Death Sentence

DEATH SENTENCE

Judge Mary Dawson sighed as she donned her robe. Another day of listening to futile arguments from those who would, in the end, admit they were wrong and fall on the mercy of the court. She had been doing this for two years and it rarely failed. Those who claimed to be the most rugged and strongest, begged for mercy, often more quickly than others.
Dawson allowed the computer to scan the chip in her right hand, then opened the locked file to look at the day's agenda and smiled in relief. There were only ten cases on the docket for the day, assuring her she would be able to get away to an early weekend. Judge Dawson opened the folders and quickly scanned the cases one by one.
Each folder had a photo of the accused clipped to the front to avoid any possibility of mistaken identity. Of course each would be charged with the same crime, there was no need to review charges, only the short biography to understand the person's psyche and determine the best way to approach each one. She was thankful these cases could now be settled without lawyers or a jury. Her decision as judge would be final.
As was her habit, Judge Dawson took one final look in the full-length-mirror before leaving her chambers. At forty-nine, she still maintained her slim figure, and dye kept the traces of grey from showing. There were a few wrinkles around the eyes, but all in all a tall, striking, caramel skinned woman of poise.

"Prisoner AC23968 please rise and face the bench." The bailiff spoke loudly in the nearly empty courtroom.
"You are Ralph Stinson?" Judge Dawson addressed the frail young man as toyed with his thumbs.
"Yes ma'am." His voice was shaky.
"You are accused of crimes against the state, how do you plead?"
"What charges your honor?"
"Subversive teaching, preaching false religion, and lack of proper identification. How do you plead?"
"I didn't know I was doing anything wrong." She thought he was going to faint. "I try to be a good citizen."
"Do you admit to owning and reading a Bible?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Do you ever tell others about what you read?" She looked sternly at the young man.
"Yes ma'am, on occasion."
"Guilty. Death by guillotine."
"Please your honor I'll stop. I promise I will stop."
"Will you request proper identification?"
"Yes ma'am." The young man collapsed into a sobbing heap on the floor.
"Bailiff give him the document."
The bailiff moved silently forward and handed a paper to the young man, who in turn stood and read the document aloud at the judge's command. He then signed the paper and moved dejectedly to the table located by the side door. There he received his identification along with a clean slate. All crimes against the government were erased. A fresh start was given to all those who would accept.
With nine cases remaining seven followed the same path taken by the first, only one refused. He refused that is until they opened the door to lead him out and he screamed and begged for another chance. He was still screaming when the blade fell ending his life. The judge heaved a great sigh of relief that the screams had ended, then turned to the last case.

Judge Dawson looked at the last of the accused, a young, black woman she guessed to be in her late teens or early twenties. There was a quiet assurance in her bearing that suggested the young woman felt she had nothing to fear. At the same time she was obviously very scared. That observation caused the judge to pause for a moment, but only for a moment. Dawson had some serious plans for the weekend and no sassy young woman with radical ideas would interfere with those plans.
"Prisoner AC23981 please rise and face the bench." The bailiff called out.
"You are Simone Johnson?" Judge Dawson addressed the frightened young woman.
"Yes ma'am." The girl's voice, although shaken, was calm and determined.
"You are accused of crimes against the state, how do you plead?"
"What charges your honor?"
"Subversive teaching, preaching false religion, and lack of proper identification. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty your honor." The girl's nervousness was abating.
"Do you admit to owning and reading a Bible?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Do you ever tell others about what you read?" Judge Dawson looked sternly at the young woman.
"Yes ma'am. Every chance I get."
"Guilty. Death by guillotine."
"Yes ma'am."
Dawson was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. This young woman was accepting the sentence without so much as a whimper.
"What do you mean, 'Yes ma'am?" Dawson was losing her patience. "Don't you know what awaits you?"
"Yes your honor." The girl sighed, then lifted her face toward the ceiling with closed eyes. "I know who awaits me."
"It is not a 'Who' that awaits you," the judge corrected her. "It is the guillotine. Do you know what that means?"
"I have seen people die on the guillotine."
"I assure you young lady, " Dawson warned. "A young lady with your looks will be slow getting to the guillotine. These guards will have their fun with you, both the male and the female guards. It is permitted you know."
"Yes I know."
"I will give you one last chance to change your mind before I turn you over for execution."
Simone opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it and remained silent.
"Speak up child." Dawson commanded. "There is still time to change your mind. Nothing you can say now will make your situation worse than it is."
"I have only one last request." Simone looked directly into the judge's eyes.
"If you must, but be quick about it. But no praying. That's why you are being executed."
"Lord Jesus," Simone began, but was cut off by Judge Dawson.
"You will not say that name in my presence…"
"Lord Jesus," Simone continued. "I pray you would forgive the judge…"
Her words were cut short by a swift blow across the mouth from the bailiff.
"…forgive the judge for what she has done to…" Another slap interrupted her once more.
"…me as well as others. If there is any way Father forgive her…" Simone gasped for breath as a fist struck her in the stomach. "…and this guard."
"I am not the one in need of prayer." Judge Dawson held her anger in check. "You should have prayed for yourself. See if your God can save you from my hand. Take her away!"
"You can only kill the body," Simone spoke through a bloodied mouth. "My soul will live on with Jesus while your's will burn in tor...Ooooh." Another blow to the face silenced her for a moment.
Guards appeared and literally drug her from the court-room. As they did so she began to sing. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…" The closing door muted her voice.
Judge Mary Dawson sat at her bench for a long moment contemplating what had just occurred. Apparently the young girl had no fear of what was coming. Either that young woman was deranged, or she believed the fairy tale about this Jesus she was talking about. What a waste, the judge decided. A good-looking young woman like that could have had a great future. Now her life would be forfeit for her fanaticism, and for what? Some silly notion about a man that had lived thousands of years ago. What a waste.
Judge Dawson sighed, aas she signed the necessary forms for the execution. Then she stepped into the hall to congratulate the first eight on their wise decisions and invite them to the execution. She took her time with this task, delaying the inevitable and fulfilling the allotted time for the guards. She had not wanted an execution before the start of the weekend, but the law was the law.
That she had to witness the execution was the worst part of her job. Not only would the decapitation itself be distasteful, what the guards were doing and would do, to the young lady would be worse. More than two hours had passed before she steeled herself and opened the door to the walled yard where the execution would take place.
Dawson caught her breath at the sight of the killing machine. She was intimidated each time she saw this instrument of death by the size as well as the fear it invoked, even to the innocent. Permanently mounted on a cement platform, the upright stood nearly twenty feet high with well oiled guides for the razor sharp blade to rise and fall. At the bottom of the riser were the stocks, designed to hold the victim's head in place. The trolley portion consisted of a flat board mounted on rails to allow the victim to be strapped into place then rolled forward into the stocks. There was of course the basket to catch the severed head.
In her four years as judge, Dawson had only witnessed four such events. All four having occurred in the past six months. She had witnessed other atrocities as well since the laws governing the abuse of prisoners had become more and more lax after so many people had vanished without a trace. She knew, even as she took her seat, most if not all the guards, both male and female, would have had their way with this young woman. The judge found no compassion for such as the young lady, having determined these so-called 'believers" got what they deserved. Her musing was proven correct as the doors opened and Simone was half led, half dragged to the machine.
Her clothes were gone, and it was obvious she had been raped many times. The many lacerations and bruises showed the female guards had also had their turn with her. The woman could hardly stand, yet there appeared to be a smile on her face. Then Dawson heard it, faintly at first, then stronger. It was the same tune the girl had been singing in the court-room. The words seemed different but still the same melody.
" 'Tis grace that brought me safe this far…"
"Can't you shut her up?" The judge asked.
"Appears we can't your honor," one of the guards told her. "She just keeps singing that song over and over. I guess her idea of safe and mine are somewhat different. She don't look all that safe to me."
The guards roared with laughter and placed the girl on the trolley portion of the machine, in the usual face down position. Still the girl sang.
"Wait." Judge Dawson raised her hand. "If she is to be so arrogant, turn her over. Let's see if she can still sing when she sees the blade."
The guards obligingly turned the girl onto her back and strapped her down. She offered no resistance, but still she sang.
"Through many dangers, trials and fears..."
The guards tightened the last strap and stepped back.
"I have already come..."
The trolley was rolled forward and locked into place.
"Twas grace that brought me safe thus far..."
The blade was raised to its maximum height and locked into place.
"And grace will lead me ho..." The falling blade cut off the last word.
Judge Mary Dawson sat stunned. She witnessed the death as called for by law, then signed the papers and gave them to her aide. Still she sat there watching the body convulse and die. Many thought she savored the moment, but that was not the case. After the blade fell, a very healthy and fully intact, Simone Johnson was raised from the trolley by a man Dawson had never seen before. Simone hugged the man as if she had known Him forever.
When the man looked at Judge Dawson she could not move. His gaze riveted her in place and she saw at once a great love in His eyes and a great sadness. His face saddened as he looked at her as if to say He was sorry. Then He turned and took Simone's hand and they were gone.

Judge Mary Dawson shook her head in disbelief then looked again to the machine. The young girl lay there face up, the blade had been raised, and she still sang that song. The girl wasn't dead yet. The execution could be stopped. As Judge Dawson stood up to stop the execution, the guard took it as a signal and dropped the blade!
"..And grace will lead me ho..." The falling blade cut off the last word. The singing stopped except in Judge Dawson's head. The words of that song would echo for all eternity as she recalled the dead girl's last words before the bench.
"Father forgive her."
Mary looked at her right hand and felt the small lump. The girl's prayer was in vain, for Mary Dawson's eternal destiny had already been sealed by the small piece of technology imbedded in the right hand.

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:11)


THE END