Thirst No. 4 by Christopher Pike Page B

looks.
    “Relax,” I say. “We’re not trying to play a practical joke on you. It really is me.”
    “If I had any doubts, you got rid of them at the professor’s house,” Shanti replies.
    “Was I too hard on him?” I ask.
    Shanti is at pains not to offend me. “You did what you had to do.”
    “I think you were too easy on him,” Seymour says.
    “What makes you say that?” Paula asks.
    Seymour rolls down the window, which means he’s about to light a cigarette. “I worry we didn’t learn anything that will help us defeat Brutran and the IIC.”
    “We learned how the Array came to be,” Paula says. “I found his talk fascinating.”
    “But it’s like he switched boats on us,” Seymour says. “He talks about the Array for an hour but when push comes to shove he says it’s the Cradle that’s the problem. If you ask me, he’s still trying to protect the idea of the Array. It’s his baby, he invented it. I think he’s still proud of it.”
    “He did prove the existence of ESP,” Paula says. “He made a major contribution to science. I think he has a right to be proud.”
    Seymour lights his cigarette and blows smoke out the window. He glances over at Paula in the passenger seat. “Then why did you jump on him for using his knowledge to predict stock prices? If it had been me, I would have done the same thing.”
    Paula gazes out the window at the lovely scenery. The road between San Mateo and Santa Cruz leads us through a rich forest. Yet the beauty of the countryside doesn’t seem to comfort her.
    “You’ve all heard the quote in the Bible, “Knock and the door shall be opened.’ As you know, I’ve had experience when it comes to praying to the universe for guidance. And I can tell you that you have to be extremely careful what doors you decide to knock on.”
    “Is that why you brought up the issue of intention?” I ask.
    “Yes. Like I told him, at first his research was noble. He was trying to demonstrate the hidden potential we all have. But later, when Brutran wanted to use the Array to make money, the intention became self-serving.”
    “And that’s bad?” Seymour asks.
    Paula hesitates. “It can be.”
    Seymour isn’t convinced. “I write novels to make money. Each time I sit to write, I indirectly depend on the universe to inspire me. No offense, Paula, but I’ve never gotten possessed.”
    “You create out of your own imagination,” Paula says. “Out of your own soul, if you like. Or, when you worked with Sita to write her story, you spontaneously sought out a writing partner, even if you didn’t know it at the time. But it’s my belief that the Array is designed to tap unnatural powers.”
    “What do you mean by unnatural?” Seymour asks.
    “There are many doors in this universe,” Paula says.
    “You’re saying you have to be careful what higher power you turn to for help?” Shanti asks.
    “Exactly,” Paula replies.
    “Krishna says the same thing in the Gita,” Shanti says.
    “But Krishna is flexible when it comes to who a person worships,” I say. “He said that whatever god a man or woman worships with love, it is the same as worshipping him. I think that line is one of the keys to the Gita. The worship is for the sake of the devotee, not for the sake of the god.”
    “I can’t argue with you,” Shanti says. “I mean, you met Krishna, I’ve just read about him.”
    She continues to look troubled, and I think I know why.
    “You’re wondering why I gave you the evil eye every time you went to talk to Professor Sharp,” I say.
    Shanti hesitates. “I assume you knew what you were doing.”
    “You worked with Brutran’s Array as little as a month ago. I was afraid he might see you as one of her spies.”
    “Is that the only reason?” she asks.
    “Yes,” I lie. The truth is, my gut told me to keep her quiet, and I’m not sure why. Shanti continues to look disappointed and I try changing the subject. “Speaking of Krishna, did you happen to