Othello 2.0

Othello 2.0 (Extended version)

Everywhere in the universe, you will find evil. It's something that was stitched into the fabric of the universe before it existed, twisting it, perverting it, making it into the multidimensional mess it is now. Evil is intertwined into the evolution of any species. Without it, how would people recognise good?

In the galaxy humorously known as the Milky Way - a galaxy not at all milky, where people quite often lose their way - there is a small planet called Earth. Every Earth year they have a day when they cast their souls back to the squabble they called the "Second World War", remembering the evil that went on then - on both sides. Perhaps this makes their lives feel a little better, perhaps not. That's up to them.

This story doesn't take place on Earth, though. Picture the planet: a blue-and-green globe, with frequent dirty-brown smudges of cities. Mentally draw back, zoom out until the Earth's star is just a dot of light in a quilt of blackness. Further, so you can see the whole of the Milky Way. Go out further still. Millions of galaxies, nebulas, and Gods-know-what-else. Now, look closer at the galaxy in the bottom-right corner. Yes, the one that looks like yesterday's dinner, plate and all. Zoom in on the potato, and try not to be distracted by the carrot. In the middle - just above the ketchup, in the lump. A large sun, and around it?

Not all planets are round. Most are, but not all. This...planet looks like the Gods had a good go at it, before bunging it here. Who knows why the Gods saw it fit to squash it up, roll it out, and play hoopla with it and a sun? Gods work in mysterious ways.

Perhaps Gods have a sense of humour. That might explain why they then went and put life on this hoola-hoop - and not just humans. Dwarfs. Trolls. Elves. All live in disharmony here, on this ring that never gets dark.

People think that evil loves the dark. On this world, Evil has no physical dark to lurk in - but it finds other ways to exist. It sows itself everywhere it can. Souls can have a dark darker than ordinary darkness.

In the mind of Fortissimo, the pair below him were both tainted with Darkness. They were chatting loudly to each other, rattling on about how much one of them hates someone else. Something about being passed up for promotion, and a bloke called Jones. They were wandering over his garden now. Well, he'd had enough of this. It was time his toilet was emptied, anyhow?

- × -

Wastrel had just opened his mouth to shout up to Fortissimo when he found himself soaking wet.

"Damn the man" Mountebank, Wastrels' companion, spluttered to himself.

After several minutes of coughing and spluttering, Wastrel yelled up to the window; "Why did you do that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't notice you down there! What are you doing on my garden, anyhow?"

"We came to warn you that you have been robbed, sir." replied Wastrel.

"Robbed? What do you mean, robbed?"

"A stunted black ram is tupping your white ewe!" Mountebank threw in.

Fortissimo sighed. "Not Vesuvius again? I've warned the farmer not to mix the rams and the ewes, but they mustn't be shutting the gate right?"

Wastrel and Mountebank stared. "You knew about this, sir?"

"Oh, yes. Every week, I get reports that old Vesuvius nips out while he's being given his food, and plays with the females out in the fields?"

"Vesuvius? Our general goes and...Say again?"

"You're talking about the General?"

"You weren't?"

"Of course not! We have a small ram, named after Vesuvius, in the farm I own. Unlike his namesake, he's a bit ? frisky."

Wastrel and Mountebank paused for a second while they worked this out. Then, understanding dawned on their faces.

"Who are you, then, if you're not farm-labourers?" Fortissimo asked.

"Don't you know my voice? Wastrel?"

Moving to close the window, Fortissimo said, "Oh, not you again. I have told you before - you are not for my daughter! Stay away from my house!"

"Wait, sir! It's not me who's enjoying the pleasure of your daughter, but another"

"Your daughter is covered with a Shetland pony; they are at the moment making the beast with two backs!"

"You sure you're not from the farm?"

"Positive, sir! We are talking about your daughter, and our nation's general; the Half-Pint Vesuvius!"

"WHAT?"

"Did you not know about this, sir?"

"Did I not know about it? Do you think I would permit this if I did? Oh, unhappy child, degrading herself with this half-man? Even you would have been better than him, Wastrel, and that's saying something?"

Disappearing from the window, Fortissimo threw on some clothes and stormed downstairs. He emerged from his house trailed by a rift of servants found on the way down, as well as several Senators who'd been waiting to talk to him, and were now flapping around trying to catch his attention.

As he approached the now-alone Wastrel, he saw the other man disappearing into the nearby light. A few feet away from Wastrel, Fortissimo stopped and turned to the crowd.

"Servants, go. Knock at every door, and pay no heed to complaints! Gather as many people as you can! Vesuvius will not get away with this trickery!" He shouted to the mob.