Hera v. Ken Klaxton - Part 1: The Trial of the Pencil

Athena v. Ken Klaxton - Part 1

The Trial of the Pencil

The crowd cheered as Ken Klaxton stepped onto the stage at the Bone Spur Ranch.

The crowd applauded.

Nobody seemed entirely sure why.

Klaxton pointed toward the audience.

"My enemies have investigated me for years!"

Boos.

"They've accused me!"

More boos.

"They've persecuted me!"

Thunder rumbled overhead.

Several cattle looked nervous.

Klaxton continued.

"Every accusation against me has been politically motivated!"

A single dark cloud appeared above the stage.

The cattle immediately began backing away.

The horses followed.

A nearby dog climbed into a pickup truck.

Still nobody noticed.

Far above the rally, Hera appeared within the cloud.

Arms crossed.

Crown gleaming.

Looking completely unimpressed.

Back on Mount Olympus, Athena watched through a magical mirror.

"We should intervene carefully," she said.

Zeus nodded.

"Agreed."

Apollo pointed.

"Too late."

Back in Texas, a reporter finally looked up.

"Uh... is that a goddess?"

The crowd followed his gaze.

Several people screamed.

Klaxton squinted at the cloud.

"It's probably a weather balloon."

Hera's eye twitched.

Athena suddenly appeared beside her.

"We discussed being careful."

"I am being careful."

"You're standing in a thundercloud."

"I know."

Klaxton pointed toward the sky.

"If Zeus himself accused me of wrongdoing, I'd tell him exactly what I tell everyone else."

The crowd leaned forward.

"What would you tell him?"

Klaxton smiled.

"Political persecution."

Silence.

Athena covered her face.

Apollo started laughing.

Hera raised one finger.

A bolt of lightning shot from the sky.

BOOM.

The crowd was blinded by white light.

When their vision returned, Klaxton was gone.

Only a smoking microphone remained.

An elderly rancher removed his hat.

Looked at the sky.

Looked at the empty stage.

Then quietly asked:

"Did the goddess just arrest Ken Klaxton?"