To Conquer The World

"Tell people what they want, remove the social restraints that keep them from speaking from their hidden emotions. Give them your ear, allow them to believe in your confidence, and if you do, you will conquer the world!"

The audience sat stunned, this wasn't the \Dale Carnegie\ type speech they were promised in the brochure. But the Speaker had one last line to deliver and he uttered it confidingly. Waving a book that bore his image on the back, he peered out at the audience, and gave the appearance of speaking to each member of the crowd,

"Of course that doesn't apply to any of you. I can only dupe those willing to be fooled! The fact that you are here proves you don't fool easily...that you aren't led by the nose!"

The audience members nodded and looked understandingly toward one another. This speaker was right, the gulls were fools and deserved what they got. Some people were born to be duped...they deserved to be deceived. This was the kind of speech they'd come to hear! As the speaker stood expectantly, they enthusiastically cheered, pleased with his knowledge of their fellow neighbors.

He bowed once, raised his hands triumphantly before the crowd and sprinted off the stage. A young man with a clipboard stood waiting and spoke,

"Wow, you really won over the crowd, Mr. Vintinner. You had them eating out of your hand. I really admire your approach...those small minded folk just don't get you!"

The speaker scowled, but did not reply to the young man. He began to walk away but then stopped and turned, a smirk on his face,

"Hey kid, nice try, but I wrote the book. You want to conquer the world, start small...here, read this."

He tossed the book to the young man and walked into his make-shift dressing room.

He sat down at a vanity and looked into its mirror. A wearied, but otherwise stoic face peered back. He clumsily struggled to remove his tie and mumbled to his reflection,

"The poor bastards...they're the most pernicious creatures on earth and yet fooling them is so damned easy."