X-Message-Number: 18397
Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2002 22:53:58 -0500 (EST)
From: Charles Platt <>
Subject: The Die-O Summit (a fable)
Note: The characters in this story are generalized and are
not based on any specific people.
The Die-O-Summit
------------------------------
A Short Fable by Charles Platt
A Catholic and an Alchemist were having an argument about
mortality.
"Turning lead into gold is of little interest to me," said
the Alchemist, "except to fund my future research. What I
desire is an elixir of immortality!"
"My dear sir, you are wasting your time," said Catholic,
stifling a yawn. "You will die when the Good Lord decides
that you should die, and if you have repented your sins and
pledged yourself to Christ our Savior, you are guaranteed
everlasting life. Sirely this is all you could possibly
want."
"Yes, yes," said the Alchemist. It was his turn to get
impatient. "I know all that. But what if--well, what if
there's a mistake? Let's suppose you fall from a cliff, and
your body is rendered into one thousand pieces. In which
fragment does the soul reside? Shall a Saint be required to
reassemble you, before Life Everlasting begins? I mean--what
if there are one *million* pieces? Or what if your flesh is
burned to dust in a volcano? Do any saints have such means or
patience for the task of reassembling your physical form? The
Good Book says nothing about such a dilemma."
"Never underestimate the power of the Almighty!" the Catholic
admonished the Alchemist. "He may restore your fractured form
to a vision of perfection with but a wave of his hand."
"Well, he may, yes. But of this, I have no guarantee." The
Alchemist fidgeted with a pair of iron tongs. "You know--
without any offense, your holiness--God does move in
mysterious ways. He might choose to let me live through the
rest of eternity in my fractured form. Would it not be more
prudent," and his voice brightened as he spoke, "to intensify
our search here in Earth, that we may better improve our
chance of finding an immortality serum? At that point, our
need for blind faith--"
The Catholic made a noise of derision. "You will gain nothing
by making pejorative remarks about faith. Without a doubt,
faith shall save thee--if you will but emnbrace it."
At that moment, a friendly money lender happened to pass buy.
"What, still arguing?" he exclaimed. He was friendly to both,
having bought land from the church and investments in the
work of the Alchemist. "I tell you what." He placed a hand on
each man's shoulder. "Since you are getting nowhere with this
debate, yet you are both concerned with defeating the curfew
of death, what say you to a gathering of those in your
trades? Atop the summit of yon mountain, perhaps. We might
call it a Die-O-Summit. A chance for a frank exchange of
words--"
"We *were* enjoying a frank exchange of words," said the
Alchemist, through clenched teeth.
"--and who knows," the moneylender prattled on, "you may
reach some very worthwhile conclusions. The Church could
learn from the alchemical community, and the alchemists
likewise might find enlightenment." He beamed. "Everyone will
benefit! After all--you both have so MUCH in common!"
With that he left, in good spirits, while the Alchemist
glowered at the Catholic, in half a mind to use his iron
tongs to brain the dolt, while the Alchemist struggled with
some most unworthy thoughts of plunging the Alchemist into
hellfire there and then, just to get it over with.
--
Questions.
1. Of the three persons in this story, who has the best grasp
of objective reality?
2. If the Die-O-Summit proposed by the money lender should
come to pass, what specific achievements should we expect
from it?
3. Are relations between the Catholics and the Alchemists
likely to be worse before, or after, the Die-O-Summit?
4. Does squabbling between Catholics and Alchemists seriously
impair the ability of either group to sign up new recruits?
5. Just how much DO the two groups have in common?
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