I am beset if not besieged upon all sides. The ancien regime has been swept away in an eye blink and a hideous mutation triumphantly gorges upon its carcase. I must be cautious, there is no knowing what spies lurk in whatever recess. They are everywhere.
I have been informed that I must actually teach students next 'semester'. While perfectly aware of the Latin roots of this frightful term (sex menses - 6 months) I am appalled to learn that this period is unaccountably reduced to 13 weeks. But I digress. I have not endured the degradation and humiliation of 'teaching' for over a decade now, preferring instead to pursue my own high-level interests as I will. But no longer.
I am to be issued with something called a 'timetable' which, I am informed, will direct me to various rooms to conduct classes at certain brutal times. I will need to 'read up' on certain undisclosed 'modules' and 'assessment schemes'. Since when were these excrescences required for senior academics in a mighty seat of learning?
My wheel is turned full circle, for sackcloth and ashes shall be my garb. I must exercise full caution for informants and lackeys will not hesitate to claim their 3o pieces of silver and report me to the neo-Stasi apparatchiks now in charge. Mayhap I have spoken too much and must need conduct a judicious halt. My attempts to raise the banner of revolt come to naught. All is withered and rotten upon the bough.
As Dante put it: "For all around the third circle they did shriek and wail but none could escape the blight and retribution of their humilation. Yet respite came there none, only further and yet further." It is a very vision of hell, and cannot fall further.
