Fool's World

The ivory pieces on the chequered board were set for yet another game. The two veterans seated on either end of the mahogany table seemed lost deep in thought. The red red sun was trying its best to shine through the purple haze of the evening sky, a feeble attempt to defy nature. The table stood on the balcony of the topmost floor of a distinguished multi-storey building, which had stairways and other smaller balconies jutting out precariously at numerous odd corners. It was altogether, a miracle that the building was still standing, for it was a poor piece of architecture and no-one knew it better than the two aged men seated across one another at the table, engaged in a heated battle of wits - the flourish of trumpets, the clanging of sword against armour, the dying rhapsodies of fallen heroes, all rising to deafening din in their heads.

"Pawn forward, two squares, " said the fairer and better groomed of the two. Gus was a tall, well-built, strong old man, whose calm, iridescent face glowed as one who had infinite faith in the virtues of the world. He carried himself with a supremely confident air, his mane of snow-white hair adorning his proud face, neatly combed and unruffled. His sharp blue eyes penetrated deep into his opponent's gaze who stared back defiantly, every bit a match for the old ox before him.

"I'm glad we decided to take this break, Gus," Luke spoke for the first time, pushing his own black piece forward by a square. "I think we've done enough to deserve a day's break. Not like the world's gonna stop spinning because we decided to take a well earned break! Right?" Luke was the exact opposite of Gus in appearance. He was skinny and slanted, bent and hunched, snivelling and throaty, with a perennial, mocking smirk on his face as if he scorned everyone around him. His black, sunken eyes were watery and detached, and they seemed to be floating in an abysmal, profound world of their own.

"H'mm," Gus responded, still in deep contemplation."The bishop came to town today."

"Well, what did he say?"

"The usual. I received him at the steps. He seemed happy to see me. But I sent him your way."

"Well well well. Another one you say. He hadn't reached by the time I left office. Why did you send him to me?"

"For the same reason I send anyone your way. He was an imposter."

"How did you know?,"asked Luke in mock wonder.

"Not once did he move diagonally."

Luke burst out in a deep throaty laugh. He was enjoying every minute of this long-awaited meeting. A heavy silence followed broken only by intermittent clinks of the pieces at war against each other on their respective squares.

"But seriously, what had he done?" Luke ventured to ask.

"He may not have moved crookedly but crookedness of character I cannot stand in my abode. He is tainted with infidelity, sodomy, racism, listening to classical music..."

"Listening to classical music?"Luke cut in.

"Well it wasn't charged against him but who listens to that kind of crap nowadays?"

Luke let out another hearty laugh but composed himself again before continuing.

"I'll look into it," he said, "What did you say his name was again?"

"Popinjay"

"Popinjay? Is that his name?Popinjay? What the hell kind of name is Popinjay?"

"It's Bishop Popinjay's name."

"Aah..." muttered Luke, satisfied.

The pieces on the board had dwindled to a fortunate handful as the slaughtered pawns lay scattered on the table, dumb and immobile.


"I'll take care of this Bishop Popinjay, " Luke started again. "But I've been wondering....the numbers of our guests have been dwindling consistently. What's with the new drugs and medicines they've invented nowadays? Do they think they can live forever?"

"Aah," Gus replied."Can't hurt to try. Live forever or die trying. But it's true. There's no more ruthless war...you know real battles. The last time anyone ever actually stabbed anyone in cold hate was back in 1945. Now they only cre about environmental concerns and oil depletion and what not." Gus stretched his arms and reclined back in his seat"As long as it reduces our work, you wont hear me complaining..."

"I guess you're right,"Luke submitted."But I'm getting tired of implementing my techniques on the same wretched souls. In fact they've gotten pretty much used to it by now. I think it's about time for another ice age."

"In time...," said Gus mellifluosly, looking about him as if searching for something."Is it dark already? I'll have to leave soon. There's no saying who that fool I've left in charge might let in. Last week he let in a wooden puppet with a long nose called Felacio or someting. I had to drag that guy out myself. He made nice firewood though."

"Well you won't have long to wait. Checkmate God!" said Luke victoriously.

"Well I'll be damned! You got my king straight and proper. With your bishop too! You're getting better at this I'll give you that. Aah! I still cherish the times I used to beat you a thousand times over at a stretch!"

"Yeah," groaned Luke funereally. "When was the last time we took a vacation for a few hundred years?"

"Now, now! Be patient Lucifer! The Dark Ages are few and far between! Besides who'd take care of these poor souls that desperately need us for salvation?"

"I guess you're right!" Luke submitted,"but then, you always are!" And he chucked an ivory piece carelessly down from the balcony and watched it disappear into the clouds and mmiraculously reappear again in God'd hand!

"Bah, " said Gus. " It's too dark. My vision fails me. I really need to get those spectacles that seem so much in fashion nowadays....Let there be light!"He said with a swish of his enormous hand. And the whole sky became brightly lit by countless shimmering stars that stayed suspended in their positions gazing down at the odd couple below, as dumb and immobile as the slaughtered pawns that lay dead on the table....