Pegasus In Flight: Anne McCaffrey

Book II of The Talent. Earth was at bursting point - desperately overcrowded in spite of the birth restrictions of one child per couple. Extra children existed in a sub-cultured world or were rounded up into slavery. The only hope was the space platform - the jumping off point for the colonisation of other worlds. And to build the space platforms more 'Talents' were needed - the special, gifted ones whose mental powers could perform prodigious tasks across space and time. Rhyssa Owen, Director for Parapsychic talents, was the one responsible both for finding 'Talents' and training them. And when she felt the first tentative, sad encroachment of a mind reaching out to her, she knew it was exceptional - a fourteen year old boy, his body crushed beyond repair, with the most powerful kinetic ability she had ever encountered. And at the same time, in the seamy world of forgotten, unwanted, near-criminal children, was another brilliant mind - young, street-wise but so Talented she was in danger from a ruthless gang of kidnappers. Rhyssa knew she had to find both children and train them for the survival of Earth. Cover art by Paul Damon. https://cosmiccauldronbooks.com.au/p/pegasus-space-anne-mccaffrey/