The Mysterious Circle

Two Independent Researchers, both Emeritus Without Qualification from respected online universities, were investigating a Mysterious Circle which had appeared in a field overnight.

The first Independent Researcher believed that the Mysterious Circle was proof positive of divine intervention in human affairs, which had previously included such comparatively minor conjuring tricks as fire from heaven, water from rock, parting of seas and resurrection of the dead.

The second Independent Researcher was convinced that the Mysterious Circle indicated that highly advanced extraterrestrials had drifted into the habit of visiting the earth, but that they were unable to think of a more effective means of communicating their highly advanced purposes to people outside the military-industrial complex, the monolithic effectiveness of whose cover-ups was universally notorious.

In fact, the Independent Researchers were both wrong. It was six weeks after a change of government, and the Mysterious Circle was merely an unusually well-rounded Electoral Promise which had been kicked into the long grass by a dribbling right winger.

with thanks to Michael Greenwell