It's an oddly pretty day for an execution. For weeks winter has insisted on lingering into spring, but today it's 75 degrees and sunshine and the bluebells are starting to bloom, their bright blue petals just a shade or two darker than the sky. Today is fucking beautiful.
It's worth noting and savoring this beautiful day because in a few minutes there'll be gooey, gray brain matter clinging to those same lovely blue petals. The aroma of the flowers will be replaced by the reek of human blood and shit.
I'll probably throw up again.
My husband, Ryan, is ashamed of this. He'll probably hit me. Last time he waited just until we got back inside the house and then shoved my head down into the corner of the polished mahogany sofa table. It opened a monster gash on my forehead. Until that afternoon I had been blissfully unaware of just how much it strings when blood runs into your eyes. The beating had left a tiny pink scar I'll often catch Ryan staring at while he fucks (rapes) me. I often wonder if he really only did it because I shamed him, or if it was because he so enjoyed the stoning he wanted to hit something else.
I can tell his other wives don't enjoy these either, even if they won't admit to it. Mara always takes this very deep breath and then gets this screwed up look of determination right before she throws her rock. She closes her eyes before it hits.
Rebecca really tries to like it. She'll yell out praises for God's will being done and smile as she throws her stones. It's when they shit themselves as they die and the stench hits her nose that she starts to gag. She hides it well. She really does love seeing sinners get their divine punishment, she just wishes it didn't have to smell so bad.
The Judge stands up and approaches the podium. A screeching feedback noise issues from the speakers, forcing everyone to grimace and cover their ears. He shoots the sound tech a glare before beginning to speak.
"Today we have gathered to praise God's divine will and judgment, and to exercise punishment upon these deserving sinners. We do this, knowing we are not just in compliance of the law, but that to carry out the Almighty's great laws brings us joy and peace. For Jesus said, 'Till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law'."
He leads forward a middle aged woman. She's not bound. They never are. If anything can be said about the Great Revelation it's that it has made everyone remarkably civil. People politely step forward to receive their slow, painful death.
There's a man with two little boys in the front row. I think they're her husband and sons. The boys are crying. Dad can't seem to look at her. He's determinedly staring down at the curly haired tops of his boys' heads.
The Judge opens his Bible and reads, "Exodus chapter twenty verse seven, 'Thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain.'"
The woman is crying. She says, "It just slipped out! I didn't mean to! Please! Please, it was an accident! I didn't mean to!"
She's yelling now. Begging.
"Please, my babies need me! Please, I can't go yet!"
At this point she's lost all coherency and just sobs. The boys sob with her.
After trying and failing a couple of times to shush her, the Judge moves on to the next prisoner. An old man. He does not scream, or cry. He steps forward voluntarily, accepting his fate. Delilah murmurs her approval.
YOU ARE READING
The Tree of Knowledge
General FictionWhat would the world look like if every law in the Bible were obeyed?
