A Flight Line Parable

And so it was that in the thirteenth hour of the sun in the land of the burning concrete, that the heavyladen lay down their wrenches and lifted their voices in prayer toward that center cubical, from which all things begin.

And as the benders of the wrenches assemble in prayer, there ariseth great clamor, weeping and lamentation. For they are heavy of eye, sore of feet, weary of limb. For their toils have been indeed great. Surely now the Master will give them rest.

Then there is a great hush. For the hallowed portals of the center cubical open and the Master and his disciples come forth from their sanctuary and don their dark glasses and cunt caps; for lo, the sun is even painful to them.

And a disciple steps forth and speaketh unto them of the Max Effort on the morrow and calleth on the benders of the wrenches to give freely and cheerfully of their labours; For the Max Effort surpasseth all earthly things.

And another disciple cometh forth and speaketh in riddles of reports and analyses and of man hours. And the glories of the system.

Then there is a great hush, for the Master himself cometh forth to speak and he sayeth unto them. "Return Ye then to your labours, and if the Max Effort be a great success, surely on the second Sunday, next week, ye shall have a day of rest."

And one of the braver of the benders of the wrenches ariseth and maketh great harangue, and speaketh to the Master saying, "Surely thou hast not so soon forgotten thy promise that on this night thou wouldst give us rest."

And the Master became exceedingly wrought and speaketh in a thunderous voice and the benders of the wrenches whimper and quake in their tracks, for their fear is great.

For the Master sayeth, "Be thou then accursed, for thine ingratitude is great." And the benders of the wrenches weep and murmur, "Yea, verily we are the accursed."

And the Master speaketh yet again, "Hear my judgement for ye are of the unfortunate. Ye shall henceforth maintain twice as many aircraft, but we shall give unto you no cotter-pins and ye shall forage through the land for new parts. I shall send my inspectors to work mischief among thy people and to harass and spy upon thee. Great will be the plagues that I shall visit upon thee. Yea, verily, thou shall come to know the torments of the time card."

And the benders of the wrenches rent their clothing and sit in ashes and plead for mercy, but the Master is ever unforgiving.

Then the Master and his disciples turn away from the pleas and go thence into the place under which rivers of cold beer flow and abide therein during the darker hours.

And the benders of the wrenches return to their tasks and revile the winged monsters and one sayeth , "Yea, verily, Hell is our heritage and we must abide therein."

Amen