You say that I suffer from delusions that I'm
Luke Skywalker. Perhaps.") I said, "I hardly even know you."

I turned to Dana. ("I've had a crush on you since the time in the San
Diego airport, under the palms.") I said, "I don't know if you've been
sending me sexual energy or what, but for years I've been very
attracted to you."

She raised her eyebrows. So did Rama. So did the others. I had
broken a taboo. Sexual attraction was not something we were supposed
to discuss, particularly in a group, particularly with Rama,
particularly regarding one of Rama's women, and *particularly*
regarding Dana who, along with Anne, was Rama's closest disciple.

I turned to Anne. ("If only I were older.") I said, "I feel the same
way about you."

More looks of surprise.

I felt exhilarated. I was not accustomed to voicing my gut feelings.
I turned to Sal. ("No, old friend, I'm not trying to steal your
power.") I said, "You have gotten a little paranoid over the past few
years. I hope you can work it out."

He frowned.

I turned to Donna. ("Are you still planning to marry Rama?") I said,
"I have no problem with you."

She nodded.

I turned to Paul. ("What's the penguin doing on the tehlee?") I said,
"We are friends."

He grinned.

"In other words," Rama interrupted, "you have Paul wrapped around your
finger. You have learned much." His twisted compliment threw me off
balance, and I failed to defend the seven-year friendship.

I turned to my brother. ("Love ya, bro.") I said, "I am not attacking
you in the Dream Plane."

"Oh no?" Rama interrupted again.

"I'm not conscious of it."

"Oh, sure you're not," mocked Rama. Then, in a professorial voice, he
explained how, in each family, only a limited amount of power could be
passed to the offspring. "Typically, one child claims most of it. The
others are often so drained that they don't even notice it's gone."

"Rama is an only child," I thought.

"Agni used to have the power," he went on. "Now Dan has it. They will
have to fight each other for the rest of their lives... "

"That's bull!" I shouted.

The disciples looked shocked. No one spoke that way to Rama.

Now I was angry. It was still my turn. I turned to Rama. My heart
was pounding. ("Why do you tell Dana to tell me to tell Tom to call
you? Why can't you call your old friend on your own? You're playing
power games.") I said, "You're a grown man. You have a Ph.D. You run a
comput