Puppetry....

puppetry = the skill or activity of making puppets or entertaining people with puppets (= toys in the shape of people or animals, moved with strings or by someone's hand inside):

puppeteer = one who manipulates puppets

puppet = a small-scale figure (as of a person or animal) usually with a cloth body and hollow head that fits over and is moved by the hand 

puppet = a toy in the shape of a person or animal that you can move with strings or by putting your hand inside

Secondary meaning: one whose acts are controlled by an outside force or influence

marionette = a small-scale usually wooden figure (as of a person) with jointed limbs that is moved from above by manipulation of the attached strings or wires

Puppets are BEING CONTROLLED by Puppeteer A and THAT Puppeteer is BEING CONTROLLED by another Puppeteer B and so on / ad infinitum.

This is the only point I'm trying to drive home / hammer. 

drive/send someone to an early grave = to cause someone to die young