Satan's Idle Stories 10. The Course of Things

10. The Course of Things

 

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Sometimes readers reproach me, saying that you, Satan, are always telling us funny things, trying to make us laugh, but sometimes we want to hear a sad story that will warm our souls. We want to drop a tear, to think about the perishable, the insignificant, the empty, the stupid, finally!

 

I accept the reproach, but only out of a wish to please the well-meaning admirers of my stories, and not because I accept criticism unconditionally, although I find a grain of truth in it. In general, I hold an absolutely liberal view of the difference in the ways people think. In other words, everyone has every right to his or her own opinion, unless, of course, it disagrees with mine. 

 

So, this time, I will tell a story sadder than any in the world. It is the story of an audacious experiment which ended in the collapse of the original idea, and the failure of which resulted in disaster and disappointment. Looking ahead, I will take the liberty of pointing out the cause of the failure: the disregard of the natural course of things as God Himself intended.

 

***

 

One day a certain mortal came to me and asked for an hour or two of my attention. He was well dressed, neat and tidy. His manners were noble, his eyes shrewd, and his face intelligent: one could see at once that he was an educated man. He introduced himself, and it turned out that his name was also suitable - Naor.

 

 - I have come to you for advise, Satan," said the guest.

 

 - I would be happy to help you, Naor, I replied.

 

 - I am sure you can. The angel who lives in Heaven does not have a narrow view of the world, as earthlings do, but a general, fundamental one.

 

 - Let's get to the point, Naor," I replied dryly, not showing that I was flattered.

 

 - I am a wealthy man," Naor began his story, "I own a jewelry factory - I inherited it from my father. I buy gold, silver, precious stones. My workers make jewelry for women and men for every taste, all things are very expensive, and my income is excellent. 

 

 - So why is your countenance sad, honorable Naor," I asked, anticipating the prospect of some entertaining paradox.

 

 - The laborers who work in my factory are skilled in their craftsmanship, but simple in life and in their treatment. To tell the truth, it is not by miracle that I get rich - it is the skillful hands of my workers that fill my purse. They themselves live in poverty. But in joy!

 

 - Explain, Naor," I asked, "what do they rejoice in? Do they rejoice in their poverty?

 

 - That is my great question, wise Satan!

 

 - If your employees enrich you well, Naor, why don't you raise their salaries?

 

 - I did. They were offended. They refused to accept it.

 

 - Amazing! Out of pride? Out of stupidity? - I marveled.

 

 - Out of solidarity! They told me that their comrades, who work for other hosts, are paid less. So my workers don't want to be envied, they say, friendship is more precious.

 

 - I think, Naor, you're wrong to think your men are simpletons. Their minds are quite sophisticated.

 

 - They have sophisticated minds? Perhaps you are right, Satan: they live poorly, but they know how to enjoy life!

 

 - What's next?

 

 - The thing is, Satan, that I, a wealthy man, do not feel the pleasures of life. And I'm not the only one. All my customers are rich people, and I don't see anyone among them happy.

 

 - A dizzying discovery! So, with big money you can buy sadness, and with little money you can buy joy? Is it not for nothing that the wise say that the path of paradox is the path of truth? I must confess, Naor, you've stumped me. Let's think together. Where is your beacon?

 

 - My beacon flashes from the shore of universal prosperity.

 

 - Can there really be universal prosperity? Do you have a project in mind?

 

 - I have some thoughts. So I've come to you, Satan, for advice.

 

 - Tell me your super-idea, I can't wait!

 

 - I am afraid that my super-idea might turn out to be a fix idea! - Naor said modestly.

 

 - Don't worry. You and I are two heads. As many heads as there are minds.

 

 - I think so too. A mind is worth more than gold, and a clever man is rich without it!

 

 - So what is it, your super-idea?

 

 - Let's take it one step at a time. The poor in our town are happy with their lives. The rich know no joy. The first, as we know, are the majority. The latter are few. The reason for their unhappiness is rooted in gold. The less gold a man has, the happier he is. These are the facts.

 

 - They are stubborn, these facts, immutable, obvious, reliable, and cruel! - I agreed, however, with some doubt, - and how to sail to your beacon?

 

 - Happiness, like the sun, shines on everyone," said Naor enthusiastically, "you only have to put your face to the life-giving rays!

 

 - Do you think all men will rejoice at your sunshine?

 

 - I have fellow believers! Their circle is small, but their thoughts are very close to the people. We will move forward with ideas in our heads and red speeches on our lips.

 

 - You will move forward and what will be red? - I don't understand.

 

 - We will move forward with red speeches on our lips!

 

 - And with weapons in yuor hands? - I clarified.

 

 - And with weapons in your hands? - I clarified.

 

 - And with the Scripture in our hands! - Naor instantly parried, "For it is written, 'The wolf and the lamb will take their food together, and the lion will make a meal of grass like the ox"

 

 - Do you understand the words of the prophets correctly, Naor?

 

 - Of course I do! Let's think together, Satan. The poor are like sand in the sea, and the rich are to be сounted on the fingers. If the poor will share the gold of the rich among themselves, there will be very little for each of the great multitude. The poor will not get rich at all, so their happiness will not be diminished, but the wealthy men, who are now deprived of the joy of life, will be blessed! 

 

 - So yesterday's wealthy men, having lost absolutely all their goods, will become the happiest? Is it fair?

 

 - You are right, Satan, I didn't think of that... Equality will suffer... And according to the sages, everyone should eat straw... How good it is that I came to you for advise! Let's not strip the rich naked, let's leave them a small share for the sake of equality! 

 

 - I hope, Naor, that your good intentions are pleasing to the Creator, but will your actions be pleasing?

 

 - The doubts of science will be resolved by life, won't they?

 

 - Put your intentions to the test. Unless you climb a high mountain, you will not know the height of the sky. Go back to your place and act. I will hear the rumblings of change.

 

 - Do you bless? Do you advise me to realize my plan?

 

 - I sympathize and hope," I replied to Naor, "and now go!

 

***

 

Years passed. I had almost forgotten my conversation with the rebellious jeweler. One day God called me to his throne and told me with displeasure that he had heard about the troubles in the place where Naor lived. "Come down to earth, Satan, find out what's going on!" - commanded the Almighty.

 

I did not tell God of my involvement in the case. "I'll fly down to Earth, figure it out, then maybe I'll confess!" - I thought.

 

I found the town of Naor. Desolation and ruin greeted me. I wandered through the deserted streets. The black mouths of windows stared at me. "Are these two-legged creatures dead?" - I became increasingly angry.

 

At last I saw a man sleeping in a roadside ditch. Mice were crawling near him. I touched the skinny body with my stick. The man woke up and jumped to his feet. A dirty, bearded ragamuffin stood before me. I looked into his face and recognized Naor. He was staring at me with empty eyes. "Hello, Naor, I am Satan, I have come to visit you and to test the acts of your mind!" - I said sternly. 

 

Tears ran down Naor's grimy cheeks and he smeared them, sobbing. When he calmed down, he tried to embrace me, but I deftly dodged him.

 

 - Tell me! - I commanded.

 

 - I had an eclipse of my mind. I misunderstood what I saw and heard. I thought destruction was the key to improvement. And you, Satan, are adviser and witness to madness. That's the whole story," Naor mumbled through his toothless mouth. 

 

 - Get to the point! - I shouted angrily.

 

 - The plot has succeeded, and that is a misfortune. The prettier my companions spoke, the more blood was shed in the town. They fought not for happiness, but for property, some for others' and some for their own. Many heads were lost. Famine wiped out thousands. The survivors fled. I'm the last one here.

 

I did not listen to the wretched man any further, but went back to Heaven and reported to God what I had seen, and I did not hide my share. God's anger was great and just. "You, Satan, as a foolish Naor, did not understand the plan of My Creation! - thundered the Most High, "you have disturbed the course of things, and my servants on Earth have paid the price!"

 

Repenting, I thought to myself: "God did not teach that the nature of His different creatures should not be the same. Strength and weakness, boldness and timidity are eternal, and inequality is fruitful. I will call the wise men to account, why do they say that the wolf and the lamb will take their food together, and the lion will make a meal of grass like the ox?