Now that's how you prepare to fight an age-old evil

The real plan, the unspoken one that hid between John's words, was that we would die. But we would die in the middle of what Korrok's people would remember as the single most retarded and baffling incident in their history.  We would be their Guy fawkes.  They would create a holiday about us. 

John Dies at the End, David Wong

Life prep 101

He picked here and there, deliberately, taking his time. He chose a complete set of prejudices which would last him a lifetime and fit him to deal with any situation. He chose his career. He joined a political party.

The Ascent of Rum Doodle, W. E. Bowman

dust to dust

He touched a little buzzer, the New Art doors opened, the flames flapped and the coffin slid smoothly down into the fiery sea. The doors closed, the nurse rose and made for the door, the clergyman smiled gently from behind the slipway, like a conjuror who has produced his nine hundred and fortieth rabbit without a hitch.

Brighton Rock, Graham Greene.