12:23 pm
[Scene: On a hill in the levant ages ago, two friends unaware they ought to be anything but, sit in a smoke filled tent contemplating the future.]
The Roman: Ah we are far from Rome. Imperial, imperious, imperative, imperium.
The Jew: Imperil, imperish, impermissible, impermanent. You Romans may think we are the fat in the fire but your civilization hasn’t got the chance of a snowball in hell.
The Roman: You don’t believe in hell. Here, throw some more of that on the fire, would you? Thanks.
The Jew: Vast, Vastative, Vatinian, Vile, Vility, Villian.
The Roman: Vassal, Vastate, Vaste, Vastity, Vasectomy.
The Jew: Breathe deeply. What do you see. Look there. Is it just the smoke or are you seeing it too?
The Roman: I see something. Wait, yes.
The Jew: Yes, it is more clear. I feel giddy, lightheaded, but yes I can see. This is the place. We have found it. It is meet to be here. This is the place to settle and build a future. From here we shall multiply and prosper. Let us build an altar to Jehovah.
The Roman: Yes. Yes. It is meet to be here. Let us construct a toilet. And let the plumbing of this great work signal to the world the grandeur that is eternal Rome.
The Jew: Weren’t you going to take that job, that position in Judea, Pontius? Prelate was it?
The Roman: It would be such a bore; nothing interesting ever happens in Judea. But they do have toilets. Perhaps I will. Let’s breathe some more of this smoke, I’m feeling peaceful.