piraland
Tribune
Congratulations, Loxuru!Finally, I reach the summit of the knoll. Its rough upper plateau carries these dark stakes that were already visible from below – they look even more threatening from nearby. I stop a moment and watch them. It is hard to imagine that we will soon be nailed to them, crucified for real.
In a reality show, an off-screen voice would have announced the arrival of the procession, with drama in the voice : “The end of the journey is nearing! The moment of truth! The condemned now face their instruments of death from very close! It is still a real prospect for them! How far will they go defying their fate!? Watch the next episode!”
Leaving the audience with a cliffhanger! More than one, after a slip of the tongue of mine, whether that Headmistress would have the authority to marry people before crucifixion, those two jokers Carlos and Barb found the opportunity to press me into matrimony with my companion.
“Will Loxuru and his companion marry before the cross? Will other couples follow? The ultimate romantic twist before the ultimate fate! Watch the next episode!”
The audience ratings would go through the roof! No doubt!
The procession has stopped meanwhile. The first condemned that arrived at the top, have fallen on their knees, panting!
I am also worn out, covered with sweat, trembling on my knees and I got pain and the cramps in my neck, arms and back by that crossbeam.
Yet, for some reason, I stay upright! For the stupid reason that I don’t want to go down on that knee, I had bruised underway! Imagine it would hurt (what am I thinking? Something else will hurt much more, soon!?). Although it is tempting to kneel down I fear I would not be able to lift that heavy crossbeam up again! I prefer to fight my fatigue standing up.
The view from above is tremendous. The air is clear. The visibility is perfect, only disturbed by the turbulence of rising hot air. The knoll stands isolated in the desert, amidst a plain with sand dunes. To the south, kilometers away, stretches a range of hills.
Such a view is usually the reward for doing the effort of an uphill hiking. That’s what we just have been doing, on this occasion carrying a heavy load on our shoulders, while the ‘reward’ will be not only the view, but also the fulfilment of each one’s darkest desire. A desire, anyone of us would have stated and stated again, was just a fantasy, no something one wanted to get subjected to in reality.
Most maddening is, that, the closer we come to the final, the larger our crowd of condemned is getting! It started with my companion Martha, then the Canadian woman, who next drew in that man Piraland. The man who claims to run the company that invented these strange drugs. His joining of the (exquisite!?) club of condemned, made him consume his own products. Quickly, a rumour spread that he had ascertained that, with the doses that are administered to us, one just has five days to live. Five days of arousal it seems… The inventor of the ultimate suicide pill will now become his own lab rabbit. No better publicity for his invention, of course!
Another twist is, that Piraland was originally with another woman here as guests, and we heard he dropped her, to join the Canadian woman to the cross. Furious, Piraland’s (ex)-partner vented her anger against the most nearby condemned, incidentally me, first charging my loincloth (or what is under it), then using her whip against Martha and me! What did I mention about a ‘reality show’!? These folks are turning it into Temptation Island! Watch the next episode! Top ratings guaranteed!
And the strongest temptation is excerted by the cross!
One by one, the condemned and the guests reach the top. You can see in their eyes the slight shock, when the see the stakes from nearby! I take the opportunity to watch it, this strange procession of nearly naked men and women, marching to their crucifixion. It must have been like that in Roman times, I keep thinking. The scene arouses me, especially since I realize that I am one of them.
My companion and me cross looks. Apparently she has the same on her mind. She looks exciting the way she is, becoming from the climb, sweating, covered with dust, humiliated. I wish that crossbeam was not in my neck. I get overwhelmed by an immense desire to grab her!
Then, a whip comes down! It is Aline again!
“You two! Move on! There will be enough time to enjoy the view, when you are nailed up there!”
You're as strong as Edmund Hillary, You've defeated your Everest!
Now the story continues, the reality show is entering its final phase.
People against the crosses!
Who will win the fight?
The outcome of the battle is known and accepted by the fighters.