First There Was the Trial
October 18, 2002
Megan Austinson
There was a buzz of excitement in the air that day. I managed to catch an old friend and asked if he had any idea what was going on.
"They've arrested that man," he told me eagerly. "You know, the one that has been causing all the trouble with his lying claims." My heart skipped a beat. I knew who he was talking about, the man who went around breaking our laws and angering our leaders. I had to see for myself.
I hurried to the governor's palace. So many people were there, pushing, fighting, trying to get the best spot from which to see the accused. I ducked and weaved through the crowd until I was close enough to see him. He stood before the governor, quiet and unassuming. The governor asked the soldiers about the charges against this man.
"What has this man done?" the governor asked of the soldiers who accompanied the man.
"He is a criminal," they answered. Then they demanded he be executed. The crowd went wild, screaming for the man's blood.
Turning towards the man, the governor asked him, "Are you guilty of these charges?" The man was silent. It took some time, but finally the governor was done with his questioning and turned back to the crowd.
"I find this man to be innocent of any crime," the governor declared. The crowd began to shout in protest, demanding the life of the innocent man. Finally the governor, fearing an uproar, consented, handing the guiltless man over to the soldiers. The crowd followed the soldiers as they took the man to another place. I was swept along with the flow and watched as the innocent man was beaten and mocked.
The soldiers finally grew tired of their fun and marched the man towards the execution site. I was a bit surprised by all the people who followed, mourning his imminent death. I had heard of the following this man had gained, but still, to see it myself was astonishing.
When they reached the spot where he was to die, the soldiers took his clothes and divided them amongst themselves. Two others were with the man, there to be executed for their crimes. As the three men were prepared for their executions, I could see the innocent man talking to the guilty ones. I was too far away to hear what they were saying, but I thought one of them was mocking the man as well.
The men were on the hill for a long time. It grew dark, and most of the crowd left, not wanting to wait around the see the men finally die. I stayed, watching from a distance, though I wasn't sure why. So many thoughts were passing through my mind. Why hadn't the innocent man defended himself to the governor? Why, in his last hours, was he not cursing the soldiers as the others did?
FIN