26.4

John poured them both a stiff drink.

“If you want my advice,” he said, smiling reassuringly. “And you obviously do, or you wouldn’t have let me in on this, I suggest you just let this happen naturally. Really Hunter – I can’t see the problem. By sending you the film before releasing it to the public they’re simply asking your permission to continue.”

“But it’s not up to me!” the President said.

“Isn’t it?”

“No – it’s their thing – they’re the religious fanatics.”

“Come on Hunter, this isn’t just about religion. It’s about the world. Sadhus can starve themselves, bury themselves underground, contort themselves into knots and wander around the world lashing themselves with whips but in order to actually produce God they need everyone’s consent! And really, only you can give them that! What they are saying is that in order for God to appear on the planet everyone needs to be involved. They need the world… but mostly they need America. And everyone knows that Americans would never allow anything remotely like this to happen unless their elected President gave it the stamp of approval. That’s just the way it is. Frankly Hunter, without you they could have a film of God himself and it wouldn’t be enough.”

Is he right?

Does it really get down to this?