Free Alice 1 by Ernest Kinnie Page B

you be interested in
applying for a scholarship?”
    “I don’t know, I have a part-time job now and
think I can make it. I’m grateful for your kindness but don’t like
to depend on others.”
    “Very commendable. The primary reason financial
assistance is offered is to free students to devote full time to
their academic pursuits, rather than having to support themselves
with outside work. The assistance provided is the payment of
tuition and a modest monthly stipend.”
    “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