This has been a real tour de force, Loxuru!Part 30 : AD 2073.
An abandoned railroad yard.
The clock on the hangar showed 09:30 pm. It was dark.
“Good evening, Livia!”
“Good evening, Father!”
“Livia, this is Father Nicodemus, my collaborator in this mission. Nico, Livia here is part of a research program to provide mental support for the condemned during the nailing phase. It should take away their focus on the ongoing operations on the other condemned.”
“Interesting! And does it work?”
“We cannot evaluate yet. But I have the impression, less condemned seem to faint or even die of fear. Staying conscious and alive is essential for the purpose of the punishment!”
“What about Julia Bersel?”
“Julia Bersel, and her companions, have behaved very resigning. A typical accepting attitude for condemned who knew what they risked. There have been no incidents! Julia Bersel refused to take her clothes off herself, stating that such is the job of an executioner, which is her right. She seemed to hesitate when we offered them to choose their place in the execution row, but it rather appeared to me that the male condemned were deciding faster!”
“Did she say something particular?”
As far as I recall, she said something like : ‘for Julia of … I cannot recall the name!”
“Julia of Brixellum?”
“Right! Any hero of her?”
“Something like that! “
“Excuse me, may I ask a question too?”
“Go ahead, Nico!”
“What happens with them the forthcoming hours?”
“We have no idea!” Livia answered “The anesthesia is over now. But they seem to be completely worn out. Due to the anesthesia, they seem to exhaust their forces more rapidly, I guess. We shall have to await how they pass the night!”
“Let’s have another look before we go, Nico!”
Their footsteps creaked over the grit. There were several police guards and still a number of onlookers. But it was calm. No more shouting and insulting towards the condemned.
Spotlights illuminated the condemned’ bodies. Their faces were hardly discernible in the dark. But their suffering was clearly audible. They moaned and groaned of pain, despair and discomfort. They were hanging motionless, kept alive by their sedile. Some tried to utter words, but exhaustion had already weakened their ability to talk, except for some broken sentences and loose words, often not understandable. As they walked along the execution yard perimeter, the condemned tried to raise their head. Clearly, they instictively sought for help when they spotted a human being, so strong was their will to live. But it was clear from their desperate voices, they knew very well their calls for help were in vain. They knew, no one could or would do anything.
“I sometimes wonder what goes through their head!”
“There is only one drastic way to find out, remember, Nico, the drastic way of Father Loxuru! By the way did I tell you? He got arrested!”
“Really? When?”
“While you were getting the sandwiches ! He started to protest and to make a one man riot in front of the camera crew. But he was quickly brought away by the police!”
“Father Loxuru!?” Livia said, “ That is right! He is on the work list for tomorrow! Unbelievable! He was the student’s chaplain at The University! He was very enthusiastic about Del Nero, at least in the beginning! Until suddenly, he changed his mind. Today I had to crucify my former anatomy teacher, Professor Malachius, tomorrow Father Loxuru!”
“That’s very quick justice! I told you Nico, his prayers would be heard if did not be careful. And del Nero can once more show that no one is immune or protected, even not a priest! Again very convenient!”
“Can’t we do nothing? Form him? For them?”
“No, Nico, and do not try anything, unless you desire to share experience with Father Loxuru tomorrow?”
“Maybe….”
“Nico, I think it is time to go! Do not have yourself carried away by your concern for these unfortunate condemned. Livia! Thank you for helping us! See you later!”
“Good night, Father Camillo!”
“Nico! I think we better attack that bottle of Seagram’s! You know what, I put it on my note of charges!”
“Good idea! What about reporting to Santa Maria del Monte about the events?”
“Absolutely, Nico! I shall inform the abbot first, about Julia Bersel’s tragic journey up to now.”
***
Eight hundred years earlier.
1274 AD.
The Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte, Italy.
“Welcome, Father Camillo! You have made a long journey!”
“Thank you, Father Abbot! I bring you the manuscript!”
“Right! The one you wrote about, that created such unrest to your Count! It seems fascinating!”
“It is, in some way, Father Abbot. Unfortunately I cannot hand you the original.”
"What happened to her, Father Camillo?”
“The Count has pushed his will! He has searched to abbey and confiscated the original manuscript. He had it thrown into the same pile of fire in which poor Sister Julia has perished, on the public square of Brescello.”
“Poor Sister Julia!”
“It is all my fault, Father Abbot! I had to do more to rescue her!”
“Do not blame yourself, Father Camillo! Sister Julia is with God now! And the Count will burn in hell for his cruelty!”
“I deserve to burn in hell too, for my failure! It would be better I end up there, so I shall never face Sister Julia anymore!”
“Father Camillo! Please! You have no guilt in the death of Sister Julia! You have done all that was in your power! But, if the original is destroyed, what are you bringing me here?”
“Sister Julia had made a secret copy for herself. I discovered it before the Count could.”
“You have read it yourself, Father Camillo?”
“Yes, Father Abbot, but…”
“All sins forgiven, Father Camillo! Rather tell me! What is your opinion about it?”
“It is a very… exploring and intriguing. I sometimes wonder whether those who say it is too dangerous to preserve it, could be right?”
“Listen Father Camillo! One day, mankind will face the Day of Judgement! Then we all will stand in front of a challenge of unseen proportions! Questions never raised before will have to be answered! We will have to prepare our self for it! Then, Father Camillo, we shall need everything we have in our reach! Even a sinful and subversive account of our Lord Jesus’ crucifixion, might be helpful! Therefore, Father Camillo, we have the duty to preserve this manuscript for posterity! Meanwhile, it is better to keep this manuscript out of reach of the public. Bringing out the content will only cause trouble, for those who will bring it out in the first place!”
THE END
And I'm really glad I'm not called 'Julia'!