Viktor Frankl explores the nederworld

A brief surreal satire of the crazy culture in early 20th century Deutschland.

Viktor Frankl dies and goes to the nederworld.

There, he sets out on a search for the meaning of afterlife.

He starts out, and it isn’t long before he encounters a woman lumbering.

Frankl asks “Hello!”

and she replies “Hello to you too.”

“Who are you, may I ask?”

“I’m a fallen comrade from the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.”

“Oh, what goodness!” he exclaims. “You must have been in the resistance during the War �" what’s your story?”

“Well, first they came for the communists, and I spoke up because I was a communist. Then they killed me.”

“...Is...is that it?” Frankl asks.

“Yes.”

“Oh my.”

Having no further questions, Frankl bids farewell and continues his search.

He soon sees a man, vainly grooming himself.

Once more, Frankl asks “Hallo!”

“Guten Tag, Herr Mann!”

“My, but a lousy day to be a good one! How are you, my friend?”

“It is a very good day, Herr Weismann, for I see that it is under the Himmelreich I and you now live!”

“The Himmelreich, you say?”

“Ja! Just as the National Socialists had promised, the War has ceased and we now enjoy one thousand years of peace!”

Recognizing the anti-Semite, Frankl proceeds “Oh, but who did the Nasis want to enjoy the Himmelreich, pray tell?”

“Die Deutschlanders, Herr Meister!”

“Mmm, well you see Herr Mann, I am enjoying this Himmelreich, but according to your national socialists I am a Jew, and should not be having a good time!”

“Oh, Herr Jude, that is the glory of the Himmelreich!”

Puzzling on this, Frankl asks “What do you mean?”

“I mean to say that in Die Himmelreich, even the Jew is good and Deutsche!”

Seeing no point in continuing to talk, Frankl bids the anti-Semite Auf Wiedersend and continues his search.

Further searching, Viktor then comes across a gaudy elder who looks grave.

Feeling concerned for him, Frankl reaches out and asks “Hallo?”

To which he replies “And also with you.”

Curious about his reply, Frankl asks “Thank you, kind sir. May I ask who you are?”

“Yes: I am Pope Innocent III, holy see of the Roman Catholic Church.”

“Oh, greetings again.” And with a stroke of boldness: “Quite a place to be in the nederworld, would you say mister Pope?”

“Yes. I must admit, it makes me rethink many choices I made in life.”

Perhaps more than those, Frankly thinks to himself.

Aloud, he asks “Well, do you have any regrets?”

“Yes, one: I wish, as a man, I had searched more for meaning.”

Smiling, Viktor replies “I wish you had too.”

Finishing his acquaintance with the pope, Viktor journeys on.

What is the meaning of afterlife? he wonders.

Maybe it is to forget the nightmare of living.

Author's Note

How good of a satire do you think this is?