26
" The Patrician took a sip of his beer. “I have told this to few people, gentlemen, and I suspect I never will again, but one day when I was a young boy on holiday in Uberwald I was walking along the bank of a stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs. A very endearing sight, I’m sure you will agree, and even as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued and dragged on to a half-submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby otters, who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature’s wonders, gentlemen: mother and children dining on mother and children. And that’s when I first learned about evil. It is built into the nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain. If there is any kind of supreme being, I told myself, it is up to all of us to become his moral superior. "
― Terry Pratchett , Unseen Academicals (Discworld, #37; Rincewind #8)
28
" No! Please no," she feels the cool metalof the handcuffs again. " Please, I'mMadison, I'm Madison!" Her arms lock into place above her head.She jerks her body, pain snapping at hermuscles." You can stay like this for the day." Herises from the bed, bends down, andblows out the candles on her birthdaycake. " Night, night, Rosie." " No!" He opens the door, letting a stream ofsunlight into the room." Please don't leave me here, please!" And then the door closes, and thesunlight is gone. "