Another fine one from Slammr. Powerfully written, and the ending comes as a great and pleasant surprise. This one is a keeper.

Thanks, Jesus...hmmm that seems strange-like the beginning of a prayer, but I guess you get that all the time. Probably sick of it by now.

I like the story, too. One of the things I like best about writing is that I get to know the characters-to like them-or, at times to dislike them-because I have to visualize them-to live them for a while-to write about them. I've submitted a revised version of this story. Here's what I said in the synopsis:

I have a tendancy to hit the submit key too soon. A good story-like a fine wine should be allowed to age before being released for public consumption. This story has aged-and grown. It's now almost twice as long as it was and includes a more suitable ending and more about Daryl. The story, as posted before, has changed little, except for some aesthetical editing. If you're only interested in the castrations, except for Daryl's perception of his own castration, there will probably be little need for you to read this version.

Thanks again for your comments. I always appreciate them.

Slammr is FAR too modest. The story was a great one the first time around, though I thought the ending was too abrupt considering the possibilities it opened up. The revision takes that last paragraph and expands it to nearly double the length of the original story. It's MUCH better in the expanded version.

The story is not a quick masturbatory fantasy, but rather a thoughtful and thought-provoking read on American culture - which happens to have fairly graphic castration included. The method described is not necessarily Argentinean as the story has it, but also used in the American Southwest where I grew up. It works well on cattle. I can’t vouch for any other species.

Fox Hunt - Texas Style is a great read and highly recommended.

I'd like to hear Sister Krister's take on the story. I know there are some other Archive followers as well who should have strong opinions on this piece.

When I was in High School in Ft Worth I visited an uncle who had a ranch close to nearby Cleburne. I helped him during round-up one year and that's how he castrated the calves: cut off the bottom of the scrotum then yank out the balls. We had "calf fries" at dinner that night. They were good.

The prosecution of Alex and Derek King was a travesty. They may have murdered their father, but Rick Chavis certainly influenced it, and these kids spent much of their lives in foster homes. Society has some responsibility for the crime, as does the father, himself, for not fulfilling his responsibility toward his children. The mother, too, wasn’t there for them.

The story I posted was an incitement of that prosecution and, in general, the direction in which I see our judicial system headed. There are some juveniles that are beyond redemption, but adult prosecution is not the solution. Society has failed them, so society should provide a secure, but humane facility for them, one where they would at least have some chance at rehabilitation.

I was probably lucky that I either didn’t get caught for some of the things I did as a kid, or that I did them years ago instead of today. Although I considered them to be larks at the time, society, today, would consider them to be crimes. How many of us haven’t looked back on things we did as a kid and thought, “God-was I really that stupid?” Everyone should have chance to mature before his life is ruined by being convicted in adult court.

In the story, “Karma,” I was attempting to demonstrate not only the stupidity of prejudice, but also the responsibility of society and the churches in fomenting that prejudice. As “Fox Hunt” was inspired by Alex and Derek King, “Karma” was inspired by Matthew Shepard. “Queers” may or may not have been a politically correct word to use, but somehow “rolling gays” just didn’t work.

Well, no social comments here. Just a nice pat on the back for a well written piece...damn. Wow. I mean, I was thinking I could have written that one! LOL. Seriously, just the idea and the 'scene' was tremendously original, thought provoking for sure, and very very graphic.

I was appalled by the book "Silence of the Lambs", too.

...But only in the sense of if it were real.

Not to mention the unfair portrayal of the killer as a true transexual in the film.

In the book he was not anything but a monster and "it" was described in detail. The film was not "gaybashing" but it did rush through something that should have been better explained.

Still, the character Hannibal Lecter has a piece of every doctor that I have ever met wound into it. That, in itself, is utterly terrifying.

No doubt, Thomas Harris is a genius of an author of the first order.

The stories in the Archive are ALL fiction. Albeit, a weird fiction that is not mainstream, but, still fiction, none the less.

There can be no argument that most "correctional" efforts are crude at best, as Krister so eloquently points out.

Still, the Theodore Bundys and the Charles Mansons must have some consequences for their crimes. People like the two mentioned in the "Bravo" or A&E program "the making of the Silence of the Lambs" last night are prime examples of how bad it can get.

How do we get the Ted Bundys and the Charles Mansons?

One way is that we take them and lock them up with oter Ted Bundys and Charles Mansons in out prison systems and the let them out after they were "rehabilitated".

I am reminded of a program in which the pornographic film actress Ginger Lynn describes how she learned to "mainline" heroin in a female correctional institution in California.

Clearly, our idea of "crime" and "rehabilitation" needs some adjustments.

The cast was taken on a trip to Quantico (sp?) where one of the actors was taken to a room and he had tapes made by two serial killers played for him. The tapes were made by two men who kidnapped girls and tied them up in the back of a van. Then, while one drove the van, the other went in the back and tortured the naked victim and tore various pieces of her anatomy off with pliers, etc. The screams were recorded and after a while the victim was raped, killed and then her body was dumped.

The actor was introduced in this manner to the world of the people who must hunt these serial killers down and bring them to justice.

Do you want to know how much anger and rage can be generated in the families of victims. Just tune in "America's Most Wanted and watch how John Walsh deals with the murder and de-capitation of his young son, Adam. All they found of the body was the child's head. The killer was never prosecuted for the crime. John Walsh has turned his rage into a useful tool for society.

Clearly, what goes around comes around. I can appreciate Krister's point, because I could not deal with treating humanity cruelly day after day. But damit, we cannot have beasts like this among us. I believe that they do not deserve to live, but I know that I would tire of killing them even for the sake of society.

But I would gladly pull the switch on Charlie Manson, a product of our juvenile and adult justice systems that put him in and then turned him loose again. Several times. Just look at what he is responsible for...

Sharon Tate (http://www.celebritymorgue.com/sharon-tate/)

Rehabilitation for monsters can only be obtained in a concrete vault. Or perhaps at the end of an angiocath delivering a fatal dose of barbituates through a power injector...

A-1