william23
Magistrate
The Training
Sectavius sat in the stands and cheered as his father entered the arena. Sectavius was just nineteen and had been born into a rich family. His mother had done well for herself and ran a very profitable stall in the local market selling herbal remedies. His father had fought with the mighty Roman army but was now kind of semi-retired by helping out at the monthly games.
His father's name was Sectus and he was in charge of the crucifixion team for the games. Sectavius was proud at how his father would go about the business of nailing bodies to crosses with such clinical expertise. The shrieks from the victims signified the commencement of the crucifixions and the crowd fell silent to take in the spectacle unfolding before their eyes.
The afternoon was hot and humid, Sectavius had drunk a lot of water to quench his thirst during the entertainment. As the event came to an end Sectavius made his way down the steep steps to meet his father.
"Father" called Sectavius. "My son" responded Sectus, "what did you think of today's show?" "It was great and you were excellent as usual" responded Sectavius. "I especially liked the way you treated that prisoner from Gaul. He really howled his head off when you nailed him down!"
Sectus looked at his son and placed an arm on his shoulder as they walked home from the arena of death.
That night they sat and talked. "What was the first crucifixion like, that you attended?" enquired Sectavius. "I can't really remember" replied his father. "I have nailed so many up that you forget, it's just a job, you see, nothing personal."
"One day, father, I would like to take over from you and learn the art of crucifixion." His father was stunned but this was not entirely unexpected, he had often thought about passing his trade onto his only son.
The following day Sectus called his son over to him and handed him a bundle. "Here, I want you to have this" and he placed it in his son's hands. Sectavius unwrapped the bundle and held a short mallet in his hands. "It's my crucifixion hammer and I want you to have it. You will need it as I have enrolled you into the crucifixion training school and you start tomorrow."
Sectavius looked at his father and they hugged, finally, what he had always wished for was to become a reality.
To be continued................
Sectavius sat in the stands and cheered as his father entered the arena. Sectavius was just nineteen and had been born into a rich family. His mother had done well for herself and ran a very profitable stall in the local market selling herbal remedies. His father had fought with the mighty Roman army but was now kind of semi-retired by helping out at the monthly games.
His father's name was Sectus and he was in charge of the crucifixion team for the games. Sectavius was proud at how his father would go about the business of nailing bodies to crosses with such clinical expertise. The shrieks from the victims signified the commencement of the crucifixions and the crowd fell silent to take in the spectacle unfolding before their eyes.
The afternoon was hot and humid, Sectavius had drunk a lot of water to quench his thirst during the entertainment. As the event came to an end Sectavius made his way down the steep steps to meet his father.
"Father" called Sectavius. "My son" responded Sectus, "what did you think of today's show?" "It was great and you were excellent as usual" responded Sectavius. "I especially liked the way you treated that prisoner from Gaul. He really howled his head off when you nailed him down!"
Sectus looked at his son and placed an arm on his shoulder as they walked home from the arena of death.
That night they sat and talked. "What was the first crucifixion like, that you attended?" enquired Sectavius. "I can't really remember" replied his father. "I have nailed so many up that you forget, it's just a job, you see, nothing personal."
"One day, father, I would like to take over from you and learn the art of crucifixion." His father was stunned but this was not entirely unexpected, he had often thought about passing his trade onto his only son.
The following day Sectus called his son over to him and handed him a bundle. "Here, I want you to have this" and he placed it in his son's hands. Sectavius unwrapped the bundle and held a short mallet in his hands. "It's my crucifixion hammer and I want you to have it. You will need it as I have enrolled you into the crucifixion training school and you start tomorrow."
Sectavius looked at his father and they hugged, finally, what he had always wished for was to become a reality.
To be continued................