The Execution (Short Story)

     "Yes," I had murmured, "Yes. I would be glad to" more proudly I had stated, although now I'm not so sure If I regret my decision.

     I now stand before the President of State, the Head of Guard and the Head Guard (not to be confused with one another), as well as two other soldiers, three guards, and the man we are about to kill , er- execute. I attempt to steel myself but, I’m still not sure that I caould do this. If I do, it will be the first time I have killed for real, and I mean, to kill a man, even if he was a man that had betrayed my trust, even if he was a man that had stolen, run from the police, and held hostages, it wasn't like he had ever killed anyone. So, sure I wanted him punished, but to me at least, death still seemed a bit harsh. Maybe I should have declined that offer...

     "... any last words?" The preacher asked, and I must say, Kane answered rather courageously.

     "Only, my good sir," he drawled, clearly addressing his words to the Head of Guard, "that I stand with my earlier statement." I stole a glance towards Kane’s target, and noticed that his words had struck home. The Head of Guard clenched his jaw and fists as Kane’s pale, scarred lips curved upward into a smirl. I wonder, what could have happened between them?

     "Anything else?" The Head of Guard growled, the question directed at both the priest and the prisoner. Kane only smiled grimly, but the preacher, oblivious, only shook his head, and confirmed with a sigh,

      "No, please proceed." The grey man stepped down from the podium.

     Taking that as our cue, the rest of the firing squad and I unslung and loaded our rifles. I took a shuddering breath. Well, I thought, it's too late to back out now.

     The three guards would take the first shots, one in each leg, and one in the arm. The other officers and I would take the prisoner's other arm and lower abdomen. No vital shots though, those were saved for the officials.

     The first shot came too soon. The Kane’s guards had him on his knees, though his head was still up and his posture proud. The first soldier hefted his rifle, and took aim. In the distance, a loud whistle blew. The soldier fired, and Kane visibly shuddered, but although a blood rose began to blossom in his thigh, he did not slouch or even bend.

The other soldier followed suit, aiming at his other thigh, and his shot hit home, but it was not until the third bullet buried itself in his hand that Kane finally bent. As the soldiers also left the podium, my group, the officers and I, stepped up those three white granite steps to the large podium. Kane looked different from this angle, stronger and harsher, more like the criminal he was. You know, the whole of the dusty execution yard looks soberer, deadlier from here.

     Jake, one of the other officers in my group took his aim and fired without hesitation. His bullet buried itself in the prisoner's hand, and Kane winced visibly. His resolve was clearly fading. Max stepped up next, he looked scared but determined. He was one of the hostages Kane took last year, and although he was not injured, I've heard that Max still has nightmares, even though that might also just be because he's a wimp. His shot was slightly off, but nevertheless as it hit Kane's body, he bent down for a few moments before straining up again.

     Honestly, I had to admire Kane's courage, it was unfortunate that such a strong man should have ended up in such a bad place. I wonder what happened to him….

It was my turn now. With a butterfly fight club in my stomach, I raised my gun, slowly, carefully, making sure I didn't shake. As I took aim, I noticed Kane was shaking. Although his posture was still pretty strong, his eyes were watering and jaw was clenched tightly. Oh my gosh, he was scared.

     Honestly though, who wouldn't be? Kane was obviously is a lot of pain, he had just been shot five times, and he was going to be shot four more times still. He was going to die. I tried to imagine some of the thoughts that must have been running through his head. Where would he go? What would happen to him? What is he thinking? Also, what did Jake think we he shot Kane? What about Max? And the others? What was going through their minds? Oh my, the thoughts were overwhelming.

     I took a deep breath, quieting my now rampaging train of thought, and took aim again. My terror was swelling, and that dark pool of worry beginning to feed it wasn’t helping either. What would happen to me? I was about to shoot someone for goodness sake, and even if I wasn't aiming to kill... I’ve heard that will do things to your conscience, to your soul. Again, I was forced to take a breath and shake the thoughts from my head.

    Hey, let's pretend this is just a drill I told myself, maybe that will make it easier. Breathe...in...out...Ready?No...Aim!...But I don't want to...Fire!... I pulled the trigger.

I watched Kane crumple, not daring to breathe. Luckily (for me) I had hit where I intended to, and I had not killed him. My victim shakily, slowly, and gingerly pushed himself up, back onto his knees, although he no longer had that air of pride or that strait, proud posture. I stepped down from the podium, relieved, feeling as if a small weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I let out the breath I forgot I had been holding.

I watched the officials step up and each take their shots, none though seeming to hesitate as much as I thought I did.

     The last person to fire, and this time kill Kane, who I knew was still not dead, stepped up. I held my breath again, feeling unwelcome and unnecessary sadness and guilt begin to seep in, like slushy snow finds its way inside of not-so-water-resistant-boots. The Head of State aimed, took his shot, and apparently hit Kane in the head, but I didn't, couldn't look, so I couldn't tell for sure. Jake though, was watching and muttered nice shot after the gun sounded, so I assumed the Headman had finally finished our prisoner off.

     I sat through the remainder of the execution formalities in a dazed stupor, until the Head Guard himself dismissed us, and headed back to the barracks.