Anna To The Infinite Power by Mildred Ames Read Free Book Online Page B

mean -- I thought -- I mean, I thought you should know how much trouble Anna can be -- that is, as a music student.” Why couldn’t he get out the words? Because he was ashamed, that’s why.
    Michaela smiled tolerantly. At length she said, “Rowan, suppose you tell me exactly what you came here to tell me about Anna.”
    My God, she was perceptive! But would she understand? He stood at a loss, trying to decide how to tell her.
    She prodded him. “Yes?”
    He swallowed, then said simply, “She lies.”
    “I see.”
    “She steals.”
    “I see. Not a very moral character, our Anna -- would you put it that way?”
    He nodded, feeling deeply embarrassed now. “Maybe it’s a sickness, I don’t know, but I thought I’d better warn you in case she should take something of yours. I wanted you to know that my family will make it good.”
    “You don’t like Anna, do you?”
    The words made him indignant. Why should she say a thing like that? He hadn’t said one word about his feelings for Anna. “I don’t know why you should think that -- I -- I --” In another moment he found himself blurting out, “How can you like someone who lies and steals and has no feeling for anyone but herself? I don’t think she even knows what the word compassion means.”
    Michaela was thoughtfully quiet for a time, then she said, “Sometimes compassion comes only through suffering.”
    “Anna suffer? You have to be a human being to suffer. Anna’s a computer. Why, I’ve never even seen her cry.”
    “I’m sure you’re wrong, Rowan. There isn’t anyone who hasn’t known suffering of one kind or another.”
    “Not Anna,” he said stubbornly.
    “Oh, Rowan, you might as well say Anna doesn’t have a soul.”
    “That’s it! You put your finger on her trouble. If there’s any such thing as a soul, Anna doesn’t have one.”
    “Oh, Rowan --” Michaela laughed. “If that’s the case then it’s a good thing your father wants me to develop her musically. Someone said that in music one thinks with the heart and feels with the brain. Music is very therapeutic, you know. It can reach far into the depths of being and, like Pandora with her box, free all the dark, hidden emotions. Perhaps you and I together can help her.”
    “Me!”
    “Well, of course. You’ve diagnosed a very serious problem in Anna, Dr. Hart,” she said jokingly. “After all, one can’t let people run around without souls now, can one?”
    “But there’s nothing I can do.”
    “Oh, yes, there is. People always respond to kindness and understanding. Perhaps you could even try sharing your music with her.”
    Her suggestion only made him peevish. “I don’t see how I can do that.”
    “And I can’t tell you how either. Just keep the thought in mind and when the opportunity presents itself, your own good sense and heart will tell you how.”
    He doubted it. “You said ‘you and I.’ What are you going to do?”
    “I’m not completely sure yet, but I’ve dealt with people like Anna before.”
    “Brats, you mean.”
    She shrugged. “If you will. I have my own methods for handling brats, as you call them. Usually I start with a little shock treatment -- at least, that’s what Anna will consider it. And when she complains, I’m sure she’ll appreciate your sympathy.”
    So that was how she planned to get to Anna. It will never work, he thought. “All I can say is, I wish you luck.”
    A few minutes later, when he was on his way home, he couldn’t imagine why he’d had such a compelling need to talk to her that day, to confide in her. As for his sharing something like his music with Anna -- forget it.
     
    On Saturday morning, Anna, swinging her carryall, walked clear around the park on her way to Michaela Dupont’s apartment, anything to delay facing that awful woman. If it were not for him, Mr. Graham Hart, she wouldn’t be in this situation. He had insisted she keep the appointment with Michaela. They were all her enemies, Anna thought