed to be called for, Peter decided to glide instead of walk. It was faster. He did notice the smell of fresh emulsion and wondered if a door was missing on the corridor. Most peculiar. The admiral stopped, ran his card into the security slot at the next door, and gestured for them to enter.
I see a few feathers on his lips, Peter said, and then stopped so quickly that Johnny almost ran him down.
Warn me which power you're flying under, pal. Wow! Johnny repeated that aloud as he glanced slowly around the room.
"Well?" Dirk asked impatiently.
Both men were slowly and appreciatively absorbing the contents and layout of the spacious room. Obviously two smaller units on the CIC floor had been thrown together. This first section contained a suite of couch, chairs, table, and to the right, two doors: one probably the head and the other a service alcove. To the left was the larger room, programmable screens on three sides, storage cabinets underneath, and four ergonomic stations set in a U shape with worktops between.