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; and broccoli。 They are not vegetarians; even though Suzama was。
Staring at the innocent faces; I wonder if they practice using their automatic weapons deep in the desert when no one is around。 Simply to own an automatic weapon is to invite a felony charge; jail time。 Dr。 Seter must be convinced the enemy is at hand to go to such extremes。 Of course; who am I to judge? He has not fed the enemy another person's blood in the middle of the night just to get her to stop crying。 My dear daughter…my; how fast she grew and how strong。 She can kick my ass in a fight。 That; I know from experience。
The memory of Eric Hawkins; Kalika's personal snack bar; is never far。
〃Oh God; I'm bleeding! She's cut my neck! The blood is gushing out! Help me!〃
But I could not help him。 I was only able to use him。
A young woman about my apparent age steps forward to shake my hand。 〃My name is Lisa;〃 she says。 〃You're Alisa?〃
〃Yes。〃
〃We hear you can read hieroglyphics?〃
〃Hieroglyphics and ic books have always been favorites of mine;〃 I say。 There is a murmur of laughter。 〃Where are you from; Lisa?〃
〃North Dakota。 I met Dr。 Seter there last year…〃
〃Lisa is our accountant;〃 Dr。 Seter interrupts。 〃I call her boss。〃
The group laughs。 They obviously love the man。
I am led down into a basement。 Few homes in Southern California have basements; and this one is special; to say the least。 As James closes the door behind us; I notice that it has a rubber seal all around it。 Almost immediately I notice a change in the air pressure; and I understand why。 They are worried about dust and dampness and the effect they would have on the scripture。 The air in the basement is carefully filtered。
Six of the group have followed me into the basement; including James and Dr。 Seter。 A young man named Charles steps to a vault at the far end of the basement。 In the center of the room is a large white table with brilliant overhead lights and a double ocular over…size microscope at one end。 There are also a couple of magnifying glasses and loupes sitting handily by。 Charles spins the steel knob on the vault; dialing the bination。 His body is between me and the knob but I listen closely and in a moment I know the bination; R48; L32; R16; L17; R12; L10。
The vault pops open。 Charles lifts out a pale yellow sheet of papyrus wrapped in acid…free tissue paper and carries it to the table to set down under the bright lights。 The scripture is a foot across; two feet long。 A rush of excitement makes my heart pound。 Even through the covering tissue paper; I smell ancient Egypt!
I recognize the hieratic writing。
It is tiny; carefully crafted。
It is definitely in Suzama's cursive。
Dr。 Seter gestures for me to examine it closer after he lifts off the tissue paper。
As I bend over the table; he has no idea I am about to read it much faster than he would read a large…print book。 Yet James stands close beside me; his eyes on mine。
I begin to read。
I am Suzama and my words are true。 The past and the future are the same to my illumined vision。 You who read these words are warned not to doubt what is recorded lest you fall into error and lose your way on the path。 I am Suzama and I speak for the truth。
The lord of creation is both inside and outside creation。 He is like the sap in the flower; the space in an empty room。 He is always present but unseen。 His joy shines like the sun in the sky; his will swims like a fish beneath the ocean。 He cannot be known by the mind or even the heart。 Only the inner silence recognizes him。
He is both male and female and he is neither。 To speak of him as one or the other is only a manner of speaking。 In order to protect the righteous and destroy the wicked; he takes birth again and again throughout the ages。
His most recent birth was as Sri Krishna in the land of the Pandu brothers。 Then and there he slew demons and granted realization to the worthy。 His life lasted 135 years; from 3675 to 3810。 He will be remembered as the divine personality。
His next birth will be as Adi Shankara in the land of the Vedas。 Then and there he will make available the knowledge of the Brahman; the highest reality。 His life will last 32 years; from 6111 to 6143。 He will be well remembered as the divine teacher。
His subsequent birth will be as Jesus of Nazareth in the land of Abraham。 Then and there he will embody and teach perfect love and passion。 His life will last 108 years; from 7608 to 7716。 He will be well remembered as the divine savior。
The scripture ends there。 I look over at Dr。 Seter。
〃Where's the rest of it?〃 I ask。
〃You do not need all of it to judge its authenticity;〃 Dr。 Seter says。
〃That doesn't answer my question;〃 I say。
〃The rest of it is in the vault;〃 James interrupts; close to my right side。 〃But we decided it wouldn't be a good idea to bring it all out tonight。〃
On the road; I was briefly separated from them by a distance of two hundred feet。 At that point they had their radio on and their windows up。 Even I; with my supernatural hearing; could not hear what they were saying。 They must have made this decision at that time。 Naturally; I am disappointed not to see it all。 Yet I am thrilled by what I have read。 Already I am convinced the scripture is authentic。 The papyrus even feels as if it is five thousand years old。 I stroke it gently; making James jump。
〃Don't do that;〃 he says。
I withdraw my hand。 〃I know how to handle such things。 I did not harm it in any way。〃 I pause and look at the doctor。 〃It is my belief that this scripture is authentic。〃
Dr。 Seter is taken back。 〃You can tell that by such a brief study?〃
〃Yes。 This portion matches what I have。 I take back what I said earlier。 They're almost identical。〃 I pause。 〃It would help us if I could see the rest。〃
Dr。 Seter is apologetic。 〃Alisa; surely you understand what an act of good faith it was for us to show you what we have shown you。 Now it's only right; before we reveal any more; that you show us at least a portion of what you have discovered。〃 He pauses and smiles。 〃I think that is fair。 Don't you?〃
〃Very fair。 May I have a day or two to deliver the material to you?〃
〃Certainly;〃 Dr。 Seter says。 〃James will not be acpanying me east。 You can bring what you wish to show us here and he will have a look at it。〃
〃Fine;〃 I say。 〃But you must look at it yourself; Dr。 Seter。〃
〃But I have told you about my mitments on the East Coast。〃
〃What I have to show you will make those mitments seem unimportant。〃
Dr。 Seter is troubled。 〃I am not willing to cancel any of my lectures until I have more proof。〃
〃I will give you such proof before you leave for the East。 Where will you be staying in San Francisco?〃
〃At the Hilton by the airport;〃 James says。 〃You can leave a message there。 We'll return your call promptly。〃
I offer Dr。 Seter my hand。 〃I look forward to meeting you again soon。〃
The doctor is surprised at my sudden departure。 〃But you've said hardly anything about what we've shown you。〃
I keep my tone light 〃It's what you haven't shown me that I would have a lot to say about