High Energy, Joy, Dara [books to read this summer .txt] 📗

at her.

Totally unaware of his searing look, Zanita leaned toward him, whispering

last-minute instructions as if they were about to heist a bank.

"Remember—act nonchalant, try to blend in, and whatever you do, don't call

attention to yourself. We'll just observe him tonight to see if there is

anything odd we can pick up on."

Tyber watched her remove a pair of strapless polka-dot heels from her bottomless

bag, raising a silent eyebrow when she slipped them on.

"Ah, Zanita, about your clothes…" Her head snapped up, a worried expression

marring her sweet face.

"What is it? Is something wrong with them?" She nervously smoothed the crease in

her pants, staring at him anxiously.

He swallowed. "No. No, baby; I just wanted to tell you that I think your outfit

is… is rather…" She gazed at him expectantly, her large violet eyes widening. He

rubbed his jaw. "It suits you."

She beamed. "Thank you, Tyber; that was very sweet of you." She linked her arm

through his as they walked inside. "Remember—lay low."

"Uh-huh."

They found two seats to the rear of the hall. Zanita was relieved to see they

hadn't missed too much; apparently there were a few "opening acts." In fact,

Xavier LaLeche was just coming onto the stage now.

In black suit and turtleneck, LaLeche was in his early forties. He had perfectly

coiffed black hair that was silvered around the edges just so. Zanita thought

him picture-book handsome in a way that was much too slick. When he introduced

himself, he displayed a compellingly suave voice that would have been at home on

any pulpit. He was exactly what she had expected.

"Now that's more like it," she whispered to Tyber. "I can't believe that when I

first entered your classroom I actually thought you were a guru. It's really

sort of silly now that I think of it."

"Really. Would you like to see how fast I can mesmerize you?" He poked one of

her polka-dots.

"Very funny. Shh—let's hear what he has to say like good little sycophants."

Xavier LaLeche faced his audience with a serene yet compelling demeanor. "Good

evening and welcome to the Healing Heart Seminar. It gladdens my spirit to see

so many new souls reaching for a higher attunement." He paused dramatically. "I

hope tonight that each and every one of you, if only for a moment, will

experience a finer perception, a lifting, if you will, of your consciousness, an

embracing of your higher self, and you'll allow the miracle of healing into your

being." A hearty round of applause followed.

Zanita leaned into Tyber. "What did he just say?"

He patted her knee. "Nothing to be concerned about, dear."

LaLeche continued, "In order to understand about healing we must first

understand about energy."

Tyber leaned forward in his seat. Here was a subject he was an expert on.

"Ancient esoteric knowledge holds that the body is contained in a field of

energy. But how is it contained?"

Tyber started to raise his hand, thought better of it, and lowered it.

"The energy in our bodies is, shall we say, controlled by our consciousness.

Indeed, our very life force is an emanating energy coming from each and every

one of our cells. That is why we are all so very different from one another."

"Huh?" Zanita scratched her head.

"Even Chinese philosophy subscribes to the belief in an energy system,

preferring to think of it as an actual electric current which runs throughout

the body. You may have heard of this in connection with the technique known as

acupuncture. The Sanskrits believe in centers of energy within the body. They

call these centers of energy chakras."

"I don't believe this." Tyber spoke low in her ear. "He's taking bits and pieces

from different respected traditions, then he's tossing them together to form"—he

pointed to the handout they had been given at the door—"the LaLeche Method,'" he

mouthed, causing her to giggle.

"Energy vibrations!" LaLeche's voice boomed throughout the room. "All living

things have energy vibrations. All living things vibrate with their own special

frequency. All living things vibrate at their own levels."

"It's called a discrete frequency, but he got it completely skewed. This is what

I mean about knowing your physics, Zanita. If the man had more background

knowledge on the principles of—" A man behind them shushed Tyber.

LaLeche was on a roll now. "Our bodies are always vibrating!"

"I know mine is," Tyber drawled in her ear. Zanita elbowed him in the side.

"… Our bodies are also instruments through which we experience spiritual as well

as sexual ecstasy…"

"Ah, now we're getting to the good part." Tyber winked.

"… sexual and spiritual ecstasy are both experienced through the chakras,

specifically, the same chakra. This is why we so often mistake spiritual

awakening with sexual arousal…"

"I can't say that's ever happened to me. How 'bout you, Curls?"

"Shh!"

"When I'm aroused, I'm definitely sure it's sexual in origin." He tickled her

arm.

"Sexual energy is focused; it seeks a release through intense activity…"

"Is it getting hot in here to you?"

"Tyber!"

He grinned.

"… whereas spiritual energy flows. It is everywhere, through you and me, rocks,

trees, the stars—the body craves ecstasy…"

"Can't argue with that."

"Tyber, quit it! You're making me laugh."

"Allow me to demonstrate. I'll need a volunteer." Several hands went up in the

audience. "You there"—he pointed in their direction—"the one with the polka-dot

shirt."

"Me?" Zanita squeaked.

"Yes, you. Come on up! I want to demonstrate the difference between spiritual

and sexual ecstasy."

Tyber immediately stood up. "Now just a minute—"

"I assure you, sir, it's perfectly safe ecstasy." He gave Tyber a smarmy smile.

The audience laughed at the double entendre.

"It's okay, Tyber." Zanita stood next to him. "Don't worry, he's not going to do

anything too weird on the stage. Try and remember, we're supposed to like this

guy."

Tyber wasn't convinced. He clasped her shoulders. "I don't know if I want you

going up there. Who knows what he might do? I don't want him putting his hands

on you."

"Will you listen to yourself!" She leaned into his chest, speaking quietly. "You

sound like a… you know."

He looked perplexed. "A uno?"

"A boyfriend!" she gritted out.

Tyber dropped his hands from her shoulders. "Oh. Sorry." Zanita turned, walking

jauntily up to the stage. Regardless of what I sound like, if he puts his hands

on you, baby, he's dead meat.

"Hi, there." LaLeche held out his hand to her. "What's your name?"

"Zanita."

"Pretty name for a pretty lady. Tell me, Zanita,