Authors: Anne McCaffrey
“She really has a knack,” Ping Yung said enthusiastically.
“Undeniably.”
“I hope she’s being encouraged.”
“You may be sure of that.”
Tentatively, the man added, “She may be too young, I mean chronologically,” and he flashed an apologetic smile at Peter, “but there is a work experience course up here on Padrugoi. I’d be glad to sponsor her.”
“She’d love nothing better. I’ll mention it.”
Then they separated. Peter did tell Dorotea about the offer the next time he spoke to her. He contacted her now and then, to “practice.”
A little young is right
, she replied but he could tell she was pleased and considering the notion.
It’s a distinct possibility
.
No trouble there?
Peter asked anxiously.
I can’t even garden without someone lurking behind the nearest shrubbery. And
, she paused,
I think Amariyah’s noticed—as much as she notices anything else when she’s gardening—but she hasn’t
said
a word. Do thank Ping Yung when you see him again
.
I will
.
That Dorotea and Amariyah were still being guarded bothered Peter, so he broached the subject to Johnny that afternoon.
“No real news,” Johnny said. “And no real proof either even though the theory of a fatwa is still valid according to Dirk. Cimprich has been briefed.”
“President Cimprich?” Peter was astonished.
“Yeah, the World President himself,” Johnny drawled. “You constitute a valuable natural resource, Pete, and the good ecologically minded president is not about to have it wasted.”
“That’s still a possibility?”
“Naw, naw,” and Johnny waved his hand in curt dismissal. “Not with the new security measures Dirk put into effect.”
“You didn’t tell me,” Peter accused him.
“You didn’t ask.” Johnny returned his stare without a blink. “Effectively, there are new surveillance units in every conduit and ventilator shaft big enough for a rat. In fact, there’s talk of training rats to do the patrols.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Not as much as you think, Pete. All offenders’ wristbands have been reprogrammed. They can’t so much as close a locker door but they’re logged into it. All visitations are thoroughly investigated, even Teacher groups. A lot more are denied as trivial. So many folks decided to come because,” and his voice turned whiny, “ ‘it
is
a public facility, built by World Funds, and everyone else on our floor in the Linear has gone up.’ ” He gave a derisive snort in his inimitable fashion.
PETERRRRRR! PETER! DIDA!
Peter clamped his hands on his ears though the sound was not aural but mental.
“JAYSUS CHRIST!” Johnny said, shaking his head, his eyes rolling.
Cool it, Madlyn
.
It’s not Madlyn. It’s Amariyah!
Peter ’ported himself to the personnel carrier on the transit deck. A hand on his arm as he inserted himself told him that Johnny was not going to be left behind.
Peter?
He heard Madlyn’s startled query but ignored it as he and Johnny ’ported the carrier to the telepad at the Center. They instantly homed in on Amariyah, kneeling beside Dorotea’s body sprawled on the lawn.
From other parts of the estate, people were converging on them. Scott Gates was the first to arrive, looking startled, but Peter didn’t recall that
until later. He was on his knees beside Dorotea, noting her pallor, the utter limpness of a usually vigorous person.
I can’t feel her. I’ve always felt Dida Tea
, Amariyah was saying, her hands stroking Dorotea’s arms, and then moving, almost tentatively to Dorotea’s temples.
It’s here. It’s clogged. The blood!
Peter “felt” with Amariyah.
A blood clot, Johnny?
Panic gripped him.
What do we do about a blood clot?
I don’t the hell know! I’m a telekinetic! I NEED A MEDIC, A CARDIAC ARREST UNIT AND GODDAMN FAST
, Johnny broadcast, seeking a pulse in Dorotea’s wrist.
God, she’s got frail. Pulse is very erratic!
I feel it
, Amariyah repeated.
If I can just
—. With the utmost delicacy, her dirt-stained fingers were dowsing for the fine veins over the ear.
Here. It’s here. I can feel it. It’s blocking. It’s so small
. She sounded surprised.
Peter had taken basic first aid. He knew what to do with fractures, heart attacks, trauma, even drowning. He knew that blood clots meant stroke but he’d never heard what to do besides call for medical assistance. He did not even know if Dorotea, to whom he owed so much, was
having
a stroke. So what was Amariyah talking about?
Couldn’t we just ’port her to the infirmary?
Peter asked desperately, watching for any sign in Dorotea’s beloved face.
It’s
just
an infirmary. It doesn’t have what’s needed
.
What about Jerhattan General?
Peter had once sworn never to return to that institution. But he also couldn’t “see” the emergency facility and he hadn’t been conscious when he’d been in the unit in the Henry Hudson.
Where’s Dr. McNulty?
Frantically Peter cast his mind about the grounds, trying to sense where the doctor was.
“Give us room here.”
In a daze Peter heard someone giving orders. A blanket was ’ported to cover Dorotea’s limp body. Yes, warm; keep her warm, Peter thought. No one knew anything more therapeutic to do.
Except Amariyah. Suddenly, she smiled and with a final caress of Dorotea’s disheveled white hair, sat back.
“There,” she said softly and with great satisfaction. “Just like Ping Yung’s plants. There was a blockage. It’s gone now. I smoothed it away.”
Peter blinked. The pallor had gone from Dorotea’s face and a little breath escaped her lips. Her eyelids fluttered, opened.
Lie still, Dorotea
, Johnny said authoritatively.
What on earth?
The mental voice was weak, confused.
Don’t move, dear
, Rhyssa said. Her mental voice was calm and reassuring although she was panting from having raced down from the main house.
“Well, I’m certainly not going to lie here on the ground.” Dorotea’s voice was thin, breathy, with just a hint of testiness. “Whatever happened?”
“What happened is gone,” said Amariyah, pressing the blanket tight against Dorotea’s shoulders when she tried to move.
“I felt sort of faint there for a moment,” she admitted in a feeble voice.
“Let me through, let me through,” cried an urgent baritone voice and Martin McNulty appeared, swinging his emergency pack to the ground beside Dorotea and opening his hand scanner. Johnny and Rhyssa made room for him while Peter “lifted” a reluctant Amariyah out of the way.
“But I did it,” Amariyah said, squirming in Peter’s grip. “I smoothed it away.” Then she stopped twisting. “How did
you
get here, Peter? Are you home from the Station again?”
“You called for me, Maree,” Peter said softly, cuddling her against him. “You called.” His eyes met Rhyssa’s; hers were huge, her face pale as she swallowed against a dry throat.
“I can’t tell without a full scan,” McNulty said, rising to his feet. “Probably a slight stroke. Heart and pulse are irregular. I don’t like the blood pressure reading. The medicopter’s on its way.”
The
thrump-thrump
of the blades was audible, coming closer.
Don’t
, Rhyssa said, looking at Peter who was thinking about ’porting Dorotea to the ’copter or assisting it to a speedier landing.
She’s all right now. I can feel it. Let them do what else is required now. You two come with me back to the house. We need to talk
. She nodded down at Amariyah, still held in Peter’s arms.
“Dorotea’s stable right now,” McNulty continued, “I think the immediate danger has passed.” Then the doctor frowned at Peter, suddenly realizing he was present. “I didn’t know you were back from Padrugoi. No one told me to make arrangements for more physio while you’re here.”
“A flying visit, Martin,” Johnny answered. “Officially we’re still on Padrugoi.” Though the general was still pale from the shock of Dorotea’s seizure, his sense of humor was irrepressible.
PETER!
He winced at his name. He wished Madlyn wouldn’t do that.
It’s all right, Maddie
, Rhyssa answered for him.
Dorotea’s had a slight stroke. Martin says she’ll be all right. Peter and Johnny will be back shortly. Cover for them if you can
.
Oh, I can if they promise to tell me everything when they get back
.
A stray perception crossed Peter’s errant mind: maybe Madlyn had no limitations to
her
telepathic range. Could she learn to tune into a Gadriel gestalt? Or was it limited to application to kinetics? She’d be as distinct an asset to T&T as she had been to Padrugoi. The medic team raced in, pushing past the concerned residents waiting to know about Dorotea. McNulty supervised Dorotea’s removal while Rhyssa and Johnny spoke to the others who had come in answer to the psychic summons. Peter took the opportunity to glide to Scott Gates.
“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 stern 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.