When it was completely dark and the streetlights were at their brightest, the occupants began to appear… although the doors never opened to emit them. They merely squeezed through the horizontal slits at the bottom like amoebae. Once out, however, they immediately inflated, assuming a nearly human form. But as I eventually discovered, their most unusual trait was that, when poked in just the right spot near the center of the abdomen, they suddenly deflated; then, as if by instinct, they seeped their way back under the doorsills from which they had emerged.Soon the streetlights flickered several times. It was a signal to commence my march down the long narrow lane. As I proceeded slowly along the route, more and more of the creatures joined the procession. Yet, in spite of their swelling presence, I felt almost no pressure from their boneless bodies. Then, after what seemed like hours, I reached my destination: a large cul-de-sac ringed by brightly lit buildings. In its center stood a high dais with an ornate throne upon it.I knew instinctively that the seat was meant for me, and I began ascending the steps with an escort of loudly dressed guards (the only ones who wore anything resembling clothes). The closer I got to the top, however, the more anxious I became. Finally, my trepidation turned to fear, and near the summit I tried to retreat, but the creatures moved in and blocked my way. It was at that moment—as they swarmed around and we began scuffling—that I discovered the site of their vulnerability. But it was purely academic, because each time I disabled one of them, another two appeared from somewhere behind me. Soon the platform was more crowded than before. At last, I submitted and walked passively to the ornate chair. As I turned to face the crowd, they applauded wildly. It was the strange sound of protoplasm striking protoplasm, and it gave the impression of a powerful, muffled wind. Only when I sat down did the commotion fade and the crowd become still.    I leaned back reflexively and placed my arms on the rests. Suddenly the extravagant veneer of the throne melted away. In its place was an ugly wooden chair. Before I could react, large leather straps snapped shut over my wrists, ankles, and chest. Then several of the guards lifted the carpet from under the chair and pulled out two large cables, which they attached to my feet. After that, four of them held me still, while a fifth approached with a bare razor, shaved my head, and placed a shiny skull cap with trailing wires on my scalp. Then the guards retreated down the stairs, leaving me there alone. Without warning, the lights in the square flickered, then dimmed.    I felt a searing pain shoot through me, followed by the tetanic contraction of my extremity muscles, which seemed to swell to the point of bursting. Without warning I began to urinate and defecate—it pooled on the seat of the chair and evaporated with a loud hiss. At the same time my nipples and penis became painfully erect; a moment later they exploded in a shower of brilliant sparks. Just when I thought the worst was over, my body fat began to sizzle, then suddenly vaporize, venting itself through the skin of my waist and neck.As I felt myself slipping away, I looked once more into the dimness at the far end of the street where the procession had begun. I could make out a faint light which seemed to be moving slowly toward me. Unlike the immediate scene of carnage, there was something safe and serene in its glow. Before it could get any closer, however, the execution reached its climax, emptying my consciousness into a black receptacle of nothingness.