Chase Shustack

Sometimes, if we need a little extra insurance, a little something to sweeten the deal, we offer smaller sacrifices here and there.

1999 around the start of the new millennium, 2001 in New York, and every so often around election season when

But why didn't anyone hear about this before?

I stammered, instinctively flinching to prepare for another slap.

At this, the man in the uniform paused.

He stood quiet for some seconds, maybe considering his answer before he spoke.

We did a good cover-up job.

How do you think it'd look if we had in the history books, America got its start making sacrifices to corn gods and river people?

It'd be a damn fine spit in the face of Mom, God, and Apple Pie, wouldn't it?

He shook his head.

But if we're being honest, I don't think we hide it just because it's a dirty little secret.

We hide it because people are ashamed.

They're guilty.

Guilty?

Yes, guilty.

What you're witnessing, son, is the mass reaction of a few million Americans who remembered that once upon a time, each of them participated in the sacrifice of their fellow citizens.

Some of them carried it out themselves.

Some of them helped round up people.

Some just stood by and let it happen.

Could you imagine what that would do to their psyche?