"If you opened your eyes, you might like it better, Curls." Tyber threw her an amused glance over his shoulder. "C'mon now, you're missing some beautiful scenery. Look; we're coming up on a pond."

Zanita wasn't sure she actually wanted to see scenery whizzing by her without the protection of at least a half a ton of metal between her and it, but she stalwartly opened her eyes to check it out.

They were approaching a small pond on the right side of the road. The glass surface of the pond reflected the autumn leaves on the surrounding trees. A few geese drifted by, honking sporadically. It was a picture-perfect New England fall scene. Zanita marginally relaxed her grip on Tyber.

"It's different on the back of a bike, isn't it?" Tyber yelled back to her. Zanita eyed his shoulder blades, wondering if he was starting up again.

"Is it?" She tickled his hard stomach with two fingers, feeling his muscles tense. He didn't respond, but she caught his slow smile in the side mirror. A flash of white teeth and a dimple.

The scenery proved magnificent as they sped along the winding road under a canopy of red and gold leaves, the crisp fall air invigorating in the late morning. Zanita was just beginning to think she might be able to endure riding a motorcycle every now and then when Tyber began weaving the bike in and out just to tease her. She walloped him on the head to let him know how much she appreciated it. His low chuckle reached her on the wind, but he smoothed the ride out.

The village was a quintessential small New England town. Most of the houses were white clapboard with black shutters. The center of the village sported a single street of interesting little shops that probably depended on the ski crowd for most of their trade. At this time of year, they were blessedly empty of tourists. Tyber swung the bike into the curb.

"Brunch or browsing?" he asked as he helped her remove her helmet. They had elected not to eat breakfast that morning in lieu of trying out one of the local restaurants.

"Browsing sounds good; I can wait until lunch. How about you?" Zanita was already eagerly eying the shops.

"That's fine-the innkeeper recommended the Hungry Kitten for lunch. That must be it." He pointed to a small wooden sign shaped like a cat swinging from the portico of a large-columned house on the corner of the street.

Zanita's voice trailed after her as she headed into the first shop. "Looks good-hey, look at these!"

Tyber smiled indulgently as he strolled into the shop after her. "Remember, we have to be back at LaLeche's by two and-those are great!" They both were entranced by delicate crystal figurines of winged dragons hanging in front of a display window.

"He's cute." Zanita fingered a little tubby one with a goofy look on its face.

Tyber eyed a swooping dragon that had a very cunning expression. "I rather like this one."

Zanita viewed his choice, thinking it somehow appropriate for him. All the dragon was missing was an eye patch and a little sword. "Where would you hang it?"

"Over the bed." He winked at her.

She wagged her finger at him.

"I know I'm going to regret this, but-" She reached up, unhooking the swooping dragon from its display.

"For me? Baby, that's awful sweet of you." His arm curled around her shoulders, giving her a small squeeze. He bent down to kiss the tip of her nose. "Let me respond in kind." His free arm reached up to retrieve the chubby dragon.

"No, Tyber, please don't," she protested, placing her hand on his arm. "You've already spent so much money on this weekend-"

He held Tubby up in front of her. "Look at this face; you wouldn't leave him here all by himself, would you?"

Zanita frowned; Tyber knew exactly which button to push. "Well..."

He turned the dragon to face him. "I told you not to worry, Tubbs," he said, sotto voce. "Piece of cake."

After they had made their purchases and left the store, Tyber asked her where she was going to hang her dragon. "In the kitchen window, I think."

"Perfect place-Blooey will love him."

Zanita glanced over at him. She had meant her kitchen window at her apartment, not his. Perhaps he hadn't realized what he'd just said. After all, she was only in his home temporarily, until they finished this LaLeche business.

She shrugged her shoulders, deciding to let the remark pass. But later she thought about it again when he insisted on buying her an antique shawl. It was an old-fashioned violet crochet with tiny pink rosettes.

"The parlor can get drafty in the winter," he said by way of an explanation, "even with the fireplace going. For all I've renovated it, the house is still over a hundred years old. And much as I'd like to, I can't cuddle you all the time, Curls."

She was not going to let that comment go.

"Tyber." She gritted her teeth. "Let's get one thing straight-you are not my boy-"

"You don't like it?" He seemed vaguely hurt.

"It's beautiful, but I am not-"

"It's perfect for you; I can picture you wearing it, curled up in the big Queen Anne chair in front of the fireplace, reading a favorite book while Hambone nestles at your feet."

Her fists clenched. "I do not belong in that picture! It sounds like something out of Little Women. Besides which, I don't think the story is going to take that long."

"It might. And why should you suffer a drafty house because of it?"

She blinked. He was doing it again-confusing her with his obtuse way of making a point. "What does that have to do with-why should-it doesn't..."

He regarded her from under half-lowered lashes. "It has; you should; and it does." Her mouth gaped. "Now say thank you and let's go into this fascinating but incomprehensible art gallery."

Before she could think of a response, he had ushered her into the shop.

By the time they stopped for lunch, they were pretty much shopped out. Tyber had purchased two large jugs of maple syrup for Blooey and a piece of Vermont cheddar for Hambone. When the store owner found out they had driven a motorcycle to town, he graciously offered to drop off the jugs at their inn on his way home from work.

The Hungry Kitten revealed itself to be a very elegant restaurant. Zanita had misgivings about entering the linen-draped dining room in her jeans and boots, but Tyber just clutched her hand in his, half dragging her to their Limoges and crystal-set table.

"Isn't this rather fancy for lunch?" She looked around at the other diners, who seemed to be dressed for the occasion and speaking in very hush-hush murmurs.

"Better enjoy it while we can; I don't think we'll make dinner this evening at the inn. I suspect LaLeche expects us to stay the entire day and well into the evening. And from what I remember of the offerings of food laid out on that rickety table last night-"

"I get your point." Zanita eagerly opened her menu. "Jeez Louise! Look at these prices!" She gaped at the menu in awe.

"Zanita," Tyber said dryly.

"I was going to treat you to lunch." She raised her violet eyes to his. They were suspiciously moist. "But I-I can't afford this, Tyber."

He put his menu down and covered her hand with his. "It's nice of you to want to take me out, sweetheart, but it's not necessary. There's absolutely no reason for us not to completely enjoy this weekend as long as we're here."

"But Tyber-"

His eyes locked implacably with hers. "Don't worry about it." He picked up his menu again. "Now let's see what looks good here-How about the lobster pie?"

While Zanita viewed her menu, Tyber thoughtfully gazed down at her bent head. She had absolutely no idea how wealthy he was, he mused. Imagine becoming overwrought about what he considered a simple, although elegant, lunch.

As a reporter bent on getting an interview with him, she had to know he held literally hundreds of patents. Not to mention the income from his teaching seminars and the books he had written. Somehow Zanita had blocked this all off from her consciousness, choosing instead to see him for the most part as just an interesting, albeit eccentric physicist.

And he knew why.

As long as she could view him in that manner, he wasn't so threatening to her.

He understood how she would see him as threatening in terms of a relationship. On one hand, he wanted her to feel threatened by him. It meant she recognized that he was shaking up her nice, safe world. On the other hand, what good was having anything in life if you didn't allow yourself the pleasure of it?

Tyber wasn't about to let her fear of commitment color their time together. In the broadest sense, it had nothing to do with money; it had everything to do with his philosophy of life.

He was an unconventional man who believed in enjoying all aspects of life to the fullest. Whether it was traveling first class on the Orient Express, the joy in creating a masterpiece, or the sheer beauty of discovery. It was about excellence. It was about being alive.

And he wanted Zanita to share those life experiences with him.

Now and in the future.

Because of her background, he realized she hadn't had the opportunity to experience the kind of life he lived, but he was in the process of changing that. Tyber knew Zanita possessed not only the capacity for it, but also the zest.

To make his point, he ordered an extraordinary chilled wine to accompany their main course.

"Lobster pie sounds good," Zanita said to the waiter in a small voice, not looking up from her menu. Twenty-eight-fifty for lobster pie a la carte. She swallowed a sip of water from a crystal goblet. For lunch. Tyber needed to get a handle on reality, she thought.

The Doc lived a secluded life, enclosed behind the walls of his mansion, his mind wrapped up in arcane subjects; she really didn't think he had a clue. The poor, sweet, misguided man.

Well, now that she was with him, she'd make every effort to open his eyes to people reality as opposed to physicist reality, whatever that was. Over a hundred dollars for lunch! No wonder this entropy thing kept growing! It was being fueled by the very physicists who discovered it.

The waiter brought some croissants and their wine, pouring a small amount out for Tyber, who tasted it and nodded. After he finished pouring their wine, the waiter left them to their conversation. Zanita picked up her glass and relaxed back in her chair.

"Do you think we'll survive all those hours of intense healing today?" Zanita smiled at Tyber, at ease once again now that they were back onto a subject she was comfortable with.

"We can only hope. Remind me to bring an extra blanket in the truck tonight-it's going to be cold in that shack in the woods, and probably damp as well. I heard the weather report earlier and they're forecasting a cold rain tonight, with frost in some low-lying areas. I don't want you getting sick again."

Just the thought of the cold made Zanita shiver. Until she remembered how well he had kept her warm last night at the cabin. "Will you promise to keep me warm like you did last night?"

The corners of his mouth twitched. "As long as you promise not to pinch my thigh again under the blankets. You almost got me in a relevant area."

"Don't be silly; I pinched you just above your knee."

He raised his eyebrow arrogantly.

"You wish," she scoffed.

He grinned back at her.

"Do we have a plan for this evening?" she asked. "Do you know what we're looking for?" The waiter brought their meal.

Tyber tasted his lobster pie, pausing to answer her. "Yes, we do. I think he'll take us through some more of those exercises of his during the day, getting us all to open up some more-although I suspect that our happy fellow campers at the cabin have already done just that."

Zanita's eyes opened wide; she leaned forward in her seat. "Do you really think so? Like who?" She unconsciously sipped her wine. "You know, this wine is really good," she murmured distractedly, her mind more on the lurid details of partner exchanging than the bouquet of the drink.

A dimple popped into his cheek. He regarded her for a moment as if she were the answer to an equation he had just written. "You'll see when we get there. I have a feeling that tonight will be the night he does something-what I don't know yet-to cinch the hefty donations he's trying to get for this weekend."

"Donations?" Zanita slapped her forehead. She hadn't thought about donations. "Do you think we can get out of that by snowing him-you know, sound like we offer him the chance of more money in the future, etc.?"

"I doubt it. Never kid a kidder and all that. That's not a problem; don't worry about it. I have to admit I'm curious to see just what he comes up with. After all, neither the FBI nor local authorities have been able to get anything on this guy that will stick."

"You think it will be tonight, huh? Not tomorrow?"

"No. Definitely tonight. In the darkness of night, when people have a tendency to suspend some of their hard and fast beliefs."

When they arrived at the cabin, everyone was eager to start the day's session. Zanita was fascinated by the sudden closeness between Kim and John. Apparently, not having succeeded with her and Tyber, they had consoled each other during the night. She turned to catch Tyber's eye, trying very hard not to stick her tongue out at him when he gave her a look that indicated he was not in the least surprised.

LaLeche began the session, adopting the mien of a man who has a great deal of serious knowledge to impart. Once again, Tyber was right. He led them quickly through exercise after exercise, breaking down the barriers between them as he coaxed them to reveal their innermost thoughts and fears. It was not an easy thing to participate in the session while still maintaining a separateness.

Zanita tried to temper her responses, hoping she wasn't revealing too much of herself, while at the same time making it appear as if she were totally engaged in the experience. It seemed Tyber was more successful at it than she was; it was difficult for her to tell when he was being honest and when he was baffling the group with B.S. At one point, during a brief break, he leaned over to whisper a warning in her ear.

"Be careful what you reveal to him of yourself; he will use it against you at a later time. You don't want to give him any power over you."

"I know, I already thought of that; I'll try to be more careful. Did you really read The Importance Of Being Earnest when you were three years old?" She whispered back.

Tyber contemplated her from beneath lowered lids, choosing not to respond. It was one of the traits that both infuriated and fascinated her about him; he knew exactly how to yank her chain. She unconsciously hunched her shoulders in annoyance, missing the flash of roguish amusement which lit his eyes.

"Now, I want everyone to sit in a circle again." LaLeche sat down Indian style in the middle of the ring they were forming. A cold drizzle was already falling in the dreary late afternoon.

LaLeche instructed Eric and Ralph to cover the two small windows with some blankets to block out what was left of waning daylight. Well, Zanita marveled, Tyber had foreseen that tactic as well; it seemed LaLeche wanted to get them into inhibition-freeing darkness as quickly as possible.

When everyone was settled, LaLeche inserted a cassette into the tape player. Chirping birds and gurgling water issued forth amidst the tuneless meditation music. Zanita instantly relaxed to the point of drowsiness. She felt Tyber's elbow jab her in the side.

"No snoozing on the job," he mouthed in her ear.

"Everyone join hands; we're going to have a meditation circle. I want you all to take a deep breath just like I taught you this morning. Breathe into your stomach, to your center of power. Hold... feel your breath... release. Again. Now close your eyes and relax each muscle of your body starting with the top of your head and working down to your toes. Take all the time you need. Relax..."

LaLeche's deep, carefully modulated tone was having the desired effect, especially on Zanita, who jokingly sagged against Tyber. He nudged her upright with his shoulder, taking the opportunity to plant a quick kiss on her neck.

"I want you to envision yourself in a place of perfect calm and serenity. Can you see it? You're in a garden.... It is a beautiful, sunny place, free from care and woe.... Listen to the singing birds, the sweet sound of water flowing over rocks, wind chimes tinkling in the soft breeze... You lie down on a cushion of springy grass, letting the serenity of this special place, this sanctuary, steal over you... letting it take you to your inner place of joy and peace...."

He let the music carry them for a few minutes.

"As you drift in contentment in this world of harmony, you see before you a mirror. The edges of this mirror are hand-etched with intricate flowering vines, and as you look into it, you realize this is a very special mirror, for you see not yourself in it, but the reflections of your desires.... What you want to do... what you are ready to do now..."

Zanita was letting her mind drift along with the vision when she felt a long, tapered finger languidly stroke down between her index and middle finger.

Tyber was letting her know exactly what desires he saw in his personal mirror.

When he massaged his finger suggestively back and forth against the tender skin between her fingers, each pass a silken caress, she began to see a very interesting reflection in her own mirror. The two of them, naked, intertwined, making slow, passionate love in the flowing meadow.

Her breath caught in her throat.

In acknowledgment of her reaction to his touch, the tip of Tyber's finger etched tiny circles in the sensitive center of her palm. His action formed a private link between them in the darkness that went beyond proximity.

"... as you confront your desires, you realize that you can now cast aside your groundless fear and embrace your secret self. Let yourself be free! Explore the hidden realms which make up all that is you. Don't be afraid to share yourself with others.... Let us all share with each other. Dr. Evans, are you exploring?"