The Subprimes by Karl Taro Greenfeld Page B

him, leaning forward. “Pray with us,” he urged Arthur.
    The pastor was already on his knees, his eyes closed. Cautiously, Arthur got down on his knees as well. The pastor’s hands were offered, palms upward, and Arthur looked down at them, unsure, before extending his own hands, palms down, and joining them to Pastor Roger’s. The two sisters walked over and kneeled, laying their hands atop Arthur’s.
    â€œAre you twins?” Arthur asked.
    â€œSsshh.”
    â€œOur Father, dear Lord Jesus Christ, provide us with the strength so that Arthur might fight the forces of repression and regulation and socialism and progressivism who would seek to usurp God’s will by cutting off the invisible hand. He will need strength as he goes forth, to stand up to the evil of regulation, to those who would ask that men submit to a power other than their maker. Our Father, make Arthur Mack pure so that he may be fortified in this crusade, bring him together with his family, with his children, with his wife, so that he may live in God’s blessed holy union.”
    Arthur opened his eyes and studied the pastor. He was trembling slightly as he prayed, mouthing the words through thin, pink lips and orange skin.
    â€œWe pray now for clarity of purpose, so that Arthur may hold his vision steady and focus on the needs and successes of his fellow entrepreneurs. We pray for wisdom to guide others to abundance, and that the abundance will surround us and be available for the taking, and that we may be shameless and unapologetic upon its receipt, for we deserve abundance. We pray to carry forth these convictions during the battle of business and communications and media. For all of these things we pray, for Arthur Mack is an entrepreneur, that holiest of God’s warriors.”
    Pastor Roger rose and gazed into Arthur Mack’s eyes. He stared for an uncomfortably long time and then sat back in his wooden desk chair.
    â€œArthur, do you understand why you are here?” asked Dottie Pepper.
    â€œBecause I’m like James Brown?”
    â€œ John Brown.”
    â€œRight, John Brown.”
    â€œBecause we patriots, entrepreneurs, good men and women, want nothing less than energy independence for our nation. We believe fiercely in the free market, as you do too, and we don’t believe a man should be persecuted for seeking to create jobs, bestow abundance, and enrich his fellow capitalists. That’s what you were doing, correct?”
    â€œI was trading C3DS3s.”
    â€œYes, you were, a righteous expression of the invisible hand.”
    â€œThough I didn’t invest so well. I got in a little over my—”
    â€œArthur, Arthur, we take the long view here. Perhaps the invisible hand had not yet pointed to you, there is nothing illegal about that.”
    â€œThat’s what I thought. I was going to make it all back.”
    â€œSure you were, Arthur, that’s why we can’t have the courts and the media and the regulators and those heathen bands of Eskimos up in Alaska getting their fur knickers in a twist over your case, your investments, because these instruments are important, they allow great men and great companies to take greater risks, risks that must be taken if America is going to continue to prosper. So you need to go back to New York, recommit to your wife, your children, and then we will do all we can to rehabilitate you and get your case dismissed. And that starts with you coming to the platform on Sunday andturning your will and your life over to the care of Jesus Christ our Savior.”
    â€œAnd you’ll get me off?”
    Pastor Roger put his hands together in prayer. “With God’s will, yes.”
    ARTHUR MACK WATCHED PASTOR ROGER’S sermon from a seat near the platform. The choir started up and the Grammy-award-winning recording artist Faith Hill came onstage and sang “It’s All God” as 72,000 congregants stood and began