I looked him in the eye.

‘You say my fate is in my hands? I thought the fate of us all is in the hands of God.’

His eyes flashed for a split second. He always hated it when I mocked him because my mockery was always too subtle for him to retort.

‘Of course it is. But God has mercy upon His creations.’ He crossed himself with the most pious look on his face. Too bad that face was now blotched and puffy from the not-so-pious life. Thirty-seven years ago he looked like an innocent little angel indeed.

‘How amazing it is that His creations show so little mercy to each other then.’ I was warming up to the discussion. Why not have a bit of fun before I die? For the first time in my life I had absolutely nothing to fear. The worst thing that could possibly happen to me was going to happen anyway. Now I could say anything I liked. Oh, Death, thou art a great liberator!

Angelo sighed.

‘It saddens me deeply to see you here on this day. You can’t deny that we’ve been very patient with you. For eight years we’ve been trying to make you see the light of reason.’

I couldn’t help snorting with laughter.

‘Oh yes, your kindness to me has no limits. Usually it doesn’t take you that long to condemn a heretic to death.’

‘We do not make such decisions lightly. And you are not just any heretic. You’re an alt’har. You’re one of us. That’s why we are giving you your last chance.’

I straightened up and squared my shoulders. My body hurt all over, but I wouldn’t have to bear this much longer.

‘No need to be so generous. I have never been one of you. And will never be. You’re a bunch of bastards who think that they are the smartest people on earth, the select few, the chosen ones who have the right to decide the fate of the whole world. Well, guess what, you’re just a bunch of self-righteous assholes!’ I spat it out with glee. There was no need to pretend anymore and finally I was speaking my mind!