Part 14 (1/2)

Elizabeth said: Marc you have no idea how you're complicating my job as de facto dirigent of Pliocene Earth. I doubt that Brede's plan for my G.o.dmothering her people took you and your meddling young into account ... I've told Aiken about your travel preparations and he's quite upset. He takes his kingly duties rather seriously and I suspect that he'll resist any impertinencies with all his newly acquired might. Do you take my meaning? No doubt you witnessed the two metafunctional subsumptions he pulled off. I'm hard to impress these days-but I must admit to a definite bogglement at that little ploy.

Were the eyes a trifle narrower, the mouth more tight?

Elizabeth said: I want to forestall any violent confrontation between you and Aiken. Let me mediate. I could prevent disastrous miscalculations on both your parts ... Aiken is no longer the metaprodigal prankster you dealt with before you went into the tank. He's changed vastly since June. In outlook as well as in aggressive potential! He debugged the metaconcert program you gave him and he's been drilling his golds in the technique.

These torc-augmented mentalities may be crude but they can amount to a respectable potential when stacked. If Aiken gathers enough people together and acquires full use of the powers he subsumed he'll be more than a match for you ...

Consider carefully before you act. Advise your hothead children to do the same. We can have peace Marc! Won't you at least talk to me about it? ...

The shape out on the balcony was dissolving into a starpunctured wraith even as she persisted in her futile pleading.

She s.h.i.+fted from the short range to the distance-spanning mode, calling Marc's name, then broke off. The vision s.h.i.+mmered and disappeared without a trace.

The mental linkage between Elizabeth and Creyn severed.

She exclaimed, ”d.a.m.n the man for his arrogance!

d.a.m.n him!”

She lowered her head onto her arms and burst into tears.

Creyn the Redactor came to her and knelt beside her chair.

She found herself clinging to him while pent-up anxiety and exasperation poured out of her; the old temptation to withdraw loomed more ominously than ever before.

The Tanu's mind was discreetly closed. There was only his enormous physical presence, the strong embracing arms, the chest warm and superhumanly broad, the steady exotic heartbeat.

When she stopped weeping, she said, ”I'm a b.l.o.o.d.y idiot.”

”The release is good for you. Very human. Very Tanu, too, for that matter.”

”I've done the best I could. When I woke up after the Flood at Redactor House and took this job on, I really intended to do my best. Back in the Milieu, the job of dirigent-planetary overseer, that is-traditionally went to the person who didn't want it. And G.o.d knows, that's me! But ... I'm bungling it, Creyn. Can't you see? All of you think that a Grand Master Fa.r.s.ensor and Redactor should be a metapsychic wizard, and all-wise demiG.o.ddess. But I was only a teacher back in the Milieu, not a trained administrator or socioeconomic a.n.a.lyst.

How can I be the ombudsman and arbiter for a crazy mixed bag of factions like this? ... And now this wretched galactic Napoleon coming at me from his North American Elba! ...

Brede called me the most important woman in the world. What arrant nonsense! Look at the terrible mistake I made with Felice.

I had no idea how to deal with a dangerous personality like her.

Aiken's successful intervention was entirely his own idea ...

And soon he'll be coming here, wanting me to help reintegrate his mind. The subsumption has given him a case of mental indigestion that could lead to a breakdown if he doesn't get help soon. What shall I do? If I integrate those faculties he stole, he might turn into another Felice. If I let him fall apart, Marc or his children will have a free hand! I don't know how to handle situations as complex as this, Creyn. I'm wrong for the job.

A diligent in the Milieu has a vast support organization-the enforcing arm of the Magistratum, all the resources of the Concilium to advise, the Unity to strengthen and give solace.

But I'm all alone.”

He said, It would help if you could love us.

She shrank from him. As always when he dared approach this dangerous ground, the mental wall sprang up.