A Conversation in Ancient Maya

(Mayan Contractor stands over a circular stone calendar, holding the
final piece.)

Mayan Bureaucrat
How's that calendar coming?

Mayan Contractor
I am just laying the last stone.

Mayan Bureaucrat
You've built it backwards!

Mayan Contractor
What are you talking about?

Mayan Bureaucrat
It's supposed to spiral outwards, not toward the center.

Mayan Contractor
Hey, I was just following orders. What difference does it make, anyway?

Mayan Bureaucrat
If you spiral toward the center, we'll run out of space and the
calendar will end.  You'll have to rebuild it.

Mayan Contractor
If I build it twice, I charge you double.

Mayan Seer
Hark! I have seen a vision. Do not rebuild this calendar, for behold,
I foresee that the days we measure will stop with the calendar.

Mayan Bureaucrat
(Quaking with fear) The world is going to end on that day?

(Mayan Contractor drops the stone and backs away.)

Mayan Seer
Of course not.  That's nuts.  I envision that in that day, stone
calendars will be obsolete, replaced by smart phones.

Mayan Contractor
Smart whats?

Mayan Bureaucrat
Never mind.  We're out of budget and I don't want to chisel and route another memo. Stone tablet memos are heavy. 

Mayan Contractor
What about the backwards spiral issue?

Mayan Bureaucrat
Not my problem.  I'll be retired before this calendar ends.