Part 21

SECOND VOICE With Constantine!

FIRST VOICE I’ll go back to Athens.

SECOND VOICE Well, here’s the Persian.

FIRST VOICE All right, the Bible.

SECOND VOICE Pray now, what version?

FIRST VOICE I take up Buddha.

SECOND VOICE It never will work.

FIRST VOICE From the corner Mahomet.

SECOND VOICE I move the Turk.

FIRST VOICE The game is tangled; where are we now?

SECOND VOICE You’re dreaming worlds. I’m in the King row. Move as you will, if I can’t wreck you I’ll thwart you, harry you, rout you, check you.

FIRST VOICE I’m tired. I’ll send for my Son to play. I think he can beat you finally—

SECOND VOICE Eh?

FIRST VOICE I must preside at the stars’ convention.

SECOND VOICE Very well, my lord, but I beg to mention I’ll give this game my direct attention.

FIRST VOICE A game indeed! But Truth is my quest.

SECOND VOICE Beaten, you walk away with a jest. I strike the table, I scatter the checkers. (A rattle of a falling table and checkers flying over a floor.) Aha! You armies and iron deckers, Races and states in a cataclysm— Now for a day of atheism!

(The screen vanishes and BEELZEBUB steps forward carrying a trumpet, which he blows faintly. Immediately LOKI and YOCARINDRA start up from the shadows of night.)

BEELZEBUB Good evening, Loki!

LOKI The same to you!

BEELZEBUB And Yogarindra!

YOGARINDRA My greetings, too.

LOKI Whence came you, comrade?

BEELZEBUB From yonder screen.

YOGARINDRA And what were you doing?

BEELZEBUB Stirring His spleen.

LOKI How did you do it?

BEELZEBUB I made it rough In a game of checkers.