The Lamb and the Gray Battle

October 12, 2022

"I want this bitch out of my country."

Well, at least President Nash Gable is finally speaking to me.

Diyiren didn't even object to the derogatory remark. It took a week for the Muny interview to climb off of the demon-hacked websites and reach the God-fearing people of PC, but once the riots and picketing started, it was just a matter of time.

President Gable roared, "We cleaned all this shit up ages ago. She shouldn't be here."

"I apologize for your forefathers. I agreed that no demons would be permitted to enter the Americas. I specifically stipulated that demons already present on the land would not be ousted, by me or anyone else."

President Gable spit, "We exterminated that vermin."

Diyiren groaned, "I said it then and I'm saying it now. You killed innocent people. You really think burning my kind at the stake has any effect?"

"Ain't no such thing as innocent people in the war on your kind."

And here Diyiren thought President Gable would be a reasonable man. No, he didn't think he was even slightly reasonable. No one sensible had been in charge of PC since the Civil War.

"Demon lovers are just as guilty as demons. Dying their hair to look like you all?"

Diyiren's hair was jet black. The naïve children weren't copying him.

President Gable continued, "Eating mushroom? Reading books—"

"Reading books, definitely a reason to worry."

"You're a jackass, sir."

Diyiren said, "I very much want the persecution of innocent people to stop, but those foolish enough to stay in an environment designed to breed hatred for people who are different are beyond my help."

"Those worshiping the devil deserve to die."

Well, President Gable believed he was right.

Diyiren said, "Allow me entry to your country on this one occasion. I will talk to my wife. If I can, I'll persuade her to leave."

"Guarantee that bitch is never going to set foot in this country again. That's the only way I'll permit your entry."

Diyiren bothered to laugh. "I can't control my wife."

"Then I'll aim every nuke at her and blast her to smithereens."

Smithereens? Diyiren didn't know people still used that word.

"You won't hurt her. You'll just kill more innocent people."

"There are casualties in war. Demons are real. I'm not taking any risks with the souls in our Pure and Clean country."

"Look, if I can't control my wife, you don't stand a chance. You don't know who she is or where she is. You can seize all the assets I have in America, PC—and yes, I hold a vast amount of property in your country—and you still will never figure out who she is. Let me in one time. I will behave myself, go directly to my wife. If I can convince her, I will take her back to Wales with me. If I can't, I'll leave alone and thank you for your cooperation."

There was quite a bit more swearing and profanity and even a few times when President Gable slammed the phone down, but Diyiren called back and, after some negotiating, President Gable did finally agree to one solitary visit. In two weeks, to allow time for preparations.

"And you will be out of this country before All Hallows' Eve."

Diyiren agreed. He was sick of arguing and calling repeatedly. He figured that if Aoibh was difficult, it would be easier to apologize then.