Free Prophet by Frank Peretti

placid waters.
    “Two years ago Governor Slater presented—and saw passed—a law requiring double hulls and backup containment systems on tankers operating in The Bay . . .”
    A tanker appears on The Bay as Hiram Slater’s superimposed image keeps a watchful eye on it.
    “. . . the first law of its kind to protect our precious environment.”
    Shot of Hiram Slater, in shirtsleeves again, standing on a wharf with The Bay in the background, addressing a group of people, all with their backs to the camera.
    Slater: “This is not only our world, but our children’s world. What we have here is a precious legacy, and what I inherited I intend to pass on in even better condition than when I found it.”
    Several people nod in agreement. Shot of mountain streams, jumping salmon, soaring eagles.
    Voice: “Your world. Your children’s world. Your governor, Hiram Slater!”
    Title: “Paid for by the Committee to Reelect Governor Slater, Wilma Benthoff, Chairperson.”

    MORE ADS FOLLOWED, with more images moving quickly, jump-cutting from one to another.
    Scene: The governor in close-up on grainy film stock, in jerky stop-motion. Hardworking. Gritty. Determined.
    Governor’s voice over the pictures: “Fiscal responsibility is still oneof my goals for the state. I’m happy to say that last year we realized our first budget surplus, and if I can help it we’re going to see another one this year, and the next, and the next.”
    Scene: Women cheering, waving KEEP ABORTION LEGAL signs. In the center, Governor Hiram Slater, greeting them, shaking their hands. Cut to:
    Governor addresses a gathering of women: “I once dreamed of a state where reproductive freedom was a fundamental right of every woman. We have seen that dream come true, and as long as I am governor that dream will live on!”
    Cheers. Some tears.
    Scene: The classroom. Teachers dashing ABCs and famous names onto blackboards. Kids listening attentively, hard at work. Hiram Slater in the middle of it, talking to the children, addressing the class, taking questions, laughing.
    Slater addressing a group of teachers: “History has carried our world forward, but our schools have lagged behind. I say it’s time not to catch up with history but to outrun it. We must live, and we must educate, as if the future were today.”
    The teachers nod, exchange positive looks.

    THE ADS TUMBLED colorfully out of the television screen, the music rising, the sun continuing to shine. From every angle, at every film speed, in backlight, sidelight, stark light, faces, faces, faces, happy, hopeful, adoring, prospering, a moving montage of political satisfaction.
    Title: “Paid for by the Committee to Reelect Governor Slater, Wilma Benthoff, Chairperson.”

    THE SCREEN WENT black. Slater, Devin, and Benthoff exchanged pleased expressions and applauded.
    “Bravo!” said the governor.
    “Good enough, good enough,” said Benthoff.
    “Boy,” said Devin, “they’re going to think they’re electing God.”
    “Well,” said Rowen, the smaller of the duo, the one with the horn-rimmed glasses and crooked tie, “the ultimate benefactor at least. We’reshowing the people that Governor Slater is good for the state and good for them.”
    “Image is everything,” said Slater.
    “Image is everything,” echoed Hartly, the taller of the two, and the better dressed. “Uh . . . you may have noticed we emphasized the bass on your voice a bit. In those . . . uh . . . outdoor scenes, you know, the higher tones tend to carry.”
    “Good move,” said Devin.
    “Yeah, fine,” said Slater. “Well? Questions? Comments for these gentlemen?”
    Benthoff referred to her notes. “Now . . . you just showed us six commercial spots. How many do you have planned overall?”
    Hartly replied, “These six will open up the campaign starting next week if you’re all agreeable. Then, after they’ve reached saturation, we’ll start rotating our celebs through to recapture the public’s