Alice 1 Read online

  “Oh that would be so helpful. I do want to do well, and it would be so much better if I could be full-time.”

  “Good. Here is the application form. If you apply by next week and are accepted, the foundation will take care of your spring tuition and start your stipend the beginning of January.”

  “I am so grateful for your kindness. How can I thank you?”

  “By not being quite so guarded.”

  “I don’t mean to be unfriendly. I’ve just learned it’s best to be careful until I get to know people.”

  “Fair enough, and you need to be careful, Alice. You have the Gift and are wisely keeping it hidden. There have been a number of deaths this past year, supposedly from heart attacks. One was a close friend and had the Gift.”

  ____________________

  About a block away from the Crowley’s I noticed a guy following me. I turned right, he turned right. I turned left, he turned left. I went around a corner, turned around, and waited. When he peeked around the corner I waved and gave him a big smile. He was startled, but quickly recovered and waved back. He’s in his early twenties and doesn’t look like a mugger or pervert. His big ears remind me of Dumbo, old Walt’s floppy eared little elephant friend.

  “Why are you following me?”

  “Would you believe you’re the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen?”

  “No.”

  “Ok. How about my girlfriend just dumped me and I need female companionship real bad.”

  “No.”

  “How about I’m here to give you a warning.”

  “Yes.”

  “Jacob Crowley is the grandson of Aleister Crowley, ‘666’, ‘the Great Beast’.”

  “That sounds more interesting than frightening. What’s the problem? Aleister’s grandson eats little girls on All Saints Day?”

  “Enjoy your sarcasm, the warning has been given,” and started to walk away.

  “Ok, ok, I’ll drop the sarcasm. You probably won’t tell me but I’ll ask anyway. Who are you and why are you warning me?”

  “You’re right I won’t, and I really don’t care if you live or die.”

  “Then why are you warning me?”

  “Not my idea.”

  ____________________

  When I got back to Arlene’s I looked in the UC Berkeley handbook and found that Dr. Jacob Crowley is the dean of the faculty. I have no idea what the dean of the faculty does but sounds impressive.

  So I have two warnings, one from Dr. Crowley, the grandson of the Great Beast, and one from Dumbo, a floppy eared young man who doesn’t care if I live or die. Much too vague to know how serious the danger so best talk to Karla. And I’ll visit the Glacier Gang Christmas and reinforce the defense against the Squeeze. They’re in Sarasota winters. Never been there but think it’s on the west coast of Florida.

  The two warnings are jacking up my paranoia and I notice people watching and following me. Probably just phantoms of my mind, but I’ve learned from my statistics textbooks you need data to determine probability. I have no data.

  I passed a couple of old trash cans in an alley and flipped back to that smelly village on the bluff.

  The little girl was digging for something to eat in the trash next to the bar. A guy came up behind her and shoved his hand between her legs. She pivoted and hit him hard in the balls with her sharp, bony hip and he doubled over and hit the ground. She ran around the corner, grabbed a cobblestone, and hid behind an old shed.

  He came running and cursing, closer and closer. She crouched down even lower and was very still. Suddenly big hands were around her throat.

  “You little bitch. Here’s your ticket to hell!”

  She hit him on the head with the cobblestone as hard as she could. He fell back stunned and she hit him again before he could get up. And again and again, and again, until he lay still. Blood and gray stuff oozed out of the cracks.

  She stared down at the mess but felt no remorse or compassion. The bastard got what he deserved. You don’t mess with the Krazy Kid. She pulled two nice rings off his fingers, and found a fat wallet and an expensive watch in his pockets.

  He’s not local, just up for a good time. He won’t be back.

  ____________________

  Only two weeks before Christmas break, so have to hustle with the first and second year opt-out tests so I can take junior courses in the spring.

  I made out the form for the Opportunity Foundation and mailed it in. So useful to play poor, little waif. Can you imagine the buzz around me if people knew I have lots and lots of money? You could never trust a smile.

  I miss David.

  CHAPTER 21

  Arlene was wearing her new clothes at breakfast and had scrubbed her face and put on a little makeup. I think she forgot how attractive she could be. We started talking about men and I wondered where I could meet nice guys. She hasn’t looked for a while so she’ll call some friends and ask. I oh so casually suggested she might check for herself as well. She made a face but didn’t fool me. For the first time in a while she’s ready to put herself out there.

  The next morning Arlene had on no make-up and hadn’t called her friends. She’s scared again. Maybe wait until I get back from Sarasota and push some more, or maybe not. She knows better than me if getting involved with a guy would be just another disaster.

  ____________________

  The Foundation approved my application. Spring tuition will be paid and a check for $800. deposited in my bank account each month starting January 1. If I maintain a normal course load and at least a B average the payment of tuition and the monthly stipend will continue until graduation.

  I went to see Karla every day but no Karla. He’s gone a lot.

  Then finally, all opt-out tests completed. Off to Sarasota.

  Flew into the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and big hugs all around. David gave me a seriously sensual kiss and I did my best to show my appreciation. I told them about the warnings from Dr. Crowley and Dumbo. Sure, they can use the practice, and I’m going to love a new trick they discovered

  Short drive to The Meadows. It’s an early planned community from the 1980s with many different condo associations, each with their own distinctive architecture. Many lakes and forests, hiking trails, fancy country club, tournament tennis courts, and three golf courses. One pitiful, artificial waterfall so awful people call it Freddie’s Folly, after the poor guy it’s supposed to commemorate.

  Click The Meadows

  On the north-east corner of The Meadows there are a few mansions carefully set apart from the lesser rich, and down that road we went. No backwoods hunting lodge for the Glacier Gang in the winter. It’s a beautiful, Sarasota style mansion with a huge front yard and lake in the back.

  That moonlit night, on my back, legs spread wide, in David’s powerful arms, soft hardness slipping into slippery softness, sometimes gentle, sometimes wild, is as close to heaven as I’ll ever get.

  ____________________

  The next morning after a computer was fired up, a large screen appeared on the wall with the usual semi-transparent front and side views of the human brain. Doris pressed a button and a little light appeared on the side of the brainstem.

  “It’s too easy to kill someone accidentally so we’ve been exploring. You don’t have to press the whole brainstem. A light tap here will put someone to sleep for a few seconds and the harder you tap the longer they sleep. That got us thinking about the rest of the brain.”

  She pushed another button and 15 or so lights appeared. “This is what we’ve found so far. A tap on any of these sites will change a person’s mood, the content of their awareness, or trigger a physical action. There is some variation in location from person to person, but surprisingly little.”

  She pressed another button and a number appeared beside each light, and numbers appeared on the right side of the screen with a description of what happens when tapped. She handed me a print-out and smirked as she pointed to Number 7, Sexual Arousal.


  I’m going to have fun in the spring when I take the course in neuropsychology from Dr. Mary Barteau. Wonder what I’ll do when she says the brain does this, and I know it does that.

  There were trips to the beach and a candle light dinner at a fancy place on the Gulf of Mexico. Off early one morning to see the wonderful art of that wild and crazy guy Salvador Dali in St. Petersburg. Sarasota is a great place, where the Ringling Brothers wintered their circus. Along with the fun, we worked hard reinforcing the defense against the Squeeze.

  I spent some time alone tapping my brain. Once I tapped the motor strip and punched myself in the jaw. I also had to be careful tapping where memories are stored. Once I watched my sobbing mother go out the front door, down the sidewalk, into a car, and drive away. But another tap and I relived a wonderful lesson from my Scottish step-father on how to achieve a high level of arousal and fulfillment.

  I was surprised how hard it is to leave David and the Glacier Gang. Why not stay? Why go back to God knows what in Berkeley? Because I like the challenge, and don’t want to be cramped by the wonderful but limited life moving back and forth between Glacier and Sarasota. Maybe later.

  CHAPTER 22

  Arlene flipped back to wearing makeup and new clothes while I was gone. A couple of friends told her to go to the Unitarian Church Saturday Dance to meet nice guys. As you might guess, I’m really not much of a heavy churchgoer. But for her? Sure! Anyway, Unitarians only call themselves a church to get the tax break. Seven in the evening, day after tomorrow.

  Karla was in.

  ”Good to see you again. I suspect you have a few questions for me.”

  “You suspect right. Is Dr. Crowley the grandson of Aleister Crowley?”

  “Yes, he is.”

  “And is he carrying on his grandfather’s work?”

  “Yes he is.”

  “Have people with the Gift recently been killed in Berkeley?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is there a deadly fight going on between groups with the Gift at Berkeley?”

  “Dr. Crowley who leads one group and Dr. Spengler who leads the other believe they are enemies.”

  “And what do you think?”

  “That there is a third group or individual causing the trouble.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me any of this?’

  “The odds of someone targeting you are low and I wanted you to have a good time exploring Berkeley.”

  “Was the woman who died of a heart attack outside the gym part of the war?”

  “No. A foreign government assumed she double crossed them and used a fast acting injection to stop her heart.”

  “What is your position here at the University and who do you work for?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Why not?”

  “I can’t tell you that either.”

  “Ok then, why should I go along with your next request?

  “No reason, except we are useful to one another. Either can end the relationship when no longer true. I like you, but usefulness is the primary basis of our relationship.”

  “Ok, fair enough. How Gifted are the people in the two groups you mentioned?”

  “You can run circles around them.”

  “Do they know that?

  “No. They’re aware you’re overdoing the poor little waif bit, but assume they are more advanced, and I wouldn’t do anything to change their opinion.”

  “A young guy with big ears followed me when I left the Crowleys and warned me about the Great Beast. Know who he is?”

  “Dennis Crowley, son of Jacob. They don’t get along. Dennis is a member of the Spengler group.”

  “Thanks.”

  ____________________

  At the Saturday night dance Arlene came out beautiful, available female and males noticed. Three took turns asking her to dance and at the end of the evening she left with Barry. I picked a big guy with lots of power and no couth. Perfect!

  The next morning Arlene blushed when I asked how it went. Oh my, a 30-something woman blushing. It’s been a while I guess. She’s so alive and happy. Have I helped her start a new, wonderful life, or set her up for another disaster? God only knows.

  ____________________

  Worked out my spring schedule with Jimmy. Nice variety of psychology and philosophy courses and no big lectures. I’m most looking forward to the neuropsychology class taught by Dr. Mary Barteau, an eminent researcher in the field who wrote the textbook.

  CHAPTER 23

  A notice on the bulletin board at the Vedanta Center snapped my head around.

  ENHANCE SEXUAL FULFILLMENT AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH

  The enormous power of sexuality has long been used to further spiritual growth. We primarily use the methodology and spiritual focus of Tantric Yoga. Shiva and Shakti are united, and liberation obtained. Only the spiritually motivated are accepted.

  January 12th 7PM

  223 Felicity Lane, Berkeley

  Oh Shiva. Yes. Yeees. Yessssss.

  I bought the textbook for Neuropsychology 301 and went to the Bear’s Lair for my usual coffee and two chocolate donuts. As I walked over to an empty table I saw Dumbo, Jacob Crowley’s prodigal son, sitting alone in the corner reading The Daily Californian.

  “Oh you were so right Dennis, your father tried to eat my soul. Thank you for the warning. I got away just in time. Oh, thank you! Thank you!” I tried to give him a big hug but he was uncooperative. He dropped the paper, spilled the coffee, and fell off the chair.

  “Son of a bitch!”

  I guess there would be no point in trying to hug him again. He got off the floor, pulled over what was left of his coffee, and gave me a marvelous hate stare. I wonder what he would like to do to me.

  “I believe you dropped your newspaper on the floor, Mr. Crowley. Would you like me to pick it up for you?”

  He started to throw what was left of the coffee in my face, but my little Shadow hands did their thing and the coffee splashed his own instead. This first date is not going well. He didn’t even bother to wipe the coffee dripping from his nose and chin, just turned around and left. Isn‘t a gentleman required to bid farewell to a lady as he departs?

  The table was a mess, so I moved to another and began to read about the behavioral functions of various cortical centers for Dr. Barteau’s class. Looked up and there he was, looking more puzzled than angry.

  “May I sit down?”

  ”Of course.”

  “How did you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “God Damn it, don’t play dumb! You know what I mean.”

  “Oh, you mean that little muscle twitch just before you were about to throw coffee in my face?”

  “How did you do it?”

  “Well assuming I did anything, you really need to see someone about that little muscle twitch, why would I tell you?”

  “Because very bad things might happen if you don’t.” As I’m sure you remember, I don’t take threats well.

  “You sorry little pervert. Why’d your father kick you out of the house? Catch you diddling your mother?”

  Oh my, his face contorted and turned a beautiful, shiny pink. A titanic battle was going on whether or not to hurl bad things at me. The poor boy doesn’t know I can easily counter anything he can throw. But then closed his eyes, and after a few seconds became very still.

  “Ok, Alice. I don’t know who or what you are, but that was the most interesting series of events I’ve ever had. I would like to go back and start over. Ok?”

  “Sure. That was the most amazing transformation I’ve ever seen. Some kind of meditation trick?”

  “I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.”

  “Don’t change the subject.” We laughed.

  “Are you friends of my father? Are you in his group?”

  “No. I’m not in his group and not really a friend. Your parents helped me get a scholarship and I’m grateful“.

  “Oh, ok. I have to go but if you co
me here often maybe we’ll meet again. I hope our next meeting won’t be quite so dramatic.”

  “Maybe we overdid it a little.”

  CHAPTER 24

  Arlene is pretty depressed, Barry hasn’t called. Hormones control a guy’s life and any woman who doesn’t know that is in for a lot of trouble. But hormones can easily be used against them and smart women learn how early on. I don’t think Arlene is one of the smart women.

  I went to the Bear’s Lair for breakfast and I was disappointed that Dennis wasn’t there. No! No! No! I don’t want to hook up with that egotistical, hot-tempered brat. Too much like me, and those Dumbo ears don’t turn me on.

  When I came home for lunch, Arlene was all excited. She and Barry are going to a movie tonight. I wish them well.

  ____________________

  The meeting for sexual fulfillment and spiritual enhancement is in a lovely little cottage. A nice looking man in his 30’s led to a room heavy with incense, and Thangkas on the walls. Yes, I know all about Thangkas. My Tibetan foster parents and I meditated in front of one every night. The Kalachakra is my favorite.

  KALACHAKRA THANGKA

  There was a raised platform covered with soft blankets in the middle of the room. Perfect for spiritual growth. I was early as usual and watched the crowd gather. Mostly horny young guys looking for an easy lay. Some Buddha Grins. A few looked like they might actually be spiritually motivated.

  A woman rang a tiny bell. “We welcome you to our home. Some of you are old friends, some are new. As always we begin with a meditation on the spiritual experience of the joining of Shiva and Shakti. The joining of the lingam and the yoni. The moment of completeness and liberation. Please close your eyes. Allow quietness and calm. Allow the world to drift away. To drift away, drift far away, far, far away.”

  And so on. I could hear from the rustling in the room that most are not too familiar with meditation

  “Some are ready for the spiritual journey, for the joining of Shiva and Shakti, and some are not. I will move about the room. If I tap you on the shoulder you need a bit more spiritual development and will be asked to leave. Be not disappointed. Continue your spiritual journey and return when you feel ready.”