by Rob Summers
Chapter 35 Neglect and Folly’s Concern
The more Neglect and Folly thought about it, the angrier, the more offended they became. A lawyer had called them from half a world away to inform them that their son had given away the large and expensive house which they had provided for him, and that he was the prisoner of some religious cult.
The financial loss to the family, the termination of their tour, and worry about their boy all weighed heavily upon them as they followed Lawyer Snare into the plush, spacious office of Pastor Hypocrisy and took their seats. The sight of Hypocrisy’s fleshy, familiar face was somewhat comforting. His concerned tone and priestly presence had long been a support to the family. He greeted them with consoling phrases.
“But when are we going to see Pride?” Folly asked of the lawyer and the pastor.
“He’s not the son you knew,” Hypocrisy answered. “Those foreigners have gotten hold of him; he’s changed. I’m afraid that seeing him now would not mend matters any and would only make you more uncomfortable.”
“But we have to do something,” said Neglect, nervously lighting a cigarette. “His mother and I can’t just sit by while he ruins his life.”
“And we don’t expect you to,” inserted Snare. “We’re just as intent on reclaiming Pride as you are, but we want you to leave that to a counseling professional, the pastor. He and Pride have an appointment for this evening. We expect to return Pride to his senses in a fairly short time. Leave Pride to us.”
“What about Selfishness?” asked Neglect. “You said when you called that he was persuading Pride to get rid of those Heavenites. Is he getting anywhere?”
Snare and Hypocrisy shifted uneasily.
“What’s the matter?”
“Things have changed since we called you,” said Snare. “Our operatives within the house have been discovered. But that only makes your part in the plan all the more important.”
“But what do you want us to do?”
“We want you to be ready to take control of Pride House when the foreigners leave. Pride will need your guidance, so we’re asking you to move into the house and to make sure that he and the servants don’t get into any more trouble.”
“You say we should take control,” said Neglect, “but the house is his; we gave it to him.”
“Ah, but once the house is back under City government, as next of kin you can have him declared incompetent. Not a word of that to him, of course.”
Folly’s eyes blurred from the effort of following all this. “But what about Doubt?” she asked. “We felt that she if anyone would keep Pride out of trouble.”
“I know, I know,” said the pastor. “And we’re not blaming you. Doubt seemed the perfect wife for Pride and the last person on earth to enter a cult. But she’s gone over to them and, from all accounts, is even more fanatical than Pride. She even seems to be going by a new name.”
“Oh, let us talk to her!”
“It’s no use, Folly, she’s brainwashed. Furthermore, she and Pride aren’t even married anymore. According to their foreign law, it’s annulled. But Pride is not so far gone, as I said. He’ll come around.”
“How?” challenged Neglect.
“By giving him something to lose,” said Snare. “Hypocrisy is going to offer your son a position of responsibility within this church, a position Pride will surely accept. From that point on he’ll be answerable to community opinion, and so the Heavenites, of course, will become more and more of an embarrassment to him. Eventually, he must get rid of them. Otherwise, after rebuilding his reputation, he’ll lose it again.”
“For example,” put in Hypocrisy, “it would be damaging to him if word got out that you two are having to live in a hotel, rather than being welcomed into Pride House.”
“Once all this sinks in for Pride,” said Snare, “he’ll be happy to let us restore his natural citizenship in this country, enabling us to threaten legal action against the Heavenites. We don’t expect it will actually come to court. When Pride comes around and doesn’t want them anymore, they’ll go of their own accord.”
“Now, you two have been good church members all your lives,” said Hypocrisy. “I’m sure you’ll feel better when Pride gets back to his regular church, won’t you? Of course. I’m going to tell Pride that for you. In the meantime, you can enjoy that fine hotel room that Mr. Power has provided for you. Don’t worry, we’ll have Pride back and the house yours before you know it.”