Summary

The artist of death joined the army when he was just twelve years of age, passing for fourteen, at which age he is able to enlist for boy service. When news came that the regiment was going to India he goes, ingratiating himself with his sergeant who tells them how the British East India Company works by trading opium to China in return for Chinese tea despite the fact that opium is illegal in China. He is quickly promoted to Corporal and his first assignment is to guard the bricks of opium. When three privates try to grab a brick, he insists that they put it back, and they lunge at him. He shoots the first man and drives his bayonet into the second. When the third man tries to tackle him, he elbows him in the throat.

The...