4
Bob’s being a Physician of the
ARG seemed such a Dramatic Coincidence to Bill, that the First Secret became
Irrefutably Obvious: “This Demon’s magic is so like a Pile of Plagues, ‘er...that
is, a Plague of Piles, that we must needs view it as a Disease, even as the
Physician of the Worthy Silk had thrice suggested to me!”
The logic of this argument also
seemed irrefutable to Bob, and it is believed that this was when Bob became
reattached to his backside. (Although Bob did temporarily misplace it later
en route to an Assembly of Physician’s Guilds, it was quickly located and reattached,
never again to wander very far from its owner.)
Another Strange Coincidence manifested
itself. Bill and Bob walked in similar shoes, and indeed they did have the same
style from the Guild of the Oxfords, which were noted for ease of stepping.
It was said of the Oxfords that their comfort could not be made of man, but
the Guild of the Oxfords must surely rely on spiritual lasting. (The reader
is referred to the last, at the end of this narrative.)
And yet a Third Strange Coincidence: Not only was Bob an Oxford wearing Physician, schooled in the Science of Backside
Maladies, he was also the Son of a Smythe… and perhaps had much of the knowledge
of that trade, possibly even owning an anvil and furnace.
5
Together, using Bob’s smythe tools (however they
were acquired) and Bill’s fire and strength, they took the Two Secrets, and
began to forge the shield and armor necessary to keep the Demon at bay.
For the two had unwittingly discovered the Third
Secret required for successfully Detering the Dread Demon… Share the Secrets
with Other Victims.
And indeed, they proved the conclusion by walking
just Twelve Steps together... to another victim named Bill -Son of Dot, of the
Country of Tuck’s Kin.
Bill, Bob, and Bill experienced the Secret of
the Spiritual Lasting and awakened absolutely to the defense the Three Secrets
presented against the Demon’s magic:
“We must always remember that the Demon
has given us a Plague of Piles; we must find other victims and give them this
discovery, and we must always take our steps spiritually by The Dozen.”
Soon they found others, whose names didn’t necessarily
begin with ‘b’… and although they rapidly outgrew the original Oxfords, they
found the replacement steppers more than adequate to keep them on the Broad
Highway, away from the Demon, trudging the Road of Happy Destiny together.
And, one day at a time, they and their families
lived more-or-less happily ever after…
The End
(Not! - Last is Last, remember?)
