5th Column

The circus is on and the aliyas are ready for their act
The wild elephants had gathered to discuss their future plans. They had heard that they could join Maama's circus and they were planning to leave the herd.
"But what will the other elephants say?" the Aliya from Kandy asked.
"They will say it is a disgrace…" the Aliya from Kalutara said.

"They could even say that we took bribes to cross over…" The Aliya from Nuwara Eliya said.
"Don't worry about that…" said the Aliya from Ratnapura, "I have made all the arrangements…"
"But what do we tell the people?" the Ali Professor wanted to know.
"Why are you so worried about that?" the Aliya from Ratnapura asked.

"Why, less than two months ago we were busy trying to make the leader of our herd the King and now we have to say that he is not good enough…"
"Yes," the Aliya from Matara agreed, "the people will know that we are trying to join the circus only because we were not able to go in the perahera…"
"That's true," the Aliya from Ratnapura said, "but don't worry about what people will think because they have such short memories…"
"How can you be so sure of that?" the Aliya from Kandy asked.

"Why, just two months ago, maama and the clowns in his circus, especially those dressed in red were promising to tear up the truce with the Tigers and chase the Vikings away…" the Aliya from Nuwara Eliya pointed out.
"And now the very same people are pleading with the Vikings to carry on and they are also insisting that the truce be respected at all cost, despite the Tigers provoking them so many times…" the Aliya from Kalutara said.
"And the Clowns in red still go about in their costumes without any sense of shame…" the Aliya from Ratnapura pointed out.

"It is easy for all of you to suggest that we join the circus…" the Ali Professor said, "but what do I get from this? All the top slots in the circus have already been distributed…"
"Don't worry about that," the Aliya from Kalutara assured, "I am sure Maama will find something for you or even invent some new act for you…"
"But," the Aliya from Kandy cautioned the Ali Professor, "You would have to ensure that the clowns dressed in red do not object to your presence in the circus because I don't think they like you very much…"

"And" the Aliya from Nuwara Eliya asked the Aliya from Ratnapura, "won't the Blue clowns object to your joining their circus because you were once accused of trampling one of their own young blue clowns…?"
"Ah," said the Aliya from Ratnapura, "don't you worry about that, Maama will take care of everything and everyone will forgive and forget…"
"So, who goes first?" the Ali Professor wanted to know.

"I think I will go first…" the Aliya from Kandy said, "after all, I am the only one amongst you who was able to win the support of the Aliyas in my area…"
"I did so too…" the Aliya from Nuwara Eliya protested, "and with a massive majority as well…"
"But don't forget that you got a lot of help from the roosters in your area…" the Aliya from Kandy pointed out.

"And it would not be advisable for you to go first because your Ali Maama will then be in an embarrassing position because he is the Aliya challenging our leader…" the Aliya from Matara said.
"Then, I shall go next…" the Aliya from Kalutara said.
"I hope this goes well," the Ali Professor said, "because they are already calling us 'wal ali'…"

"What happens if this goes wrong and we all end up looking like the clowns in Maama's circus?" the Aliya from Nuwara Eliya asked.
"Don't worry about that," the Aliya from Ratnapura said, "Maama will take care of everything…"
"But what I don't like about this," the Aliya from Nuwara Eliya said, "is that our leader will emerge stronger within the herd, now that all those opposed to him have left to join the circus…"

"Who cares about that?" the rest of the rogue elephants trumpeted in unison, "as long as we get to enjoy the privileges of going in the perahera without waiting for six more years…"

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