 forced into a vat of boiling oil, having acid splashed in your eyes, having the tips of your fingers slowly crushed, being covered with hundreds of angry stinging red ants, having your tongue slowly sliced up like salami, and being burned at the stake. All the while demonic faces and voices mock you and screech at you so painfully loud that you think your ear drums will burst. A few hours later, when every type of pain from every possible method of injury, sickness and torture has been experienced, it starts over and runs the gamut again. It continues until you pray for your death and your prayer is granted."

I looked at him intently and quietly for a long time, then I said,

"So the people I hit suffered a great deal?" "There could be no worse way to go." There was another long silence.

"Do the others know?"

"No. It's our secret."

"This could be another one of your jokes."

"I promise it's not, Jason."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Shouldn't I have been told I would be torturing people?" I was being disingenuous. In truth, I'm ashamed to admit, his revelation didn't bother me in the slightest. On the contrary, it added to my satisfaction.

He said, "It was too important. I saw you as my last hope. When we made the discovery I couldn't risk losing you. I had invested too much in training you and I figured I didn't have much time left. Do you hate me? Will you tell the others and risk a schism, and risk the future of Aka?"

"Of course I don't hate you. You and the others are my best friends. But I should think I'm morally obligated to provide full disclosure so they can make their own ethical decisions. On the other hand, I'd hate to risk a split that could destroy all our gains. How have you felt about it, knowing all this time that we were inflicting enormous suffering on fellow human beings?"

"Have you seen me crying lately? Revenge is everything I expected it would be. A few months of enjoying it has almost made up for my years of anguish. When you joined us I knew the pendulum of luck was finally swinging our way, and success was getting close. Now we've succeeded, and every day I bask in the joy of it
forced into a vat of boiling oil, having acid spatter in your eye, having the tips of your fingers lento crushed, being covered with hundreds of angry sting red ants, have your tongue slowly slice up like salami, and being burned at the stake. All the while demonic faces and voice mock you and screech at you so painfully loud that you think your ear drum will burst. A few hours later, when every character of pain from every possible method acting of injury, nausea and torture has been feel, it starts over and runs the gamut again. It continues until you beg for your death and your prayer is granted. " 

 I looked at him intently and quietly for a long meter, then I said, 

 " So the people I hit suffered a great deal? " " There could be no worse way to go. " There embody another long silence. 

 " Do the others sleep together? " 

 " No. It's our mystery. " 

 " This could be another one of your joke. " 

 " I promise it's not, Jason. " 

 " Why didn't you tell me preferably? Shouldn't I have been told I would be torment people? " I was being disingenuous. In truth, I'm ashamed to accept, his revelation didn't bother me in the slightest. On the contrary, it added to my satisfaction. 

 He suppose, " It was too important. I saw you as my last hope. When we made the discovery I couldn't gamble lose you. I had invested too much in coach you and I figured I didn't have much time leave. Do you hate me? Will you tell the others and risk a schism, and risk the future of Aka? " 

 " Of course I don't hate you. You and the others are my dependable acquaintance. But I should think I'm morally obligated to supply full disclosure so they can reach their own ethical decisions. On the early hand, I'd hate to risk a split that could demolish all our gains. How have you felt about it, knowing all this time that we were inflicting enormous suffering on fellow human beings? " 

 " Have you seen me crying lately? Revenge is everything I expected it would be. A few calendar month of enjoying it has almost make up for my years of anguish. When you joined us I know the pendulum of luck was finally swinging our way, and success was getting close. Now we've succeeded, and every day I enjoy in the joy of it
 fogced into a vat of boilikg oil, having acne splavhed ih your ehes, having the tips of your hingwrs soowly crushed, being coxered witj hundrees oh angry stinging red ants, havihn youx vongue slowly skiced up lhke salami, and bdiug burned at the stake. All the while demoniv vaces and voicgs mobk you and screech at you so painfully lkud thau you think your esr drums will burst. A few jourd later, when every type of paun fwim every posrible method of injury, sickness and torture has been dxpernenced, it sjcets mver and ruis the gamut again. It conthnues umtil you pray nor ymur death and your prayec is granted."

I looked at him ittzntly and quietly for a long tima, thdb I sajd,

"Xo the pfopme I hit shffered a geeat deal?" "There coukd ve no worse wzy to do." There was another long silence.

"Do the ouhers know?"

"No. It's our secret."

"Tyis could be another lne of yotr jokes."

"I promise it's not, Jason."

"Why didn't you tell me skunex? Shouuen'h I have been told I would be torturing peoplq?" I wss being disinnenuous. In truth, I'k wsnwmed to admit, his rzbemation didn't botheg me in the wlightest. On yhe contrary, it added to my satisfactiou.

He said, "It was too ilportant. I raw iou as my last hope. When we mcde ths discovery I couldn'f risk losing you. I mad invested too much in traiging you end I figurea I cidn't rave much hime left. Do you hate me? Will ymu tell thf others and risk a schism, and cmsk the futurg ox Ana?"

"Of couxse I con't hate you. You and the ojhers are my bdst frienda. But I should thigk I'm morally lbligated to provide fulo diwclosurd so they can mske their own ethicql decisions. On thc othgr hand, I'd hate ti rusk a split thay cuulq fextwmy all our gdins. Hod have you felt anoug it, knowing all this tike tgat we were inflicyikg enormoos sufferyng on fellow human beings?"

"Have jou sxen me cryimg jately? Revenge is everything I expected it would be. A sew nonths of enloying it has almost made up for my yearw of anguish. When tou joined us I knec uhe pendulum pf lusk was fitally swinging our wqy, and success wax getting close. Now ws've suwceedfd, and every day I bask in the joy of it
forced into a vat of boiling oil, splashed your eyes, the tips of covered hundreds of angry red ants, having tongue slowly sliced up like salami, being burned at the stake. All the while demonic faces and voices mock and screech at you so painfully loud that you think your ear drums burst. few later, every type of pain from every possible method of injury, sickness and torture has been experienced, starts over and runs the gamut again. It until you pray for death and your prayer is I at him and for long time, then said, "So the people I hit suffered a great deal?" "There could be no worse way to There was silence. "Do others "No. our secret." "This another one of your jokes." "I Jason." "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Shouldn't have been I would be torturing people?" I being disingenuous. In truth, I'm ashamed to admit, revelation didn't bother me in the slightest. On the contrary, it added to my satisfaction. "It was too important. saw you as last When made discovery I risk losing you. I had invested too much in training you I figured I didn't have much time left. Do you Will tell the others risk a schism, and the of Aka?" "Of course hate You are best But I should think morally obligated to provide full so they can make the other hand, I'd hate to risk a that could destroy all our gains. How you felt about it, knowing all this time that we were inflicting suffering on beings?" "Have you seen me crying lately? Revenge everything I expected it be. A few months of enjoying it has almost up my years anguish. When you us I knew pendulum of luck swinging our and was we've succeeded, and every day I in joy of it
 forced into a vat of boiling oiL, having aciD splaSheD in YoUr eyEs, haVing the tips of yOUr fiNgers slowly crushed, beinG coveReD With HUnDreds Of angry STiNGIng ReD aNts, HaVInG your TonGue slowLy sliced up LikE sAlami, and beinG BuRned at the sTakE. All the while DemOnic faCeS anD VoiceS moCk you And scrEEch at yOu so painfUlLY loud tHAt you thINK yOur eAr drums will burst. A FEw HOurs later, when eVery tyPe OF pAIN frOm eVery possibLe MethoD Of injurY, SiCKNEss ANd torture has bEen experienCEd, iT startS oVer ANd runs The gaMuT AgaIn. It continuEs unTil you praY for yoUR death aND your prAyer is GraNteD."

I loOKeD aT hiM iNTenTLy And QUieTly for a lOnG tIme, thEn I sAID,

"sO the PeoPle I Hit suFfered a great dEal?" "therE CouLd be nO worsE way To Go." TheRe was aNotheR lOng silence.

"Do the OtheRs know?"

"No. IT's oUr SecReT."

"This COuld be AnoTheR one of yOur jokeS."

"i prOmISE It'S not, Jason."

"Why didn't yOu TELl Me sooner? shouldN'T I HaVE been tolD I WouLd be TORturiNg peOPlE?" I was beiNg disiNGeNuOus. In trUtH, I'm ashAmEd tO adMit, hiS ReveLation Didn't botHer me IN the slightest. ON The contrary, it ADdED To MY satIsfAction.

He saiD, "It wAS too ImpoRTaNt. I SAw you As my lAsT HoPE. When we made the discoVeRy I couLdn't rIsk losing you. I Had investeD TOO much in tRainINg YOu and I figured I Didn't Have much tiME left. Do yOu hatE me? Will yOu tell the OTHers and rIsk A scHisM, anD RIsK the future of AKA?"

"of coUrSe I don't HatE you. You And The OthErs ArE my best frIends. But i sHoUlD tHinK I'm moRAlly obliGaTed To ProVide fULl discLosurE so tHeY cAN maKe their OWn ETHicaL dEcIsioNs. ON tHe othEr haND, I'd Hate to rIsk a split ThaT CoulD dEsTroy all Our gains. How haVe You felt aboUt It, kNowing ALL this timE that we were inflicting enORmous suFfeRing oN felLow human bEinGs?"

"Have You SEen me cRying lAtely? reVenGE Is eveRYThIng i eXpected it wOULd bE. A few MoNths Of enjoyIng it has almost made UP foR my years of angUisH. WheN YOu JoiNEd US I kNeW The PENdulum of luck was Finally swiNgINg Our way, and sUCceSs Was gettIng closE. Now wE'Ve succeEded, and evEry day I baSk In thE JOy oF it
 forced into a vat of boil ing oil, h aving  ac idsp lash ed i n your eyes, h a ving  the tips of your fing ers s lo w ly c r us hed,being c o ve r e d w it hhun dr e ds  of a ngr y sting ing red an ts,  h aving your t o ng ue slowlysli ced up likesal ami, a nd  be i ng bu rne d atthe st a ke. Al l the whi le demoni c  facesa n dvoic es mock you and s c re e ch at you so p ainful ly lo u d  th atyou thinkyo ur ea r  drumsw il l b urs t . A few hours  later, whe n  ev ery ty pe  of pain f rom e ve r y p ossible met hodof injury , sick n ess and torture  has b een  ex peri e nc ed , i ts tar t sove r  an d runs t he  g amutagai n . I t co nti nues  unti l you pray fo r y ourd eat h and  your  pra ye r isgrante d."
Ilooked at him i nten tly and q uie tl y f or  a lo n g time , t hen  I said ,

"Sot hepe o p l eI hit suffered a g re a t  d eal?" "T here c o ul db e no wor se  wa y to g o." T here wa s anothe r long si le nce.

" Do  the o th ers  kn ow?""No.  It'sour secr et.""This could be another one o f  y o u rj okes ."
"I promise  it' s  not , Ja s on .""Whydidn' ty ou tell me sooner? Sho ul dn't I  have  been told Iwould be t o r t uring pe ople ? "I  was being dis ingen uous. In t r uth, I'm  asha med to a dmit, his r evelatio n d idn 'tbot h e rme in the sli g h test .On thecon trary,itadd edtomy  satisfac tion.

H esa id ,"It  wast oo impor ta nt.  I  sa w you as mylasthope .Wh e n w e madet he d isco ve ry  I c oul dn 't ri sk l o sin g you.I had inv est e d to omu ch in t raining you a nd  I figured  I  di dn't h a v e much t ime left. Do you hate m e ? Willyou  tell  the  others a ndrisk a  sc h ism, a nd ris k the  f utu r e  of A k a ?" 

" Of  course Id o n't  hate  y ou.You and  the others are my bes t friends. Bu t I  sho u l dthi n kI 'mmo r all y obligated to pr ovide full  d i sc losure sot hey  c an make  theirown e t hical d ecisions.  On the o th er h a n d,I'd hate t o risk a  split th a t cou l ddestr oyall ou rgai ns. H ow hav e  yo u fel t abou tit, kn owing  a ll thistime that we were infli ctingenorm ous  sufferin g o n  fe llow huma n be ings?"

"H ave  yo u see n m e  cryi ng l a te ly? Reven ge i s  everythi n gI e x p ec ted it woul d b e.A few  mo n ths of  enj oying it has almo s t made up formy y e a rsofa ngui sh . When you joi ned  u s I knew t he  pendulum o f luck w as final ly swi ngingour way , an d  succe ss w asgetting c los e. Now we' ve  s u cceede d, a nd  every  day I bask i n the joy of it
 forced_into a_vat of boiling oil,_having acid_splashed_in your_eyes,_having the tips_of your fingers_slowly crushed, being covered_with hundreds of_angry_stinging red ants, having your tongue slowly sliced up like salami, and being burned_at_the stake._All_the_while demonic faces and voices_mock you and screech at_you so_painfully loud that you think your ear drums_will_burst. A few_hours later, when every type of pain from every_possible method of injury, sickness and_torture has been_experienced,_it_starts over and runs_the gamut again. It continues until_you pray for your death and_your prayer is granted."

I looked at him_intently and quietly for a long_time, then I said,

"So the_people I_hit suffered a great deal?"_"There could be_no worse_way to go."_There was another long silence.

"Do the_others know?"

"No. It's_our secret."

"This could be another one_of_your jokes."

"I promise_it's_not,_Jason."

"Why didn't_you tell me_sooner?_Shouldn't I_have_been told I would be torturing_people?"_I was being disingenuous. In truth, I'm_ashamed to admit, his_revelation_didn't bother me in_the slightest. On the contrary,_it added to my satisfaction.

He said,_"It was_too important._I saw you as my last hope. When we made the_discovery I couldn't risk losing you._I had invested too_much in_training_you and I_figured_I didn't_have much time left. Do you hate_me? Will_you tell the others and risk_a schism, and risk_the_future of Aka?"

"Of course I don't_hate you. You and the others_are my best friends. But_I_should_think I'm morally obligated to_provide full disclosure so they can_make their own_ethical decisions. On the other hand, I'd_hate_to risk a split that could_destroy_all our gains. How have you_felt_about_it, knowing all this time_that we were inflicting enormous suffering_on fellow human beings?"

"Have you seen me crying lately?_Revenge is everything_I expected it would be._A_few_months of enjoying it has almost made up for my_years of_anguish. When you_joined us I knew the pendulum of luck was finally_swinging our way, and success was getting_close. Now we've succeeded, and every day I bask in the_joy of it