Computus the Oracle

Computus the Oracle by J.B. Pravda

"Things"---and his compatriots knew just what he meant---"go poorly in
our homeland" confided Ellisanius.

"You long for the republic, eh?" replied Offendorus the Wise.

"Nay, I speak of matters spiritual-politics will surely follow"
answered now petulant Ellisanius.

"Who among you, yea all of Athens, can afford to seek Delphic
guidance?" he pressed.

"My brother, it would seem that you speak of more earthly
matters---drachmas!" laughed Abstemious, late of Sparta.

When the contagion of laughter was sufficiently subdued, Ellisanius
knew his riposte: "Ah, but now we are back to politics!---the state, at
least, is wiser than you----I have been given the right to create an
affordable distraction, shall we say, from the lack of bread."

Reaching into his robes, a scroll was passed round, with the Council of
Athens seal.

"See here, where I am charged with its erection, promotion, etc. You,
my good, dear friends, have the chance----I have to none other but you
broached this secret society---and for a modest
sum&;#8230;&;#8230;" he paused to survey their faces. Surprised
at their seeming approval, he then heard "Anything to disperse these
hoards of mendicants!" offered Precipitus the Quick.

"Yes, they buzz about like flies, scaring away my customers, too few
now" cried Barnamus the Merchant.

And, so, it came to pass that, equipped with an automaton of nice
design, the Oracle of Computus was born---no misty, distant cave-like
housing of some ephemeral part-time diviner, this---no, for its
be-marbled home was available 24/7. For a mere offering of renewed
loyalty to the state, suppliants, whose numbers were way beyond even
Ellisanius' hopes, were given scrolls of rights-'optionae', they were
called-to share in the success of mighty 'Computus'. Most notable of
its many qualities was the trancelike condition the oracle's patrons
exhibited.

When the Council of State openly worried that this new cult had grown
more powerful than even they, Ellianius assuaged their fears with an
enormous increase in their optionae, with these oracular words: "But,
brothers, you now possess a trancelike state!"