<\/p>\n
Peter looked at Karl, and Karl looked at his reflection for several awkward moments. Peter spoke slowly. \u201cMithras can get Mithras into the White House. My job is to streamline the campaign. In the end, while I know it\u2019s popular to believe that people will do as they are told, I have no real influence on the nature of the candidate and his ability to win the hearts of a representative majority.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like a speech you make regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was harder this time because I\u2019m drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter downed one of the new beers in a couple of swallows, then took a second bottle and started to nurse it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make Mithras a household name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is. He\u2019s a horned half-beast god resurrected from the glaciers of Greenland in what is unarguably Mankind\u2019s greatest scientific achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean as a candidate for the Presidency.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, well, yes. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel people would be willing to vote for Mithras to oppose the tactics of the ineffectual and downright damaging successors of President Webb.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, nobody can really follow Webb, can they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe greatest President in American history. And he reigned for eight years thanks to you, Mr. Willingham.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReigned?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMithras can bring the same, fresh perspective to the office that President Webb did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are different times, Mr. Willingham. We have awoken the Old Gods, given them form and life. And, from that, we have learned the truth of Human history. The ancient world has been rewritten. Olympus is no longer a myth. The bones of Hercules lie somewhere out there, the remains of the Titans are beneath the sea. The world as we knew it is gone. In its place is a brand new history full of life and magic. We need to move forward. Embrace it. And, with Mithras, we can do so. His knowledge will guide Humanity on a new path. A vital path of discovery. We will take the knowledge of the ancient gods and use it to propel Humanity into the future. Knowledge that was watered down by the time it reached the ancient Greeks and the Romans, and was lost altogether in fable in the Dark Ages.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow does Mithras or any of the old gods know about this lost knowledge? They were created in beakers, no?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd isn\u2019t all knowledge hindsight anyway? When this stuff was watered down and lost, and as they retreated into fable, did they actually think about what was lost and what should be preserved?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, Peter \u2013 \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are questions the electorate may ask, if you\u2019re going to go with the Olympus Strategy. So all these beaker-babies made from old god DNA have the answers?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot entirely\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have the illusion of having the answers?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter waved his arms in the air, nearly knocking over one of the beer bottles, \u201cGravitas!\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think \u2013 \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no! It\u2019s good! We can use it. What do the old gods know? They know our lost history and, with that, they shall forge our lost future!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLost future?\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter shrugged. \u201cGet Roger Faraday to say it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl\u2019s eyes widened, \u201cYou can get Roger Faraday?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMoney can get Roger Faraday. He\u2019ll strap on his guitar and endorse Adolf Hitler if you pay him enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor sale.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo all that activist stuff\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter rubbed his thumb and index finger together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what does Mithras have in mind for America?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl got a culty look on his face and gazed at the sky. \u201cTo elevate us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo make us all eight feet tall so he can look us in the eye?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo! To elevate us to a new level of consciousness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter waved a hand over the empty beer bottles, \u201cConsider me elevated.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMithras wishes to bring the Human race to the level of the old gods. The same power and knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe lost knowledge that he doesn\u2019t actually have access to?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s in his genetic code!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you not believe in a shared consciousness?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn what way?\u201d Peter screwed up his face, then shook his head, \u201cNo. No, I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFear of the dark. Fight or flight. All of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInstinct! Not shared consciousness. If we have a shared consciousness and all it does is tell us that there\u2019s a bogeyman under the bed or that fire is bad and tree is pretty, then that\u2019s rather sad.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe old gods were resurrected with their old powers. And as more is revealed, so we re-learn all of the old knowledge. Mithras wants us all to be equal. Think about it. You can be king of all that you can see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter looked down Georgia Avenue. \u201cWhat? South Silver Spring?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no! All that you can see with your mind\u2019s eye.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of reality, the universe, and all associated dimensions?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026 Think smaller.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Silver Spring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl closed his eyes, \u201cThink larger.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl stared into the reflection in Peter\u2019s sunglasses. \u201cDid you just agree to meet me so you could mock me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSorta.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAm I wasting my time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAm I?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Willingham\u2026please.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sitting here waiting for your proposal, Mr. Bauer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe campaign. What Mithras wants. For everyone to be a king. And not small or large.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about in the middle? Between South Silver Spring and all of reality?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you really drunk off of one beer, Karl?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl clenched his fists and exhaled. \u201cLook, I don\u2019t know how to put it. This is why we need you. Mithras wants everyone to be a king.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSee, you\u2019re losing me with this campaign message.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone will be elevated!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you mean to say that if a person votes for Mithras, then that person will be a king?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2026figuratively?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Well\u2026yes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Every Man a King.\u2019 Like Huey Long\u2019s campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe singer?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026 That\u2019s Huey Lewis.\u201d Peter looked sideways at Karl and narrowed his eyes. \u201cLook, I think you might want to be less literal with the whole \u2018every man a king\u2019 thing. You don\u2019t want to suggest that voting for someone who is a resurrected god, archeologically speaking, will result in the voter being transformed into some sort of actual crowned monarch with land and subjects. You mean to say that a vote for Mithras will ensure freedom. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. A car in every garage, a chicken in every microwave, high speed web connections without punishing contracts and poor service. That is: King of your own castle.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes! Yes!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you\u2019re hired!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much are you paying me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much do you see yourself earning?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the money ever printed since recorded history, and all the money currently in circulation, and all the money that ever will be printed converted to today\u2019s dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Maybe something smaller.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter bit his lip and tapped his chin with a ringed finger. \u201cHmmm\u2026 Nope. Can\u2019t think of anything smaller.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u2019s a hundred grand sound?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an excellent opening argument assuming you\u2019re from 1972.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur budget is limited.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Isn\u2019t Mithras sitting on a pile of gold like Smog?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSmog?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u2026dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl nearly leapt out of his seat. \u201cThey found a dragon?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u2026 It\u2019s\u2026 Oh, nevermind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they find a dragon \u2013\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the beer talking, Karl. Ignore me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl pulled out a business card and wrote a number on the back.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n
He slid the card over to Peter, the number side down. The front read: MITHRAS and provided a phone number and a web address.<\/p>\n
Peter took the card, flipped it around, and read the number. Then he looked up at Karl, then back to the number.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the first offer was a joke?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl shrugged. \u201cI was asked to start there and see what happened. Mithras is under the impression that you aren\u2019t quite so\u2026mercenary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat? Pro bono for the good of Mankind?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Presidency is not about the good of Mankind, my friend.\u201d Peter slipped the card into his shirt pocket. \u201cAnd you have yourself a campaign fixer.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh! Good news. Mithras will be pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess I\u2019d better meet him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can come by tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was thinking, you know, later. Like when I\u2019m not passed out in the shower.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrunch tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm\u2026\u201d Peter looked at Karl funny again, \u201cWere you born to a Mormon family or something?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDinner, then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, that\u2019ll work. I\u2019ll finish these four beers and then drive home with my eyes closed. Early to bed!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVery good!\u201d Karl said cheerfully.<\/p>\n
Peter smiled mockingly, \u201cThat\u2019s right, daddy-o! You can\u2019t fly with the eagles in the morning if you\u2019re up with the turkeys all night!\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl stared back blankly.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo in there and get me a scotch before you go. I need to sober up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Willingham\u2026 I hope this isn\u2019t how you behave when you\u2019re on the clock.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, nonsense. I\u2019m the very model of a modern major general!\u201d<\/p>\n
Karl shook his head, confused, and Peter went on mumbling to himself, \u201cWell, surprised I could say that. Gosh, I really can do anything when I\u2019m drinking. \u201c He snapped his fingers and pointed at Karl, \u201cI\u2019ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the kings of England and I quote the fights historical!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUm\u2026yes. So. Dinner tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d better leave if you don\u2019t want to be the chorus!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[405,260],"class_list":["post-1382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-serials","tag-serials","tag-vote-for-mithras"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1382"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1383,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1382\/revisions\/1383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greatsociety.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}