In the Next Life, Canto IV, stanzas 1-4

CANTO IV: THE REVELATION

In which we evaluate the boy’s theory and consider whether we should show more compassion, and perhaps even some respect, toward the gods, without whom, after all, we would never have been born.

And God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
—Genesis 1:26

Now ’97’s followers are lost.
Their savior died again. This just won’t do.
They gave up all and let themselves be bossed.
If she keeps dying they won’t know what’s true.

If she’s legitimate, she’s lost her touch.
She’s left them ere she told them what to be,
and rising twice from death would be too much,
unless it’s just some parlor trickery.

Oh, never mind the poor thing never claimed
she was a god or anything like that.
They feel embarrassed; therefore, she’ll get blamed.
They have the human character down pat.

It’s quite a shame it had to end so soon.
Old One could use a little help right now.
A miracle like that would be a boon
to Tincandom, though they would not know how.

Let us make man: The reason for using this quote becomes apparent shortly. Merrimac avoids holding this up next to the belief in the One True God as some have. “Suppose you believed that people should stop washing away their natural body oils. Would you analyze Ivory Soap to learn whether it’s really 99 and 44/100 percent pure? I doubt that finding more than .56% of non-soapy stuff would persuade anyone to stop bathing. Besides, my purpose is not to dissuade anyone from religion, nor even to make fun of it. I’m just throwing some ideas out for discussion.”
Parlor trickery: So why don’t they simply pretend they saw a miracle and agree on a story to spread? I suspect it’s due to a lack of encouragement from the would-be savior herself. I think he could have developed this contrast with Christianity a little more.
Human character: I believe this is the only place where the author directly compares the carriers to our own species.
Would not know how: Here is the central message of this whole undertaking. Religion is good for humanity, but not in any of the ways it has been made out to be so, and there are important reasons for us not to understand the nature of the relationship. Religion benefits humanity only if we consider humanity as something essentially separate from the individuals comprising it. Merrimac believes he is the first thinker to make this distinction wide enough to see between the two. I think Dawkins and some others have made it that far, but they perhaps weren’t looking through the gap at quite the same angle.

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac

In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 381-390

“Here’s what we’ll do: We’ll stop and make our camp
and find some fresh disciples in the morn.
The ones we have won’t do to make our stamp.
Their humans know that few are in this borne.

We’ll watch for signals in the newer set.
When one displays its red light we’ll do ours.
They’ll have to give us half, so half we’ll get,
and some will be like you—some pretty flowers.

“I’ll pollinate their pistillated parts.
They’ll be unable to resist this bod.
And you’ll be first among the fallen hearts.
Youl’ll get your due before I spend my wad.

“From that I’ll get my raw materiel,
along with pre-existing empty slates.
I’ll write thereon that the most lasting Hell
is that which blind obedience creates.”

Her bubble burst, poor Esther stood and stared.
It seemed to her that everything had stopped.
She drew a breath, and though extremely scared,
reached downward for the panel she had dropped.

He rolled his eyes and said, “How cute you look,
but soon your arm will tire; you’ll leave it lay.”
She knew she would; he’d read her like a book.
He paused a moment; then he turned away.

Despite her normal youthful lack of sense,
our heroine could still tell right from wrong,
and wrong it was to practice violence
for selfish reasons. No, she must be strong.

Her grip relaxed; her shoulder took the weight.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and prayed.
A Christian, she must not be moved by hate.
A judgment based on values must be made.

’Twas momentary anger, she could tell.
His was no crime the law would recognize,
and killing him would sentence her as well.
Plus, now she’d no advantage of surprise.

Besides, her jealousy had no good base.
The skull before her was not hers to break.
The Mission, though, was quite another case.
She had to do it for the Mission’s sake.

The Mission’s sake: So Ciral thought he understood how culturgens influenced people’s behavior, but having grown up in a culture that lacked powerful beliefs, he didn’t grasp how strong that influence could be. Merrimac chose not to develop this theme, preferring instead to hit us on the head with it, as it were,

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac

In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 345-349

As he had ordered, so did she obey,
and when he motioned her to take the helm,
she did so, finding to her deep dismay
that even wordless, he could overwhelm.

While Esther kept the course they had begun,
an interval less lengthy than it seemed,
she watched as Ciral’s outlook came undone,
enchanted by the way his forehead gleamed.

When he at last looked up, the gleam had moved
into his eyes, and brightly he declared,
“Again I thank you, Esther, you’ve improved
the quarry that you thought you’d snared.

“I’m human, and I shall no more pretend
that I’m not subject to an inner tide.
It’s part of me, not something I can end
the way I waved away my weaker side.”

Another riddle. This time Esther guessed:
“So you’ll receive the Lord into your heart?
You’re ready, just like that, to be so blest?”
She was ecstatic—this would be her start.

His laugh, though gentle, slipped between her ribs.
“Although I know why God is held so dear,
I can’t believe what I know to be fibs.
I shan’t pretend. Did I not make that clear?

“Your way of thinking wants to replicate.
As well mine does, and I’ll no longer fight
my nature. To be like you is my fate.
This, strangely, is more powerful than spite.

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac

In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 369-373

We need to cut this simple girl some slack.
Her teasing in all likelihood was meant
to throw her adversary off the track
so she could have more say which way they went.

To us, it’s obvious that would provoke
someone like Ciral into something rash.
Plus, there was the denial thing she spoke.
Again, his face showed an internal clash.

A finger at each temple, eyes near shut,
he sharply shook his head to cut her off,
then whispered “Tell those things to follow, but
say nothing else until I’m through this trough.”

She felt the muscles in her chest constrict.
She thought of trying to retract the dare.
It would have mattered not. Something had clicked
when she had said he was within compare.

The situation had become so tense,
and Ciral so mysterious, so weird,
had she had hope of gaining influence
by charm or insult, it had disappeared.

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac

In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 365-368

“The question is ‘Why should I?’” he rejoined.
“Oh, I can see the urge to proselytize.
A clever phrase is worthless when it’s coined.
It gets its value when it multiplies.

“Like evolution, that procedure needs
something to function as its medium.
I shan’t go into genotypes and seeds.
Let’s just say the arrangement knows my thumb.”

“I’m sensing some resentment in your tone.
Are you perhaps reacting to the pull
by planting yourself firmly in a zone
where portions of your nature now are null?

“Or is it that you’re stretching things a bit?
Do you, in truth, expect me to accept
your word that you can make all persons quit
producing kids? I think you’ve overstepped.”

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac

In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 361-364

“I guess you could say it’s a handicap
possessing total objectivity.
You normals are protected by the crap
that filters much of what you hear and see.

“As much as I enjoy this potency,
and really don’t consider it a fault,
it’s scary to imagine more like me.
We’d bring the human species to a halt.

“That will not ever happen; don’t you fret.
I’ve no desire to spread this little germ.
Your people may continue to beget
more carriers of genes (excuse the term).”

“Why not?” asked Esther. “You have worked so hard
to make this. Now it’s out the window thrown?”
She knew that she was letting down her guard
by letting Ciral’s schemes become her own.

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac

In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 351-360

By this time he was thoughtful and subdued.
Then suddenly he raised a single brow.
“Enough of my world. You must think me rude.
Let’s talk about life on the inside now.”

“It’s not like that at all; we don’t feel trapped.”
She was unsure of how much to reveal.
She had no secrets, but this guy was apt
to bend her words to fit his crazy spiel.

“We live for God; our hope lies in his grace.
And after that, the Mission,” she explained.
“If we must go, it’s to a better place.
As chosen ones, our rank is preordained.”

When asked how she was chosen, and by whom,
she said her ancestors had volunteered.
“The tubes, however, had but little room.
The founders picked them as the comet neared.”

“This mission that you mentioned—what’s the scoop?
These founders must have forked out lots of cash
just to provide your forebears with a coop.
There wasn’t that much warning of the crash.”

“Society gave them the wherewithal
to start the Mission, and they could predict
that something bad would come—if not that ball,
God’s punishment would have been just as strict.

“The Mission is the reason we’re confined.
The goal was not to save our mortal blood.
The founders were among those left behind
when these arks disappeared beneath the flood.

“We have been charged with keeping lit the flame
of Western culture, that it may be spread
when Earth is ready. That’s our Mission’s aim.
For that the carriers and we were bred.

“The founders by their sacrifice inspired
each generation afterward to keep
the wisdom from the one before acquired.
It will be ready when we make the leap.

“Is it not you who cannot comprehend
a meaning much beyond your puny soul?
With no philosophy that can transcend your skin,
how can you question any others’ goal?”

©2011 Louis A. Merrimac