Earth, not for us—but for them!”
The audience greeted this revelation with silence. Vlad’s
announcement sounded more like science fiction mumbo jumbo
than revelation. Somehow time travel seemed more improbable than
old-time religion. Still, after all that had been going on, anything was
possible.
“Why should we believe you?” a man called from the second row.
“What? Why should you believe me? You idiot! Why should you
believe them? Because they’re imposing-looking and have impressive
powers? It’s the same as when the white men penetrated into the
African bush and showed off his guns and medicines. Because they
could do amazing things, the Africans thought they were gods, but
actually they were as human as anyone. Having access to superior
technology doesn’t mean someone is divine or truthful! There’s only
one way that one can find truth, and that is through the passageways
of the mind. Yea, I have traveled through the valley of the shadows of
death. And you know where that valley is? It’s in your own damn
skull! In each of us there is a direct link to the collective unconscious
of the human race. All answers to all questions of all time and place
are hidden there! The mystic sages were right! That’s how I know the
truth about these guys, and that is why I know that we have to stop
them before they screw with us any more.
“It is time for us to free ourselves from the confines of a slavery
to progress, brothers and sisters! I have in my possession the tool
that will break those chains, the map that will guide us to God. The
bomb that will destroy the temples, that will trigger the birth of a new
world! I give you, ladies and gentlemen—the Epiphany Machine!”
Vlad reached into his knapsack and pulled out the machine,
holding it high above his head so that everyone in the audience could
see it.
A shock of recognition went off inside Harvey’s head. He pulled
off his balaclava and rushed up at the stage. His hands were stretched
out in front of him as if he were about to save his child from a terrible
calamity.
Vlad was nearly hysterical with joy and pride. He looked up at the
machine and hollered, “This is the invention that will allow us to
transcend our terrible humanity. I promise you, ladies and
gentlemen of Earth, this will make us all gods!”
He looked down to see a pair of hands reaching for his throat.
“Futterman—!” he spluttered. Harvey grabbed at the Epiphany
H O L Y S H I T !
222
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