“No,” said Travec, “religions, cults, rituals—forms of insanity—don’t interest me.” - Jack Vance

Excellent; all is well. The 'everlasting tedium' exactly countervenes the 'immediate onset of death' and I am left only with the 'canker' which, in the person of Firx, already afflicts me. One must use his wits in dealing with maledictions.

“Adam Reith, you have made a serious mistake.”
Reith nodded grimly. “Instead of an honest man I hired you.”

What is an evil man? The man is evil who coerces obedience to his private ends, destroys beauty, produces pain, extinguishes life.