APOLOGUE
The man who was also a Werwolf sat in his arbor, drinking excellent
beer.
He was not an ill-looking man. His fondness for an out-of-door life had
given him a ruddy color. He was tall and blond. His eyes were gray. But
there was a shifty look in them, now dreamy, now fierce. At times they
contracted to mere slits. His chin sloped away to nothing. His legs were
long and thin, his movements springy and uncertain.
The philosopher who came to pay his respects to the man who was also a
Werwolf (whom we shall henceforth call MWAW for short) was named
Professor Schmuck. He was a globular man, with protruding china-blue
eyes, much magnified by immense spectacles. The fame of his book on
"Eschatological Problems among the Hivites and Hittites" was world-wide.
But his real specialty was universal knowledge.
Yet on entering the arbor where MWAW was sitting, this world-renowned
Learned One made three deep obeisances, as if he were approaching an
idol, and stammered in a husky voice: "Highly Exalted!--dare I--?"
"Ah, our good Schmuck!" said MWAW, turning in his chair and recrossing
his legs. "Come in. Take place. Take beer. Take breath. Speak out."
The professor, thus graciously reassured, set forth his errand.
"I have come to you, Highly Exalted, to inquire your exalted views on
the subject of Lycanthropy. Your Exaltedness knows--"
"Yes, yes," broke in MWAW, "old Teutonic legend. Men become wolves.
Strongest and fiercest breed. Eat people up. Frighten everybody. Ravage
countryside. Beautiful myth! Teaches power is greatest thing. Might
gives right. Force over all!"
"Certainly, Highly Exalted," said Schmuck humbly, "it is a
wonder-beautiful myth, full of true idealism. But what if it lost its
purely mythical quality and became historical, actual, contemporaneous?
Would it not change its aspect? Would not people object to it? Might not
the Werwolf get himself disliked?"
"Perhaps," answered MWAW, smiling till his eyes almost disappeared. "But
what difference? Ignorant people, weak people, no account. Werwolf is
stronger race, therefore superior. Objections silly."
"True, Exaltedness," said Schmuck. "It is the first duty of every ideal
to realize itself. Yet in this particular matter the complaints are very
bitter. It is said that great numbers of helpless men and women have
been devoured, their children torn in pieces, their farms and gardens
ravaged, and their houses destroyed by Werwolves quite recently. Shall I
deny it?"
"No," growled MWAW. "Don't be a fool. It is too well known. We know it
ourselves. We are the wolf-pack. Don't deny it. Justify it. That's your
business. Earn your salary."
Schmuck was as nearly embarrassed as it is possible for a professor to
be.
"Willingly, Exaltedness," he stammered. "But the trouble is to find the
basic arguments. Even among the Hivites and the Hittites, I have not yet
discovered any traces--"
"Nonsense," snapped MWAW. "Hivites and Hittites are dead. WE are alive.
Justify US. Think!"
"Pardon, Highly Exalted," said Schmuck, "I was trying to think. The
first justification that occurs to me is the plea of
necessity--biological necessity."
"It sounds good," grunted MWAW. "But vague. Explain."
"A biological necessity is a thing that knows no law. It is the inward
urge of every living creature to expand its own life without regard to
the lives of others. It is above morality, because whatever is necessary
is moral."
"Excellent," exclaimed MWAW. "We have felt that ourselves. Continue."
"Now, doubtless, the Highly Exalted are often hungry."
"Always," interrupted MWAW, "say always!"
"Always being hungry," droned Schmuck, "the Highly Exalted may feel at
certain times the craving for a certain kind of food in order to obtain
a more perfect expansion. To need is to take. Is it not so?"
"It is," said MWAW, "and we do. Find another argument."
"Self-defense," replied Schmuck.
"Too old," said MWAW. "Worn out. Won't go any more."
"But as I shall put it, Highly Exalted will see a newness in it. The
best way to defend oneself is by injuring others. Sheep, for example,
when gathered in sufficient numbers are the most dangerous animals in
the world. The only way to be safe from them is to attack them and
scatter them. Especially the small flocks, for that prevents their
growing larger and becoming more dangerous. Particularly should the
sheep with horns be attacked. Sheep have no right to have horns. Wolves
have none. But even the hornless sheep and the lambs should not be
spared, for by rending them you may frighten and discourage the horned
ones."
"Capital," cried MWAW, springing up and pacing the arbor in excitement.
"Just our own idea. Frightfulness increases force. We like to make
people afraid. We feel stronger. Essence of Werwolfery. Give another
argument, excellent Schmuck. Think once more."
"The Highly Exalted will forgive me. I cannot, momentarily, bring forth
another."
"What!" snarled an angry voice above the trembling professor. "Not think
of the best argument of all! Forget your creed! Deny your faith!
Wretched Schmuck! Who gave you a place? Who feeds you? Who are WE?"
"The Lord's Anointed!" murmured Schmuck, falling on his knees.
MWAW drew himself up, stiff as steel. His eyes blazed through their
slits like coals of fire.
"Right!" he cried. "Right at last. That is the great argument. Use it.
WE are the Chosen of God. WE are his weapon, his vicegerent. Whatever WE
do is a brave act and a good deed. Woe to the disobedient!"
He held out his hand and lifted the professor to his feet.
"Stand up, Schmuck. You are forgiven. Take more beer. To-night I follow
biological necessity. More work to do. But you go and tell people the
truth."
So Schmuck went. Whether he told the truth or not is uncertain. At all
events, it was in different words. And the Werwolfery continued.