SeanDareOnline.com

Part 1

I pour the water on the floor and set the bucket down to the side. Bending over I pick up the long handled brush and start scrubbing the dried blood from between the large flat stones. Bucco notices me and calls to me saying, “Hey Cato! Why are you doing woman’s work?” He turns to the group of soldiers standing behind him, smiling at their laughter. I stop and lean against the long handle. “Bucco, if you didn’t soil yourself every time a man comes in here I wouldn’t have to!” This brings an even greater reaction from the crowd. Bucco’s eyes grow dark as he tries to think of an adequate reply. I turn my back on the group and begin scrubbing again. I don’t care that much that the floor is clean. It’s just that the smell of dung, urine and blood seems to attack my stomach. It makes me nauseous. I like to get rid of the smell after the last victim of the day so I can eat my lunch without vomiting.

I hear the hinges of the large wooden door as it opens. I stop scrubbing and look up to see a Centurion guard detail enter the room with another prisoner. Glancing quickly around I notice everyone is looking. Some of the guys are even standing on tiptoe to get a better look over the heads of their companions. Out of the corner of my eye I notice Captain Aculeo stand up from his desk. I follow him with my eyes as He walks over to the Centurion at the head of the procession. You can see they are discussing the prisoner, The Centurion is pointing at a written order in his hand while Captain Aculeo nods. After a few minutes Captain Aculeo takes the paper and walks over to his desk. Without sitting down he hunches over the desk to sign the paper with a quill. He then makes a note in the prisoner log. When he finishes he motions for me to follow him, and walks back to the Centurion.

“Cato”, Captain Aculeo says, “string up this prisoner for scourging.” Curious, but knowing better than to question an order from a superior, especially in the presence of a centurion, I try to look at the paper in the Captains hands. Captain Aculeo tips the paper back towards his chest and says, “Now if you please.” “Yes Sir!” I say. I take the arm of the prisoner and lead him away from the Centurion guard to the chains hanging from the center of the room. My brush is laying in the way so I kick it to one side. Then I undo the shackles from his wrists and reattached them to the chains above the prisoners head. As I bring my arms back down to my sides I look into the prisoners eyes for the first time. They are unlike the eyes of any other prisoner I have ever seen. They are clear, and bright. They show a deep inner fire and passion that I have never seen before. Most prisoners eyes are like that of a doll, cold and lifeless, as if they were made of glass.

We stand there staring at each other when Bucco finds his words, “Hey Cato! What are you going to do kiss him?!” The laughter starts again. Captain Aculeo turns quickly from his conversation with the Centurion and barks an order to be quiet. I turn my head slightly, keeping my eyes on the prisoner. Then I break eye contact and walk over to the small crowd. Bucco, who is in front of the crowd, takes a step back as I approach. I keep my gaze on him for a moment then I look to the crowd as I say, “Captain Aculeo will be calling for the Lictor any moment. Bucco, strip the prisoner while I go and get Bestia from the barracks.” Bucco starts towards the prisoner with a mocking smile on his face, turning his head to look at me as he moves past. After a moment I head down the passage leading to the barracks.

It takes me a minute to find Bestia because he is not in the barracks. He is outside, standing naked, bent over at the waist. I see he is dipping his hands in a bucket of water which he splashes and rubs onto his face and over his shoulders. I address him to get his attention, “Bestia”. He stands and turns to face me. Bestia never ceases to inspire awe. Standing six foot eight inches tall and weighing three hundred pounds he over shadows all but the biggest of men. It is said that while he was on a campaign in Africa he awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of a lion eating his best friend. Those that were there say that he and the lion wrestled for two hours before Bestia got his hands on the lion’s upper and lower jaws and ripped his lower jaw right out. If you didn’t believe the story you can always ask to see the necklace Bestia wears. Nine tiger’s teeth on a length of leather cord, one for each year he had known his friend. The necklace is before my eyes now.

“Yes Cato?” Bestia says in a voice pitched to high for his size. “We have another prisoner. Captain Aculeo will be summoning you any minute” I say. Bestia’s eyebrows curve down in the middle as he says, “I thought we were done for the day.” “The Centurion guard just brought this one in. You had better get dressed.” He makes a noncommittal sound in his throat and turns to grab his clothes that are hanging on a nail. “I will be there in a moment. You don’t need to wait for me.” Feeling a little self conscious about being alone with Bestia I gladly leave and head back.

When I walk into the scourging chamber there is a crowd around the prisoner. They are yelling and calling him names. Some of them are even punching him in the face. I see Bucco leading the taunts and encouraging the crowd. I look around and see that Captain Aculeo is gone. No doubt he walked the Centurion guard out while telling them how fit he is and how many battles he has fought. “Bucco!” I yell “That’s enough!” Bucco and his buddies all stop and draw away from the prisoner. “Bucco, get the flagellum and bring it to me. The rest of you stand against the wall until Captain Aculeo gets back.” They all do as they are told.

After a few minutes Bestia and the Captain come in. Bestia walks to the center of the room while Captain Aculeo heads for his desk. Once Captain Aculeo reaches his desk he draws to attention and in his best military voice announces, “Lictor! Scourge the prisoner!” At the command Bestia comes around behind the prisoner to where I am standing. I hand him the flagellum and step back to where the rest of the prison guard is standing. After a moment Dentatus ambles over to my side and leans against me. In my ear he whispers “how many you think?” “He’ll go the distance” I say. Dentatus answers in a surprised voice “What, he is nothing, just skin and bones. He won’t make it past five.” I turned to look at him and say, “you didn’t see his eyes.” and leave him to walk around to the side of Captain Aculeo’s desk.

Bestia uncoils the flagellum, flipping it from side to side with his wrist to unravel any kinks in the cords as he finds his footing. No one scourges a prisoner like Bestia. To him the flagellum is an extension of his entire torso. He plants his feet firmly in one spot and moving from the waist up he whips and coils his torso in time with the flagellum, inflicting the most damage, the most pain, with every strike. Every eye is watching the prisoner with anticipation. The first strike from a flagellum, I’m told, is like being stung by a hundred scorpions at the same time. Many prisoners faint after just one lash from it’s many cords. Dentatus thought the prisoner would faint on the fifth lash, I was sure he wouldn’t.

Bestia leans his full weight back on one leg, drawing the flagellum around and behind him, then with a long fluid motion he whips his entire body forward, bringing his arm around just over shoulder height, and just as he straightens his arm the cords of the flagellum strike and wrap around the prisoners back and sides. The prisoner doesn’t say a word. He flinches, and he sags, dangling from the chains, but he doesn’t utter even a single noise. Bucco, now standing next to me, mutters under his breath, “Bestia must be worn out from this morning.” Bestia pulls the flagellum back toward him. The small pieces of bone and metal tied into the cords of the flagellum rip off pieces of the prisoners flesh. The prisoner lets out a moan but nothing more. Bestia adjusts his grip on the flagellum and prepares to lash the prisoner again. Again the fluid motion brings the cords around the body. This time a cry of pain escapes the prisoners lips. Bestia smiles and pulls the flagellum back with force, ripping even more flesh off the back and side of the prisoner. After a few strokes Bestia falls into his rhythm, lashing the prisoner over and over. The prisoner starts to cry and moan, but he doesn’t plead. He doesn’t beg. He doesn’t say one word. I glance around the room and see that everyone is entranced by Bestia’s rhythmic lashing. I take the opportunity to steal a look at Captain Aculeo’s desk and at the log entry for the prisoner. “Jesus, King of the Jews”. A King? Who scourges a King?

Bucco and the rest begin to cheer Bestia on. They are yelling, “Kill him Bestia! Kill him!” I look to Captain Aculeo, to see if he will stop the yelling, instead his head is down and he is concentrating on filling out the daily reports. Bestia continues to lash Jesus, and now he is moving the lashes about the body. One lash lands on his shoulders, then his thighs, then his back. Blood is oozing out of his cuts. You can see bones and muscles clearly where the flesh has been removed by the flagellum. Jesus is hanging by his hands, no longer does he have the strength to stand, and yet the scourging continues. I don’t know how many lashes had been delivered so far, but by looking at him it is clear that he is getting close to passing out. I clear my throat and say, “Captain?” the Captain looks up from his reports, “Yes Cato?” “I believe the prisoner is about to pass out sir.” Captain Aculeo assessed the situation and nods. “Thank you Cato. Lictor! Hold your flagellum!” Bestia stops. Bestia’s entire body is covered in blood and bits of flesh. His eyes startlingly white against the crimson on his face and body. Captain Aculeo turns to Bucco, “Bucco, prepare the prisoner for transport to the Praetorium. Gather a four man detail to transport the prisoner.” with that he sits back down and begins to work on his reports again. I turn to face the desk, “Sir?” without looking up, and with a note of annoyance in his voice, Captain Aculeo says, “Yes Cato.” “Sir, I would like to be part of the detail.” Captain Aculeo looks up, leans over to one side to see Bucco and three other men pouring a bucket of water on the prisoner, to wash away some of the blood before bringing him before Pilot, and then leans back to say, “I think Bucco has it under control.” I reply, “Sir I have seen something in this prisoners eyes. I don’t believe he is all he seems. I ask that I be given permission to add myself and three more men as an additional guard detail.” Captain Aculeo smiles and leans back in his chair as he says, “Do you really think the prisoner is going to escape after a lashing from Bestia?” without waiting for a reply he says “No, your request is denied. You will stay here and clean the scourging chamber. I know how much you like a clean house. After your duties are done here you may go watch the crucifixion if you like. You are dismissed.” Returning his attention to his reports he picks up a quill and begins writing again. “Thank you sir.” I say and walk back to my brush and bucket.

Part 2

It took me two hours to clean up after Jesus’ scourging. Then, what should have been a half hour walk to the hill, took over two hours because the sun had disappeared. It was like walking at night. I finally reach the top of the hill and make my way through the crowd. Here too the crowd is laughing and jeering, calling Jesus names. I even hear one of the other prisoners mocking him. He says, “Hey Jesus! Aren’t you the Christ? Why don’t you save yourselves and us!” In the dim light I can just make out their silhouettes against the sky. I watch in amazement as another prisoner says, “Shut up! Don’t you fear God?! We are getting what we deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong!” Now he turns to Jesus and says the most remarkable thing, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” When you come into your kingdom? How can he come into his Kingdom?! The man is going to die! I look to Jesus to see if he will answer. Jesus turns his head to the prisoner and says, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Humph, some paradise. In a few hours they will both be dead. Then what?

I turn away and continue to make my way through the crowd to the Centurions standing at the base of the crosses. I find Bucco standing here keeping the crowd away, along with the rest of the detail of Legionaries, while the Centurions are kneeling down to cast lots. I approached Bucco and say, “let me pass” as I begin to step around him. Bucco leans my way and pushes me hard in the chest with his shoulder. “What are you doing here Cato? Come to see your girlfriend one last time?” Without answering I push past him and move towards the Centurions who are finishing their game. The Centurions disperse to help hold back the crowd as I approach the Captain of the guard. He is holding some clothes in his hands, the winnings from lots, and is walking around inspecting the state of each prisoner. “Captain, how long have they been up?” The captain looks me over from head to toe before replying. “Almost two hours now.” he says just before heading off to stop a dispute between a Legionnaire and a spectator.

I turn and step back from the cross holding Jesus. It is hard to make out from the torch light but I can tell his eyes are swollen shut and his face is more bruised than I remember, beaten no doubt by Bucco and his pals on the way here. He is also quiet. The other two wail and cry but Jesus says nothing. Nothing! How can a man endure crucifixion without saying a word! I pull a torch from the ground and step closer to see if his feet have been properly nailed to the cross. If they aren’t he wouldn’t feel as much pain as the others when he pushes himself up to breath. I look closely and see the spike. Then I lift the torch to check his wrists, they too have spikes. I looked at his posture, maybe he wasn’t in the correct position and was breathing without pain. I stared closely at him, switching my gaze from his chest to his face, to see if he is still breathing. After a few seconds he grimaces as he lifts himself on his spiked feet. He breathes fast, short breaths for a few seconds and then exhales as he lowers himself again. All without saying a word.

As this man slowly dies in front of me I think about his eyes. The strength and clarity. When he looks at you it’s like he is looking inside you. I wonder if it could be true? Could this be the man those old holy men talk about on Saturday mornings? Could this be the…what did they call him…the messiah? I began to look around for one of those holy men, the ones with the ornate robes, when I hear Jesus speak. “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me!” I turn as he says this and in the torchlight I see that he has tears streaming down his cheeks. I wait but he says nothing else. I grab a torch and walk down behind the Legionaries. I speak quietly in Dentatus’ ear, “Dentatus, have you seen any of those holy men around? You know the ones with the robes?” Dentatus turns his head to face me without turning his body away from the crowd, “Yeah, there are a couple of them here. They are over there at the edge of the crowd.” I follow Dentatus’s gaze and see them. They are huddled together looking at the sky, then at Jesus, then at the sky again. I make a point to find them after the crucifixion is over to ask them about this Messiah.

Another half an hour passes before Jesus speaks again. During this time I watch him lose his battle with the cross. The pauses between breaths grow longer and longer. I watch as he raises himself, his face grimacing at the incredible pain in his feet. He breathes deeply and cries out, “It is finished!” and then his spirit leaves his body, which collapses back down, his head lolling from side to side. Immediately the earth starts shaking. People are screaming. The Guards are shouting and the Centurion captain is ordering his men to form ranks. The earth wont stop moving! I look up and see the crosses swaying too and fro and for a moment I think they are going to fall over! I run to get out of the way. I bump into a holy man, who knocks me off balance. I fall down. As I get up I look at him and see he is pounding his chest with his fist and crying, “What have we done? Oh what have we done?!”. I start to follow after him when another man bumps into me, and while clutching to keep himself from falling, he grabs my chest plate and almost pulls me down again. I put my arms under his shoulders and lift him back up. I look to find the holy man again but he is gone, lost in the fray.

The earth quake lasts only a few minutes, and soon order is restored. I begin looking for the Captain again, and when I find him he is in a conversation with one of the holy men. “We cannot have these men hanging here once the sabbath starts!” the holy man is saying “Why don’t your men hurry this along!” The holy man is angry and stabs his staff into the ground for emphasis with every syllable. The captain, trying to keep the peace after the earthquake, says, “You there” pointing at me. “Get a club and break the prisoners legs.” My mouth opens, then closes. I looked around and find a club lying on the ground near one of the torches. I grab it and make for the closest prisoner, who happens to be on the left hand side of Jesus. I can tell he is still alive because he is still moaning. He watches me with clouded eyes as I hefted the club. I look at him before I swing and see relief on his face. I steady myself and swing as hard as I can at his leg, striking just below the knee. He screams at the top of his lungs. The scream is primal, that of a wounded animal. It sends shivers up my spine. Quickly I swing at the other leg and his second scream is cut short as he slumps down, the nails in his wrists supporting him now. In a few minutes he will be dead. Then I walk over to the other prisoner, the one to the right side of Jesus. He has a look of panic in his eyes. He lifts himself up and starts cursing me. I don’t hesitate. The club comes down hard and fast on his first leg. He screams too, and louder than the first. I quickly swing again and like the first prisoner his second scream is cut off in the middle. Then I walk around to face Jesus. I pause and look closely at his face, then his chest. I don’t want to hear the screaming again, but I have to make sure he is dead. I set the club against the cross and walk over to get a spear from a cluster of spears leaning against each other. I come back and watch his face closely as I push the spear into his side. He doesn’t even twitch. I pull the spear out and blood and water pour out after it. I stand there, staring at his face, as a voice behind me says, “Truly, he was the son of God.” I turned to see who had spoken to find the Centurion captain standing there. He holds my gaze for a moment and then turns to walk away down the hill towards his men. I look down at the blood dripping off the end of the spear and wonder, did we really just kill the son of God?

- Sean