(Cont.)
Then the many assemblies of workingmen and workingwomen gathered to discuss amongst themselves what the Volcano had said. And when they reached a decision about how to reply, they handed their answer to Bryan, who read it aloud. And it said as follows:
“A statement, decided upon unanimously, from the hearts of the multitudes, to the volcano of potential: Pardon, we beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy.”
And the Volcano cried: “Of course, I forgive you. I have already preset my autopen to sign all of your future pardons. (I’m not a stickler about transgression – if you thought I was, then you got me confused with the Accuser.) I’m relieved to know that the miracles that I performed among you at least were not totally wasted. Now, let me stress one point: When we go in to mix and mingle with the Emerald Citizens, I will give you all good fortune; but to Kelly and the other agents whose spirits were bright and positive and optimistic, who were willing to follow my advice without argument, I will give them luck above and beyond the norm. For I desire to incentivize you all to cooperate with me; I wish for you to see that there’s a reward awaiting anyone who dares to be vulnerable for the sake of harmonization.”
And when the meeting had broken up, and the people were heading back to their own tents, the wild man went and stepped inside his vortex, and Moses and Bryan approached him, and they spoke to him in private, and asked his opinion about the proceedings. And he said: “This congregation has an evil streak. But I like them nonetheless.”
Then, on the morrow, some of the men in the workforce, when talking amongst themselves, confessed that they did not agree with the unanimous decision that the multitudes had conveyed unto the Volcano during yestereven’s meeting. “Let us retreat to the Empire,” they said; “for perhaps the taskmasters and overseers will reinstate us in our former positions.” Thus they set off that morning into the woods, intending to pass through the Red Ocean again and return to wage-slavery. But when they got to the enchanted part of the woods, lo, burning tygers appeared and ate them up.
Also, another group of men from the workforce arose on the same morning and reasoned amongst themselves, saying as follows: “We sinned by mistrusting the Volcano. We should not have bowed to our fear and refused to enter the urban areas. Let us make up for the hesitancy that we showed then, by setting out on our own now, ahead of the rest of the masses: Let us go down into Emerald City early – it will make the Volcano proud.”
But a few among this group countered this idea by arguing as follows: “This is unwise, dear fellow workmen. For consider that the volcano of potential has prayed to us clearly, concerning this matter: ‘Always wait for my ark,’ he has said. ‘For the ark of remembrance shall lead the way. It is by the ark that I shall guide you; and I myself will stand directly behind it, with Moses and Bryan at my sides. Therefore, unless you see the three of us up ahead of you, with our treasure chest leading the pack, stay put and go nowhere.’ These are his exact words, quoted verbatim.”
But the overzealous ones among this group of workers gathered themselves together, and, heedless of the ark, they made ready to embark on an outing that afternoon. Then, when Moses saw them heading away from the campsite, he got their attention and said:
“Hey, where are you off to, so sneakily? Did we not all just agree at last night’s meeting that we shall henceforth act in concert? But here you are, a rogue outfit, apart from the people, apparently commencing a private enterprise. What gives?”
And the men from the small group told Moses their plan, how they aimed to enter Emerald City before anyone else, to show how penitent they were about their failure to trust in the Volcano, and to prove how much they believe in his masterplan now.
“But his desire is for you to listen to him and cooperate with the rest of the populace,” answered Moses. “If you go out on your own now, and undertake risky business in the city, you will surely end up embarrassed.”
Howbeit, the small group did not listen to Moses, and they flouted the volcano of potential; thus, when they visited the city, the Columbians and Harvardites embarrassed them. And they were thoroughly embarrassed all the way to Ind.
(But it should be noted that, later, when the multitudes followed the Volcano into the same places, they were not at all embarrassed; on the contrary, they were welcomed as friends. Also, Kelly and the other agents who stood as go-getters from the get-go were greatly honored by the entire ivy league, and they had a wonderful time in the city.)
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