Weekend Briefing by Jes Drew

Weekend Briefing

Jes Drew

Welcome back, agents. I have summoned you all here today so that you may get up to date on a very important subject that affects agents of all ranks and clearances. That is, Robinson Crusoe. To help us today is our literary expert, Agent Deanna-

Agent Deanna: Actually, it’s Agent-

Me: Your official title is still Agent Deanna. Not all these agents have the clearance to know your married name yet. Anyway, I see you’ve brought one of our junior agents.

Agent Deanna: Oh, yes. Agent Rogers needed someone to watch over Chase while she took Mary-Ann shopping-

Junior Agent Chase: She said I was watching over you- for your own protection.

Agent Deanna: Of course; you’re my escort since my husband can’t be seen as my husband, apparently.

Me: Ahem.

Agent Deanna: And onto the report. As some of you may know, Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe directly inspired Castaways when Mission Head came across it during training. Literature and poetry, as many of you have been trained to know, is essential in networking vital information. All agency handlers are trained in our special Eng Code-

Junior Agent Chase: Codes are really cool. When I was younger, I wrote an entire code so Mary-Ann couldn’t read what I put on the shopping list. Of course, neither could Mom-

Me: Ahem. Agent Donna.

Junior Agent Chase: Who’s that?

Agent Deanna: In the Eng code, we take into consideration the author’s themes and characters. The theme of Robinson Crusoe- the essential relationship, in fact- is the relationship between man and his Maker, between Robinson Crusoe and God. Not unlike the theme of Jane Eyre, where we look at the place of religion in common life- in other words, man’s relationship with God. Robinson Crusoe, though, takes it at its converse and we see how God seems to be pursuing Robinson Crusoe, putting him in situations that lead him to God and salvation. It is indeed one of the most compelling nonfictional salvation stories. Not dissimilar to my husband’s own salvation-

Me: Ahem.

Junior Agent Chase: You sure do that a lot. Do you have something in your throat?

Agent Deanna: On to the characters, or in this case, just the protagonist. According to our special screening tests, Robinson Crusoe is a debater personality type; the kind of guy we would have out in the fields, doing spur-of-the-moment strategies as he wins allies and survives all odds. Indeed, his survivor complex reacts with his fun-loving nature in surprising ways. He goes out into danger, and the moment disaster falls, calls out to God. But when the disaster is over, he keeps on doing what got him into the mess to begin with.

Junior Agent Chase: That’s stupid.

Agent Deanna: Unfortunately, this is a trait shared by many ; humans have a very short memory span.

Me: And you are the expert on our manias and complexes.

Agent Deanna (glaring): I believe that such comments fall into the classified status.

Me: Of course. My apologies. Please continue.

Agent Deanna (grabbing Chase’ hand and preparing to leave): That’s about it. Only that what interactions we see of him with people shows that he was very much an independent soul, even if he was extraverted. He made his own decisions, no matter what his elders told him- sought independence and later freedom at great risks to his own health. Yet he inspired others of his elders to protect and provide for him at no cost to himself. He made enemies of whom he never sought forgiveness or to forgive- they were just enemies to be delivered from, similar to King David of the Bible. As for those who, in his time, were considered ‘savages’ he was very patronizing to. Yet, in his own way he enjoyed friendship with them- perhaps as much friendship as an isolated soul like himself could know, and inspired great loyalty, at least in Friday. For more information on Robinson Crusoe, you’ll have to read it yourself-

Junior Agent Chase: It’s my favorite!

Agent Deanna: And to note subtle parallels between it and Castaways, you’ll have to read them both- a good introduction into the Eng code, for you beginners.

About:

Emily Rogers thought nothing could be worse than her family moving across the ocean. When the unthinkable happens and the ship goes down, she learns just how wrong she is. Now she’s stranded on a deserted island with her two young cousins and Christopher Williams, the boy who refused to leave until all the women and children were safe.

But the island hides many secrets and holds many dangers. And as they fight to survive and hold onto hope, one unsettling question rises above the others. Is the island really deserted?

Coming February 14, 2018 to all major online booksellers.

Join us next week, agents for a special briefing on the fourteenth to celebrate Castaways and Valentine’s Day with Drewniverse couple trivia and details on an upcoming giveaway. Until then, avoid doing anything that might get you brain-wiped. Ciao!