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he three little imps dozed off and
snored recklessly as the last plenary
of the Ministers Conference dragged
on. Beelzebub, flying through the mid-air,
saw this and shot a fiery dart that ended
with a burst of sparks over their heads. They
woke up with a start.
Its the Prince! Snob cried.
Yes, it is! Vague confirmed.
He looks fiendishly soured! Crafty rejoined.
Is it time to sleep and dream recklessly
while time steals away our only
opportunity? Beelzebub demanded.
Were sorry, Master Crafty replied, But,
its difficult to keep eyes opened when these
ministers and theologians open their mouth!
Nevertheless, youre required to keep them
open!
T
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Weve wound up the clock, master. Snob
argued, All their actions are timed and
preset. A quick flight over their heads would
instantly give evidence of our superior
accomplishment.
Ill see, replied Beelzebub and flew away.
The very next instant he came back with
eyes wide open. What is that guy talking
about?
About some outdated, irrelevant topic; he is
the last of the speakers, and he thinks he is
the Capstone. Snob chuckled.
He also thinks that he can change the world
by what he says here. Vague laughed out
loud.
We pursued all of them to keep thinking,
keep praising, keep criticizing, and keep
believing that theyre the best of the bunch,
Snob explained.
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He has stopped. They all applaud. Why?
Beelzebub scratched his horns. Another
man is peaking [speaking] something; it
seems he wishes to show how great he is for
being such a distinct moderator. That is
good! They are dismantling and meeting
each other now. Lets move closer!
Beelzebub and the imps drew closer.
They first, invisible as they were, huddled
around two men who were speaking volubly
to each other; and thereby attracting several
swift gazes.
Your lecture was fabulous, Reverend
Sudoor! the man dressed in white was
flattening [flattering], obviously.
Thank you, Reverend Priseid! Rev. Sudoor
replied.
Reverend!!! Beelzebub burst into
uncontrollable laughter. I am so afraid and
filled with awe! He teasingly remarked and
laughed out loud again.
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Its easier to crush both of them into a pulp
right now! Vague averred.
See, Rev. Priseid, there are over a hundred
churches in my city; but, none of them are
really doing what really needs to be done.
Were the only ones who are doing the
work. Sudoor was saying.
So, he thinks, Crafty commented.
So, he keeps away from all of them, Snob
added.
So, he keeps away from even trying to
know them, Vague pinned it down.
Excellent! Beelzebub looked happy. The
imps felt satisfied.
If you cant keep your head above the other
heads, chop those other heads off, mused
Snob.
Lets move to others! Beelzebub ordered.
They quickly moved to a lady with her
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husband talking with a man wearing a tall
hatthe Bishop. The lady had overdone her
cosmetic adornment.
When she looked in the mirror this morning,
we made sure she felt there was something
missing, Vague chattered.
Ok! Beelzebub retorted indifferently and
perked his ears to listen to the conversation.
The imps also joined.
Ill go straight from here to the airport and
fly to Mumbai for a very important meeting;
from there, Ill fly to Kuala Lumpur where we
have a three day Summit; then, from there I
go to London, and to Madrid; then, to Tel
Aviv; then
You really have a very hectic schedule,
Bishop! I wonder how you can keep up with
it! The lady smiled modestly, looking quite
impressed.
The smile is plastic, not unmindful of the
cosmetic. Vague commented.
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This guy travels a lot and sounds very busy
in the Enemys work; it doesnt look like a
good sign! Beelzebub showed concern.
He just sounds busy. Its because of a
special Fear Virus that we injected, replied
Vague. It causes people to always pretend
to look everlastingly busy and absolutely
have no time.
But, he is as ignorable as an ignoramus,
Snob assured. Those with half of their life
spent in mid-air are less dangerous than
those biped trotters whose feet are always
on the ground.
By the way, last night, I got a biped trotter
to somehow manage a flight-travel. The very
first thing he did was to yank out his camera
phone and capture those first precious
moments with it. I had already injected into
his brain earlier that those pictures should go
on Facebook, Vague gossiped.
The others chuckled.
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And, I was there to make sure that he made
the post convey to gullible eyes (as he
thought the world was) that he was often in
mid-air; as if real high-level ministry to the
Arch Enemy had somehow to do with
airplane seats, Crafty assured.
Interesting! Beelzebub noted.
Commendable! Beelzebub explained. The
imps felt relieved.
My book is now used as a text-book in the
Seminaries, a voice behind them
announced, and they all turned towards it.
Oh really! Thats great! the other man
replied.
They both feel it is a great achievement!
Snob chuckled.
He believes that he is one of the foremost
thinkers in the nation, Vague explained. He
tries to avoid quoting living authors.
Aha!
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He himself once observed that seminaries
are cemeteries. Now, he celebrates his book
becoming cemeterized. Crafty mocked.
But, Beelzebub didnt look impressed.
Whatever they call them, the seminaries
arent healthy places; they are where the
enemy soldiers are trained. he warned.
We remembered your instructions, Master,
to introduce dissatisfaction among the
professors, Crafty assured.
There were two chief dissatisfaction
weapons we used, he continued to explain,
Recognition and Remuneration. No matter
what, they continue to seek more recognition
in the world; and no matter what, they
continue to seek more remuneration for their
work. Only in some cases, some dont mind
the remuneration very much if they get the
false recognition they sought; also, some
others dont mind about recognition anymore
when they get the remuneration they
desired.
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But, you must be careful of those who seek
neither, of the ones who roam in the
wilderness, are clothed with camels hair,
wear a leather belt, and eat locusts and wild
honey, Beelzebub warned.
Arent such ones quickly beheaded? the
three imps observed.
Yes, often; but not before enough damage
has already been done! Beelzebub replied.
Then, he flapped his wings and took off.
The three imps became very silent.
Then suddenly, To Herodias, Herod, and
Salome at once! they cried and flew away.
The curtain fell.

Domenic Marbaniang, 2014