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〃I am a student of Suzama；〃 I say seriously。 〃I was not boasting when I said I possess a manuscript of hers。〃
Dr。 Seter is amused。 〃Where did you find this manuscript？〃
〃Where did you find yours？〃 I ask。
〃I have explained why I am reluctant to reveal that information。〃
〃I have the same reluctance for the same reasons；〃 I say。
He returns to his pie。 He thinks I am a nice girl with nothing to say。
〃Then I guess we'll just have to enjoy the food；〃 he says politely。
I open his book to a photograph of a portion of the Suzama scripture。 I point to the hieratic writing on the ancient papyrus。
〃There are probably only two dozen people on Earth who can read this at a glance；〃 I say。 〃You are one of them； I am another。 This line says； 'The secret of the Goddess is in the sixteenth digit of the moon。 Not the moon in the sky； but the moon in the high center。 It is here the ambrosia of bliss is milked by the sincere seeker。 It is only there the knowledge of the soul is revealed。' I pause。 〃Is my translation accurate？〃
Dr。 Seter almost drops his fork。 〃How did you know that？ I don't translate that line in the text。〃
〃I told you； I am a student of Suzama。〃
James interrupts。 〃How do we know someone else didn't translate the line for you？〃
〃Because I can give you information that must be in the portion of your scripture that you keep hidden； as it is in mine。 For example； I know of the four…word mantra Suzama used to invoke the white light from above the head； where the moon digit is really located。 I know how the first word relates to the heart； the second to the throat； the third to the head。 I know how the breath is synchronized with the mantra and that on the fourth word the divine white light of Isis is brought down into the human body。〃
Dr。 Seter stares at me； stunned。 〃What is the four…word mantra？〃
I speak seriously。 〃You know from your scripture that it is only to be revealed in private； at the time of initiation。 I will not say it here。 But you must realize by now that I know a great deal about Suzama's secret meditation practices。 Therefore； it should be easy for you to believe that I must have access to another scripture belonging to her。〃 I pause。 〃Am I correct？〃
Dr。 Seter studies me。 〃You know something； that's for sure。 Frankly； I would be very curious to see your scripture。〃
〃You have to show me yours first；〃 I say。 〃I will be able to tell if it is authentic。〃
〃How？〃 James interrupts。
I smile for him。 〃I will pare it to mine。〃
〃Do you believe your scripture is identical to mine？〃 Dr。 Seter asks。
〃No。 Yours speaks of a danger to the new master。 Mine does not address that point。〃 I add； 〃You lied when you said your scripture did not specify what the danger is。〃
Dr。 Seter sits back。 〃How do you know that？〃
〃It doesn't matter。 It's true。〃 I pause。 'Tell me how the danger is described？〃
〃I'm afraid that's not possible；〃 James says。 〃Only inner members of our group are given such information。〃
〃Ah；〃 I say。 〃This inner group you have organized； what's its purpose？ To protect the child once it is found？〃 By their reaction I see I have scored a bulls…eye。 〃Isn't that rather presumptuous of you？ To think the messiah needs your protection？〃
Dr。 Seter is having trouble keeping up with me。 Still； I have his full attention。 〃What if the scripture itself says he will need protection？〃 he asks。
〃Does it？〃 I ask。
Dr。 Seter hesitates。 〃Yes。〃
He is telling the truth； or at least the truth he knows。
〃Father；〃 James interrupts。 〃Should we be talking about these things in front of a stranger whom we have just met？〃
Dr。 Seter shrugs。 〃Isn't it obvious she knows as much about Suzama as we do？〃
〃But I don't；〃 I say again。 〃I know different things about her。 I am working with different source material。 But back to your group； and how they will be used to protect the child。 How exactly is that going to work？〃
〃Surely you can understand that we can't divulge the inner workings of our group；〃 Dr。 Seter says。 〃Not the way the government is scrutinizing every spiritual group in the country； searching for the next crazy cult。 Please； let's try to keep this on an academic level。 I would like to see your material； you would like to see mine。 Fine； how can we work a place and a date to exchange information？〃
〃I told you；〃 I say。 〃You have to show me yours first。 If I am convinced it is authentic； I will show you what I have。〃
Dr。 Seter is suspicious。 〃Why not have a simultaneous exchange？〃
I smile warmly。 〃I will not harm your material。 I'm sure when you show it to me there will be a dozen of your well…dressed boys and girls gathered around。〃 I pause。 〃I suspect you travel with it。 Why don't you show it to me tonight？ I will not have to study it long to reach a conclusion。〃
Dr。 Seter and James exchange a long look。 〃What could it hurt？〃 the doctor says finally； testing the waters。
James is unsure。 He continues to study me。 〃How do we know you don't work for the FBI？〃
I throw my head back and laugh。 〃Where will you find a FBI agent who can read hieroglyphics？〃
〃But you are curious about the purpose of our group？〃 James persists。 〃These are the kinds of questions the government might ask。〃
I catch James's eye and let my power out in a measured dose。 〃I am not from the government。 I represent no one other than myself。 My interest in the Suzama material is motivated only by the highest and best desires。〃 I pause and catch the eye of the doctor as well。 〃Let me see it。 You will have no regrets。〃
Dr。 Seter touches his son's arm as he nods in answer to my request。 〃We don't exactly travel with it； but it's not far from here。〃 He pauses。 〃It's out in Palm Springs。〃
〃Palm Springs；〃 I mutter。 What a coincidence。 One passes through Palm Springs on the way to Joshua Tree National Monument； where Paula supposedly conceived her child。 I have been meaning to go out there for some time。
〃James can show you the scripture tomorrow morning；〃 Dr。 Seter says； checking his watch。 〃It's too late to see it tonight。〃
I stand。 〃But I'm a night girl。 And I would like you to be there； Dr。 Seter； when I examine it。 If you please？ Let's go now。〃
He is taken aback by my boldness and gazes up at me。 〃May I ask how old you are； Alisa？〃
I smile。 〃You must know that Suzama was not very old when she wrote your scripture。〃
Dr。 Seter shakes his head。 〃I didn't know that。 How old was she？〃
〃I take that back。 I'm not sure how old she was when she wrote it。 I only know she died before her twentieth birthday。〃
I don't add； like me。
Some； of course； consider vampires the walking dead。
3
Before heading for Palm Springs； I leave Seymour a message on the answering machine in our new home in Pacific Palisades。 We stay in regular contact。 It's a promise we keep to each other。 I have left him before in the middle of the night without explanation and have promised never to do it again。 Also； my daughter； Kalika； still walks the streets； and it is impossible to tell when she will e for us again。 Seymour and I； we cover each other's backs。 But I fe