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you。〃
I keep my tone light 〃It's what you haven't shown me that I would have a lot to say about。〃
James touches my arm。 〃I'll walk you out； Alisa； if you'd like。〃
I smile。 〃I would like that very much。〃
Outside James is a study in politeness。
〃I hope you can understand our caution；〃 he says。 〃We just met you tonight。 While we're all impressed with your understanding of the Suzama material； we still have to take things one step at a time。〃
〃No problem；〃 I say as I open my car door。 〃I doubt that I would have been nearly as open as you and your father have been。〃
James smiles。 〃Actually； Alisa； you haven't been very open。〃 He pauses。 〃You can at least tell us where you found your material。〃
〃In India。〃
He frowns。 〃Are you serious？ Where？〃
〃In Sri Nagar。〃
He nods。 〃I know where that is。 In the Himalayas。 What were you doing there？〃
〃I had a few dreams of my own。〃 I pause。 〃How old are you； James？〃
〃Twenty…eight。〃
〃You took much younger。 I am twenty…five； for your information。〃
〃You look much younger；〃 he says。 〃Do you practice anything Suzama taught？〃
I smite。 〃A personal question。 I don't know if I want to answer that。〃
〃e on；〃 he insists。
〃I'll tell you what； I'll make a deal with you。 Tell me what you practice and I'll tell you what I practice。〃
He gives a sheepish grin。 〃You're a clever young woman； Alisa。 I don't know if it's smart to share too many secrets with you。〃
Before I climb into my car I place my palm on his chest I catch his dark eyes once more； and for the first time I notice how deep they are； how beautiful。 There is more to him than meets even my penetrating eyes。 A soothing warmth sweeps over me； for him； as well as for his father。 Beneath my soft hand his warm heart beats faster。 He may not trust me； but I know he likes me； maybe even wants me。
It is strange how I suddenly want him。 Since Ray； I have not really desired any man。 Even with Joel and Arturo； it was more my love for them that bound me to them。 Yet； out of the blue； James has me all hot and bothered。 Seymour would be incredibly jealous。
〃Secrets are what make us all interesting；〃 I say； and give him a light peck on the cheek。 〃Have fun in San Francisco。 I will call you。〃
He grabs my arm。
〃There is something unusual about you； Alisa；〃 he says in a gentle voice。 〃I'm going to figure out what it is。〃
I laugh。 〃And tell the whole world？〃
He smiles； but when he speaks there is a seriousness in his voice。 〃I have a feeling few in the world would believe me。〃
4
The time is well after one； but I do not drive straight home。 Being a vampire； I find one in the morning not unpleasant。 Also； since my rebirth as a vampire； I have found I need little rest； an hour's nap here and there。 Even when the sun is high in the daylight sky； my powers are hardly affected。 Once again I attribute this to the fact that I used primarily Yaksha's blood to bring about my transformation。
And a few drops of Paula's child's blood。
I； like Seymour； have the influence of it in my life。
I drive to Joshua Tree National Monument； and when I arrive the moon is high in the sky。 The park is large； and I have no idea where Paula sat when the brilliant blue light came out of the sky and blessed her。 Only that she sat on a bluff watching the sunset。 After the blue light left and the sun rose the next morning； the surrounding Joshua trees were larger。
〃The Joshua trees around me…they were all taller。〃
〃Are you sure？〃
〃Pretty sure。 Some were twice the size they had been the evening before。〃
I park in a spot that catches my eye and get out and walk across the desert。 The moonlight； as it pours over me； seems to seep into the crown of my head； and I am reminded of the time in the desert outside Las Vegas when I escaped a nuclear explosion by filling my body with moonlight and floating high into the sky。 As I prowl the sandy terrain among the Joshua trees that stand like sentinels from another age； I feel my step lighten。 It is almost as if I can bob off the ground； and that possibility fills me with excitement。 To fly up with the stars and escape the prison of my problems。 My bare arms begin to glow with a milky white radiance。 I can almost see through them。
Then I see the place。 My recognition of it is immediate。 I do not even have to take note of the tall surrounding trees to confirm my belief。 I simply know it is the spot。 A feeling of tranquility； of sanctity even； radiates from the place。 It draws me forward。 Clearly something momentous occurred here。 In a minute I am standing atop the bluff where I am convinced Paula conceived her child。 I lift my arms to the stars。 〃Suzama！〃 I call。 〃Show me what you saw！〃 There is no answer； at least no obvious one。 Yet I am suddenly overe by a wave of fatigue； and I sit down to close my eyes and meditate with the rhythm of the breath and the secret mantra。 Soon white light is pouring； not from above； but from a place inside me； and I am lost in memories of nights of wonder and terror at the feet of a tender clairvoyant； who saw not only the birth of God； but the death as well。 There was； of course； a reason Suzama died so young； and perhaps I was a part of that reason。
When I arrived in Egypt； it was fifty years after the death of Lord Krishna； fifty years into the dark age； what was to bee known as Kali Yuga。 Following the trail of adventurous merchants； who traveled the Far East thousands of years before Marco Polo was born； I arrived in an Egypt that to my eyes was infinite in splendor and riches。 Truthfully； it overwhelmed me； although I was also relieved to be out of India； where Yaksha was in the midst of a bloody rampage to destroy every living vampire； as part of a vow he had made to Krishna。
The bright sun was hard on a young vampire like me。 Riding into the enchanted city on the back of a camel； I had to keep my head covered with many layers of cloth。 The sun burned into my brain； sapping every ounce of my strength。 Yet the sight of the Great Pyramid； four times larger than the present…day pyramid that bears the same name； filled me with wonder。 Covered with shiny white ivory and capped with glistening gold； it stole my breath away。 All I could think as the bright rays heated my already boiling blood was to escape into its dark interior； rest； and try to forget the many trials of my journey。 I thought it more than a coincidence that one of the first people I met when I entered the magical city was Suzama herself。
She was far from a high priestess that day。 Only sixteen； with long dark hair and eyes as bright as they were kind； she wore a slave's simple garment。 I saw her bending over the bank of the Nile to collect water in a large clay jar。 On my exhausted camel； moving slowly toward her； I thought she seemed to stiffen。 She glanced over her shoulder at me； almost as if she felt me approach。 Later she was to tell me that she'd already had many visions of my ing。 As our eyes met； my heart beat faster。 I could remember no dream I'd had about her； but I knew her face was one I would never forget awake or asleep。
Suzama was not merely beautiful；