"Jody Lynn Nye - The Grand Tour" - читать интересную книгу автора (Nye Jody Lynn)

brief but decided handshake. He offered the same to the rest of the group, and sat back without a single
wasted movement.
тАЬMy name is Hiramus Reston. I am pleased to meet you all.тАЭ
тАЬPersemid,тАЭ said the large, red-headed lady, and defensively added, тАЬSmith.тАЭ She folded her arms
defiantly over her broad bosom when Chuck looked skeptical about the тАЬSmithтАЭ part. She might be a
real smith outside of this state of consciousness. She looked strong enough to bend metal with her bare
hands. But why did she dye her hair that astonishing shade of red? Then, he chided himself for a fool.
You couldnтАЩt dye a dream projection, could you? If Keir was right, either Persemid SmithтАЩs personal
view of herself or the roots of her soul must have red hair.
тАЬAnd you, my dear?тАЭ the plump man asked the tall woman.
тАЬPipistrella,тАЭ she said, bestowing a brilliant, white-toothed smile upon him. The waves and tresses
of her long, golden hair swirled gracefully around her like willow branches. She looked like a
storybook fairy princess.
тАЬDo you have a last name?тАЭ Chuck asked.
тАЬOh, no,тАЭ she said, turning huge, astonished, hazel eyes toward him. тАЬI think that anchors you too
much in the world, donтАЩt you?тАЭ
No fear of that, Chuck thought. SheтАЩd float away in a high wind. The woman was as natural or
cultivated a flake that he ever had met. Look at her, jingling with silver good luck charms and crystals.
Chuck considered himself an honest child of nature. He didnтАЩt like people who leaned too heavily on
crutches like the New Age. In his experience they had no character of their own. Pipistrella gave him
no reason to change his opinion.
тАЬSean Draper,тАЭ the tweed-suited man blurted out suddenly, as if afraid of being overlooked. Chuck
turned toward him. Sean looked frightened, only just not bolting out of the car. тАЬLook, man, this canтАЩt
be mтАЩ mother. SheтАЩs been dead for ten years. I donтАЩt know whatтАЩs happening here.тАЭ
тАЬItтАЩs all right,тАЭ Keir said, easing into the comfortable maternal shape again and sitting down on the
arm of SeanтАЩs chair. тАЬLetтАЩs just talk a moment. IтАЩll explain everything.тАЭ
Chuck frowned and settled back into his chair with his arms crossed. Draper was speaking too low
for him to hear, but anyone could see how upset he was. Chuck wondered for a moment what was
wrong, then decided it wasnтАЩt his concern. He had his own problems! Keir should be helping take care
of those.
As if he could hear the mental shout, Keir glanced up. Chuck caught his eye and signalled to him,
wanting him to come and talk to him, privately. After all, wasnтАЩt that why he was here? Keir held up a
forestalling hand and went back to his conversation with Sean. Why couldnтАЩt the guy go get his own
spirit guide? Chuck felt like sulking, but at that moment, he heard a steam whistle outside. The car
lurched and started to move forward. The train was under way.




Chapter 4

The station vanished behind them, falling away like a toy town. Chuck should have been able to see
the airport they had walked from, but it was gone, no doubt packed into boxes by the efficient
workmen in white. The scenery whizzed by the windows at a steady rate, and the wheels rattled
companionably in a syncopated double-time beat. Chuck had always enjoyed train trips. No doubt Keir
knew this fact, and was gearing his journey so that he would be able to accept the new experiences he
was bound to have.
He moved to the seat next to the window, circling around Hiramus a little resentfully. The bearded
man had long legs with squared-off knees that seemed to stick straight out farther into the shared space
than normal legs. If the train jerked, Chuck would end up in PersemidтАЩs lap, an event, he judged from