A Scapegoat Story

Way back when a two-curtain tent was the height of modern luxury, there lived a young warrior and his very old and superstitious father.  In often vain, and sometimes amusing attempts to gain the smiles of fortune, the old man would make up elaborate rituals. Most of his practices involved harmless costumes, charms and the occasional fad diet. However, the older the man got, the more frequently the old guy would rely on his young son's growing fame and prowess as a warrior to gain power and influence among his tribespeople.

When the long drought came, the tribespeople looked to him to save their children from starvation (after they had tried everything else that made sense).   The old man tried every last crazy ritual he could think of, but nothing broke the drought's bitter grip. The old man grew desperate.

One night in a drunken haze, the old fool became convinced  that the only way to end the drought was through human sacrifice.  He told the tribe that his god demanded it and since he was the only one who God ever talked to, they would all just have to take his word for it.

"I would happily sacrifice myself,'' said the old rabble rouser, ''But what sacrifice is a tired old man?"  The tribespeople agreed that it would be no sacrifice at all, really. But no one really wanted to sacrifice themselves, or their kin and everyone argued that if they went, it would be no great loss, so the gods would not be impressed and the drought would continue anyway.

It was soon noted that the most useful person in town, was the warrior son of the old man and all agreed that if a human sacrifice was going to work, it would have to be the old man's son laid out on the altar. The old man worried that if he sacrificed his talented son, he would be ruined, but he also knew that if he didn't ,the tribespeople would think he was a fraud.

To prove himself as a true leader and holy-man, the old man took his son to the top of the holiest mountain he could find, tied him to an altar,  and just as he raised his blade to strike the boy he muttered a short prayer to his god.

"Bah!" came the reply.

A goat stood in the bramble eyeing the old man accusingly.  The man, naturally, took it as a sign and barbecued the goat.

Then it rained, and everyone totally lost their minds over the coincidence.