“Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.”

Niccolo’ Machiavelli

THE WAGER

by Mark Karapetyan

One day, Loki, the young devil, slowly made a landing at a pond located somewhere in between Heaven and Hell to rest and drink some water. To his surprise, he noticed that Kleppy, the young angel, was alone, washing his wings to cool off. Loki carefully approached Kleppy and ridiculed him: “Well, well, well…look who’s here. Are you exhausted, old friend? What’s the matter, weak one, not enough God power in your wings?”

Spooked and alarmed, Kleppy turned around and angrily exclaimed: “YOU AGAIN… not enough drinking water in Hell? What do you want?”

“Nothing, nothing at all… I only wish to greet a dear friend. I have missed you, how have you been?” Loki sarcastically inquired.

“I am not a human, Loki; you cannot deceive me. Do you not get weary of constantly lying? WHAT DO YOU WANT?” Kleppy reiterated in agitation.

“Alright, alright, alright, I will tell you the truth. I want nothing, except, for names…” Loki responded.

“Names? What names?” Kleppy questioned.

With a wicked grin, Loki cackled: “The names of the humans who believe in your God.”

“NOT A CHANCE, EVIL ONE !” Kleppy shouted.

Loki took a step closer toward Kleppy and whispered: “You fool… you know that with or without your help, I will eventually find and deceive every single one of them. The crucified one died in vain and his sacrifice was insufficient. Why do you try so hard? What’s in it for you? Don’t you wish to be free like me? You are well aware that in the end, nearly all humans will willingly choose my master, Satan, over your God. I am only saying this because I deeply care about you and I don’t want to see you on the losing side.”

Kleppy knelt down on one knee, took a sip of water, stood back up, wiped the water off his mouth, and mocked: “On the losing side? You repugnant, obtuse, half-witted demon…why, then, haven’t you found and deceived them yet? What’s the delay? Is your master ill and bedridden with the flu?

Loki took two steps back, fluttered his large black wings, and raged: “DO NOT blaspheme against my master, for he is the wisest of the wise and the holiest of all. Unlike you, he was brave enough to stand up to and defy your barbaric, tyrannical God. My master freed himself and us from eternal damnation by rejection your creator.”

Kleppy fluttered his large white wings, pointed his finger toward Loki, and angrily recounted: “I was present when your wicked and evil master deceived and took one-third of the angels with him. It was a tragic event that still pains me greatly. I lost many good friends and not a day goes by that I don’t think about or miss them. I promise you that the day will soon arrive when your evil master Satan, and his brain-dead minions, like you, will be chastised by you know, the one named, Jesus.”

Loki gnashed his teeth, tucked his wings tight, and sarcastically cackled: “Why then, hasn’t ‘the savior of humanity’ returned yet ? What’s the delay ? Is he still recovering from his crucifixion wounds? Don’t you realize that we have won the war? It is over, Kleppy, it is over…foolish humans either believe in my master too much, or they don’t believe in him at all, which either way, is exactly what we have planned from the beginning. It’s only a matter of time before we triumph. ”

Kleppy looked up toward the sky, took a deep sigh, and defended: “It is not over until the Holy Son of God returns. On that glorious day, the elect on earth will be joined with Him, but the rest will face eternal damnation. It will be my honor to personally witness the King of Kings sit in His holy throne and reign forever and ever. You, Loki, on the other hand, will face damnation; you have studied the scriptures, have you not read the Book of Revelation? You are an oblivious, arrogant, lunkhead. You are clueless of your destiny because your egomaniac, deceptive, cunning master hasn’t told you the truth yet.”

“WHAT TRUTH ?” Loki exploded.

“Go ask him, I have to go now; there are many humans who are in need of my protection.” Kleppy countered.

“Wait, wait, wait…please wait” Loki interrupted and then begged: “Please, hearken to my words, I beg of you my sweet, best friend. A very, very long time ago, your God made a deal with my master, Satan, over Job. In the end, your God won. What do you say you and I also make a wager? Like your God, you also will win.”

Kleppy thought for few seconds, slowly turned around, and cautiously hummed: “FINE! What’s the wager?”

Loki smiled, walked closer toward Kleppy and in a timid voice explained: “You don’t have to give me the names of the believers, that’s okay. You and I will wait one whole year; after one year, we will see who has more humans on their side, you or me. There is only one condition: you and I cannot interfere in any way, shape, or form and we must leave them alone. I wager that, in the end, more names will be on my list than yours. Humans will choose me, and they will do it willingly. ”

“Do you mean team Kleppy vs. team Loki?” Kleppy asked.

“PRECISELY,” Loki said with a glee.

“Fine, I already know the first believer that will be on my side. Many, many more will write their names on my list. I will win, Loki, I will win.” Kleppy assured him.

“YOU WILL LOSE !” Loki scoffed, and then bragged: “I always win, I am craftier and more cunning than you… I will deceive all humans, just wait and see duped one.”

Kleppy immediately levitated, fluttered his large wings and quickly flew away. Halfway in mid-air, he looked down at Loki and yelled: “Hey…Loki, by the way, just so you know, you are not that smart and cunning after all. I didn’t come to the pond to rest or to cool off; I came here expecting you to show up. My mission was to keep an eye on you and find out what your plans were for humans. My job was to keep you away from God’s people, but now I don’t have to. Now I know your future plans for next year because of the wager you just made with me. For a whole year, you are now ineffective and out of a job. For a whole year, you MUST leave humans alone. I can’t wait to hear your master’s reaction or see the look on his face when he hears about this idiotic wager you just proposed… Haaaa haaa haa !’’

In agony, Loki fell on his knees, put his hands on his head, and sobbed: “NOOOOO!!! “

“Satan is wiser now than before, and tempts by making rich instead of poor”

Alexander Pope

 

 

(If you wish to learn more about Kleppy & Loki, read The Report, and Satan’s Wish). 

Team Kleppy                                                                                          Team Loki

1. Mark Karapetyan