Correspondence with Malcolm de Troyes

Dear Senator de Troyes,

I was amused to watch the news coverage of the Iowa caucuses last night and see that everything that occurred, the status of your rivals for the office of the President of the United States, and speculation about this coming year—everything was more or less a reference to your candidacy. Well done, Senator, on capturing the imagination of your countrymen and stealing from the Democratic and Republican caucuses a significant portion of their constituents. You do not have long to go until you will become the youngest President ever to stand on the inaugural stage. Congratulations, and may your campaign bring you success! I will see you at the fundraiser in New Orleans early next month. Until then, I remain

Your servant,
Adonis

January 25th, 2000



Dear Mr. Devereux,

I thank you for your kind congratulations. Your own contributions to my campaign have enabled me to compete with my party-affiliated opponents on a more equal footing than any other independent candidate could expect. Your generosity is unmatched.

And, on a more personal note, I cannot thank my Great-uncle M and Great-aunt I enough for their inspiration. On more than one occasion I have been drawn to their portraits in my family home, and I think of them both fondly. If you ever meet either of them, please pass on my sincerest thanks.

Your grateful friend,
Malcolm de Troyes

30th January, 2000



Dear Senator de Troyes,

I hope these meager greetings find you well and that you are resting. I cannot tell you how shocked Aphrodite and I were to hear of the assassination attempt! The honorless blackguard responsible for your near-encounter with death will be bothering you no longer. Know that Uncle M has dealt with the situation. The assassin was paid a large amount of money from a contact whom he never saw clearly, and—well, suffice it to say, Senator, it is an old story and not very creatively done. I suggest putting this incident behind you and meeting your constituents with your usual optimism and enthusiasm, for uncle M assures me that the authorities will never find the perpetrator. Besides, the people certainly love a man possessed of the faculty to easily forgive and forget. Of course you shall not forget this assault, nor will the agents of the De Troyes family. I have no doubt that one of your rivals—most likely Bush—was behind the bloody attempt.

I have been watching the news reports, and it seems that this second miraculous escape from peril has once again invigorated the public’s passion for you. You, indeed, seem to live a charmed life, Senator. I am certain that you will soon be retiring that title and adopting a more august one, at which time, I will be, more than ever,

Your servant,
Adonis

September 29th, 2000



Dear Mr. Devereux,

Thank you for the good wishes. I am resting comfortably, and the doctors tell me that my prognosis is good. I should suffer no lasting ill effects from this attempt on my life, which makes it all the easier for me to take the morally high road you recommend. I have no quarrel with the one who shot me. He was doubtless a mere hired gun, and if he has fallen in with my Uncle M, there is no possibility of his returning to injure me in any way. I trust my Uncle M and Aunt I with my life.

You are doubtless correct that this attempt was made by one of my rivals; I could not presume to say which. Realizing, a mere month before the election, that an independent candidate could actually win the presidency, drove someone to desperation. However, the attempt failed, and that is the worst possible outcome for both of my opponents. I have survived, and my miraculous escape from death will do nothing but encourage my supporters and demoralize both the Republicans and the Democrats.

I am grateful for your continued support and encouragement, Mr. Devereux. Please give my greetings to your lovely Aphrodite.

Your friend,
Malcolm de Troyes

4th October, 2000



Dear Mr. President-Elect,

We are festive here at Temple as we celebrate your electoral victory over your two opponents, mere ghosts of men with percentages that, even when combined, do not equal your numbers! Most cordial congratulations we extend to you from your hometown this evening. I wish I could have been there with you to experience the victory, but as you know, I have problems with which I must deal—problems that cannot be put aside even for a night. I apologize for my lack of communication this past month, but I have rarely been in the United States these past few weeks. Business has taken me to Europe and other far-sundered places around the globe, but I fully intend to be present at your inauguration, though not perhaps out in the stands.

May the gods continue to smile on you. I would be content if only you would continue to consider me

Your servant,
Adonis

November 8th, 2000



Dear Adonis,

Now that we have come so far together, I cannot bring myself to write “Mr. Devereux” any longer. Nor must you continue to address me as Senator—or even as Mr. President-Elect! I must be to you merely Malcolm, your grateful friend. It delights my heart to think that I can represent in the White House my home and my roots. Your tale of the celebrations in New Orleans has given me a sense of being back in my dearly-loved home. It is particularly agreeable to me at this moment because I know well that soon I must take the helm of this nation and guide her through the coming days. It gives me pause to realize that I shall be the one responsible for making the decisions concerning the United States’ position during this crisis. It is what I have desired, and I would not have run were I not convinced that I can do it. However, I am grateful for your wisdom. You always remember the sayings and advice of my dear Uncle M, and I hope only that I do not disappoint him or you.

Your grateful friend,
Malcolm

11th November, 2000



Dear Malcolm,

Please accept my sincerest apologies for not attending your inauguration. I am not in the United States at this time, and I am sure you can understand my reason for being away. You have taken the oath of office and have therefore become the leader of the world. Congratulations, President De Troyes. But there are other powers and principalities which engage me nightly, some for good, some for ill. From this night on, you will work in the open, in the sun, and I will labor for the good of all my kind by night, in the darkness, beyond the scope of the camera lens. You work you work; I mine. Though sundered by the revolution of the Spheres, you and I are united in purpose. We shall in these coming nights move earth and heaven. Time and fate shall not weaken us. Let us resolve ourselves anew—now that we can—to commit ourselves to righting this crisis which spreads from city to city, to quenching the fires that engulf our havens, to eradicate the agents of death that stalk our streets.

Though this night seems long, Malcolm, take comfort in knowing that I saw a longer and more fearsome night, and yet I survived. So shall we all, those who remain true and do not fall to the darkness, who do not succumb to the bloodlust. Now, more than ever, I am

Your fellow laborer and friend,
Adonis

January 21st, 2001



Dear Adonis,

I can hardly express my gratitude to learn of your continued existence! I must confess that, when you were not present, I feared the worst, and I wondered what would become of the world now that it would be unlit by your beauties. I am glad to learn that, though danger presses you, you are yet numbered among my living friends and allies.

Yes, there is much work to be done, but I have faith that, as you have seen the dawn light after darker nights than this one, so you will see the moon again when this blackness passes. War looms, and fires threaten; but you and I shall labor on, each in our own sphere.

I hope to hear from you again soon. Please send my honor and appreciation to Uncle M and Aunt I. I hope they know I will never forget their kindness to me.

Ever-grateful to be,
Your friend,
Malcolm

24th January, 2001