"Godwin, Parke - Snake Oil 02 - The Snake Oil Wars, or Scheherazade Ginsberg Strikes Again (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Godwin Parker)

"This is Cathy Cataton for TSTV. Here's what's happening . ."

Cathy Cataton didn't have the standard bland-blond screen image of Nancy
Noncommit of BSTV, rather what some males would call a hatchet face; wide
cheekbones and a narrow chin,her hair in short, dark curls. Only after death
did she find her true calling as a newswoman.

"Coyul the new appointee head of Topside triggered a riot in our largest
Megachurch today when he attempted to set the record straight on his intended
program. TSTV cameras were on the scene."

For Topside watchers who had never met or seen Coyul, his televised image was an
anticlimax. He was short and plump, and in his mild, patient manner, there was a
disconcerting cosmic ennui.

"Ladies and gentlemen-by whatever name, image or reputation you may know me-my
name is Coyul, My brother Barion, who managed this establishment for so long,
never represented himself as a god, never promised you a messiah, only wisdom
and common sense to those rare spirits brave enough to heed it."

End of clip. Cataton again: "Coyly never got a chance to finish his
presentation, He was interrupted by an American from Kansas."

And cut to Coyul again on the podium. "Elation found it necessary with so many
conflicting faiths, to establish an absolute freedom of belief. Frankly, it
never occurred to either of us to do otherwise from the time we started with you
five million years ago-"

"Did Barion lie to us?"

Now the screen image was much more photogenic: a slender thirtyish man who ran
agitated fingers through his rumpled hair. "I think every Christian is asking
that question with me." A caption superimposed on the impassioned young image;
LANCE CANDOR, AMERICAN. DIED SAVING THE PRESIDENT of THE U.S. FROM
ASSASSINATION. In the row behind Candor, a small woman in a faded paisley dress
waved a placard:

KANSAS FOR GOD AND THE BIBLE!

In his vulnerable honesty, Lance Candor reminded viewers of young James Stewart,
game but about to collapse on the


Senate Boor in the Capra movie. For American idealism, Can. dor made Stewart
look like a Chicano.

Mr. Candor repeated his challenge; "Did Barion lie to us on the inerrancy of the
Bible?"