Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony

What’s going on in France is…extremely dangerous.

Why?

Lacey can’t say for certain off the top of her head. But she can sense it. It’s like lighting a match in a dry forest in July? If the tensions don’t find their way into stability…something will eventually explode. Somewhere.

In the US? Maybe? Europe? Mmm…no more than in France.

Lacey suspects some world leader might get shot at? Some city might be blown-up? Ukraine might completely fall to the Russians? And then Biden will be assassinated because of that?

France at war…with itself…is a horrible world wide red flag. It’s always has been? When France goes into severe unrest there’s a major problem everywhere else too?

Lem has almost completely captured Lacey. Michael still has eternity if Lem doesn’t love her enough. But Lem…is…brilliantly persistent…even while Michael is…a tremendous human. Even in death.

“Michael is better off without her…if Lem loves her more.” says LBJ. “Really.” He cries. “Michael is her hero though.”

“Can Lem be my hero?” asks Lacey.

LBJ thinks. “You’ve aged badly in the last two years. They fall was really hard on your mortal body.”

“True! I’ve been afraid I was dying more than once.” says Lacey.

He looks sad. “Yeah! He was your only hero right after you fell! Remember that?!? …He’s plucky!”

“I hope he loves me enough.” says Lacey.

LBJ laughs. “No, you’re not Jack. …And you’d have ended that mistake between them right quick if you’d of been there. Yes, m’am!”

“That’s difficult for me to believe.” says Lacey.

He looks sad. He cries a little. He sighs and closes his eyes. “Try to be faithful to God first and foremost, and it’ll all work out for the best for everyone.”

“Can I trust what I’m hearing?” asks Lacey.

“You poor thing. Damn it all to Hell! …Your life is…a violent mess now. You can trust God…and…trust He knows you.” he says.

“I hope He does.” says Lacey. “It’s my only hope.”

“You belong to…Lem.” he says. “But it is…shocking. And yet it really shouldn’t be.”

“Why?” asks Lacey.

“Because he was sensitive…not gay. And there’s a huge difference! …And men today should be smart enough to imagine his confusion and his sense of sexual honor and his…sensitivity. He thought he’d poison women. And he had a lot of respect for women who loved love and marriage and men. …He ruined his own life! …But…-“ he cuts off. “He was a lover at heart. And if he was straight…it was obvious he wanted to be with a starry-eyed, beautiful…sad…loving woman. He was…very psychologically removed. And that amount distance was…weird. Why? Why doesn’t that speak to something wrong with the story of him being gay?!? …No, I don’t like it one bit. It shouldn’t be an automatic reaction. …But…people don’t see that sort of stuff nowadays. They…buy the company line on that one…and then think the company is trying to poison them too. People are walking contradictions! …They’re overly submissive and trusting about a subject like Lem’s supposed orientation…and yet they doubt the orange smoke isn’t a plan to commit genocide!”

Lacey thinks. “Thank you for being kind.”

“It’ll all be fine.” says Lem to Lacey, with love.

More later.