Free Shaman, Healer, Heretic by M. Terry Green Page A

back.
    “Are you all right?” said a voice after a few moments.
    Livvy opened her eyes and saw the paramedic looking at her.
    “Yeah,” she said, her mouth like cotton and her lips sticking together. “Just tired.”
    “Mmm, maybe a bit dehydrated too,” he said, looking at her face.
    She hadn’t yet had a chance to drink any water, after getting the bum’s rush out of the client’s room.
    “Right,” she said, reaching down to her bag and bringing out the bottle.
    The door dinged and opened. They were at the lobby.
    “Why don’t you sit down,” said the paramedic, putting a hand underneath her elbow, directing her to a clump of overstuffed chairs.
    As she dropped into a chair, he put his box on the floor. He took the bottle from her, opened it, and passed it back as he squatted down in front of her.
    “Thanks,” she managed and then drank nearly half the bottle in one long swig.
    He popped the top on his box, brought out a small packet, and ripped it open. He poured out two tiny white pills into his palm.
    “Something to help balance with all the water,” he said, as he held them out to her. “Take them with the next drink.”
    She looked at his hand and picked up the tablets.
    “Electrolytes,” she said. “Potassium and sodium chloride. Helps to recover more quickly from dehydration or heat stroke.”
    “Yeah, that’s right,” he said, surprised.
    She popped them in her mouth and drank the rest of the water.
    “Thanks,” she said.
    He took the empty bottle, turned her wrist over, and put a couple of fingers to the arteries there while looking at his watch. She noticed that his hands were soft, but that his forearms were smoothly muscular.
    The elevator dinged open and another paramedic exited into the lobby. He was carrying a box as well, and also a clipboard. He came over to them as soon as he’d spotted his partner.
    “What do we have?” he asked.
    “Well,” said the young paramedic, as he put Livvy’s wrist down and looked up into her face. “Dehydration and probably a little exhaustion.”
    She was struck by the boyish look of his face, the close shave, the short haircut, and the dark but kind eyes. He seemed concerned. Of course that was his job, she thought, but something in his face made her smile a little.
    “Feeling better?” he asked, also smiling.
    Livvy noticed his eyes lingering on her hair, like most people, but then they moved to her eyes and then her lips.
    “Yes, much,” she said.
    The radio on his partner’s belt squawked, and he turned away to listen to it.
    “Are you going to be all right?” asked the paramedic, placing a hand lightly on her knee.
    “Yeah, definitely,” she said, feeling some strength return.
    “You sure?”
    “Yeah, I’m feeling much better. Really,” she confirmed.
    “Well, your color is better,” he said, standing up.
    “All right,” said the partner, looking at the two of them. “If we’re done here, we’ve got a call.”
    The paramedic in front of her nodded. The other man keyed a microphone clipped to the top of his shoulder and headed toward the exit.
    “Unit 34 responding,” he said.
    The paramedic picked up his box.
    “Okay, I’ve got to go,” he said, but hesitated. “You sit here as long as you feel like it and then get some real rest.”
    Livvy nodded and said, “Thanks, I’ll do that.”
    “All right,” he said. “Make sure you do.”
    He moved toward the doorway, glanced back once, and then hustled after his partner.
    After a few moments, Livvy slowly got up and headed toward the main entrance. Rest sounded like a good thing.  

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

    UNFORTUNATELY, REAL REST was going to remain elusive. The knocking on the door wasn’t loud but it would not stop. Livvy looked at the clock. Seven-thirty. In the morning. Nacho stretched and pushed his front paws into her feet. She’d slept for two hours, tops. Oh, please go away , she thought, bringing the blanket over her head and turning over. But the knocking