Satan's Idle Stories 07. Eternal Shackles

07. Eternal Shackles

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I often have to make business trips, or rather flights to the Earth. The reader, out of the simplicity of his heart, thinks that he has reason to ask me, "What is the need for Satan to come down from the blessed Heavens to sinful people? Is it not an intrigue?" Suspiciousness is looking for a trick. Vigilance finds it.

 

I am used to people's preconceived notions about me. The persistence of prejudice is not the greatest weakness of man. There are worse mental flaws, and we'll talk about those later. To the curious and wary reader, I answer, "I appear to mortals for their benefit, and I do only good!"

 

I know a wonderful cave. It is situated in a secluded place. No human foot or beast's paw ever sets foot in it, no snakes or bats live in it, the air inside is dry, no water drips from above, and no mold grows on the walls. A wonderful place to store my white plumage.

 

Without anyone noticing, I take the twelve wings off my back and stow them carefully in the niche inside the cave that I have chosen. I put on a civil dress to make the spiritualization of my angelic countenance less noticeable, and now I am quite ready to do another good deed.

 

This time I was to visit a man with a not very good past and to look at his present existence. A dozen years ago I tried to set him on a better path. Steps he now on the path of righteousness? I should have checked to see if he deserved praise, or if he needed encouragement with a word or with whip. In short, the time for a date had come.

 

I went to the place where my protégé was supposed to live. I asked the first person I met if he had heard anything about Tzadok. The answer was positive and enthusiastic. It turns out that Tzadok is known and loved in the neighborhood. The passerby showed me a big house - the common favorite had set up an inn in it and lived there himself.

 

A servant came out at my knock, and I told him that I am hungry, that I would like to refreshed, to sleep here for two or three days, and that I also want to meet the host. Tzadok came down from the second floor. He didn't recognize me. But I saw at once the familiar features of a face glossy with satiety.

 

I was sitting in the dining room, eating my lunch. A commoner came in, apparently a poor man. Tzadok met him. He must have been expecting a visitor. The commoner placed a huge basket in front of the host.

 

 - Here are vegetables from our vegetable garden, my wife selected the best ones! - exclaimed the visitor.

 

 - Good, leave it, - approved Tzadok, - but where is your brother?

 

 - He must be at home.

 

 - Remind him, it's his turn next week.

 

 - I will," said the guest, and disappeared over the threshold.

 

There was a timid knock at the door, and Tzadok let in a new visitor, carrying a sack over his shoulders.

 

 - Here, take it," said the newcomer, "fresh grind, excellent flour!

 

 - Well done," praised Tzadok, "put it in the corner. Where's your brother-in-law?

 

 - At home, probably.

 

 - Remind your brother-in-law to visit me next week.

 

 - By all means, by all means! - The guest spoke quickly and went away.  

 

Then others came, bringing all kinds of food - meat, poultry, eggs, cereals, sour cream, milk. "They love Tzadok," I thought, "is it not time to prepare a word of praise for him who has taken the godly path?" I decided, however, to delay the praise and to get closer to the host of the inn. I did not want to be mistaken: it is usually worthless people who are praised. 

 

***

 

The next day I kindly invited Tzadok to my table, offered him to have dinner at my expense, to talk about this and that - we both are not young people, we have something to remember: a whole life behind us, and fortunately not everything is behind us. The Host accepted the invitation willingly. He told the servant to bring good wine from the cellar and the cook to make something tasty. 

 

For a short time Tzadok and I exchanged roles: I was the host, and he was my guest. As I have observed more than once, when they are guests, people who are calculating have a great appetite and a great thirst. I remembered from our previous meeting that Tzadok was very favorable to drink. I poured and poured into his glass, and soon his face was flushed, his eyes were misty, and his tongue moved with difficulty under the weight of words. He still would not recognize me.

 

 - How the neighbors love you," I said, "they are grateful for the good you have done them!

 

He seemed to be waiting for this phrase. He began to tell me his story. Thanks to wine, in a drunken head there is no line between truth and lies. And the drunk's lies reveal the truth to the sober.

 

 - True, friend," said Tzadok, "they love me, and for good reason. I have done much good, and now I reap the fruits. Those who are now my guests subsisted on bread and water. I made them people. I supported them, gave them money, even though I wasn't rich myself.

 

  - Have you given them the last of your money? - I asked.

 

 - Uh, no! I didn't give them the last! You are a good man, generous, like myself. You and I are educated people, we respect each other, we both obey the law, and there is trust between us. I'll tell you my story. I did not tolerate injustice from a young age, so as soon as I grew up, I became a robber. I took from the rich and gave to the poor. Now do you see why they love me?

 

 - Two-legged are conscientious creatures, and they don't know how to pay for good with evil," I said.

 

 - Two-legged? I've never heard that word before. Humans are a grateful breed, but every family has its black sheep. There was a scoundrel among the hungry people. He told me I was a thief and a rapist, so he mutilated me. Since then I have not been able to turn gold from sinful to sinless by taking it from wealthy and giving it to the poor.

 

 - Eh, Tzadok, between you and me, there is a lot of deceit and self-interest around. Is it easy for people to believe your selflessness?

 

 - You're right. I'll tell you the whole truth to the end. At first they did not want to recognize unselfishness, and even refused to accept the beneficence, suspecting a trick. I had to scare them. I told them that I was the son of Satan, and if any rebel would disobey me, he would know the heavy hand of my father. The dark people believed me. I deceived them for their own good. Now I am their true benefactor. They are proud of me and will not let anyone offend me.

 

 - Tell me, Tzadok, don't you think we've met before? Did you not recognize me?

 

 - I don't think so," Tzadok answered uncertainly, and looked into my face intently and apprehensively.

 

 - Then listen and remember. When you were young, you were a bandit, and robbed everyone. You took money from the rich and buried it in the ground to save gold. When you had enough, you bought an inn. When you were an outlaw, the poor couldn't pay you off. To this day, you still demand payoffs from them, saying you are their protector before Satan. Because of your protection, you are honored by the people as a benefactor. But the favor of the unworthy is an evil deed. As you see, Tzadok, I've learned something. It wasn't a pauper who crippled you, it was me, for I am Satan. Do you recognize me now? I spared you last time. I see I was wrong. Prepare yourself to be executed tomorrow.

 

Tzadok turned pale and hurried out without a word. He must have sobered up.

 

***

 

The next morning I called Tzadok into my room. On the table before me lay a dagger. He noticed the weapon, was not frightened, and looked at me boldly.

 

 - Say goodbye to your life! - I declared and reached for the means of retribution.

 

 - Don't be in a hurry! - I told the people that Satan had come to me, and he intended to kill me and judge you, for I had done you good and you had accepted it.

 

 - And what? - I asked, trying to hide my boiling anger.

 

 - The people were furious, for you know how much they love me, their advocate. They encouraged me, and told me to tell you, "If the worst evil will happen, and God will allow it, we will stop believing in Him. You can take a man's life, but you will not raise your hand against faith in God! Because you are an angel, aren't you, Satan?

 

There was truth in the cunning man's words. You can't take God away from people. I did not execute Tzadok. I left the inn and returned to Heaven full of sadness. But I could not bear the thought that the pure name of Satan was being used for a foul purpose. I sent an emissary to Earth, and a week later there was a fire in Tzadok's inn, and the place was burned to the ground.

 

The crippled and powerless old man was left penniless. His neighbors pitied him. To the slaves, the tyrant was still a benefactor. They bought Tzadok a place in the best asylum, and fed and healed him at their own expense. Slavery is sweet to two-legged, and its shackles are eternal.