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〃It is true；〃 Seymour says。 〃I have seen with my own eyes what she can do。 She is stronger than two dozen men bined； as fast as lightning。 She is already stalking your group。 You don't have much time。〃
James stares at Seymour。 〃How do you know Alisa？〃
Seymour shrugs。 〃We're old friends。〃
James turns to me。 〃Neither of you has ever given us a last name。 We have no way to check your background。 We still don't know if you're with the government or not。〃
〃The names we have given you are false；〃 I say。 〃So what is the point in giving you a false last name？ Surely you can understand our reasons for secrecy。 We can talk all night and into the next morning。 There is only one way of convincing you that we have found the Dark Mother； and that is to bring you to her。 But when you do meet her； you have to be ready to kill her or else to be killed by her。 It is that simple。 You lose nothing by trusting me enough to check her out。 Once again； that is if you have all your forces standing at full readiness。〃
Dr。 Seter scoffs。 〃We don't have any forces。〃
〃You are a poor liar； doctor；〃 I say。 〃The FBI knows about your training exercises and your automatic weapons。 They didn't interfere with you because there were agents； like my friend； who knew about the Suzama material and understood what you were preparing for。 But those agents are dead now。 Kalika killed them。 As a result your group is threatened from all sides； politically and spiritually。 You might even think I'm a threat； that I've been sent here by the Black Mother to lure you into a trap。 Actually； there may be a particle of truth in that。 I am not working for her； but if you do choose to confront her you may be wiped out。 Seymour is not exaggerating her strength。 But at least if you hit first you stand a chance。 If you go after her you must hold back nothing。 Yet you must first explain to your people what the real nature of the risk is。 Tell them that several dozen police and marines couldn't stop her。〃
Dr。 Seter is shaking his head。 〃This is all happening too fast。 We can't do anything tonight。 It's out of the question。〃
I don't want to push him； to fry his brain； or even to confuse his mind。 I want the decision to be his because I suspect I am not exaggerating when I say many of his people may die。 So I assuage my conscience。 Yet I cannot let him stall。 I feel he is close to agreeing with me。 I have told him much that only he would know is true。 It doesn't matter to me that I have lied to him a lot as well。
〃You knew when the time came there would be no time for hesitation；〃 I say gently。 〃She is down in Los Angeles； right now； in a condo with a wonderful view of the city。 We were in her place this afternoon。〃
〃She told you where she lives？〃 James asks。
〃No。 She made a mistake when she called me。 That is all I can say。 Seymour and I were then able to figure out where she lives。〃
〃You traced her call？〃 James persists。
〃In a manner of speaking；〃 I say。 〃Dr。 Seter； this is all real。 I know you have been talking about it so long that it has lost some of its reality to you。 But you only have to e with me tonight and bring your group； and you will see a five…thousand…year…old prophecy fulfilled before your very eyes。〃
He looks at me。 〃You are not a normal young woman； Alisa。 There is something in your face； in your voice； in your eyes。 James mentioned it last night and now I see it。〃 He pauses。 〃How do we know you're not the Dark Mother？〃
I smile sadly。 〃Some nights I feel as if I am。 And even if I were； then that's all the more reason to heed my warning。〃 Reaching over； I touch his knees。 〃Trust the inner senses that Suzama's material has given you。 Trust what they are telling you right now。〃 I pause。 〃Your whole life has led up to this moment。〃
Dr。 Seter flashes a faint smile。 〃Somehow I can't imagine you are evil。〃 He turns to James。 〃I need to talk to my son； alone； for a few minutes； if you please。〃
I stand and point to the entrance。 〃We will wait over there。 We will give you all the privacy and time you need to decide。〃
Of course the moment we leave I stand still and listen to every word they say。 It is a short but intense conversation。
James： 〃She knew the name of the Dark Mother！ No one in our group except us knows that'〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃She knows many things I would have thought impossible。 But that doesn't mean we can trust her。〃
James： 〃But you heard her argument。 It's the same argument I've been giving you for the last few months。 Those incidents we read about were all caused by a single deadly force。 Only she has put the pieces together much better than we did。 I'm telling you； father； I believe her。 I say we throw everything we've got behind her。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃But just last night you were worried she was working for the Dark Mother。〃
James： 〃She is not behaving like someone who is trying to harm us。 Right now she gave us a ton of information she didn't have to。 Information that could be used against the Dark Mother。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃Only if it's true。〃
James： 〃It is true！ Look； she only asks us to trust her so far。 We will know within seconds of meeting this person if she is the Dark Mother。 But she is right； we must be prepared for a major attack。 It is the only way to protect our people。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃But what if she's lying to us？ If she's working for the government and is trying to trap our group white it is engaged in illegal activities？ Think about it； Jim； we're going to be storming a residence of some kind。 If it is a government trap； we'll look like just another evil and confused cult in the eyes of the public。〃
James： 〃We'll have her with us when we make our attack。 If she's lied to us； she'll pay the price。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃That's just talk。 You wouldn't hurt her。〃
James： 〃I don't think I'll have to hurt her。 I think our enemy will be so evil our hatred will be turned totally on her。〃 A pause。 〃Let's do it。 If we don't； Father； we will regret it for the rest of our lives。 That's what my inner feelings tell me。〃
Dr。 Seter is a long time answering。 But finally he gives his OK。
9
The attack has yet to begin but already I realize something is very strange。 I had initially gone to Dr。 Seter and James because I knew I was physically and emotionally ill…equipped to kill Kalika。 She is too strong for me； and I can't imagine hurting her。 All I wanted to do was send in twenty people with guns； close my eyes； and be told it was all over。 Your daughter is dead； the world is safe for democracy again。 Yet the Suzama Society seems to be much more than twenty people with guns。 It should reassure me that they are better prepared than I imagined； yet it does not； and I puzzle over this。 I stand in Suite 3670； in the mercial building across the street from Kalika's condo tower。 Olympic Boulevard lies between us and my daughter； but at this time of night…three in the morning…it is rare that a car drives by。 Beside me are Dr。 Seter； Seymour； James； and two sharpshooters with laser…assisted rifles。 They have cut away a circular panel in the glass and now are focusing their weapons on Kalika's windows； which are visible； barely…for w