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| «Garrote vil» (Ramon Casas - 1894) |
"Well, how was it, Joanita?"
Joan took the garrote from his wife, helped her out of the executioner's garb, and looked at her tenderly.
"Terrible it was. You know how perfectly I wield the garrote. But again they demanded that I prolong the spectacle."
"And? Did you make the poor fellow suffer unnecessarily longer?"
"When I hesitated, the mayor said, 'There are dozens down there who would love to do your job.' So what should I do? You, me, the children: we all want to eat."
"Poor darling. But imagine this. I've heard that the mayor is going on trial soon. And you know what the punishment for blasphemy is?"
A smile flickered across Joanita's lips. "If that's true, this execution will go down in history as the longest ever. And afterwards I shall quit."
"But ..."
"Don't worry, darling. Top prices will be offered for his fat. We'll be able to send our children to school so they once can have a better life."
Here's quite the twist. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised myself, Mimi. Thank you!
DeleteL’argument que “algú ho ha de fer”, que “si no ho faig jo, ho farà algú altre” només serveix de coartada, d'excusa per deslliurar-se de la responsabilitat moral d'aquest mena d'actes. Potser si aquest botxí s'hagués negat a perllongar el sofriment del reu, el seu substitut també s'hi hauria negat... però això no ho sabrem mai.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right, Mc. When it comes to showing moral courage, many people lose their nerve – often against their better judgment.
DeleteAferradetes!
Hi Sean - quelle horreur ahead ... we still live in appalling times ... I'm just grateful I live here - not perfect, but ... better than most. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Hilary. Our generation has been very lucky. So far, all wars have taken place elsewhere, seemingly far away. :(
DeletePobres nens, no sé si aprendran coses bones al col·legi o tindran millors vides, desprès de saber a qué es dedicava la seva mare. Crec que això ha de marcar molt.
ReplyDeleteAferradetes, Sean.
Perhaps they are children from an executioner dynasty, whose schoolmates would at most whisper about them behind their backs. Perhaps one is already destined to succeed the mother.
DeleteI wanted to show that even executioners are human beings, not monsters; in this case, a woman tenderly loved by her husband.
Aferradetes, Paula.
Ja tenim el punt de vista del botxí! 👏👏👏👏
ReplyDeleteEncara que no és en aquest post que parles de la banalitat del mal, de Hannah Arendt, s'hi escau perfectament. Fer el que toca fer, encara que no li agradi i desitgi de tot cor, com la Juanita, d'acabar amb aquesta feina.
Moltes gràcies, Sean. El posaré amb un enllaç al meu blog, a la meva pregunta sobre botxí.
Els dimecres són uns dies molt ocupats per a mi i ahir no vaig poder voltar gaire pels blogs.
Una abraçada.
Thank you! Sometimes I surprise myself... or rather, my protagonists surprise me. ;-)
DeleteAbraçades, Carme!
Pobres críos... Un abrazo
ReplyDeletePerhaps they are even proud of their mother? Humans are creatures of habit and a "product" of their upbringing.
DeleteAbrazos, Nuria!