yes , the cons admitted , the decision was legal enough , but they washed their hands off this evil business , pointing to the planetary trials where entire populations had descended into chaos , utter and often bloody chaos , in ever-increasing thirst for the seemingly inexhaustible sensation that some had taken to calling the little death becauseso the cons claimedthe price for the wonderful ecstasy that seized and convulsed the test subjects was partial death , a contracting , a shrinking , a dying a little ; and when you , spent and amazed that anything could feel that good , were done , when you had had a chance to catch your breath , then your next thought was : again .