A Hanging

[Doctor Amos]

This was to be young Sven Heversen’s first hanging. His father guided the two of them through the crowded square, and then hoisted Sven upon his shoulders to allow a better view over the crowd. It was still a far distance away. Over the general murmur of city noise and the disapproving shouts from the crowd, it was very hard to make out the somber pronouncement that the judge was delivering. No doubt, Sven thought, it was some passage from the oft-used bible the judge held, the same worn passages his father had tried to teach him about humility before God. Sven smiled; the prisoner obviously showed distain for the readings. Then the rope was placed around his neck, and Sven gathered that he had been asked if he had any last words. Whatever they might have been, Sven could not tell, for the booing of the crowd drowned out all other noise. Then the judge moved for the rope. Just as he did, the condemned uttered something else. This noise Sven could hear. As the man spoke it, a cloud of green mist escaped his lips, enveloping the judge. The executioner quickly kicked out the condemned man’s stool, and with a sickening snap both the man and the green smoke were gone. The judge had fallen, and Sven could not see what had become of him.

“There son,” Sven’s father began “do you see what happens to foolish men who question the Guild?”

“Yes father. Very foolish.”

This answer seemed to make his father happy, and the man began the task of picking his way through the crowd to get back home. Sven, tagging behind, was still thinking.

“Very foolish. When they hang me, they had better bring more than two men.”

[hakoMike]

Nicely done. I love the sinister tone to the ending.

[Doctor Amos]

There are non-sinister endings in this place?