"The Darkness."

"That's great. I know another witch, my mother-in-law," the driver said with a laugh. "But she's already retired, thank God. So why don't you like the forces of Light?"

I stealthily checked out his aura. No, everything was okay. He was a human being.

"They get in our way. Tell me, for instance-what's the most important thing in life for you?"

The driver thought for a second.

"Just life itself. And for nobody to stop me living it."

"That's right," I agreed. "Everyone wants to be free, don't they?"

He nodded.

"Well, we witches fight for freedom too. For everyone's right to do what they want."

"And what if someone wants to do evil?"

"That's his right."

"But what if he infringes on other people's rights in the process? Say I stab someone and infringe on his rights?"

This was funny. We were conducting the classic dispute on the subject "What is the Light and what is the Darkness?" We Dark Ones and those who call themselves the Light Ones-we all brainwash our novices on this subject.

"If someone tries to infringe on your rights, then stop them from doing it. You have that right."

"I get it. The law of the jungle. Whoever's stronger is right."

"Stronger, cleverer, more farsighted. And it's not the law of the jungle. It's just the law of life. Is it ever any different?"

The driver thought about it and shook his head.

"No, it isn't. So I have the right to turn off the road somewhere, throw myself on you, and rape you?"

"But are you sure you're stronger than me?"

We'd just stopped at an intersection and the driver looked at me closely. He shook his head.

"No… I'm not sure. But the reason I don't attack girls isn't because they might fight back!"

He was beginning to get a bit nervous. The conversation seemed like a joke, but he could sense that something wasn't right.