5th Column

Junius, from beyond, is upto his old tricks
In the Land of Never Return, Junius was spending some uneasy moments many months ago. He conferred with his former colleagues, RP, Lalith and Gamini and they all decided they should seek help from the Genie in the Lamp. Junius rubbed the Lamp and the Genie appeared…

"My Lord and Master", the Genie said, "in return for freeing me from the lamp, I am able to grant you three wishes…" "It has been a long time since anyone called me that," Junius said, "but I need your help…"

"I can help you, Lord and Master," the Genie in the lamp said, "but it has to be limited to three wishes…" "Very well", Junius said, "my nephew has been having a hard time. Could you make him win the next election?"

"Consider it done," the Genie said and as they all looked down from the Land of Never Return, they saw Junius's nephew being crowned the winner at the elections in Paradise. Junius and the others were happy.

But, a few months later Junius was unhappy again. His nephew was still fighting the Tigers in the North. He discussed this with his colleagues and they approached the Genie again.

"Remember," Junius said, "I still have two wishes left…" "Yes, Lord and Master," the Genie said, "you may make another wish…" "My nephew is still fighting the Tigers and in fact, many people still blame me for it. So, can you end this war?"

"Consider it done," the Genie said and as they all looked down from the Land of Never Return, they saw a ceasefire being declared and the guns falling silent. Junius and the others were happy. Many months passed and Junius was still not very happy. His nephew was not taking full control of Paradise. Instead, Satellite was having her way. He discussed this with his colleagues and they approached the Genie again.

"Remember," Junius said, "I still have one wish left…" "Yes, Lord and Master," the Genie said, "you may make another wish but please remember this will be your last wish and there will be no more…"

"Can you let my nephew have total control over Paradise?" Junius asked. "If you want I can remove Satellite from power," the Genie said, "but if I do that her office will be abolished…"

"No, of course not," Junius said, "I want him to have all that power I created for myself…" "There is another way," RP said, "can we have Satellite impeached?"
"Ah yes," Gamini and Lalith agreed, "that is a sure way to succeed as long as you have someone trustworthy presiding in the House…"

"I am sorry," the Genie told Junius, "even I cannot convince your nephew to impeach Satellite but there maybe one way we can do it…" "And what is that?" Junius asked.
"I can send you back to Paradise," the Genie told Junius, "and you will disguise yourself as Satellite.

and do all kinds of strange things, forcing your nephew to impeach her…" "And what will happen to Satellite while this goes on?" RP asked. "Oh, it will be only for a few days," the Genie said, "she is always so late she won't even notice…"

"That is a good idea," Junius said, "and besides that will enable me to do the only thing I couldn't do, that of turning a woman into a man…"

"Consider it done," the Genie said and as RP, Lalith and Gamini looked down from the Land of Never Return, they saw Junius disappear from among them and assume Satellite's disguise. In the week that followed, 'Satellite' was seen doing strange things that she had never done before.

Watching these events, Lalith and Gamini asked the Genie, "When is Junius returning to the Land of Never Return?" "I'm afraid," the Genie said, "according to Junius's wish that can only happen when his nephew impeaches Satellite. Until then, 'Satellite' will be Junius in disguise…" RP, Lalith and Gamini looked at each other.

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