She stopped. Her chest was aching and she didn't have any breath left. But in a way she felt better, as if some pressure had been relieved.
"And you think Blaise is like that."
"Yes. Sort of a natural force that can't help itself. Does that sound completely crazy?"
"Actually, no." Eric gave a wry smile. "Nature's rough. Hawks grab rabbits. Male lions kill cubs. It's a jungle out there."
"But that doesn't make it right. Maybe for goddesses and animals, but not when it gets to the level of humans." It was a moment before she realized what she'd said. She was using "humans" to mean "people."
"Well, humans aren't very far from animals, after all," Eric said softly.
Thea sagged back against the seat. She was still confused and unhappy, but what scared her most was that she felt a strong urge to keep talking to Eric about it. He seemed to understand so well... better than anybody else ever had. And not only to understand, but to care.
"I know what you need," Eric said suddenly, brightening. "I was going to suggest we go to the late buffet at Harrah's, but I know something better."
Thea glanced at the clock, saw that it was almost eleven: "What?"
"Puppy therapy."
"What?"
He just grinned and turned the jeep south. They pulled up at a modest gray building with a sign that read sun city animal hospital.
"This is where you work."
"Yup. We can let Pilar off early," Eric said, getting out and unlocking the front door of the building. "Come on."
A pretty girl with shoulder-length brown hair looked up from behind the office counter. Thea recognized her as Pilar Osorio from school. A quiet girl who looked like a good student.
"How was the dance?" she said. Thea thought her eyes lingered on Eric wistfully as she said it.
Eric shrugged. "Pretty awful, to tell the truth. There was a fight and we left." Thea noticed he didn't mention his part in stopping the fight.
"How awful," Pilar said sympathetically-but Thea thought she wasn't entirely sorry that the dance hadn't gone well.
"Yeah. So how's our boy?"
"Okay-a little hyper. You might want to take him for a walk later." Pilar picked up her jacket. She nodded politely to Thea as she headed for the door. "See you Monday."
She likes him.
When the door was shut, Thea looked around the office. "So the clinic's not open."
"No, but somebody has to stay overnight when we've got animals boarding here." He gave her the grin again. "Follow me."
He led her through an exam room into a corridor and then to a kennel room at the back. Thea looked around with interest. She'd never been in the inner sanctum of an animal hospital before.
There were several dog runs. Eager whining was coming from the last.
Eric looked at her mischievously. "Three, two, one..."
He opened the cage. A big Labrador puppy tumbled out, tail wagging frantically. He was a beautiful color that ranged from deep gold on his back to almost white on his legs and paws.
"Hey, Bud," Eric said. "Hey, pal; who's a good boy?" He looked at Thea solemnly. "This is the ultimate cuddle dog."
Thea collapsed on the sheet vinyl floor and made a lap, holding both arms out.
"Uh-your dress-" Eric began mildly, but the puppy was already in midair. Thea caught him and he crawled up her, legs on her shoulders, hot breath blowing in her ear.
"I think I'm in love," Thea gasped, her arms full of warm, heavy puppy sweetness.
Happiness surrounded her. She didn't have to try to merge with the puppy's mind; he practically took over by force. All his thoughts were good ones, and they were all about now. About how terrific everything smelled this minute, and how great that scratch behind the ear felt on a fleabite.
Good feelings, happy feelings... I really like this big bald dog... Wonder which of us is dominant?
The puppy bit her and Thea play-bit him back.
"Wrong; I'm the pack leader," she informed him, holding his jowls.
There was only one odd thing. She could see the way the world looked to the pup-and there was nothing on the right. Just a void.
"Is there something wrong with his eyes?"
"You noticed the cataract. Lots of people don't see that right away. Yeah, he's blind in the right eye. When he gets older he may come back for surgery." Eric sat back against the wall, grinning madly. "You've really got a way with animals," he said. "But you don't own any pets?"
The question was gentle, not intrusive. Thea said absently, "Well, usually just temporary ones. I pick them up and when they're cured I put them back- or find homes for them if they want to be pets."
"You cure them."
Once again, the question was gentle, but Thea felt a little shock. Why couldn't she guard her tongue around this guy? She looked up and found he was looking at her steadily and searchingly, his green eyes alert.
She took a breath. "I feed them, take them to the vet if they need it. Then I wait until they heal up."
He nodded, but the searching look didn't go away. "Did you ever think of being a vet yourself?"
Thea had to look down. She bluffed by kissing the puppy.
"Uh, not really," she muttered into blond fur.
"But you've got a gift. Look, I've got some material on U.C. Davis. They have a great undergraduate program-and their graduate school is one of the best in the country. It's not easy to get in, but you could do it. I know you could."
"I wouldn't bet on it," Thea muttered. She had several dramatic blotches on her academic record- like four expulsions.