Free Shaman, Healer, Heretic by M. Terry Green

drift up to the frozen clouds behind her and then back to her. A chilly wind whipped around them, making him clutch his thin cotton gown. He looked at her outstretched hand and took it.  

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    IN THE REAL world, Mitch slowly opened his eyes.
    “Oh my God,” said Diana, not believing what she was seeing.
    His head didn’t move, but Mitch’s eyes shifted lazily to look at her.
    “Mitch, honey, can you hear me?”
    He slowly closed his eyes again.
    “Mitch,” said Saul. “Can you hear me?”
    Mitch opened his eyes again and focused on Saul.
    “Hey,” said Saul, bending down closer. “We thought you were a goner.”
    Mitch made a grunting sound.
    Livvy took off her goggles and sat up. She reached down to her bag for the bottle of water. Diana turned around to her.
    “I can’t believe you really did it.”
    Before Livvy could answer, the door to the room opened. The night nurse came in and was startled to see everybody. She was ready to ignore them all, as usual, but when Mitch looked at her, she realized he was no longer in a coma.
    “Why didn’t somebody call me?” she asked, angry.
    The nurse went over to the monitors and started punching buttons, making the machine squeal occasionally. Mitch grimaced at the noise.
    “Our shaman managed to do more than all of you people in this building put together,” said Diana.
    Oops , Livvy thought. Time to go.
    “Shaman?” the nurse yelled, glaring at Livvy, who was stowing the water and other gear. “If she touched him or gave him anything, we’re not responsible.”
    Livvy stood up, unsteady, but sensing that leaving time was now.
    She said quietly to Diana, “We agreed on a set fee.”
    “Of course, dear,” she said, going over to her purse at the sink.
    “I don’t believe this,” huffed the nurse, storming out.
    Diana brought out her wallet.
    “We’re gonna get that tube out of your nose pronto, buddy,” said Saul.
    As Livvy held out her hand, Diana counted out the money.
    Mitch must have reacted to what he was seeing since Saul whispered, “Don’t worry about it, buddy. You just concentrate on getting better.”
    Livvy was stuffing the wad into her front pocket when the door opened again. The nurse had tracked down an orderly, a big guy.
    “There she is,” she accused, pointing at Livvy.
    “I hardly think that’s necessary,” said Diana.
    “Family only,” said the orderly. He looked at Livvy. “Sorry.”
    “I’m just leaving,” she said, slinging her bag on.
    “Thank you,” said Diana, putting a hand on her arm. A tiny static spark snapped between them. Diana immediately withdrew her hand.
    “Santa Anas,” Livvy said quickly. “It’s so dry.”
    The Santa Ana winds were the hot and dry winds that swept through Los Angeles from the nearby deserts. Even normal people could get sparks from simply brushing their hair. Livvy had no idea if the Santa Anas were actually blowing now but it was her standard excuse.
    “Oh,” said Diana. “I guess I haven’t been outside much.”
    The orderly cleared his throat.
    “Anyway, thank you,” Diana said again.
    “Sure,” said Livvy.
    Because of the harsh backlight at the head of the bed, Livvy couldn’t quite see Mitch’s face, but she thought he might have been scowling.
    “Good luck,” she said to him.
    The nurse clucked with disapproval as Livvy passed.
    “By the way,” Livvy said to her. “That saline drip is about half what it needs to be. You’d better page the night doctor for new orders.”
    The nurse looked like she’d been slapped.
    “Get her out of here!” she said to the orderly.
    As Livvy passed, he held the door open for her. They walked in silence to the elevator and, as they waited for it to arrive, she knew that he was studying her. When the door opened, she saw a paramedic inside, riding back down to the lobby. She stepped in and saw the orderly still staring at her, watching her until the door closed. She leaned against the wall and put her head