Fiction

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"You were right...absolutely right. It was so clear and obvious and...easy"
"Of course I was right."
The two exchanged high fives, and toasted to their inerrant understanding of the human race.
"But...how did you know?"
"Hah! That was easy. They are such an easy read it is boring."
"Please explain."
"Don't you remember Eden?"
Gales of laughter.
"Don't you remember... they sold authority for (snicker) the FRUIT... WE KEPT THEM FROM THE TREE THAT REALLY MATTERS."
More gales of laughter.
"So...?"
"So? Where have you been?" He slapped his knee and gasped for breath. They...they...they...always do this...eventually."
"Do what?"
"Trade the authority of the realm for...fruit. Trade direct access into His realm for religion and rituals. Trade power with God for land..."
He gasped for breath and his merriment continued.
"Just now...ah...it is so rich. We got them to do what we could not get the Christ to do." His eyes narrowed.
"You mean when He refused the tempatation....?"
"Pah! Yes! That foul day...yes...I failed then. But. Not now. They have traded! traded! Aha! Kingdom for...for...aha...votes!"
"I see your point...sort of."
"And...the election was...aha...rich...a total wrap."
Another high five.
"They are...as divided as i have ever seen them. They are angry at each other... Ah... the news from there is...rich! Rich, I tell you! They have no idea they have played into my...."
A rap on the door suddenly chilled the merriment.
A messenger approached.
"My lord...I bring disturbing news. It turns out...not all took your bait..."
"What????!"
"Some...quietly....followed HIS example."
There was a grim silence.
"So...that...THAT...has happened....AGAIN?"
"Convene the counsel!"
"My lord, the "Sleeping Giant...the real one...has never really been asleep...it was simply hiding in plain sight and..."
"Silence! Be gone! Convene the counsel!"
(Apologies to CS Lewis and Screwtape Letters)

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