Free The Scorpion's Tale by Wayne Block Page B

would.”
    “How is he intelligent?”
    Charlie scratched his chin reflectively
before replying. “He is well-versed in academia. His vocabulary is
extensive. As a lawyer, I can appreciate mastery of the English
language. He believed he was imperfectly perfect.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “He loved obscure philosophical quotes such
as Schopenhauer–‘After your death you will be what you were before
your birth.’ Or from Kant–‘Such crooked wood as that which man is
made of, nothing straight can be fashioned.’ He was also a very
accomplished hunter. He told me about several hunting expeditions.
He was incredibly intrigued with the concept of man versus man in a
survival of the fittest setting.”
    “Sounds like a sick puppy to me.”
    “Maybe so, but he was also philosophical
about the concept and constantly stressed the importance of
patience. He told me, and I quote: ‘Patience is a virtue, but more
importantly, a blueprint for survival. A predator must relentlessly
study its prey. By doing so, it will know its movements, its
motivation and needs, its habits, strengths, and weaknesses’. He
thinks hunting is a gloriously noble pursuit and the essence of
life! He believes he is the perfect hunter at the same time he is
aware man is imperfect.”
    Steven felt goose bumps rising on his arms.
“Why in the world would he tell you about himself? Why wasn’t it
strictly business?”
    “He is lonely. It was never my idea to have
these conversations. He’d always go off on tangents. It sounds
bizarre, but he wanted me to know he was more than a professional
assassin. He spoke about God. He quoted Nietzsche: ‘God too has his
hell: that is his love for man’.’”
    Steven frowned.
    “He feels no remorse,” Charlie continued. “He
views himself as a shepherd tending a flock or a farmer cultivating
his crops. ‘Sometimes you pull weeds, sometimes you ferret out the
weak and the sick,’ he told me. He sees himself as a necessary link
in the chain of life, a vulture that scavenges the remains of a
carcass. He eliminates those who must die.”
    The salads came and the men ate in silence.
The main course quickly followed and little else was said during
the meal. Steven began to feel tired. He ordered a double espresso
to give him a jolt.
    “May I ask you a question?” Charlie asked, as
he sipped his coffee.
    “Fire away.”
    “Why are you pursuing him?”
    “Because I have nothing left and nothing to
lose.”
    Charlie pondered Steven’s answer. “Isn’t
there another way? You’re young, with the rest of your life ahead
of you. You will be able to rebuild your life. Trust me, I
know.”
    Steven swallowed hard, fighting back his
emotions. “No, I can’t, and no, I won’t. She was my life.”
    Charlie looked down at the table. “Is there
anything I can do to dissuade you from this Herculean
endeavor?”
    “No. Just help me on my way. It shouldn’t
weigh on your conscience.”
    “What about your mother?” Charlie asked.
    “What about my mother?” Steven asked,
defensively. “Are you going to tell me you know her, too?”
    “I don’t know your mother. Is she still
alive?”
    “Yes,” Steven replied.
    “Do you have sisters or brothers?”
    “Yes.”
    “Your family and friends don’t need to see
you dead. You need to think of others before yourself. That’s what
ruined my life. I thought only of myself. I fulfilled my immediate
needs and I threw away everything. Go home and be a son, a brother,
and a friend even if you can’t be a husband or father.”
    Both men sat in silence until the waiter
brought the check, which Steven grabbed and insisted on paying.
    “Thank you for dinner, Steven, but you were supposed to be my guest.”
    “No. Thank you,” Steven said, as he counted
out the bills to cover the tip. “Thanks for the advice. I
appreciate it. I know it was heartfelt.”
    Charlie looked at Steven sadly. “I must
confess that I’ve been straddling the fence. I hadn’t