“You must be Ms. Click-Bait. I am here to see Mr. Zeus.”
“And you are?”
“Gaia, I have an appointment.”
“Mr. Zeus is very busy. I am not sure he will have time to see you.”
“It was arranged by Nomos and Themis, Attorneys at Law.”
“I see. Please take a seat Ms. Goya.”
“That’s Gaia.”
“Yes–of course.”
“You may go in now.”
“Gaia, how nice to see you? How is your mother, Asintmah?”
“Fine.”
“And your Papa?”
“Also fine.”
“And all the Giants and the Meliae?”
“Fine.”
“Nymphs and Satyrs?”
“Fine–thank you. Can we talk?”
“Please, take a seat. How can I help you? Before we start let me say that I admire social workers and their dedication… So how is your little experiment going at the old playground?”
“You mean Earth?”
“Right. That’s it. Wonderful place, fabulous yogurt.”
“Well, that’s why I wanted to see you…I could use some help.”
“How could I say no to you, or Nomos and Themis? They are persuasive council. Did you know Piety called also?”
“Did you know I couldn’t get in to see you without them?”
“A terrible oversight. So is there a problem with Earth? Planet looks fine to me, warming up and getting wetter. A very fine event for change and diversity.”
“The humans are well on the road to destroying themselves.”
“Money and power problems, Gaia? I told you eons ago that the human addiction to gold would get them in the end. I think I said that after you proposed that ludicrous idea of human civilization. I believe you said love would triumph.”
“And you said, bah, apple-cores!”
“Did I really? A bad turn of phrase.”
“I need more time.”
“Because love will triumph?”
“Precisely.”
“So why should human issues matter to me? You have had enough time. So have the humans. Did you know they power their entire civilization with dinosaur chi?”
“The humans plan to colonize other planets as a way to escape their mess.”
“I see. That is a problem. Dionysus and I worried about this possibility. What do you propose?”
“Poseidon and Anemoi need to get off their high horses and make the climate problem clear–right now.”
“Poseidon has been in a bad mood ever since that Deep Water Horizon thing and the Anemoi are tired of being called bastards. I think they would be just fine with human extinction. Getting their help will take a miracle.”
“Which is why we are talking here and now.”
“You were always a good negotiator. What do you want done?”
“The humans need clarity.”
“They need a swift kick in the nouns.”
“So you agree then?”
“To do what?”
“Talk to Apollo. He can get Aires to take a vacation–and then ask Hermes to work on the message.”
“Human addiction is the problem, Gaia. The so-called upper classes cannot see far enough through their egos to address their addictions. And never underestimate the power of denial. Don’t you think it’s time to wring out the welcome of humans?”
“No.”
“How about a different species fostered into sentience. Say, one without an opposable thumb? I think all your issues started there. Dolphins look promising.”
“I can take this up to Rhea.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“I would.”
“Well you are determined. Just for discussion what needs to be happen?”
“Clarity.”
“To defeat clarity is a crime. Still, only highly destructive events can cut through their fog of addictions, toys, vanity, and ego.”
“That might work. You are so clever, but Aries has to be kept out of it.”
“We have had a lot of success with war recently. Their leadership seems accommodating to change through war.”
“They have landed machines, robots, on Mars. And they plan settlements.”
“On Mars? I don’t see any way to keep Aries out of it. Hephaestus and Aries have been arguing the horrors of that kind of human expansion for a millennium.”
“Zeus, the energizing of the climate may become unstoppable. That would make the humans desperate. Remember Venus? Besides, what will you do without your yogurt?”
“Not funny. Okay, I can let you have Penthos, a little grief will be good for them. Penthos is your path.”
“There are many paths.”
“Not anymore–now there is just the path of human agony–if they are to survive.”
“Okay, but Hermes has to explain the events of Poseidon and Anemoin in a way the humans can understand. There are too many deaths obscured by their media.”
“And that’s why you want Hermes to assist you?”
“Yes. Only he can cut through denial and the human addiction to fear.”
“So you see what I am saying–Penthos is their way. We are in agreement?”
“Along with Hermes and his pathos.”
“I must say this issue of machines colonizing Mars is simply an insult to basic intelligence. They really plan to move mass across the void of space? Don’t they get it…Void? Did they misunderstand the meaning of software? Alright, I agree you can have Hermes as well.”
“You’re not a bad debater either, Zeus. And you will keep Aries in check.”
“You flatter me, Gaia. You also need to understand I will do anything to keep Earth from turning into another debacle like Venus.”
“Humans need more time to develop and that’s why we are talking.”
“I’ll see what I can do, but the humans might have to go–if they ignore Hermes’ warnings. Oh, and, Gaia…”
“Sir?”
“Now it’s Sir. I must say I admire your commitment to them…Hera says hello. She would like you to come to dinner when this is all over.”
“So you don’t hold out much hope for the humans?”
“Never underestimate the power of denial.”
“One might say the same about you. Humans will get through this, if they can just find some grit. Thank you, Zeus.”
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