Eye of the Beholder

hues have great clarity and energy."
    "I take it that's good?"
    "Yes." The reader turned toward Trask. "Your aura, sir, radiates a degree of power that could be dangerous in some people. It requires a lot of control, but I see that you've got enough to handle it."
    "I'm into control," Trask said easily.
    "The hues are dark," the reader continued, "but they are clear and pure."
    "The result of good, clean living," Trask said absently. He was still watching the shadows on the tent fabric.
    The reader cleared her throat. "I should mention that I sense an element of tension in both auras."
    "Can't imagine why," Trask said. "We're just sitting here getting our auras read."
    Annoyed by his rudeness, Alexa poked his shoulder. "Ignore him," she said to the reader. "He's hungry. I promised him we'd get a bite to eat right after we finished this."
    "I understand. Go feed him."
    Trask turned back, scowling. "Is that all there is to the reading?"
    The reader moved slightly. Bells tinkled. "I could elaborate on how well-matched your auras are. Great yin-yang stuff going on. Together you've got darn near a full spectrum."
    "Is that anything like a full house in poker?" Trask asked.
    "In the metaphysical sense," the reader said. "I can also give you the details on how the light, bright colors in the lady's aura complement the dark shades in yours, sir, and how the tesla psychic currents harmonize. But I'm sure you two already know all that."
    Alexa stared at her. "Why would we know anything about it?"
    There was a short, charged pause. The outline of the reader's head swiveled again as she looked from Alexa to Trask and back. "Sorry. I assumed that the two of you have a, ah, personal relationship."
    "Relationship?" Trask repeated ominously. "What do you mean by that?"
    "Calm down," Alexa muttered.
    He ignored her. He kept his gaze on the hapless aura reader. "Have you been talking to someone about us?"
    "Of course not." The reader sounded indignant. "I'm a professional. I've got standards."
    "Are you connected to the Institute?" Trask demanded.
    "No," the woman said quickly. "I'm an independent operator. I just rented booth space for the fair. That's all."
    "Then what's all this talk about a connection between Alexa and me?"
    "Hey, I just read ' em the way I see ' em ."
    Alexa groaned. 'Trask, I really don't think you want to go down this road."
    "The hell I don't," he said. "I want to know exactly what she knows about us and how she knows it."
    "It's no big deal." The reader turned up the lamp. "I'll try and explain it without getting technical. The fact that your aura has begun to resonate strongly with the lady's in certain ways is usually an indication that two people have established a mutual bond."
    "A bond," Trask repeated in a perfectly neutral voice.
    "Yes," the reader said. "A bond."
    Alexa thought about the uneasy partnership she and Trask had formed. "I think you could say we've been through a bonding experience of sorts."
    Trask gave her a strange look. "Is that what you call it?"
    "For want of a better phrase," Alexa said demurely.
    The reader hesitated. "Uh, look, sorry if I put my foot in it. I figured you two were already engaged or, at the very least, involved in an affair or something."
    Trask regarded her in Sphinx-like silence.
    "Good grief." Alexa went hot all over.
    "I knew this stuff was garbage," Trask said grimly.
    "Look, are you implying that I didn't give an accurate reading?" A belligerent, defensive tone had entered the reader's voice. "It's not my fault that the two of you came in here with a couple of auras that have obviously begun to resonate."
    "No," Alexa said cautiously, "it's not your fault."
    "Judging by your reaction," the reader snapped, "I assume you're trying to keep your relationship a secret."
    "The thing is—" Alexa began.
    "In my opinion, people who are involved in illicit love affairs shouldn't wander into an innocent aura reader's booth, ask to have their auras read, and then get indignant when the reader tells them what she sees."
    "It's okay, really, it is." Alexa scrambled to her feet. "No one's blaming you."
    "I should hope not. Like I said, I'm a professional. I've got standards."
    Alexa nudged Trask, who still had not moved. "Come on, we'd better get going. We've got a lot to do tonight."
    "Hold it." The aura reader put out her hand. "That'll be fifty dollars."
    "Fifty bucks?" Trask finally emerged from his frozen state. He surged to his feet. "For a carnival show