There is an Evil in the Hearts of Men

People. They surround us. They fascinate us. They repulse us. In our lives we come across people we will never forget. Some we remember for their good, some we wish to forget for their bad.

I met a rapist once. I didn’t know it at the time. I had arrived in a new city, it was a city in China, a “second-tier” city. I was learning the language, that is to say, I had enough of it to hold conversations, especially after a few drinks. Alcohol loosens the tongue, once it dilutes my blood a bit, I fear less the making mistakes, or the sounding of silly. With a few drinks under my belt then, I was more confident to practice my newly acquired Mandarin.

It was a nice bar, a Western-style bar, and I sat indoors, it being winter. I sipped on an imported ale as I waited for my friend to join me. I had made my first few friends in this new city, at my local gym, where I lifted weights. Between reps and protein shakes, I got to know all the trainers, and all the regulars. There were some people who went there to watch TV, sleep on the bench-press, or just use the showers. But for the most part, they went there, as I did, to workout.

In time, my gym friend arrived, we had a few beers, chatted about workouts, and shot glances at the attractive girls drinking in the pub. He hoped I wouldn’t mind, but he had invited one of his friends to join us…