A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder James De Mille

109
To such a story I had nothing to say. It was sheer madness; yet it was
terribly suggestive, and showed how utterly hopeless was my effort to
secure the assistance of such a man toward my escape from death.
"A public death!" I said, grimly. "That will be very fortunate! And do
you think that you will gain the dignity of being eaten up afterward?"
The Kohen shook his head in all seriousness.
"Oh no," said he; "that would be far beyond my deserts. That is an
honor which is only bestowed upon the most distinguished."
CHAPTER XVI
THE KOSEKIN
These people call themselves the Kosekin. Their chief characteristic,
or, at least, their most prominent one, is their love of darkness,
which perhaps is due to their habit of dwelling in caves. Another
feeling, equally strong and perhaps connected with this, is their love
of death and dislike of life. This is visible in many ways, and
affects all their character. It leads to a passionate self-denial, an
incessant effort to benefit others at their own expense. Each one
hates life and longs for death. He, therefore, hates riches, and all
things that are associated with life.
Among the Kosekin everyone makes perpetual efforts to serve others,
which, however, are perpetually baffled by the unselfishness of these
others. People thus spend years in trying to overreach one another, so
as to make others richer than themselves. In a race each one tries to
keep behind; but as this leads to confusion, there is then a universal
effort for each one to be first, so as to put his neighbor in the
honorable position of the rear. It is the same way in a hunt. Each one
presses forward, so as to honor his companion by leaving him behind.
Instead of injuring, everyone tries to benefit his neighbor. When one
has been benefited by another, he is filled with a passion which may
be called Kosekin revenge--namely, a sleepless and vehement desire to
bestow some adequate and corresponding benefit on the other. Feuds
are thus kept up among families and wars among nations. For no one is
willing to accept from another any kindness, any gift, or any honor,