Page 5 - Fables volume 2

Gypsy Moth and Boll Weevil

“I don’t really want to caucus with you, Senator. My constituents
expect me to hew to the party line—or at least not act in concert with
you.”
“Yes, I know that, Senator. I’ve the same problem. That’s why
we’re hiding in the cloakroom.”
Senator Boll Weevil whirred his wings impatiently, but he could
not shake off his prejudice against a turncoat. This despite his own
carpetbagging origins.
“Listen, mothball: we’ve got the same problem. The Ethics
Committee may investigate both of us if we can’t come up with a
principled reason for supporting the synthetic pheromone bill.”
“I thought we agreed never to call it that!” Senator Gypsy Moth
was indignant, quivering antennae flashing a moment of hypocritical
defensiveness often mistaken by the press for righteous indignation.
“It’s the Defense of Reproductive Attraction Act. Nobody must
suspect our connection with the biochemical industry.”
“Bah! Someday we’ll be vindicated! Mark my words, Senator: those
ingrates will be flying in formation to thank us for saving their
miserable cocoons. You and I—we’re not disloyal. Why can’t they
see that? If you and I have common cause, well, then, it must be that
we represent the true center of the political spectrum. It’s those
damned extremists in our own parties who can’t see beyond the end
of their proboscises.”
“Of course I agree, you old whiskered weevil: we have to do what’s
right for those benighted voters out in the fields and forests, even if
they don’t know their own interests. If we just happen to do well by
doing good, that’s no more than we deserve.”
The conspirators heard the first sounds of their colleagues
returning from recess, and hastened to adjourn their illicit caucus.
“Let’s get our positions coordinated quickly, here, Senator Weevil.
The population loss cause by hormone disruption will be
compensated for by a cessation of hostilities, right? The survivors will
be unmolested when it becomes economically unfeasible to continue

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