Bullshit.

You're in a hallway, somehow. Or a walkway. Corridors, shopfronts, apartments... all you know is your peripheral vision trails off a never ending series of doors.

Then a table happens. The room is round, but is also disquietingly angular. At the head of the table sits a man, ill defined and blurry. The room seems foggy, or it may be smoke. The man gestures for you to sit across from him.

You are invited to play a game of Bullshit. French Enlightenment Rules, the man further explains.

Two chairs to each side of you are drawn and filled as four others join the game. To your right sits a Businessman, reptilian and shrewd, and a Cop with raw animal malice evident and twitching behind his eyes and under every facial muscle. To your left sits a Senator, constantly clearing his throat, and a weaselly Bishop with big dark eyes like a small, scared animal.

Obviously the man across from you is the king, and you are the peasant. You wait for the Businessman to deal the cards.

Every move you make to discard, even when completely correct, is challenged. When you attempt to call the others bluff, however, rebuttals are quick and shrill.

Who's side are you on? retorts the Business man. Do you want to lose your livelihood?

Who's side are you on? retorts the Cop. Do you want to lose your freedom?

Who's side are you on? retorts the Senator. Do you want to lose your rights?

Who's side are you on? retorts the Bishop. Do you want to lose your soul?

The King doesn't have to state his threat. When he calls your bluff, you hear a buzzing, possibly insectile or mechanical, in the back of your head. You hear whispering voices describing terrible things. The implied threat is beyond your comprehension. You try to keep your cool.

Last hand of the game. Every player is nervous. In a last, risky move, you lay down both the cards in your hand to claim the game. You knew better than to expect no protests, however, and reluctantly turn over your cards.

A Coyote and a Rabbit. You win the game.

A shriek goes out like a saw through metal. There were not supposed to be any Jokers left in this deck! They all worked so hard...

But that's not your problem, you realize.

You realize too that your livelihood, freedom, rights, and even your soul are your own to master and utilize. You keep forgetting that.

Next thing you know, there is no table. Sunlight is happening. You are sitting on grass in a ring of stones.

Impossibly smooth stones.