Peter embraced her slender frame, so much more vibrant than Dorotea's, wriggling as if to bore inside him to display her joy at his homecoming. A swift, impetuous hug, and then she released him, grabbing his hand, not even noticing that he could close his fingers about hers.

"Come see, come see. I've so much to show you," and the wiry little girl tried to haul him after her.

"Amariyah Bantam," Dorotea said firmly, gripping a fold of her tunic top and pulling her back. "Breakfast is ready and the garden will not disappear." Though at times I wish it did, Though at times I wish it did, she added with an exasperated sigh. she added with an exasperated sigh. No, I No, I take that back, take that back, and her face mirrored guilty dismay. "Peter, sit down at the table. The kettle is about to boil for your tea, and you will surely eat some of the Danish rolls I made for and her face mirrored guilty dismay. "Peter, sit down at the table. The kettle is about to boil for your tea, and you will surely eat some of the Danish rolls I made for you." If you sit, she will. you." If you sit, she will.

Peter sat. Heaving the most dramatic of sighs and rolling her eyes in pique, Amariyah reluctantly settled to her place.

"Did Ping Yung tell you if those plants thrived?" was the first question she asked after a long drink of orange juice.

"Yes, he did, and they did, and he wants you to come more often."

Amariyah flung a see-I-told-you look at Dorotea, who smiled tolerantly.

"Does the hydroponics unit at First Base use Tritic.u.m, Tritic.u.m, too?" Amariyah continued to fire questions at him throughout the meal. But only, Peter thought affectionately, because she wasn't guiding him around her gardens and explaining which plants had done the best this spring and what she'd accomplished during his absence. After all he had survived and been part of and victim to, her chatter was a relief, the restorative touch of a different kind of reality. too?" Amariyah continued to fire questions at him throughout the meal. But only, Peter thought affectionately, because she wasn't guiding him around her gardens and explaining which plants had done the best this spring and what she'd accomplished during his absence. After all he had survived and been part of and victim to, her chatter was a relief, the restorative touch of a different kind of reality.

Rhyssa joined them for coffee and one of Dorotea's Danish pastries. The three Talents began one of those lightning mental exchanges of the details that Amariyah did not need to know. Both Rhyssa and Dorotea were eager to hear all about Peter's physical progress.

"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-ch.o.r.eographing my 'week off,' Peter said with some asperity. Peter said with some asperity.

"Helping me in the garden is exercise," Amariyah said. "And I will ma.s.sage 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. Dorotea added, then her eyes filmed briefly. Just as Amariyah did. Even squeezing for a hug. So telling. So rea.s.suring. Just as Amariyah did. Even squeezing for a hug. So telling. So rea.s.suring.

Dorotea, Peter exclaimed, hiding what he had discovered about her body. 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. And if I'm a good boy, I should be fit for the marathon in October.

MARATHON? The two women exclaimed together. 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. 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? 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. Peter said, accepting the change of subject. If I If I can tune myself into the available generator, I can 'port it. 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. 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. she said with a rueful expression in her eyes and a lift of one shoulder. Remember the basketball incident? Remember the basketball incident?

Yes, and Peter couldn't think why she would remind him. and Peter couldn't think why she would remind him.

One of the villains of the occasion, and then she spoke out loud. 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. 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. 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." 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 c.o.c.ked her head at him. What else did you learn between here and First Base, Peter? 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? 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, he went on to keep the advantage, Johnny told me about Georg Fraga and Mai Leitao. Johnny told me about Georg Fraga and Mai Leitao.

That's sad, though, Rhyssa said, then her mental tone oozed distaste. Rhyssa said, then her mental tone oozed distaste. So, Shimaz is implicated? So, Shimaz is implicated?

Peripherally at least, Peter replied. 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, 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. 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. 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. Dorotea asked, appalled that the wretched pervert still figured in their lives.

That's going to take time to discover, Peter said. Peter said. There are only so many psychics available for that kind of work. 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. Rhyssa said. Dorotea may not hog you to herself. The boys are demanding a share of your company. 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 ma.s.sage after. I do very good ma.s.sage. 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 ma.s.sage in the world, Maree dear," he a.s.sured 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 s.p.a.ce, 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. 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 knew he could teleport. Maree's unique ability must be nourished as tenderly as she would her most delicate plants. Would she, too, he could teleport. Maree's unique ability must be nourished as tenderly as she would her most delicate plants. Would she, too, grow grow into her Talent? into her Talent?

15.

Peter was making his way back to Dorotea's and Amariyah's promised ma.s.sage, for which he was literally aching, when he saw Ca.s.s Cutler ambling on a course parallel to his. Hi, Ca.s.s! Here to see Rhyssa? Hi, Ca.s.s! Here to see Rhyssa?

Nope, she replied, and swerved across the lawn to join him. she replied, and swerved across the lawn to join him. I'm here on special a.s.signment. I'm here on special a.s.signment.

"Oh, really?" he said aloud. Her gamine grin answered his next question. "Why me?"

'Cos they ain't caught all the perps yet and you're a lot more at risk on your own home ground than upside.

Peter halted his glide and stared at her.

"But there're psychics all around me . . ."

Ca.s.s shook her head. "They won't be looking out for you, Pete. I got orders from the boss," she ticked off fingers, "the general, and and the admiral and that's too much rank for me to buck." She grinned again, her eyes sparkling. "Not that I would, seeing as how I have your welfare at heart anyhow." the admiral and that's too much rank for me to buck." She grinned again, her eyes sparkling. "Not that I would, seeing as how I have your welfare at heart anyhow." Now don't get all fussed, Pete, Now don't get all fussed, Pete, she admonished. she admonished.

He seethed with indignation. Don't try wheedling me, Ca.s.s. I'm well able to take care of myself and I have, G.o.ddammit, proved that. Don't try wheedling me, Ca.s.s. I'm well able to take care of myself and I have, G.o.ddammit, proved that.

Ca.s.s nodded in agreement. It's as much for the others that I'm here. It's as much for the others that I'm here.

That stopped his complaint and cooled his anger. Dorotea had felt so frail in his arms. Amariyah was so precious. Abruptly he had a sense of how Rhyssa felt about him and his Talent. It was a sobering reflection.

All right. You're not here on your own, are you?

No. Some of 'em you don't know and shouldn't see and we'll all try not to intrude. You're supposed to be on R and R down here. I'm listening for a lot of reasons, Pete. She appealed to him with her eyes and body language. She appealed to him with her eyes and body language. Ignore us, will ya? Ignore us, will ya?

He smiled and continued on, Ca.s.s beside him. Sure. But who should I listen for? Sure. But who should I listen for?

Any mind you can't identify. Any person you've never seen around here. And don't, promise me, go near that ice cream parlor on the Mall! 'Port a treat in for Amariyah if she frets but don't leave the grounds.

He nodded compliance, resenting it, but having to admit candidly that he understood the rationale. h.e.l.l, he and Tirla had been kidnapped once before when they had slipped to the Mall without anyone knowing they'd gone. He was not about to have that happen to him again, or most particularly to Amariyah.

What else is new? And he mentally implied that he wanted news of Boris's investigations. And he mentally implied that he wanted news of Boris's investigations.

You probably know more than I do, Pete, she said with a detached shrug. she said with a detached shrug. I'm just the gal on the beat. I'm just the gal on the beat. "Nice catching you like this, Pete," she added out loud and took the left-hand path at the Y junction. "Nice catching you like this, Pete," she added out loud and took the left-hand path at the Y junction.

Amariyah had not lost her knack of ma.s.sage. Relaxing as her hands gently soothed muscles and tendons, Peter wondered idly how long it was going to take him to move physically, rather than telekinetically. He mocked himself. Amariyah had already performed one miracle. It was up to him him to make his way forward. to make his way forward.

She extracted payment from him in the form of another tour of her gardens, the ones they'd missed after breakfast. He wondered what Ted and the other groundsmen had left to do. There are all those lawns!

Peter, Dorotea, and Amariyah appeared at Rhyssa's home in time for him to spend half an hour with Eoin and Chester while he told them a suitably edited account of his trip to the Moon.

Over dinner, Peter was able to tell Rhyssa and an attentive Dave more of what had been done. He tried not to wax too excited about seeing the asteroid on the Farside Telescope or the conversations that had ensued. Rhyssa knew that he had taken an astronomy course and would have been interested in that facet of First Base. Nothing more was said about Shimaz, Flimflam, and the "problem" with Limo-34. Limo-34. Dave did mention that all the Parapsychic Centers were actively recruiting: he was in charge of the publicity campaign. Dave did mention that all the Parapsychic Centers were actively recruiting: he was in charge of the publicity campaign.

On the way home that night, Peter wondered if Dorotea was aware that they were being "followed."

I'm not that feeble in the wits by any means, Peter Reidinger.

Thank G.o.d, Amariyah already has her hair stranded. They've put her in the 'at risk' category, you know. There will be no way she can be removed from these premises, I a.s.sure you.

He used the excuse of fatigue when Amariyah tried to cajole him into a trip to the Mall to the Old-Fashioned Parlor of Gastronomical Delights.

"But I got a new dress just to wear there with you. I'll give you another ma.s.sage. A better one."

Peter chuckled. "I'm also on a strict diet to build muscle and strengthen bones and it doesn't include chocolate sundaes with every topping known to gourmets. I'll bring one in for you, if you like, and you may eat it in your room so I'm not tempted."

That was not quite what Amariyah had in mind but Peter could be as stubborn as she could. They compromised. She could wear the dress and he'd watch her eat the sundae.

The dress was blue, beautifully cut, another example of Tirla's elegant taste. Maree would soon be eleven. He must be back down here for her birthday. No, better still, he'd invite her up to Padrugoi. No use taking chances.

She had heard the physio recommend to Peter that he exercise his fingers to increase their dexterity and improve finer motor control. Although the physio thought he should try playing piano or a stringed instrument or sketching, Amariyah thought that weeding would be equally therapeutic and more useful. He said he wanted to learn how to draw. She said he could use her lightpen-she had the very best one on the market, which she used to plan her garden beds-if he'd help her weed. He agreed.

In fact, he spent a lot of time using the lightpen, clumsily at first, but gradually with more finesse. He got so he could sketch "South America" rather deftly. Then he doodled, as Johnny Greene did, only he doodled asteroids tumbling or spinning through s.p.a.ce on their axes, or atmosphere domes and generator units. For instance, his own 60 MHz Gadriel gestalt circuits tuned to C major.

Six days later, Peter was at least refreshed when he 'ported himself to the Jerhattan telepad after Ca.s.s duly escorted him to the Center's pad. He'd kept to the Center's grounds, chatted with the young people who had just started training, and played with Rhyssa's children, and Tirla's, for she came three times. "Checking on you," she said, radiating approval of his physical breakthrough.