Hidden Talents

with a sort of pale green. I believe that there is great anxiety in him.”
    “That's because he's worried about keeping us as clients,” Serenity said. “Based on that one conversation I had with him on the phone, I get the feeling he hasn't been very successful in his chosen field. Started out selling computers and lost that job. Went on to shoes and bombed again. Now he's trying to make it in the whole-grain line.”
    “Ah.” Zone's bracelets clanked gently beneath the saffron and orange sleeves of her robes. “I thought I detected a fear of failure in that green aura. He has obviously not learned to align himself with the positive forces of the universe.”
    “Don't worry,” Serenity said briskly. “We'll cheer him up with a large order today.”
    Caleb scowled. “What is this? You're going to give that sales rep an order just because you're worried about his weak aura?”
    “Can you think of a better reason?” Serenity asked innocently. “Besides, I need to lay in supplies. We'll get our first snow before too long. Deliveries will be unpredictable after that.” She glanced at Zone. “Show the rep in here, will you, Zone?”
    “Of course.” Zone gave Caleb a pointed look.
    “I was just leaving,” Caleb said.
    “It's for the best,” Zone murmured. “The vibrations were getting very dangerous. I had an unpleasant vision while meditating the other night. And then you showed up. I was starting to become quite concerned.”
    “Keep on worrying. I meant that I was leaving Serenity's office.” Caleb strode past Zone. “Not Witt's End.”
    “Then we must prepare ourselves for the turmoil and danger which await.”
    Caleb ignored her. He glanced at the man hovering near the front counter. The sales rep was clutching a cheap, imitation leather briefcase and fidgeting with his badly frayed collar. His tie was too narrow and his pants were made of polyester. His eyes darted about nervously behind the lenses of his horn-rimmed glasses.
    “You can go in now,” Caleb said. “I'm through.”
    “Thanks.” The sales rep edged around Caleb. “You in natural foods?”
    “Tofu.”
    “Oh, yeah. Tofu.” The man looked greatly relieved to learn that he wasn't in direct competition with Caleb. “I'm in whole grains, myself.”
    “You're lucky. Longer shelf life for your product.”
    The sales rep brightened for a moment. “Yeah. Hadn't thought of that.” He glanced around and then leaned closer. “How was it in there? She a tough sale?”
    “Tough as nails,” Caleb assured him.
    “I was afraid of that.” The salesman's Adam's apple bobbed. Sweat broke out on his forehead. “Mind if I ask if you closed your deal with her?”
    “I'm still working on it.”
    “Too bad. Well, here goes nothing.” The nervous salesman scurried into Serenity's office and closed the door.
    Caleb ignored Zone, who watched him from her station behind the counter. He wandered down the nearest aisle, studying the interesting array of goods stocked on the shelves and stored in large, round, wooden barrels.
    He walked past buckwheat noodles, dried beans, peas, nuts, soy flour, whole wheat bagels and fresh rye bread. The granola in one barrel looked familiar. He was almost certain it was the same kind he'd had for breakfast. He remembered the mental note he had made to buy milk.
    The dairy case at the rear of the store contained blue corn tortillas, goat cheese, and tofu in three different textures—soft, medium, and firm. Down another aisle Caleb discovered four different brands of olive oil, what appeared to be an assortment of home-bottled herbed vinegar, and several jars of unsulfured molasses. He frowned thoughtfully at the vinegar bottles.
    The bells over the front door jangled cheerfully. A blast of chilly air announced the arrival of a man who looked as if he'd just stepped out of a war movie.
    “Good morning, Blade,” Zone said with a gentle enthusiasm that surprised Caleb. “I see you can't sleep today. It was a difficult night, wasn't it?”
    “The last three nights have been bad,” Blade said ominously. He glanced over his shoulder and spoke to two huge rottweilers who were loitering on the side-walk. “Stay,” he ordered.
    Caleb watched through the open doorway as the dogs obediently sat. Then he glanced at Blade again and decided that he would have recognized the survivalist anywhere from Serenity's brief description. If the camouflage fatigues and boots hadn't given Blade away, the armament he wore