【Watch Sukeban Deka the Movie 2: Counter】

It happened one night while I was headed back to camp in Lemoyne. The Watch Sukeban Deka the Movie 2: Counterbest kind of American carnage.

I was riding my trusty horse through the moonlit woods just outside the southern city of Rhodes when I caught a glimpse of fire in the woods. Not a forest fire and not a bonfire; it looked like a group of people, all carrying torches.

As I approached, slowly and quietly, the shroud of night parted to reveal the source of the flames: A group of men in white robes and hoods, all carrying torches. One of them was going on and on about purity some other nonsense. He was speaking to the crowd, but he was also more directly addressing one particular member of the group.

I realized what was going on as I listened: This was an induction ceremony. The man being addressed was about to become a new member of the Ku Klux Klan. (Or whatever name that vile group of racists has in Red Dead Redemption 2.)

They still hadn't seen me. I watched them for a few more minutes, trying to decide what I should do. Then, as the ceremony started to wind toward its finish, an idea struck me.

Better you see it for yourself.

Now here in the real world, it's illegal to drop a stick of dynamite down in the middle of a group of people. Yes, even if those people are virulent racists.

But this isn't real life I'm talking about. It's a video game. And in this video game, dynamite is an excellent option when you're confronted with a merry band of hatemongers. So I did the deed and friends, let me tell you, it was so satisfying in this rotten, unending year called 2018.

Red Dead Redemption 2is filled with small moments like this, happenings that aren't written into the story. You come across them by accident, or you don't. A friend and colleague who also reviewed the game never once came across this scene, or anything like it.

Another friend, Polygon's Chris Plante, did come across this same scene. But he never got to the dynamite. Apparentlyif I had let this keep on going, the fire would have spread to the robes of the racists and burned them all alive.

I like my way more, personally. But if the end result is fewer virtual KKKers in the world, then it's still a happy ending.

I should also add: When I looted the bodies of the deceased racists, I came across a few items of interest. One was notes from a meeting, an illuminating read that contained nuggets like:

"Still need brilliant and talented men who want to wear hoods and discuss eugenics in their spare time"

And.

"Discussion point - are there any brilliant and talented men left?"

And.

"Female members? Still a firm 'no'."

(There was also something about not using flammable robes anymore, but that joke didn't really land with me since I didn't let the scene play out.)

I also found a "Letter to Pa" on the body of another dead racist. An apology of sorts. Well, not really. Here's the first paragraph. I'll let you imagine the rest.

I'm sorry I left the house in such a huff. For that I must apologize but the thing is you are wrong, no offense. I simply do not care what Jesus or anyone else says. I am a student of science. And as such, and having read a lot into the subject, I have to assert my position again that co-mingling between the races is not merely wrong but also dangerous.

The letter, uh, goes downhill from there (and let's be real, it was pretty far down the hill already). Its unnamed author won't ever finish that conversation though, and his dear Pa will never have to read that letter.

This game is delightful for many reasons, but the fact that it let me blow up a KKK induction ceremony was like a soothing salve on this wretched year.