This is episode thirty-nine of the fifth book in the Trace Troy Adventures in Paradise series. The Title is A Cult in Paradise
. It will be featured in episodes over the next few months. It will eventually be published in full on Amazon. All of the Trace Troy books, as well as my other novels, can be purchased on Amazon by clicking the Bookstore tab above. I hope you enjoy. And thanks for stopping by.
The Punishment Revealed
The door opened quickly, and they shielded their eyes from the sudden burst of light. It was Tom, the guard. He hobbled to Trace’s cell.
“I hope I’m faking this good enough,” Tom whispered. “I’ve never been hit in the nuts before.”
Coyote overheard and said. “I think each man has his own way.”
“Be ready at any time,” Trace whispered.
Tom nodded.
“I glad you called for me. I was coming anyway. I have a message for you,” Tom said out loud. “There will be a convening tonight, sundown. Me’Ached will speak to all and pass his judgment on all three of you.”
“Any idea of what it is?” Sage asked.
“No,” Tom said.
“What’s the worst punishment he has handed out?” Coyote asked.
“Forty strokes and set adrift,” Tom said.
“How many have had this punishment?” Trace asked.
“Since I’ve been here, a dozen,” Tom said.
“How does he get away with it?” Sage asked.
“Death is welcomed,” Tom said. “It’s an escape from a painful ordeal and painful life. They will thank us on the other side.”
“And you believe that?” Trace asked.
“Of course, we all do,” Tom said and whispered, “I used to.” He returned to his normal voice. “You will be charged before everyone. You will be permitted to speak.”
Sage interrupted, “Which will be an exercise in futility.”
“It will,” Tom answered. “And then the sentence will be passed.”
“And let the floggings begin,” Sage said.
“They’ll tie you to a tree,” Tom said.
“Who does the flogging?” Sage asked.
“There are ten designated floggers,” Tom said. “Me’Ached goes through some sort of selection trance and lays his hands on one of them.”
“Are you one of them?” Trace asked.
“I used to be,” Tom said, “but I lost my touch.”
“And what was that?” Coyote asked.
“I didn’t enjoy it,” Tom whispered. “The ones on the flogger force are real pieces of work. They are just as sadistic as Me'Ached.”
“Does everyone watch?” Sage said. “Of course they do. Why did I even ask?”
“Yes,” Tom said. “And we all are expected to show no feelings. Everyone counts out the strokes.”
“You sure paint a purdy picture,” Coyote said.
“They will take you to three rafts, tie you down, and walk you out to sea,” Tom said.
“Aren’t they afraid the bodies and rafts might be found and lead back to here?” Trace said.
“The patrol boats that you took care of used to keep them in sight. Once they were certain of death, they cut the rafts loose and let the sea take care of them,” Tom said. “The sea is the greatest garbage dump known to man.”
There was quiet.
Tom pressed his lips tight. He seemed to want to offer words of hope and sorrow. “I have to go.”
“Tom,” Sage said, “if you don’t help us or go along, we’ll all understand.”
“Thanks,” Tom said, “but I will never understand.”
“Hey, sonny,” Coyote said, “don’t get down on yourself. None of us knows for sure what we’d do if faced with the same situation.”
“You guys didn’t come here for money,” Tom said quietly. “It’s something deeper. It was something I thought I had.” He pressed his lips. “I have to go now.”
Tom nodded at all three. He walked away.
“Tom,” Trace said.
Tom turned as he was about to step outside. “What?”
Trace gave him a painful glance. “Limp a little.”
Tom gave a crooked smile and hobbled away.
“No matter what,” Trace said quietly, “he’s put his life on the line for us.”
“That guy’s got balls,” Coyote said.
“Thanks to me, he still has ‘em,” Trace said.
No comments:
Post a Comment