Modus Vivendi Read online

that's gone to just to makesure no one with the Stigma is ever admitted to the Bar. Look at thosepathetic social workers--trying to control what they can't evenperceive. The color-blind man trying to make sure no one else seesred. No, only Psis will ever be able to make Psis behave. They willhave to police themselves, and society is unwilling to give them anystanding to do it. This I believe is called a dilemma."

  "It's a mess, that's for sure," I said gloomily as he left.

  Well, what do you do when the props have been pulled out from underyour world? I like to believe that the reasonable man sits down andthinks. That's what I did, anyway. I was a guy with very little leftto lose. It was time I bet the limit--shot my wad. There was onepossibility....

  I looked at my watch. It was well after one in the morning. Still, Itried Elmer's place again. He came sleepily to the phone.

  "Mary there?"

  "Of course not."

  "Keys?"

  "What if he is?"

  "Put him on."

  There was a delay, but Keys' romantic good looks replaced Elmer'sleft-tackle belligerence. "What now?" he asked.

  "Do you know where Mary is?" I started.

  "Maybe."

  "She tell you I'm her attorney?"

  "Yes."

  "I just found out that she's in twice the trouble I thought before.The kid's a pawn in a fight for power between political oppositions.They'll crucify her gladly, without respect to the merits of the case.Too much is riding on it for justice to wind up triumphant."

  "That's what I thought," he said. "She stays under cover."

  "Think it over," I suggested. "I'm going to bed, but I'm leaving mydoor unlocked--at my apartment. Dig her up, if you start making anysense, and both of you beat it over here. Before dawn. Do you hearme?"

  "Oh, I hear you," he said sourly. "I just don't know whether to trustyou."

  "We all have the same trouble," I said, cutting the image.

  * * * * *

  They showed up about three o'clock. I hadn't been able to go back tosleep--feeling almost sure Keys would bring her there--and had spentthe time with the weights. I was back to strength. The surprise wasthat Elmer came with them. Well, perhaps it was a help.

  Nobody wanted a drink. Mary looked around the apartment a little--itis a nice place, restful and homey, if you can ever achieve that in anapartment fifty floors up.

  "A Psi decorated this place," she said. Well, she was right, and Iadmitted it to her with a nod. "What couldn't wait until morning,Maragon?" she asked me.

  "First, Mary, I want you to know that while you fooled Lindstrom, youdidn't fool me. You have the Stigma. Wait," I said, raising my hand asshe started to protest. "Lies won't do any longer. The chips are down.You wouldn't even be here if the Council of the Lodge hadn't decidedit was time to protect you."

  Keys took it away from her. "Lodge? What Lodge?"

  "We'll come to that," I promised. "First, let's cut away theunderbrush. Yes or no. Does she have the Stigma?"

  He sought out her eyes, and the way they dropped to my rug I knew thatthe subterfuge was over. "Yes," he said in a strained, thin voice."Mary has the Stigma."

  "And it is HC?"

  All three of them nodded, and Mary's head came up with an odd sort ofpride. Well, she should have been proud--for all I could find out, shewas unique.

  "All right," I said. "And now you can get out of my easy-chair, Elmer.I'd like to sit there." He was obviously surprised by my bad manners."Get out!" I growled. "It's time you pups got used to taking orders.You'll get your bellies full of it from now on."

  "From you?" Elmer scoffed. "Ah reckon not, suh!" But he got out of thechair, and I sat in it.

  "Oh, yes you will," I said. "The Lodge will see to that."

  "The Lodge again," Keys protested.

  "Never heard of it, did you?" I taunted him. "Proof positive thatyou're small potatoes in Stigma circles. Well, get set for a shock: Irepresent an organization of Psis--an organization devoted toprotecting Stigma cases from Normal society, an organization devotedto establishing discipline among Psis so that our conflicts withNormals are kept to a reasonable minimum."

  "And you call this a Lodge?" Mary Hall said. "What's its full name?"

  "No other," I said. "It's ... well, it's a sort of benevolent andprotective order. It's as secret as Psis can make anything--a selectgroup."

  "I'll bet," Keys sneered. "No TP's in it," he said, reminding me thattelepaths can't close their minds to the peeping of other TP's.

  "Unfortunately, none," I agreed. "We are getting ready, however, toextend membership beyond the TK's, CV's and HC's who are nowenrolled."

  "I don't believe it," Mary said. "There aren't any otherhallucinators!"

  "None foolish enough to reveal it," I conceded. "You had to louse usup there--I wonder if any other Stigma power is as feared by Normals?Certainly they're making a Roman circus over you."

  Elmer stood up. "Ah've had enough," he said.

  "One thing," I said to him. "The Lodge has a rule that no Psi may usehis powers to the detriment of a Normal, or reveal the existence ofthe Lodge. Our discipline is formidable, Elmer. Remember what I say."

  * * * * *

  Keys was frowning in thought. "Wait a minute, Elmer," he said. "Let metry this one on him for size." He turned to me. "Are you trying totell me that you are a part of this Lodge, Maragon?"

  "I'm their counsel," I said.

  "A Normal?" he demanded. "It would make sense for Psis to gettogether--I've often wondered why it has never worked out moreformally than it has. But to trust a Normal to represent them? Never!"

  I grinned at him. "Know any attorneys with the Stigma?" I demanded. "Iknow darned well you don't. The Bar Association screens every would-belawyer from the moment he enters law school. No, sir. The Lodge had nochoice. They picked on me as an attorney sympathetic with StigmaTroubles, and trustworthy."

  "You make it sound good," Keys admitted. "But then I know you are aliar." He looked over at Mary Hall. "Although you can prove differentif you're able."

  I raised an eyebrow at him.

  "Tell me how you knew Mary hadn't used sleight of hand in Lindstrom'slaboratory," he demanded.

  There was nothing I could say. I bit down on my teeth. Well, I haddecided to shoot the wad if I had to. He'd called my bet.

  "I'll tell you, Maragon," he said. "I hate to admit it of a skunk likeyou, but you've got the Stigma. You kept a TK grip on those bills sheshuffled. Her hallucination is too good for you not to think it wassleight of hand."

  "No!" Mary shrieked.

  "Not him!" Elmer said.

  I stood up to face them. "Yes," I said. "I _do_ have the Stigma. Theonly lie was that I was the Lodge's counsel. I'm not."

  "What then?" Keys demanded.

  "I'm Grand Master of the Manhattan Chapter," I told him. "And you,like every Psi who is made aware of the existence of the Lodge, arenow subject to my orders."

  "Not me," Elmer said. "You ain't got the Stigma."

  I fired a lift at an ashtray on the table beside him, and it sailed inan arc toward the kitchen and crashed against the wall. My TK wascertainly a lot better than it had been in the morning. Well, I'dspent an hour or so warming up before they had come in.

  "_Who_ hasn't got the Stigma?" I said.

  He looked at Keys. "You didn't do that," he said. "You _couldn't_!"

  Keys was openmouthed. "What a bruiser!" he marveled.

  "So I've got the Stigma, Elmer," I said quietly. "Now why won't you dowhat I tell you?"

  "Ah don't do what _anybody_ tells me!"

  "What do you hate and fear the most?" I asked him.

  "Snakes, ah reckon," he decided.

  "Show him a snake, Mary," I said. Her face twisted in indecision. Irammed a lift in under her heart--I know it hurt her. "Show him!" Isnapped.

  Elmer didn't jump more than three feet. Mary gave all of us the samehallucination. Her first try was a pretty sad kind of a snake, but i
twas bigger than the nine-by-twelve rug it squirmed on, and was makingright for Elmer's legs, hissing in a horrible fashion.

  "Enough,"