THIRTEEN
"I know you," said Sperrle. "Garrow. Abraham Garrow. Yes, I remember you. You were always so outspoken."
"Outspoken against the evil you perpetuated," said Garrow. "The crimes you committed against those unable to defend themselves."
"Please," said Sperrle. "You were just a Jew. Hardly worth my time. I did humanity a favor when I killed you."
"Did you do humanity a favor when you murdered my father?" asked the woman.
"Who are you?" Sperrle asked. "I don't recognize you."
"You should," said the woman. "You murdered my father. He wasn't a Jew. Just someone who had the misfortune of being married to my mother."
"That could be a number of men," said Sperrle.
"You said she was too beautiful to be married to a simple clock maker," said the woman. "When she protested your advances – telling you she was married – you removed that protestation. By removing my father. And you did it without a second thought."
"As I said," said Sperrle, "that could be any number of men."
"Your evil has been permitted to go on for far too long," said the other man with Garrow. "For too long have we been forced to simply stand by while you escaped the justice do us. That time has come to an end."
"And I would assume you're another of my so-called victims," said Sperrle.
"More than so-called," said the man. "My name is Dugan. My only crime was trying to escape the atrocities you perpetuated against the innocent."
"Dugan, yes, I do remember you," said Sperrle. "You tried to escape the camp. Had no choice. I had make an example of you otherwise there would have been mass escape attempts."
"There is always a choice," said Garrow. "You chose the evil you did to others. You're joining with Kernian only enhanced your evil. It did not create it."
"Wait a minute," said Prue. "Are you saying he did all this before Kernian possessed him?"
"Yes," said Adler. "Kernian had possessed the Fuhrer initially. It was only after Berlin was about to fall that Kernian and Sperrle joined forces."
"Not that it makes any difference," said Sperrle. "I'm still considered an innocent, remember? There's nothing you can do about it."
"You are mistaken," said Garrow. "The witches are forbidden from judging you. We are not. It is why we have remained here. The blood of the innocent cries out for justice. We are here to pronounce that justice."
"Because of Kernian," said the woman, "we were unable to bring justice before. The power of the demon prevented us from exacting that justice against you. Now, thanks to the Charmed Ones, that barrier has been removed. Now you will face the punishment you have so long avoided."
"And do what?" Sperrle asked. "Kill me? That won't bring anyone back."
"This is true," said the woman with Garrow. "But we will not kill you. To do so would make us no better than you. To kill you would be an act of vengeance, not justice."
"So there's nothing you can do to me," said Sperrle smiling. "Despite all your posturing about justice there's nothing you can do to punish me. In truth I should be rewarded for what I did. I helped rid the Earth of scum like you. Our only failure was that we couldn't complete the task."
"You are wrong," said Dugan.
"SS-Sturmbannführer Johann Sperrle," said Garrow. "You have been judged by those who fell victim to your evil. And you have been found guilty of crimes against humanity and crimes against the innocent. We have also found that there is no remorse for your actions and that you have reveled in your destruction of the lives of the innocent."
"For your crimes," said the woman, "it is judged that justice shall be best served by a device of your own creation. Your victims number 2,845 whom you either killed with your own hand or personally ordered to be killed. Punishment for your crimes will be one month in das kasten for each of these lives. Punishment is to commence immediately and you shall have no possibility of appeal."
Suddenly two figures appeared beside Sperrle. They took him by the arms. He struggled against their grip but it was clear they were much too strong for him. Even being spirits they somehow had the ability to subdue Sperrle with little trouble.
"You can't do this," said Sperrle. "You're dead. You have power over the living."
"In this case," said Garrow, "we have power over you. Because of your wickedness we are the only ones who may pronounce judgment on you."
Suddenly the two figures and Sperrle simply faded from the room.
"Okay, what just happened?" Prue asked.
"Sperrle has been judged and found guilty," said Garrow. "His judgment is one of his own devising. In the camps he designed a box. It was a simple device. A mere six feet on all sides. Victims were placed in it and allowed no form of diversion whatsoever. They were allowed to simply sit in the box and contemplate their fate. Usually that involved their deaths when they were removed from the box. It was called simply das kasten; German for the box."
"Is that all?" Phoebe asked. "You're going to make him sit in an empty box for a month? That doesn't seem like much of a punishment for everything he did."
"They didn't say that," said Cole. "They said one month for each of the lives he personally destroyed. Considering he did that to 2,845 people, one month per person is more than 237 years."
"And in all that time he will be allowed nothing except the faces and screams of those who died by his hand," said Garrow. "While he remains in the box he will not age. But when he is released he will be over three hundred years old. As a mortal he will not have lived for such a long time. Then he will move on to his final punishment which is not in our hands."
"Two hundred thirty seven years?" Prue questioned. "With nothing to do but sit in an empty room and think? That would be enough to drive anyone insane."
"No," said the woman. "We will not allow him to escape his punishment that easily. He shall experience every minute of it. It is his penance for his atrocities."
"It couldn't happen to a nicer guy," said Piper.
"So I guess that settles everything," said Prue. "We vanquished a demon, Sperrle will be made to pay for what he did, and everything is the way it's supposed to be."
"Not quite," said Garrow, turning to face Adler. "There is still the matter of the judgment about this one. He, too, served those who committed crimes against humanity."
"Hold on," said Phoebe. "He helped us. And he's sorry for what he did. He doesn't deserve to be punished. It wasn't his fault."
"No, Phoebe, he's right," said Adler. "I can't escape the responsibility for my actions. No matter how long ago it was I was responsible for what I did. I'm tired of running and hiding. I just want it to be over."
"You willing submit to our judgment?" asked the woman.
"Yes," said Adler. "What happened to you was unconscionable. It shouldn't have happened and I'm ashamed to have had a part in it."
"Sturmbannführer Karl Adler," said Garrow. "You have been judged and found guilty of crimes against the innocent. However, it has become clear to your victims that you were, at worst, an unwilling victim of the circumstances in which you found yourself. In addition, we understand that because of your age you were coerced and intimidated into the actions you performed.
"During the time since the atrocities were committed we have observed you. You have attempted to make up for your part in the crimes committed against the innocent. While the loss of life was severe and cannot be excused entirely, it is our judgment that you have punished yourself more severely than we ever could. And that we believe you have truly changed from the person you were sixty years ago."
"Our judgment," said Dugan, "is that no further action will be taken against you. Your repentance has granted you a reprieve, Sturmbannführer Adler. It is our hope that you will continue on the path you have chosen. So that judgment will not be necessary in the future."
"You can rest assured I will," said Adler.
"We thank the Charmed Ones for their help," said Garrow. "Because of you a great wrong has been righted. Now, the victims of Sperrle may rest in piece knowing that their deaths have been avenged."
"Our pleasure," said Prue. "Besides, you helped up vanquish a demon. I'd say it worked out well for all of us."
Without another word the three spirits faded from the entryway.
"Thank you," said Adler. "For the first time in my life I'm not afraid. Maybe now I can get on with my life. Although I don't think I'll ever be totally free of the guilt for what I did."
"Nothing can change that," said Cole. "Believe me, you will always regret some of the things you did. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes."
"What will you do now?" Leo asked.
"I don't know," said Adler. "With Sperrle gone I guess I won't have to worry about running his reelection campaign. Which brings up another problem. How am I going to explain his disappearance? A lot of people are going to want to know what happened to him and I certainly can't tell them the truth."
"Why not just say he had personal problems," suggested Prue. "You can say he had to go help out a sick family member or something. As his personal assistant I'm sure you've had to make announcements for him before. When he was unable to make them himself."
"Well, that's certainly true," said Adler. "It would be a lot more believable if he could make the announcement himself but I guess that's not possible now."
"Oh, I don't know," said Piper, putting her arm in Leo's arm. "There might be something we could do to help in that respect. Don't you think, Leo."
"I'm not sure that's a real good idea," Leo protested, knowing all ready that it was too late. Piper had obviously all ready made up her mind.