Pilate, you're an idiot. Do you think I would give you one of my own people to execute if there weren't a damn good reason for it? This man is trouble. Every time he speaks it causes a disturbance, nearly a riot, and you know as well as I that that can't be allowed to happen.

It could have ballooned into a big problem, but I took care of it: I arrested him, I brought him to you, and I kept his supporters out of your courtyard. Now all you have to do is say the word, and the problem disappears.

But instead, you're an idiot. I can hardly believe this: you give him a chance to speak? I know you Romans have some strange traditions about Truth and Justice and all that, but this is ridiculous.

He's rude to you, he's insolent, and still you don't come down on him. You do realize what happens when people learn they can disrespect you with impunity, don't you?

No, actually, you probably don't. Or you wouldn't be exiled here to this - your words - barren little sandpit, you and your lovely city-girl of a wife, stuck here governing a province that's home to more lizards than people... (incidentally, a post far enough away that your colleagues in Rome never have to deal with your stupidity directly). Again: you're an idiot.

Oho! So now instead of "Release him," it's "Flog him and then release him." Getting a little nervous, are we? Well, I warned you. I told you the people are a volatile mess! You're just lucky it's Jesus they've turned on, instead of you.

You don't look thrilled to watch the flogging and I don't blame you - we both know that what's spattering over those stones there is innocent blood. That's why I said we should sentence him and get out, let a couple of those half-human soldiers of yours handle the dirty parts. I mean, Jesus has to die, to keep Rome from stomping on my people and slapping you on your cowardly little wrist, but that doesn't mean you and I should personally have to-

And there goes the crowd again, shouting. I almost join them. What do you think you're doing stopping already? They're not finished with him yet, not even close. Why would you... it makes no sense. We aren't permitted to give more than forty lashes, but you, you can sentence him however you like! Flog him til the skin's all gone, the flesh hanging in strips and the bones showing underneath, whip him to death if you want- (easy, Caiaphas, that was years ago and he's at peace now, let it go).

But today you stop at thirty-nine. Ah, I know why. You're hedging your bets: if anyone ever criticizes what went on here, you want to keep as little blame as possible for yourself. Right? "Well, of course I was present," you'll say, "But I sentenced him at their request and under their law. It hardly had to do with me at all."

That's clever. Could it be you're not quite the imbecile I had thought?

Suddenly I realize that in its frenzy to reject Jesus, the crowd is still screaming that Caesar is their only king. I can't believe it. An hour ago they hated Rome as much as I do, but now...

Pilate, you filthy sneaky son-of-a-bitch, you've done this on purpose! All along you've had every intention of executing him, haven't you... you just wanted to make sure you'd wrung every last bit of usefulness out of him before you did.

Now the crowd has everything all backwards. They're professing loyalty to Rome and clamoring for their own hero's blood. And of course you're going to give it to them, and they're going to love you for it...

This is not, not, not the message I wanted my people to go home with! They were supposed to be reminded that we obey the Romans because it is far too dangerous not to. They were supposed to remember that you're the brutal, oppressive enemy, that the safest course is to keep their heads down and follow my lead and do what I tell them.

But instead they don't even look at me. They watch you. They cheer for you, applaud the cruelty you've ordered. May you catch disease and rot from the inside out, Pilate. I'm sure your next move is to send word of this to Rome, describing how the locals here are both savage and prone to rebellion... you'll ask for more authority to oppress us even further, and I have no doubt it will be granted.

I watch as Jesus is sentenced to be crucified, exactly as I'd planned... and all I can think is: God forgive me, this is not at all what I meant to happen.

TBC. Let me know what you think of this one! Next part will be up soon, hopefully.