His adviser’s words filled the air as the limousine pulled into the Capitol Building. “You know they are going to be there today, hovering outside your office. You know that they’re going to sing your praises and offer you fantastic deals. But you have to resist them, Abe, you have to, because if you start taking orders from them, they will drag you down to their filthy depths. It’s an election year. If you’re to make it go back home to any sort of love or affection, you cannot, I repeat cannot, get stuck listening to these men. Make sure that none of your aids, none of your scribes, nobody is paying attention to your guests, and tell your secretary to keep the door to your office locked up tight. Let none of their oratory affect this bill passing. Now, I will be back later to brief you on the best way to deal with Representative Scylla and Chary in session today. Until then, good luck”
The limousine slowed to a stop as Jason finished his script, as it had every morning for the nineteen years Abe had been on the hill. Abe could see the vultures coming into work themselves, and looked warily back at Jason, “How many want to meet with me?” Jason replied coolly, “Just three, but oh yes, they are powerful. Nothing your ears can’t block out though, Congressman”
Pushing the door open and stepping out, leather-bound briefcase in hand, Abe stepped out and surveyed the scene. Certainly, there were many perils on the way to a Congressman’s office, but the three he despised most of all were nowhere in sight. Up the back stairwell, through a corridor, three right turns. As he hurried down the final hallway, Abe could feel the stares coming from the walls, zealously decorated with portraiture of illustrious former Congressmen. It gave him the creeps, like gods watching over him, changing his fate at their whim. Closing the black oak door behind him was a relief. Finally, the day was beginning. At the end, session would be over, and he could set out for his homeland, Ithaca, NY. What a glorious homecoming it would be, finally reunited with wife, son, and dog.
Surveying the crew, already at work in their ranks, Abe began to speak. He thought it unfair that they should go into such a hectic day unaware of the threats at hand. As he explained the dangerous expected visitors, a light breeze ruffled papers from an open window. “The lobbyists are coming, guys. We knew the day would come that we would have to face them. I don’t want you paying them any mind, you hear? We aren’t budging on this bill; it is what the people want. Let them in to see me. I owe them some of my time as is, but if I seem tempted, waste no time in reminding me of my commitments. We cannot afford to let love of money or promises of future support cloud our vision and lead us, and this bill, to an early grave.”
The day wore onward, people coming and going, advocates and constituents slowly giving the Congressman a headache. Abe poked his head into the main office, and all fell still. Even the breeze froze. The lobbyists knocked. “Stick your fingers in your ears guys, and keep me honest,” was all Abe managed to get out before the old black door swung wide and in stooped three lobbyists. “Good morning, Representative Achaea, how do you do today? We have a small matter of interest in a recent bill you are sponsoring in the Senate, and we’d love to cut a deal. No one has refused us this one – each and every one of them has returned to the House for years to come. We know you’re struggling with the voters at home…perhaps we can be of some assistance…”
The longer the lobbyists spoke, the greater the tale they spun, and the softer Abe’s resolve became. The bill was the will of the people, he knew, but the words of the men in his office sounded like music in his ears. Money to campaign with, support in future bills…Abe looked for approval of the deal in the eyes of his aides, but got only hard looks of reproach. Yuri, his secretary, saw the danger in proceeding, and hurried the meeting to a close, citing a campaign event, a revision session, a lunch break, anything and everything to remove these snakes from Abe’s ears. Once the lobbyists had left, taking their smooth talk and viperous intentions with them, the harsh, abrasive faces relaxed. “We made it through that one, guys. Thanks for keeping me aboard…there was a minute there I almost jumped ship,” Abe droned wearily. A look at the clock. Scylla and Chary, so soon after such a tiresome meeting, he thought? Indeed, it nearly was time for session to begin. But survive this strait, and Ithaca, beautiful Ithaca, lies in wait. The congressman, looking as old and tired as a man lost many years at sea, stood, organized his notes, and strode out into the stormy Senate floor.
That's great! The idea of lobbyists as sirens makes so much sense--and I really like the way all the literal elements of Odysseus's world become figurative here ("staying aboard," "lost at sea," etc.). I don't envy him having to meet Scylla and Charybdis so soon. Some very nice turns of phrase as well, like "viperous intentions."
ReplyDelete