Chapter 15
"I woke up in bed with both of my executioners. Lovely couple, they stayed in touch! Can't say that about most executioners."
― Dr. Who series
Once again John entered Hell to find more people – hopefully someone with some legislative skills. Society didn’t function well without laws, or at least some guiding structure. Simple minds needed rules. More complicated minds needed principles or guidelines. If the worst they could do to a person was cast him back into Hell, they needed something unique.
John waited for a few minutes outside the door, but saw no one. People weren’t riding lightning bolts down from above. He started to wander.
After a few steps he happened upon a man dragging a demon, who was shouting and cursing at him in German. The man paid no attention to the demon’s protests. John stood to the side to let them pass. The man wore a blue vest, knee length trousers with a cod piece, hose, and dark leather shoes. Some European descent, John thought.
"Glück Auf," the man said to said to John as he passed.
"Schmuck off? Isn’t that a bit rude?" John asked.
The man paused. "Sorry, I meant no offense. It’s German. It means I wish you luck. Unlike this idiot whose luck has run out."
The demon lurched to his feet and bit the man on the arm. The man bent the demon’s head back and it snapped. The demon continued shouting and cursing and struggling to get away, as his head flopped to and fro, but he struggled less in the man’s strong grip.
"Where are you taking this demon?" John asked.
"Lake Of Fire," the man answered.
"A bit harsh, isn’t it?" John asked. "Maybe you could just torture him."
"My name is Franz Schmidt. I had a lifetime of torturing and executing people. I was an interrogator, punisher, executioner, and doctor. I don’t have a stomach for it anymore. If they push me too far, I do what has to be done."
"Let me walk with you, then. I might have a proposal you could be interested in," John said. This man could be the one he was looking for. He knew all about laws and changing people.
Franz nodded and they continued walking. "It will be a far walk to the Lake Of Fire. But it will be the end of this incorrigible beast." He leaned over and whispered in John's ear. "We're just going to have a 'cat with his tale on fire meeting.' The Lake Of Fire makes them focus."
It seemed really curious that this man would actually use disposing of someone’s soul as motivation. What kind of man was he, and why did he feel he had such authority? "Did you threaten this demon with the Lake Of Fire if he broke some law again?" John asked.
"Bah! I executed 394 criminals. The threat of execution has nothing to do with prevention or even justice. It gets rid of the criminal and gives the public a show. But when a man stands on the gallows with a rope around his neck, suddenly he has clarity about his crimes."
This was a man who knew – 394 executions is no small number. John was bound to follow the laws of the State when he was Governor. He had no choice. He assumed the State knew what it was doing when it came to this last resort punishment. But this man had personal knowledge. Did he show up at the last minute and just perform the deed, or was he more involved? "Four people were executed while I was governor. I thought it helped prevent crime."
"It might make a decent man stop and think twice. But those who kill aren’t stopped by the thought of execution. I know. I asked them. I helped them repent of their crimes before their executions."
OK, this was a man who got his hands dirty. He must have vast knowledge of what makes evil men tick. "What does keep them in line, then?"
"The young respond to punishment. They often change their ways. If you run them out from the protection of the village, away from their kin, it gives them pause to think about what they want in their life, and maybe it deters a few. The greedy, thieves, and the murderous – only God can change their spirits. It’s his work. Only God and the goodness of others has any impact on them."
John was puzzled. If executions didn’t deter criminals, then what was the point? Why not just throw them in a cell and throw away the key? "Then why execute people?"
"Because it gives the public a lawful way to deal with criminals in an orderly way. Without it there would be violent mobs. Innocents would be killed. The public must be assuaged. And it stops the person from killing again."
John was confused. Why does making the public feel better make it right to kill violent criminals? "So you view it as a necessary evil?"
"No. We kill the body so the soul can have a chance. Many murderers became my friend as I had long talks with them about their crimes and about repentance. They thanked me afterwards, even though knowing that I was the one who would crush their bodies, or hang them, or burn them alive, or behead them." He stopped dragging the demon and stopped for a moment.
"Then why don’t we do this before they commit a violent crime? It makes the most sense." John wailed.
"Because they won’t listen. But when they’ve been caught, and they are facing the gallows and their Maker, and their death is imminent, then they will listen. The gravity of it brings their mind to bear on it. Without their certain death in the picture, they’re listening is hopeless."
"Why does the State care what happens to the soul. They come here when they're dead!"
"The public hears their repentance. It affirms for the public that God works in the souls of all people, affirmed by the fact that they accept their punishment, terrible as it is, and that they won’t be hurting anyone else."
"I’m not convinced," John said. "I don’t know that a confession when looking at a gallows means anything. I suspect if you turned them loose, they would continue committing murders at their earliest convenience."
"Some never confessed their guilt, nor accepted their fate. But no amount of torture or confession or monstrous ways of killing the killer can bring back the person they killed or make that person less missed by his family and friends. Watching the killer die can’t make it right for the family. Even vengeance can’t make it right. Vengeance is God’s business. There is no real justice. Murderers pay a penalty, ‘tis true, but not for justice. Death is their penalty for saving their soul."
"You saw what you did as an act of kindness?"
"Yes, the only kindness due a murderer."
"And were they redeemed?" John asked, hoping that the four who were executed in his day were helped by the process.
"I have met many of them here who were contrite. They wonder why they are not in Heaven, just as I do. You know, King David of ancient Israel, did not get to see the new Temple, a Temple of peace, because he was a man of war, even though he served God. I have seen him here. Perhaps there is more to this than we know. But many feel they have not been punished as harshly as they deserve, so maybe that is redemption. Some are even eager for more punishment – they feel that is redemption because they cannot accept forgiveness. Some wish to hurt people no more. Many talk to their victims and understand and suffer. Some were raised by evil parents and trained in the ways of evil, and died for it, but they want a chance. Many have simply returned to doing the evil that they always did. Jesus was right, we should not judge. We cannot know the hearts and future choices of others."
John smiled at him, honored to be in his presence. "You are a very just and compassionate person. I would like for you to come to my world and do the same there."
"I cannot! I am done with this." He angrily threw the demon down so hard the demon bounced. "I was reviled by the town’s people and nobles alike. I worked for years to get good wages, I doctored the people, I did this horrid work, I listened to men and women cry and plead and scream in pain." He sobbed. He knelt on the ground, broken, his head bowed. He wailed, "I cleaned up the blood and guts and bones that were left, of people I got to know, and cast them into the box to rot! I pleaded and saved and finagled and raised my status to that of a respectable person and restored the honor to my family!"
Franz r
aised his face toward the heavens. "I lived an honorable life, and turned people around, and I saved the souls of thieves and murderers! And to what avail? I am here, in Hell!" He shouted. "I have begged and pleaded for forgiveness, but I remain in Hell!"
John put his hand on Franz’s shoulder. "You are an honorable man. I think we can help you with the pain in your spirit if you will accompany me to my town in Asphedolous. You will no longer be in Hell, and you will be a great help to many people who need you, in a fine town. And I promise, no more dirty work. We need a just and honorable guide."
Franz smiled up at John. "I’ve heard of Asphedolus, but never thought it really existed. No one has seen it. You must be a psychopomp. Tell me you don’t jest; this is not some cruel demonic joke!"
John shook his head no.
"May I bring my wife and family?"
John nodded. "Yes, of course."
Franz and John walked away, leaving the demon moaning on the ground, staring after them.
Aside: Franz Schmidt, Executioner
Franz Schmidt, Executioner, 1555 - 1634
Picture from wikipedia.org
Franz Schmidt was the official executioner in Nuremberg, the heart of Germany, in the 1600s. He was known for being temperate. He executed 394 criminals, and interrogated many more. Lesser crimes were punished by flogging out of town and banishment, often repeatedly. Capital criminals, in growing severity of punishment, were decapitated; hanged; smashed repeatedly with a wooden wheel then decapitated; burned alive; drowned; or drawn and quartered. Each criminal was given ample time and council to confess and repent before their punishment was carried out.
Franz’s father was forced into the profession by a prince who demanded he execute someone on the spot. This made his father, and his family, of less than honorable status in the eyes of the government and citizenry. All that was left for Franz to do was follow him in the same profession without honor.
Franz did not seem to question the guilt and deserved punishment of most people – who mostly seemed abundantly guilty, often repetitively. He sometimes had compassion for people and would strangle them quietly with a cord before being burned alive.
Franz survived many plagues, but lost numerous family members, including his wife.
Franz spent his entire life looking for honor. Like most executioners, he was a physician as well, having learned from his father and from treating tortured people, how to set bones and heal wounds. He avoided any dishonorable pursuits and people, unlike many executioners. He gained much respect in the community and finally petitioned the government after his retirement and had honor restored to his family by the government, after 40 years of service.
Liars Truth Page 15