The Recruitment

“Open their minds,” Walters repeated to himself. Assigned with one task: a re-birthing, his words were to inspire action — a renewed idealism that would resonate within each and every person. He felt the enormous responsibility of the task at hand, wholly believing it was in the conscience of government duty to build up individual and social power. And he had inexhaustible reserves to do so. After all, a government must not lose sight of the economic interest at hand.

It was late morning as Walters entered the town. Following him was the file of supply trucks, replete with provisions, which naturally for a re-birthing, were laced with the government-issued mind-enhancer. The townspeople were already gathered in the square, starved and desperately awaiting their rations. This behaviour truly inspired apathy, and Walters looked at them as one would a stray dog that ought to be clubbed, frightened back into the wild to lick its wounds. The rations were distributed immediately. This was routine — a process efficiently handled, as it ought to be. The people drank deeply and devoured their rations, as per usual. At last, it was time. Walters ascended the platform. Their starvation and thirst eased, the people applauded politely, looking on with anticipation.

“We stand at the beginning of a new era,” Walters began aloud, “where decisions must be made with both the present and the future at the forefront of our minds. You, my friends and equals, understand the liberty for which we stand, and know that I, your representative, detest half-hearted and weak decisions. Until now, our noble people have known hardship and struggle, but they cannot be thankful to their leaders, for we have not entrusted them with the power to determine their own futures. You must be willing to acknowledge the truth that can no longer be denied. We must defend and protect our own people!”

Walters paused dramatically for effect, knowing that every movement, every inflection, every pause would buy conviction and ignite their passion once the mind-enhancers took effect.

“I am fighting today not for our own era, but for those to come. I stand for the historic task of unparalleled dimensions — that we ought to feel obliged to carry out — to secure important political, strategic, and economic capabilities at this time of great change — the work to further strengthen our people, lest they face certain annihilation.”

It was starting. The effect would be quick.

In and out the buildings breathed. Slowly. Rhythmically. They grew and shrunk, stretching tall and thin. A bird took flight from a nearby tree, leaving a trail of birds behind it, as if the sky had frozen each frame in time, and the path of the bird’s flight would be forever imprinted into its eternal blueness. The past, present, and future aligned, and the bird called to its replicas, who blissfully echoed its song. Out of the trees and flowers, out of the wonder of nature itself, there came colours — vast geometric forms that pulsated and emanated into the perfect, blue sky. Colours were exploding everywhere, marbling in an entrancing oscillation. They radiated with peace and tranquillity, running up and down the trees, alive and animate. Feelings and sounds took physical form. Smells could be seen. Inanimate objects finally showed their true form, and it was wondrous.

Walters continued: “I ask you now: What is it that divides our outlooks on life? It is time that we burn the flame of knowledge, and with it, slowly enlighten you and raise you from this poverty. As one, we will mature and inspire a powerful heritage. This will be our immortal contribution. My dear friends, I profess my sincerest hopes that these words be deeply rooted in your subconscious with an open expression of true and unyielding support for this noble cause.”

The people moved hypnotically drawn to his voice. They followed the inexplicable calling, swaying in unison to the sudden possession it held over them, losing themselves to its appeal. They writhed to escape their bodies — to free the animalistic power that had been released within them. They opened their arms to the endless sky, and they gave themselves entirely to the boundless pleasure that it promised. Embracing the light in front of them, they held out their hands to touch it and breathed deeply as it devoured them, entering their bodies, and transforming their human forms into celestial beings, free from the confines and limitations of humanity. Bathing in their golden auras, they hailed this resplendent world.

“My friends.” Walters’ voice exploded in blazing flashes across the sky, and the crowd held out their hands as the brilliant red stars rained down upon them. “I bring you a message from God.”

Walters allowed these words to be absorbed. The crowd felt the sweetness in the air — the sweet, whispering solicitations of love and peace that called to them. They awed as a new dimension opened before them, and they claimed their immediate devotion. They had entered a world free of time and space, and from it escaped a hidden world of colour, wonder, and vice. Mystified, they stood, captured by the sheer beauty.

“God created all of this.” Walters indicated the square with a swift gesture. “And He has come to show you His almighty power. Feel His energy running through you! Bear witness to His heavenly dimension!”

Those who had been hesitant now surrendered their minds and bodies to the ecstasy — the euphoric intoxication. They, too, cried out whole-heartedly, “Yes! I feel it!”

“The governments of the past did not want you to know this freedom — the knowledge that is God’s power, but I have come to free you from their slavery and to show you the truth. Feel the great immortality. Bask in eternal light!”

The crowd cheered, and in the roar of their united voices, they heard God echo their words, feeling the very sound in their bones and innermost places, seeing it reverberate off their skin.

“Feel your souls! Embrace the reason beyond reason. Let Him take over your unworthy hearts. Open yourself to His goodness. Do not have fear! Look around you — there is no darkness, only light!”

The crowd responded to every word, feeling the energy pierce through their chests with unearthly beauty and nobility. They nodded with vigorous understanding. It was true, for they had seen the light themselves, splendorous and eternal before them.

“Yes!” The crowd roared. For such splendour had been born from such despair. Everything was becoming clear. All past misunderstanding, all past confusion, vanished. Before them was only reason and possibility, only truth and knowledge. Everything that was not known — all that could not be explained — was the almighty God. The people looked down upon their hands, enveloped with heavenly colour, and they knew it was true.

“Hail!” Walters cried.

“Hail,” they cried in return, and forming a circle they marched and chanted. “Hail, hail!” Stomping to the beat that echoed into the endless light, round and round they marched.

Walters’ voice reverberated over the cries of the crowd: “Horrendous is the fate of those who deny the truths of the revelation!"

“Yes,” they cried in harmony, with sincere, wide-eyed reverence. “We shall not forget His power.”

“You must live according to His will! For it is with this task that your humbled government has been entrusted.”

“Yes!” They agreed unreservedly.

“We must pursue our enemies and smite the hindmost of them. Let them suffer, for God has delivered them into our hands,” Walters howled.

“Our enemies are the enemies of God,” they chanted.

“And God will smite our enemies, crushing their skulls! Together, we will conquer!”

The crowd were wild with their newfound knowledge. They were savage with desire, fierce and merciless. Who dared defy and call themselves their enemy! They had felt the power of their God. They had seen Him for themselves, and they would annihilate the nonbelievers — “We will crush God’s enemies! We will strike down those who hate Him!”

Walters’ expression transformed into one of grave solemnity. “Hard times have come upon us, for God is trying to test our faith. In these dark times, we will not wane, nor disappoint. We will prove to be loyal followers. And our enemies — yes, I speak of those godless swine who withhold water — they are the enemies of God. They laugh while our people starve! They mock while our children die without water! They want to see us die in misery and agony! They wish you to suffer! Do not let their masquerades deceive you! For it is when you close your eyes that they will launch their attack! Yes, hardship has befallen us, but when we rise from this darkness, unified and basking in God’s light, we shall reap the rewards. I beseech you now: stand with me! Do not run from this test!”

The crowd roared, and deep, inhuman sounds bellowed from the depths within. An injustice had been served, and they would fight. Food was in short supply. Water was scarce. But God, God was on their side. They held up each other’s hands in affirmation of their faith. They looked upon the colours that enveloped them and knew that they would be triumphant.

“We were tested with starvation and misery, and God has answered,” Walters yelled, punching the air with wild fury. “He has exposed the enemy, and we shall wage war in His name!”

“Aye,” they roared.

“Will you smite your enemies in the name of God?”

“Aye,” they echoed, louder than before.

“And will your faith not waiver in the face of adversity? Will you be loyal and faithful servants to your government?”

“Aye,” they cried with incomparable force and virtue.

“Arise! Deliver me, my God!” Ferocious, breathing in the energy of the crowd, Walters set fire to the platform as the uninhibited people cheered. “What, then, shall we say in response to this? For if God is for us, who can be against us!”

The people cried in lustrous ecstasy, abandoning themselves to the fervour. They stamped harmoniously in beat. They hummed and sang. And to this euphonious music, they danced. Long into the evening they danced: a symphony of bodies, cheering and shouting out God’s wishes into the obscurity of the darkness. And they prayed. Oh, did they pray — aloud and without restraint. They believed as forthrightly as they could. They forgave themselves for their previous lives of ignorance, for now they had seen. And they vowed to smite all enemies. And those who had water were enemies. Yes, they would strike them down, smash in their heads, break their teeth. They had seen God, and they would fulfil His wishes!

Finally, in the light of the dying embers, the people looked up with repulsion and resentment. They observed the poverty around them. They saw the horror. While they starved and wanted for water, others had abundant supplies. As though it were etched into their minds with the sharp blade of a carving knife, they marked this other in their deep consciousness as the true enemy, and vengeance would be wreaked upon them.

In this madness, they turned to Walters to lead the way — and he obliged. “Sign here,” he said. “Fight for your government! Join our army!”

And they did. They gave everything they had.

By the next morning, the mind-enhancer had worn off, yet the memory seemed to break through the dimensions of time and space. The officials, who had handed out rations the previous day, now herded the recruits into trucks.

“Make sure you bind their hands and feet,” Walters cautioned. “The aftereffects can cause emotional outbreaks. You must do it for their own safety and protection.”

They were property of the government now.

“Thank you for volunteering,” Walters said, smiling. “Your government appreciates your support.”

The new soldiers looked in stupefaction at the chains around their necks. Heart-shaped lockets, complete with the engraving: In God We Trust. Below this, their new identity numbers. And inside, a photo of their grateful president.