Orchid Read Online Free Page A

explain why to himself, let alone to Hobart. His inner certainty flew straight in the face of the results of all of the syn-psych research on the subject as well as conventional wisdom.
    It was assumed, not without some evidence, that there was a natural antipathy between high-class talents and full-spectrum prisms. Powerful talents were vaguely resentful of full-spectrums. They did not appreciate the fact that nature had made them dependent on prisms for extended, full range use of their own, personal psychic energy.
    Most full-spectrum prisms, on the other hand, found high-class talents arrogant, rigid, and demanding. In addition, full-spectrums were said to be extremely picky when it came to choosing spouses.
    But for some time now, Rafe had become increasingly convinced that he needed a woman who could link with him on the metaphysical as well as the physical plane. All of his strat-talent instincts urged him to that conclusion. That was one of the reasons he had been driven,albeit reluctantly, into a state of celibacy for the past several months. He was tired of the self-enforced loneliness but he could not work up any enthusiasm for a casual affair. In some fundamental,
primitive
manner he did not want to investigate too deeply, he knew that it was time to find a mate.
    It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Paranormal abilities were supposed to be gender neutral. The rules of the metaphysical plane were different than the rules that applied to the physical plane. Any prism could focus for any talent without any sense of sexual or even personal intimacy on either side.
    Or so the theory went.
    But Rafe had long suspected that the exotic nature of his power made him different in this area, too. Perhaps it was because his psychic energy was so closely allied to his physical senses. He only knew that the yearning he felt for a mate extended into the metaphysical realm.
    There was another, more pragmatic reason for insisting that his future wife be a full-spectrum prism. It was one thing to conceal his off-the-chart talent from business acquaintances, casual friends, marriage counselors, and even some members of his family. But there was no way he could hide the extended range of his paranormal abilities from a wife.
    Bluntly put, he had to find a woman who would not completely freak out when she discovered that she was married to what some would call a psychic vampire. Based on the recent experience of his two friends, Nick Chastain and Lucas Trent, he had concluded that a full-spectrum prism was his best bet.
    Rafe could not think of any diplomatic way of explaining that unique need to Hobart, however, so he focused on a different issue.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with having a few personal requirements in a wife?” he said. “After all, I’m going to have to spend the rest of my life with her, whoever she is.”
    Hobart gave him a look of polite reproof. “You don’tthink it’s just a bit limiting to demand that, in addition to being a full-spectrum prism, your future wife must be an admirer of meta-zen-syn philosophical poetry?”
    â€œIt seems perfectly reasonable to me that she share my literary tastes.”
    Hobart glared. “What about your requirement that she also be a practitioner of classic meta-zen-syn meditation and exercise? Few people outside of that ivory tower think-tank crowd up in Northville have even heard of meta-zen-syn.”
    â€œIt’s not that uncommon,” Rafe said defensively.
    â€œAnd then there’s your demand that she be an admirer of Later Expansion period architecture.” Hobart cast an exasperated glance around the firelit chamber. “No offense, Mr. Stonebraker, but very few people admire this particular style anymore.”
    â€œIt’s an acquired taste.”
    â€œWhich almost no one acquires,” Hobart retorted. “Any realtor will tell you that mansions such as this one are almost impossible to move when they come on