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nd I； we cover each other's backs。 But I feel in my heart it will not be long before I see Kalika again。 A part of me senses that she has yet to find the child； but is searching constantly for him。 I have to wonder if my intuition about her is attached to the psychic thread that connects all mothers to their children。
Dr。 Seter and James drive ahead of me on the long road to Palm Springs。 They have an old white Volvo； I a brand…new red Porsche。 James is behind the wheel。 I keep only fifty feet behind； just off to their right in the fast lane。 They would be surprised to know that I can hear them as they speak。 Yet it is only when we have been on the road an hour that they finally begin to talk。 Before then Dr。 Seter had bees slipping in and out of sleep。
James： 〃Why are we doing this？〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃Do you think we should just ignore her？〃
James： 〃Not at all。 I'm as curious about her as you。 Remember it was I who insisted upon the meeting。 But。 I think we should investigate her background before totting her see the scripture。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃What harm can she do to it？ She will not be able to translate a fraction of the hieroglyphics without hours of time。 I don't care how well versed she is in the field。〃 A pause。 〃She must be older than she looks。 It takes years to learn to read the way she did。〃
James： 〃I'm sure she's older than she looks。 Notice she didn't actually tell you her age？〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃What are you saying？ That she has mastered Suzama's practices and managed to reverse her age？〃
James： 〃It's possible。 She knew enough about the high initiation。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃That's what startled me about her； too。 There are few people in our group who know about that。〃 A pause。 〃She must be telling the truth。 She must have another text。〃
James： 〃I agree。 But she's evasive。 I don't trust her。 I want full security when we show her the papyrus。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃Of course。 You've called ahead？ They know we're ing？〃
James： 〃Yes。 The whole group will be there。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃Really？ Why？ We don't need all of them there。 The others should be on their way to San Francisco。〃
James： 〃I told you； I don't trust this girl。〃 A pause。 〃But I have another reason。〃
Dr。 Seter 〃What？〃
James： 〃I wonder if Alisa has direct knowledge about the child。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃Now you're speculating。〃
James： 〃I'm not so sure。 She seemed particularly concerned about the child being harmed。〃 A pause。 〃Maybe I say that backward。 I wonder if she already knows about the Dark Mother。〃
I almost drive off the road。 They are talking about Kalika。
My daughter？ Did Suzama brand her as evil five thousand years ago？
Dr。 Seter： 〃I didn't get that impression。〃
James： 〃Can I say something really off the wall？〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃It's a long drive。 We may as well discuss every possibility。〃
James： 〃What if this Alisa is working for the Black Mother？〃
Dr。 Seter laughs： 〃She hardly seems； the type； do you think？〃
James： 〃Consider。 She looks like a twenty…year…old； but she appears to have the education of someone who has studied for thirty years。 Also； her manner is curious。 Notice the way she catches your eye； and then says things you have trouble resisting。〃
Dr。 Seter laughs some more： 〃I never noticed that。 I think you are the one who is having trouble resisting her。〃
James： 〃I don't know。 I just hope we're not leading her to the child by letting her study the scripture。〃
Dr。 Seter ：〃But there's nothing in the scripture that points to where the child is at this time； except perhaps still in California。〃
James： 〃To us maybe。 But she may find clues in the text we have missed。〃 A pause。 〃I pray to God we're not doing anything to endanger the child further。 From the descriptions I have read of the Dark Mother； I wouldn't want anyone； friend or foe； to run into her。 I think that kind of evil lives to kill。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃But you know； son； we have spent the last ten years preparing to meet her。〃 A pause。 〃It's inevitable； if we're to believe half of what we've read。〃
James： 〃Do you really think we're the ones chosen to defend the child？〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃I wouldn't have bought so many automatic weapons unless I did。〃 A sigh。 〃I'm more worried that Alisa may be from the government than that she represents the Dark Mother。〃
James： 〃Then why show her anything？〃
Dr。 Seter。 〃As I said； it can cause no harm。 She will not have time to translate the portions of the scripture we don't want her to translate。 And she will find nothing in our center the government would be excited about。〃
James： 〃I hope you're right。〃 A pause。 〃She is incredibly beautiful。〃
Dr。 Seter： 〃I noticed。〃
I find their private conversation fascinating。
The center they have referred to is a large house in an area clearly zoned for both business and residential properties。 There are many cars parked along the street as we pull up。 Like Dr。 Seter； I am surprised that James has directed the whole group here； especially when they have a lecture the following night in San Francisco。 Yet James's intuitions about me are shockingly accurate。 He wonders if the Dark Mother has sent me。 How would he feel if he knew I am the Dark Mother's mother？ I would have a hard time convincing him I'm on his side； not hers。
Yet the one thing I have learned by eavesdropping is that the Suzama Society is there to protect the child； not harm it。 Still； the reference to automatic weapons disturbs me。 It is true that they might e in handy should Kalika show up； but I know guns in the hands of true believers seldom get pointed in the right direction at the right time。
What is the source of James's excellent intuition？ Perhaps it is a result of following Suzama's meditation practices。 I found his reference to reversed aging intriguing。 Is James older than he looks？ I remember Suzama's often saying that aging is a product of lower consciousness； and immortality the gift of highest consciousness。
Dr。 Seter and James wele me warmly as I climb from my car。
〃Did you have a pleasant drive？〃 Seter asks。
〃I listened to loud music the whole way；〃 I say； gesturing to all the cars。 〃Is there another lecture here tonight？〃
Dr。 Seter glances at James。 〃Many in our group have returned here to collect supplies for the remainder of my tour；〃 the doctor explains。 〃I have to fly to the East Coast after my San Francisco lecture。〃 He gestures to the house。 〃Please e in。 Would you like some coffee？〃
〃Thank you； no。 I am wide awake。〃
〃That's right；〃 James says； moving up behind us。 〃You're a night person。〃
Inside there are two dozen navy blue suits； half and half； pants and skirts； male and female； all young and attractive。 I don't get the uniform thing； especially around Dr。 Seter； who seems so laid back。 Perhaps it is James's idea； although he seems far from a fanatic。 The group studies me as I step into the huge house。 The place is orderly； the furniture traditional； every corner clean and dust free。 There is a faint odor of fried chicken in the air； mashed potatoes； and broccoli。 They are not vegetarians； even though Suzama was。
Staring at the innocent faces