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

do you meditate often?"

"Um… every month."

Tyber winced at her response, but LaLeche seemed very understanding. Too

understanding to Tyber's way of thinking.

"I know; sometimes it's hard to find the time in our busy days for the really

important things. Now Zanita—have a seat—I want you to close your eyes and think

of a white light. Do you see it?"

"Yes."

"It surrounds you. Embrace the white light."

"I thought you weren't supposed to do that."

"Whyever not, my dear?"

"In that movie, Poltergeist, they kept saying, 'Stay away from the light, Carol

Ann. Stay away from the light.' " The audience laughed, thinking she was joking.

LaLeche was caught off guard for a minute.

Tyber, recognizing the Zanita touch, smirked. Just wait, buddy, it's only the

beginning.

"Yes, well, that was Hollywood and this is reality. You can trust me; let the

light surround you."

"Okay; I'm surrounded."

"Er… good. Now I want you to meditate on scenes involving outer and inner self.

When you breathe in, say inside; when you breathe out, say outside. This will

help you to focus, to image."

"Okay. Inside. Outside…" Zanita performed the exercise, her breathing getting

deeper, her voice breathy. "… inside… outside…"

Tyber looked around the audience, particularly at the male members, noticing

that some of them were beginning to sweat. He crossed his arms and stared at the

stage, watching LaLeche like a hawk.

"You see, sometimes an attunement can be as erotic as an actual sexual

experience."

"Inside… outside…"

LaLeche put his hand on her shoulder. "That's fine, my dear. You can go back to

your seat now."

When she reached Tyber's side, he noted that several men were watching her with

speculative looks in their eyes. The pirate captain in him impaled them one by

one with an appropriately icy glare. Their attentions skittered away like bilge

rats.

"That was pretty impressive." He put his arm around her shoulders. "Fine piece

of acting up there, Curls."

"Who was acting?" She fanned herself. "I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof!"

He grinned. "You wanna go outside? Pick-up's got an eight-foot bed."

"Cut it out. Next time you're the guinea pig. So what do you think so far?

Genuine or not?"

"Not."

"Because you don't think there's anything to this healing stuff?"

"No, actually I think there might be something to psychic healing. But not this

guy."

"Why?"

"He's too slimy."

Chapter Six

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"The audience seemed pretty impressed with him."

"He has an impressive stage presence; but then, most charlatans do."

They were once again in Big Red, making the long drive back to Tyber's house.

Unfortunately, it was through dark back-country roads.

"I'm glad you're driving; I'm beat." Zanita yawned.

"Long day."

"Long night." She yawned again.

"If you noticed—his topics were very general in this seminar. On the handout

they gave us, it says he'll be appearing next Friday at the South Town meeting

center. Much smaller room. I have the feeling that performance won't be

advertised."

"How come?"

"I think he filters through his audience until he gets the group he's looking

for. On Friday, you'll see another gleaning."

"Looking for the most devoted?"

"That; and the most malleable."

"How'd you get to be so smart?" She playfully pulled a hank of his hair.

"I ate my vegetables when I was a little boy."

She peered disbelievingly at him in the dark confines of the truck's cab. "You

were once a little boy?"

"Well, not really."

"I didn't think so."

"After he separates the next group out, you'll probably see something like an

'invitation only' demonstration."

"Think we'll make the break?"

"Yup."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Two reasons: first, he liked you." He threw her a slightly disgruntled look. "A

lot."

"How do you know that?"

Tyber sighed deeply. "I know."

"What, is this like a man thing?" Zanita folded her arms across her chest, put

out by the ridiculous assertion.

"Yes. Believe me; he liked you."

"Uh-huh. What's the second reason?"

"He recognized me."

Zanita sat forward in her seat. "How can you be sure?"

"I had my suspicions when his glance strayed my way once too often; I knew it

for sure the instant he chose you from the audience."

She exhaled. "Does this blow our cover?"

"Not completely. He has no reason to be suspicious of you; as far as he's

concerned you were just with me. He's probably as curious as hell as to why I

was there."

"What are we going to say?"

"At the next meeting, when he contrives to meet with us, I'll tell him the

truth—that I'm very interested in all aspects of psychic healing."

"What makes you think that will be enough to get an invitation to these inner

circle meetings?"

"He won't be able to resist the bait. My name in any connection with his would

instantly give him mainstream credibility. He will do everything in his power to

lure me."

"God, you make him sound like a vampire or something."

"He is. But instead of blood, he sucks the hope, the money, and the spirit out

of people who believe in him. People go to him with a pure desire to enhance

their spirit; instead, he drains it away. I want to nail him, Zanita."

She knew how Tyber felt; she had felt the same way when she found out about Mrs.

Haverhill. She put her hand on his shoulder. "We will."

"Are you cold, baby? Should I put the heat on?"

"A little." She yawned again, stretching her now bare feet to the heater under

the dash. "Mmmm, that feels good."

"Only another ninety minutes to go; we should be home about one-thirty. I wonder

what kind of sandwiches Blooey left us. I'm hungry now—how about you?"

Somehow he wasn't surprised when he received no response. Zanita had, of course,

already fallen asleep.

Blooey had left the porch light on for them.

Tyber made his way around the truck to Zanita's side, gently lifting her out of

the cab.

"Mgphm…"

"Shh. It's okay." Tyber carried her up the stairs onto the porch.

When he inserted his key into the lock, she sleepily asked, "What is it? The

Hogs?"

What was this with the hogs? "No, baby, go back to sleep."

He grabbed a sandwich off the kitchen table with one hand, holding Zanita with

the other. He devoured it as he climbed the stairs with her. Once in his

bedroom, he quickly undressed them both, put her into bed, put himself into bed,

took her in his arms… and immediately fell asleep.

He was already inside her when he woke up.

He didn't remember how it had happened, but he had a