Alice 1 Read online

  I could hear her move around the room tapping people. The room became very quiet. She rang the tiny bell again and asked us to open our eyes. Two guys and two women were left.

  “The spiritual experience of the joining is all that is important,” the man began, “dogma and intellectual discussions only get in the way. You have all moved into a quiet and peaceful place where a spiritual experience can be obtained.”

  I assumed I would enhance everybody’s spiritual experience my way by tapping here and squeezing there, but that is not the way it went. My Tibetan foster parents gave me the finest moments of my childhood, and in my joining on the platform I returned to those moments of completeness and liberation.

  If you have never had the experience there is no way for me to share what it is like. How do you share the experience of listening to Beethoven’s Ode to Joy with someone born deaf?

  After half a year with my Tibetan parents, Christian neighbors began to loudly complain to the Department of Social Services. The soul of one of God’s sweet children was being corrupted by Devil worshipers. I was removed, and my spiritual journey traded for a hard pew in a cold church.

  CHAPTER 25

  Arlene hasn’t been blushing lately. Too tired.

  Dennis came over just as I finished my bacon and cheese omelet and was about to enjoy my two delicious chocolate donuts. I was surprised how glad I was to see him, and unhappy about feeling glad. Women have hormones too, and a few rare men know how to take advantage. Fair’s fair I guess.

  “Hi, Alice. I’m on my way to my guidance counselor and can’t stay. My group has asked me to invite you to a meeting tonight. Can you come?”

  “Sure.”

  “Good. I’ll pick you up here at 6:45. The meeting’s not far.”

  Ashara skipped over just after he left.

  “Hello, Alice.”

  “Hi, Ashara. Are you going to steal my donuts again?”

  “Of course, if you let me. What’s the problem, you don’t like to share?”

  “Sure I like to share, and how about sharing who you are and why you keep popping up in my life.”

  “Be very careful tonight on your walk to the meeting.”

  “Why do I have to be careful?”

  She snatched both donuts and ran. She’s really, really fast, and really, really greedy.

  ____________________

  Dennis was five minutes late so we hurried out the door and over to the elite side of campus. We turned onto a side street with widely spaced street lights. Something is not right and I remembered Ashara’s warning.

  “The meeting is in the white house over there.”

  Two men came from behind a bush. “Good evening, Mr. Crowley. Your Devil blood will no longer pollute God’s sacred earth.” I felt an attack on my heart and countered. Squeezed the brain stem of the guy nearest me hard, and then quickly squeezed the other guy. Dennis went down but was still breathing.

  I ran to the white house and banged on the door. “Dennis has been hurt”. Four guys came and carried Dennis back to the house and called an ambulance. Then went back and got the two bodies. They will soon be feeding the fishes or nourishing the nasturtiums.

  After the ambulance left, the group asked what happened.

  “I would be dead without Dennis, he took on both men. I tried to help but wasn’t strong enough.” Tears came to my eyes. They were real, I like Dennis. “They said his devil blood would no long pollute God’s sacred earth.”

  “It’s probably a Christian group I’ve heard about,” the older man said. “They call themselves the Holy Warriors of God and kill people they consider the disciples of the Devil.”

  “Oh, and they called Dennis, Mr. Crowley.”

  “That fits. I’m sure Aleister Crowley and his relatives and followers are very high on their list.”

  “Then Dr. Crowley is in danger.”

  “Yes. We need to warn his group and begin to work together. We made a terrible mistake thinking we were enemies. May we drive you home?”

  “Oh, thank you. I’m still a little scared”

  It’s odd I don’t regret killing those two guys. Well, why should I? They tried to kill me and lost. Fair fight. Well not really, but that was their tough luck.

  CHAPTER 26

  Karla called the next morning during breakfast with Arlene and asked me to come to his office at ten.

  Dr. Crowley and the white haired man from last night were there.

  “Alice, you know Dr. Crowley and met Dr. Spengler last night. Dennis is doing well, and will probably be out of the hospital in a couple of days.

  “Dr. Spengler, as you suspected, the two men in the pictures you took are members of the Holy Warriors of God, from Plattsburgh, New York. Most likely there are 5 members left here in Berkeley and they appear to be targeting the relatives of Aleister Crowley and their friends. The Plattsburgh group may get scared and go home, but I doubt it. Here are the photographs of the five that are left. Their leader is the one with an X.

  “Gentlemen, Alice is close friends with a group of Gifted people in Sarasota. Would you object to their coming to Berkeley as backup? Good. Would you mind asking them, Alice? How many do you think will come?”

  “Four or five when they learn I was attacked.”

  “Ok, gentlemen. Government agents will quickly find the rest of the Holy Warriors. The heart Squeeze is their primary attack. Do either of your groups have a counter?”

  Neither did.

  “Then your best defense is never to be alone. If attacked, physically attack the attacker. I’ll let you know what the government agents find, and hopefully we will soon welcome the group from Sarasota. Thank you for coming.

  “Please stay Alice, so you can call your friends.”

  After Dr. Crowley and Dr. Spengler left, Karla asked if the Glacier Gang was still tough. “I’d bet on them against the Holy Warriors. Those two guys last night didn’t have a defense against the Squeeze.”

  “Use my secure phone. The reason I’m supporting this is because the government has been trying to get rid of the Holy Warriors of God from Plattsburgh for a long time. This is the best shot we’ve ever had. Over the years the Holies have killed two of our agents, along with a lot of other people. We can’t prosecute because there’s never any evidence. Voodoo doesn’t sell well to a jury.”

  The Glacier Gang agreed to come when they heard I had been attacked and was in danger. It reminded them of the old days when they were Stephen’s Vigilantes. They called back an hour later and said they will arrive in San Francisco tomorrow morning. Karla gave directions to a safe house in Orinda, a cute little village for rich faculty and administrators just over the hill from Berkeley.

  ____________________

  The Glacier Gang arrived at noon. Ralph did not come. The refrigerator and shelves are well stocked with California’s finest, and we talked with Karla over lunch.

  “Our agents have found where the Holies are staying and monitors are in place. We will soon know their plans. Here are their pictures. I’ll let you know when we learn more.”

  We spent the rest of the day practicing the Squeeze and reinforcing the defense.

  Karla called late in the afternoon. The Holies plan to attack the Crowley group tomorrow evening at their weekly meeting. He suggests we arrive just after dark.

  ____________________

  The next morning we practiced attack and defense and in the afternoon walked around Orinda. Lots of pets and the Bichon Frise is the most popular. They are bright, loveable, little white fluffy dogs.

  Click Bichon Frise

  Weird history. They were the favorite of Marie Antoinette and 18th Century French Royalty. The poor Bichon were guillotined along with their mistresses and masters. A few escaped to Switzerland, necks intact, hidden under the skirts of loyal ladies of the Royal Household. That must have been quite a trip. At least that’s the story we got from a lady who has one.

  We left for the Crowleys around six and were all in place b
y seven. A few minutes later Karla got a phone call. The Warriors changed their mind and are going to hit the Spengler group, also meeting tonight. Karla was suspicious, so David, Betty and I went to the Spenglers, and Karla, Doris and Ruth stayed with the Crowleys.

  It was too quiet. We went down to the basement, and bodies were everywhere. When we checked if any were alive the five Holies came through a side door and attacked. I felt the beginning of a heart squeeze, countered it, and squeezed the brain stem of the nearest Holy. Three went down, leaving two. I squeezed the brain stem of the older guy but couldn’t get past a defense he threw up and felt my heart squeezed more powerfully then before. It took effort to counter. Then the fourth guy went down and everyone attacked the leader.

  Dennis, Dr. Spengler and two others were still alive but it was too late for the rest. We told the Crowleys the Spengler group put up a tremendous fight. When we got there all of the Holies were dead except one, and he died soon after we arrived.

  CHAPTER 27

  I needed a little getaway time so went back to Sarasota with the Gang. If I ever settle down it will be with David, but that day may never come. I like the freedom to do whatever I want. Skinny Santa was right, I’m a self-centered brat. My life is down to basics---food, shelter and guys. I dumped that meaning of life crap and prissy morality long ago.

  Yeah, maybe I’m over doing the cynicism a little because I’m scared. Too many times I’ve lost people I love. So I’m a super-tough, super-smart kid just underneath the poor little waif I love to play. Or, am I a poor little waif underneath the super-smart, super-tough kid?

  I called Dr. Crowley the day after I got to Sarasota. Dennis and one other member of the Spengler group survived. Dr. Spengler did not.

  After a couple of wild and wonderful nights in David’s bedroom, I flew back to Berkeley. Don’t want to miss any more class time especially in neuropsychology. I can’t wait to have a little fun with Dr. Mary Barteau, eminent scholar of the behavioral concomitants of neurological activity.

  ____________________

  I got to Dr. Barteau’s class early and picked a front row seat on the side. Twenty-five or so students were in the room when Dr. Barteau arrived. She’s a dumpy old grandmother, but

  noticed me so hasn’t gone senile.

  “And who might you be?”

  “Sorry Ma’am, I wasn’t able to come the first week.”

  “Name?”

  “Alice Shannon.”

  The first slide was the usual front and side view of the human brain and there were little white dots scattered around. I brought the Glacier Gang’s printout to compare with what science has found. She went through the major areas of the brain and what they did, like the motor strip controls motor functioning. Duh!

  She noticed I was looking back and forth between the screen and the printout. I should have been more careful.

  “That looks interesting, Alice. What is it?”

  “Oh, I got it in high school. Teacher hand-out.”

  She glanced at it, made a funny noise in her throat, and snatched it. She just stood there looking at it without moving for at least 3 minutes. Then gave it back and went on with the class. At the end of the hour she asked if I would please stay for a moment.

  “Where did you really get this?”

  “You don’t believe it was a high school hand-out?”

  “No, I do not! Several sites haven’t been published yet, and most haven’t even been researched.”

  “Well, I guess my high school teacher was ahead of his time.”

  She laughed. “Yes, he certainly was. Perhaps you’ll be a bit more forthcoming when we get to know each other better. May I make a copy?”

  “Sure, if you make copies for me of your research papers, published and unpublished.”

  “That is so strange, Alice. In all my years of teaching, I’ve never had a student ask that. Makes me sad, as if all those thousands of students were just sleep walking in and out my door. But so much for the sadness of old teachers. If you don’t have a class to go to, sure come along and I’ll see what I can do.”

  She spent an hour gathering reprints and making copies of unpublished research. What a team we would make, objective data and subjective experience. But I can’t share my very special methodology, at least not directly.

  I spent the evening going through Dr. Barteau’s stuff. What a gold mine. Her research adds many sites the Glacier Gang haven’t found, like auditory memories and hot flashes. Only one bad mistake. I laughed when I tapped sneeze.

  CHAPTER 28

  Arlene is spending a lot of time with Barry. Odd he never comes to the door to pick her up. When I asked when I would meet him she seemed evasive. I saw him at a distance at the dance but didn’t get a good look. She’s purring like a kitten but I have a funny feeling.

  Karla called and asked me to come in around ten.

  He offered coffee, but no chocolate donuts.

  “Good to see you again, Alice. I have a little job if you have time.”

  “I always have time for you, Karla.” He’s kinda old but looks in great shape.

  “Thank you, Alice. I’ve grown very fond of you as well, and that is not good in my business. There is a group on campus called the Warriors. They have an open meeting at eight tomorrow night to recruit new members. One of them, Jerry Wright, was a member of a group of Holy Warriors in Golden, Colorado a few years ago. We haven’t put many resources into the Golden group because they never seemed to do much except rant about the sins of the world and their own piety. I’ve put in a request for another look.

  “Here is Wright’s photograph. If you can make the meeting I’m particularly interested if he or anyone in the group is an active member of the Holies, and whether they have the Gift.”

  “Sure, glad to. Would you check out somebody for me, Barry O’Sullivan. My landlady is going out with him and I have a funny feeling. Never met him so maybe just scared Arlene will get hurt again.”

  He fired up his computer and quickly lost his cheerful Jimmie Stewart smile. Not good.

  A few minutes went by and the printer began to print. “Barry O’Sullivan was or is a member of the same group of Holies as Jerry Wright. Sorry Alice, they may be using Arlene to get to you.”

  “Oh my God! That is so awful!”

  “A lot of unknowns here. Going to the meeting will help clear up a few and there is a good chance Barry will be there. Here’s Barry’s picture.” The printer ink was still wet, and smudged my fingers.

  “God damn that mother fucking bastard!!”

  “Easy Alice, too many unknowns right now to do anything except gather more information. If he’s the bastard he seems to be, he’s all yours.”

  “Fair enough. You want to get together day after tomorrow at ten? I’ll tell you what I found and maybe you’ll have an update on the Golden group.”

  ____________________

  Went to the Bear’s Lair and half-way through lunch Dennis came over. He’s pale and has lost a lot of the fire I admire. Two heart squeezes do that I guess.

  “Hello Alice. May I sit down?”

  “Of course. Want part of an omelet?”

  “No thanks. Alice, what really happened?”

  “You saved my life by killing two Holy Warriors of God, and then you and your friends killed the rest of the Holy Warriors at Dr. Spengler’s”.

  “I don’t think that’s what happened, but I ‘m not sure. I’m so confused. The doctor said it will take a month or more before I’m my old self again and the memories may never come back. I’ve made peace with my father. What’s left of the Spenglers have joined his group.”

  “What made you leave?”

  “I wanted independence and power. My father wanted wisdom and light.”

  “I thought your father was carrying on the Crowley tradition, and old Crowley for sure was after power.”

  “Yes, but in his final days Aleister renounced darkness and chose the light. The beautiful sounds of Heaven rocked the house
when he died. At least that’s the legend. My father also chose the light. He is following Aleister’s last and greatest insight. ‘The emotional threads of joy and delight bind the universe as one.’ William Blake sang the same beautiful song.”

  Oh my yes, I’ve heard that wonderful escape from reality many, many times. Always from sentimental fools who eat well and live in safe neighborhoods. All the horrors of the world are kept far, far away by the army, the police, and the Zoning Commission. And I have seen the shock when raw Reality hits those super-nice people as old age brings the slow death of mind and body. The Zoning Commission can only do so much.

  That is so dark. I don’t like myself when I get in this mood, but it won’t last and I’ll soon be singing Blake’s lovely songs again. Knowing Arlene will be hurt has grossed me out and my meddling in her life was the cause. Of course my intentions were of the very finest. Oh yes.

  ____________________

  Dr. Barteau and I are having longer and longer conversations after class, sometimes about neuropsychology, sometimes about life and love, and sometimes how to cook a raspberry omelet. Guess I’m still looking out the window for mommy.

  CHAPTER 29

  I have a hard time at breakfast looking at Arlene’s glowing face, knowing the only reason Barry has been paying attention to her is to get to me. Oh my god! I just thought of another reason for that glow. I thought sex before marriage was a sin. I guess Hell’s infernal can’t compete with testosterone’s raging heat. Karla said to wait until we get more information. That “more information” better be good.

  ____________________

  Jerry Wright’s home is a little cottage set back from the street, partially hidden by a high hedge.

  Why do guys have no sense of order and beauty where they live? At least it’s reasonably clean. Jerry probably spent the whole day wiping up the mess he made since the last meeting. Guys are such lovable pigs.