Mandy

“Don’t make a noise, or I’ll send the devil a henchman!”
― Robert E. Howard, The Complete Chronicles of Conan

“With some of the wives of old friends I have been able to quench that initial antagonism. They soon find out that I am aware of what every single person knows—that the world is always a little out of focus when there is no one who gives the final total damn about whether you live or die. It is the price you pay for being a rambler, and if you don't read the price tag, you are a dull one indeed.”
― John D. MacDonald, Pale Gray for Guilt

“He was such a weak, miserable, unsatisfying target. He still thought he was one of the good guys. I tried to reach him a little.

"If you could bring in a thousand-percent profit a day, LaFrance, I wouldn't throw pocket change on the duck there in front of you. If I was on fire, I wouldn't buy water from you. I came prowling for you, LaFrance. If the thing you loved most in the world was that face you wear, I would have changed it permanently, little by little. If your most precious possession was a beautiful wife, she'd be right down there below in the master stateroom waiting for you leave so I could get back to her. If you juggled for a living, friend, you'd now have broken wrists and broken elbows."

"What the hell is the matter with you?"

"Get off the boat. Go ashore. Tush Bannon was one of the best friends I ever had. All you give a damn about is money, so that's where I hit you."

"Best ... friend?" he whispered.

And I watched the gray appear. That gray like a wet stone. Gray for fright. Gray for guilt. Gray for despair. His mouth worked. "You ... rooned me, all right. Ever'thing I worked all my life for is gone. You finished me off, McGee."

"Wait a minute," Meyer said. "Maybe I've got an idea."

LaFrance came to point like a good bird dog. "Yes? Yes? What?"

Meyer smiled at him benignly. "The answer was staring us right in the face all the time. It's so simple! What you do is kill yourself!"

LaFrance stared at him, tried to comprehend the joke, tried to even smile, but the smile fell away. Meyer's smile stayed put.”
― John D. MacDonald, Pale Gray for Guilt

“He looked up at me and his face was now innocent and pleading. "Am I truly damned, captain? Am I bound for Hell?"

I could not reply.

When he was dead I raised myself to my feet and I looked about me. Everything was still. A loneliness had come upon my soul.

There was darkness everywhere now but in the forest. And even here there were wisps of grey, as if evil crept in.

I lifted my head to the sky and shook my fist, "Oh, I reject you. I reject your Heaven and I reject your hell. Do as you wish with me, but know that your desires are petty and your ambitions have no meaning!"

I addressed no-one. I addressed the universe. I addressed a void.”
― Michael Moorcock, The War Hound and the World's Pain