"When you came here tonight," he says," you acted like you had no knowledge of Suzama. Why?"
I reach out and straighten his tie. "If you knew what I know, James, you would make a point of appearing ignorant." I pause. "Tell your father to come. I will be waiting."
A half hour later I sit in the coffee shop across from Dr. Seter and his son. They have come alone, which is good.Actually it is good that they have come at all, but I suspect son dragged father along. The doctor doesn't look at me as if he expects to receive any divine revelation from me. But he does seem to be enjoying the apple pie and ice cream Ive ordered for him. When you're a cute five-thousand-year-old blond, you can get away with murder.
"James tells me you're a student of archeology," Dr. Seter says as he forks up a heaping piece of pie. He has taken off the tie he wore to his lecture but otherwise he is dressed the same. His manner is relaxed, a scholar enjoying himself after giving a lecture he has obviously given a thousand times before. Briefly I wonder about his motivation for publicizing the Suzama scripture. I don't think he can be making much money from doing so. The cost of his book is nominal and he doesn't teach any high-priced seminar. He seems like a nice man with no hidden agenda.
"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. Seteralmost 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 ofI sis is brought down into the humanbody."
Dr. Seter stares at me,stunned. "What is thefo ur-word mantra?"
I speak seriously. "You knowfromyour scripturethatit is only to be revealed in private, at the timeofinitiation. I will not say it here. But you must realize by now that I know a great deal aboutSu zama's secret meditation practices. Therefore, itshouldbe easy for you to believe that I must havea ccess to another scripture belonging to her."Ipause."Am I correct?"
Dr. Seter studies me. "You know something,thatsfor sure. Frankly, I would be very curious tosee your scripture."
"You have to show me yours first," I say. "I willbeable to tell if it is authentic."
"How?"James interrupts.
I smile for him. "I will compare it to mine."
"Do you believe your scripture is identical tomine?" Dr. Seter asks.
"No. Yours speaks of a danger to the new master. Mine does not address that point." I add, "You liedwh en you said your scripture did not specify whatthe 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'mafraid 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 them essiahneeds 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.