High Energy by Joy, Dara (ink book reader .TXT) 📗

Zanita clutched his arm.

"Don't you dare. All right; we'll play it your way, but the paper can't allow

you to take any unnecessary financial risks. In other words, we can't afford to

reimburse you if you goof up. In which case, you don't have to worry because my

grandfather will have my head on a platter and I'll never speak to you again."

"Thanks for taking the pressure off, baby. Now I can lie back and enjoy it."

"Tyber!"

Chapter Ten

« ^ »

It was late in the evening when LaLeche finally made what Tyber later referred

to as his "move."

Once again, they were seated in a circular pattern in the center of the cabin

floor. The temperature had dropped considerably with nightfall, turning the

damp, raw day into a chilly, dank evening. A heavy, steady rain fell against the

rotted windowsills of the shack. Even the light of the fire did not dispel the

cold darkness in the room.

It was almost eerie.

And certainly not the best atmosphere for conveying a "spiritual" warmth.

A scientist not just by title, but by nature, Tyber observed the room and the

man, collecting the facts which presented themselves to him. The room was

uncomfortably cold. No doubt this would be the last session held here until

spring. Even those on the path to inner truth would not expect to travel through

these temperatures on the journey.

LaLeche would probably have to content himself with living off donations

garnered from seminars, or else find a new location to conduct his weekend

retreats.

In either case, Tyber figured the man was going to have to make this one count.

Xavier was going to have to impress them into some heavy donations to tide him

over the winter in the lifestyle he was obviously accustomed to.

Perhaps, Tyber speculated, there was something in that angle he could use later?

He thought about it as he snuggled Zanita closer to him under the blanket.

"It's freezing," Zanita croaked out of the side of her mouth. Even though Tyber

had placed one of the blankets on the rough floor planking beneath them, it

wasn't doing much to prevent the cold from seeping up through the floorboards.

She tried to stop her shivering; it was only making her colder.

"I know," he spoke low, close to her. "Do you want to sit up on my lap?"

She nodded gratefully. "Just for a few minutes. Do you mind? I'm so cold."

Levering herself, Zanita scooted from between his legs onto his lap. Tyber's

body heat enveloped her immediately. "Ahhh… Thank God you're a warmblooded type,

Doc."

"If you keep squirming like that, you're going to find out just how

warm-blooded." His hands clamped down on her hips, holding her still.

"John," LaLeche called over, "could you turn up those kerosene lamps? Thanks."

He turned to the group at large, his oh-so-sincere gaze focusing on each of them

in turn. "Well, my friends, we have been through a lot with each other this

weekend. I know I don't only speak for myself when I say that I feel I know each

of you now so very well. I think we all feel close to each other after this

special time we've shared."

Several heads nodded in agreement.

"I couldn't help but sense, however, that there is someone among us who

has—shall we say, held back." For an instant his gaze seemed to rivet directly

on Zanita.

Zanita tensed. Was he on to them? She felt Tyber's hand stroke her thigh,

warning her to relax.

"Elizabeth." LaLeche broke his gaze on her, turning to the older woman. "I have

sensed that you are not completely with us this weekend. Am I correct, my dear?"

Elizabeth looked down at her hands, which were tightly clasped in her lap.

"Well, I've tried—"

"I understand. You have much on your mind which weighs heavily upon you, don't

you?" Still looking down, the older woman nodded.

"I have seen a disturbance in your energy flow. There is an angry color swirling

about you in the vicinity of your torso."

"That narrows it down." Tyber's low sarcastic words floated to her. He was

right, of course. The torso could mean just about anywhere on the body. It was a

pretty safe guess, although judging from the rapt faces surrounding them, no one

seemed to realize that.

When Elizabeth nodded, LaLeche continued. "There is an illness within. A

disease." He said it as if it were two words.

"Yes." The woman's voice was a faint sound.

LaLeche leaned to her, taking her hands in his. "Where is it, Elizabeth?"

"My abdomen." Several people in the room murmured in sympathy for her.

Tyber took the opportunity to whisper in Zanita's ear, "Did you notice, he came

right out and asked her where her illness is?"

Zanita patted his leg under the blanket.

LaLeche humbly regarded Elizabeth with the utmost sympathy. "I want to give you

a healing, Elizabeth. Will you let me?"

"Yes, but I don't know if—"

LaLeche spoke gently to her. "This will be a special healing, Elizabeth. I don't

do this often as it is very draining on me, both emotionally and physically, but

I am moved to help you, my dear."

"Thank you." There were tears in the older woman's eyes.

Zanita clenched her fists under the blanket; she couldn't stand to see this poor

woman being so taken advantage of.

"Hang in there, baby." Tyber tried to calm her down. "I believe we are about to

be entertained on a grand scale."

And entertained they were.

LaLeche asked Elizabeth if she would lie on her back on the floor in the middle

of the circle.

Tyber, feeling concern for the older woman, immediately offered her the use of

the blanket beneath him. Elizabeth smiled her thanks, and Tyber spread it out on

the floor for her, once again resuming his seat with Zanita on his lap.

As soon as Tyber had rewrapped them in the blanket, Zanita turned to kiss him on

the cheek. "That was awfully sweet of you, Doc. Forget what I said in the past

about you not being chivalrous."

He cocked an eyebrow as he looked down at her, his tone suspiciously dry.

"Really?" He opened his legs and she fell through to the cold, hard floor.

"Ow!"

"I wouldn't want you to get the wrong impression of me, Curls." Her only warning

was a dangerous grin; his palms came up under the blanket and settled right over

her breasts.

"Tyber," she choked, "Cut