There was one game in Dovbaivka that even the most experienced dumbasses feared.
It was called simply:
"Spy".
***
Nobody remembered the rules to the end.
And that was part of the rules.
***
That evening they sat at the table:
Count Deberts.
Bankrupt Finance Minister.
Cleanup Day.
Lady from the Square.
Young Shepherd.
Boy from the Neighboring Hamlet.
And several more people who constantly changed their version of events.
***
- Yes, I am a spy! - someone suddenly shouted.
- No, you are not a spy.
- How do you know?
- Because a spy would not say such a thing.
- And if that's why he said it?
- And if that's why you said it now?
That's the end of the logic.
***
Everyone got cards.
Except for one.
One got the word:
SPY.
***
- Charlie.
- What Charlie?
- Charlie.
- A dog?
- Maybe a dog.
- Or maybe not.
- Interesting.
Everyone looked at each other suspiciously.
***
- Do you like factories?
- Yes.
- Seventy percent.
After this answer, the level of suspicion increased dramatically.
***
- Do you like cocoa?
- I love
- Very interesting.
- Why?
- Just interesting.
- Are you checking me now?
- Are you defending yourself now?
- Are you attacking now?
***
Old Shepherd sat in silence.
And wrote it down.
***
- What are you recording?
- Dissertation.
- On what topic?
- The influence of cocoa on the exposure of spies.
***
Two laps passed.
Nobody understood anything.
But everyone was sure that they had almost solved the case.
***
- Khreschatyk?
- Yes.
- Scissor hands?
- No.
- D'Artagnan?
- Maybe.
- Edward?
- Not sure.
***
After that, even the spy stopped understanding who the spy was.
***
Another eight minutes passed.
And the most important moment came.
Voting.
***
- I think it's Lady from the Square.
- I think it's Young Shepherd.
- I think it's the Count.
- I think there are several spies.
- I think we are all spies.
***
At this point, the Academy of Dumbassology recommended ending the game.
But no one listened to her.
***
- OK, open the map.
***
There was silence.
***
- Phew...
- I told you!
- I immediately understood!
- From the first question!
- From which one exactly?
- I don't remember.
But I definitely understood.
***
Old Shepherd smiled.
And wrote down a new law of dumbassology:
After the spy is revealed,
everyone knows for sure
that they suspected the right person.
***
And below in small handwriting he added:
Especially those
who voted for someone else.
And that is how the Great Spy Crisis of Dovbaivka ended.
Until next Friday.