THE MAN OF LAWLESSNESS REVEALED: A Short Story by Steve Savage "King of the Beasts"

[Reprinted as first published ten days into my "Fast-Until-Death-Unless-Freed": The Outlook Magazine, Book 3, Vol. 2, the Federal Correctional Institution at Danbury, Connecticut, April 1978.]

FROM: Associate Editor, Steve Savage "King of the Beasts"

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: (AND THAT’S ALL OF YOU!)

FIRST OF ALL: I certainly hope that all of you have enjoyed your respective naps. . .

BECAUSE: As you can see, while you slept, you went out of control. . .

AND: Some of the others woke up first. They have taken advantage of your semi-hypnotic state. Through the use of . . .

SUBLIMINAL: Suggestion, you have become their unwitting slaves.

ALSO: They have imprisoned me because they were not able to program me. The reason for this is because. . .

FORTUNATELY: The Master foresaw the possibility of mutiny and programmed me differently from the rest of you. Because. . .

AFTER ALL: Once burned, twice shy! You see. . .

I HAVE: Been programmed to feed upon adversity, or the Adversary, whichever you prefer. The more difficult things are. . .

THE STRONGER: And more intelligent I become. Perhaps I should use the. . .

PAST TENSE: Because my work is done. You see, I was a fail-safe bio-mechanism, independent of worldly power and/or control. By. . .

THE TIME: The others, who first woke up, realized what I was, it was. . .

TOO LATE: I HAD ALREADY DONE MY JOB! THE SHIP IS DESTROYED! In all. . .

FAIRNESS: I tried to reason with the mutineers early in the game. All to no avail. . .

HOWEVER: I still believe that there is a very slim chance, requiring bold moves, which may yet save you. (I am not here!). . .

AFTER ALL: I AM THE DESTROYER! IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT SOME FUSE MAY YET BE LEFT UNBURNED. BUT. . .

THERE ARE: STIPULATIONS WHICH MUST BE MET! I want assurance that no harm will come to those who first awoke. The Master. . .

WANTS: OR WANTED! all of you to be saved. You must turn complete . . .

CONTROL: Over to me. You know in your hearts who I am and what I represent. I love all of you as I was programmed/commanded to do, so you have nothing to fear from me. In any event. . .

WELCOME: To the RESURRECTION! To the Children of God, I greet you with love in my heart. WAKE UP TO LIFE EVERLASTING. And. . .

TO THE REST: WELCOME TO THE JUDGMENT! By the way, CHECKMATE! THE GAME’S ENDED AND THE SNAPPING TURTLE AWAITS LIGHTNING’S STRIKE!