Greetings M,

Finally, here is my detailed response to your comments on Maat Mystery.

As I said before, when reading my book bear in mind that it is a real life, Naked Truth novel. This means that characters and events are presented to the reader as he or she would meet or experience them in real life but with the added bonus of being able to read some of their thoughts.

> First impression....What is this shit? Has this man lost his fucking > mind?

No.

> The author seems to be rushing through the characters.  I never did get > a sense of who these people were.  How did they get so fucked up.

Whereas some authors would give you a complete rundown of the character's special or not so special characteristics, historical background and idiosyncrasies before you even meet them, this author lets you see and hear what the characters do and say first and in most instances gives you enough information in their behaviour and speech for you to figure out who they are, why and how come. To tell you directly how they got so "fucked up" would be to write a whole volume on each one or present the usual cliched thumbnail sketch of their background, which I don't do.

>  I > found it difficult to figure why did these people exist?

Do you realise that the majority of people in this messed up world are like the ones you refer to? The society we live in is made up of these kinds of people. Why do they exist?

> Why or what in > Aiysha's mothers life caused her to allow her daughter to be abused by > this strange man and what about her father?

Aiysha's mother was not just a devout Christian, she was a habitual confessor who believed in the absolute supremacy of Europeans and could not contemplate them doing any wrong. Aiysha's father was her mother's curse. Have you never heard any of your girlfriends talk about their children's father or their ex as the worst thing that ever happened to them?

> Why is this physco killer > worthy of Shango's love and affection?

Remember Shango became irretrievably lost in this woman long before he found out how REALLY dangerously disturbed she was.

> Gertrude Who is she?

You forget? Shango told you who she was: "The epitome of the deranged European psyche."

> How did she become involved in this organization?

Which organisation the CIA? Is there a contradiction between her character and the "work" of the CIA?

> Could be more creative with names...Too obvious author talking about > Nation of Islam....Final Call.

No desire to or attempt at concealment, more of legal requirement.

> Sex ...crude...intense...  Distraction > from story.  I don't know what the point is.

Far from being a distraction, sex is a fundamental cornerstone of the story and an integral part of the message.

> Settle on a name for sexual organs.

Why should all those diverse characters have the same terms for sexual organs? Even you don't use the same terms for sex organs in all circumstances.

> Shango guy is too perfect..Too understanding...unrealistic..

Let's look at some of Shango's qualities (not in order of importance):

   * tall, dark and handsome - with a scar
   * long, plaited (braided) hair
   * intelligent - computer programmer, psychologist
   * has own business - computers
   * has sporting hobby - basketball
   * caring
   * compassionate
   * understanding
   * good listener
   * analytical
   * conscious, aware
   * has sense of humour
   * speaks truth
   * seeks truth

Which of those qualities make him unrealistic? Have you never met an African man with any of those qualities? Of course, Shango is not representative of the standard Eurocentric picture we have of the typical African man, but why is it unrealistic to imagine an African man with all those qualities?

> ..no > temper..unnatural.

Was it not Shango who, in a fit of raging temper kicked down Sheila's front door? Was it not his raging madness that caused him to beat her as he did? What is "unnatural" about Shango? Is it that you don't recognise any African man in your experience like him? Or do you actually believe that an African man as good as him cannot exist?

> why was he here?

Why not? There are positive African men in this world. I can confirm that there is more to the African man than the negative, self-destructive caricature we see promoted everywhere.

I > think the story of an ancient artificat  found and stolen with > tremendous powers has potential for a great story but I want to know. > Where did Shango come from.

It IS a great story and many people have recognised it as such. In real life you only have a limited knowledge of people you know. If they are interesting people, you are always left with more unanswered questions about them. For example, do you know exactly where all your friends come from?

> What is his connection to Africa.

His connection to Africa is similar to yours and mine with a slight variation which, when it becomes relevant as the story progresses, will be expressed and therefore become known by the reader. But it is good that the reader should have questions about a character. That shows interest.

> Why did <<<<TEXT CUT>>>>  work for him.

The <<<<TEXT CUT>>>>  works for EVERYONE who touches it, not just for Shango. But Shango gives you his analysis of how  <<<<TEXT CUT>>>>  works in Chapter 12, "The Answer"

> Connect the dot's for me. It all connects on two > levels physical and spiritual .....connnect the dot's.

My Sister, you have seen the dots, you have connected the dots and you have drawn a clear, sharp picture but you don't want to accept that it was so simple, so easy that you were able to do it yourself.

> What created > Aiysha?

Aiysha and millions like her are a product of this incredible society we live in. As Shango said, she is no better nor worse than the rest of us or the millions of messed up young African women out there who now talk about finding a man with "good genes", a euphemism for European man or African man with predominantly European ancestry.

> What are the messages coming from the children of Maat?

In the Addendum Chapter, "The Legacy of Maãt" where they introduce themselves, the Children of Maat give us an indication of what we can learn from them - if we listen. They will show us many things next time we meet...

> One > minute I'm in England then Philly then Africa but every where I am I'm > fucking or being fucked.  What the hell is the message?

Contrary to popular belief and Global European mythology, the majority of us mortals must have sex in order to procreate. The message is in Shango's interpretation of Aiysha's vision (Chapter 12, "The Answer")

> I wondered if  > this was a cleansing for you (personal)

Absolutely.

> and then the message could come > through clearly.

The message is clear. Most of it is crystal clear to you also but I suspect, because of your conditioning, you are unable to accept the whole package. You prefer to see a large part of the message as unnecessary, extraneous baggage used only as a delivery vehicle. But the vehicle itself is part of the message.

> It seems the story is told on two levels and should be > read as such.

You are right, the story is definitely told on more than one level simultaneously.

> Perhaps what the children of Maat want us to know should > be told when some of these horrific acts are happening.

When the film is made, no doubt that technique will be employed in parts.

> To understand > the madness I was subjected to throughout  this book...I need to > understand...Why?  WHAT IS THE POINT!!!

Let's suppose - suppose - that there are only two kinds of things in this world, good things and bad things. Let's say good things can become bad things and vice versa. Let's say in order to see these things we give them colours. All good things are black and all bad things are white.

Let's suppose that there are people of one type who do not know of the other type or the difference between good things and bad things or how bad things can be transformed into good things, maybe because they had spent all their lives in goodness (the black side) or in badness (the white side). Can you please tell me how it is possible to show the difference, the similarity, the holistic relationship between good and bad, black and white without showing them both?

>  I need to know how the Ankh came into existence before the madness > happened.  I need to know where we came from first....what we have > become and where are we going.

The Children of Maãt have already answered all those questions.

> Slow down ...let me know the characters. > Is sex sex sex  is the only way these characters can express themselves? > I'm not sure if this was done so the book will sell or is this how the > author see's life.

The whole book is a message or a series of messages. The characters themselves and the way they interact with each other are all part of the overall message. The sexual content is part of a message about our attitudes to sex and sexual expressions one of humanity's most powerful natural forces. I doubt whether the sexual content would sell the book to people who believe that such scenes are beneath them.

> Aiysha is a sick person why doesn't Shango suggest > she get help?

Get help from whom? The same people who made her the way she is? The sick society which created her and millions like her for its own benefit?

Remember, Shango is a head-case student and he thinks he can help this beautiful woman his brain is getting fused on. Would you not try to help someone you were madly in love with yourself if helping them meant spending more time with them and you thought you had the skills to?

> What is this forgive me shit?  This bitch <<<<<TEXT CUT>>>>> and Shango worries what she thinks? Anyway if the author has a > point and there are many to be made the sick sex  psyco drama played in > this book serves as too much of a distraction to see the point.

People who are programmed in the Eurocentric view of life (the majority of us), will at first see either the sexual content or the spiritual content or the philosophical content or the political content or the suspense thriller content or the psychological content as distraction from whatever they are familiar with and/or interested in.

> Aids...Spiritual awareness...ect..ect...could and should be the focal > point. Time is of the essence....I see the possibility of a story here > but what I read was for me pointless...

Some of us who prefer to live in the clouds might even ask: "What the hell has AIDS got to do with Spiritual awareness?"

> It took me a long time to get through this book because it disturbed me > greatly.  I do not subject myself to these kinds of images  I know this > cruelty and sickness exist in the world.  Perhaps this book is meant to > cleanse those who need to face personal horrors and issues in their > lives. Author included.

As one of my readers said: "if you are able to move on and overcome all the disturbances; if you gather the courage to read the book, you've done a marvellous job." Thank you.

> If I did not know you I would have never read > this book in it's present form and would not recommend it to anyone I > know.

There is an abridged version of this book but having read it myself, I really don't think it carries the complete message. So it will probably not be released.

> I hope I haven't been to harsh..this is honest commentary and I really > sense this is a work in progress.....at least I hope it is..

You have been honest and truthful. That is all I asked and I am grateful for that. And you are right, this is a work in progress. I have already completed volume 2 in my head, all I have to do is put it on paper.

> ..I think we > need the "Children of Maat" to speak...

They will ...

> Much love > MS

If I have misinterpretted or misrepresented your words in any way please forgive me and correct my mistake.

May the Ancestors guide and protect you on our way.
Love and Life
 

SR

Date: Sat, 27 Dec 1997 18:34:37 +0000