From: uthur@aol.com
Subject: Story: The Village Thieves (Part One) by Uthur
Newsgroups: alt.torture
Disclaimer: This work contains graphic descriptions of violence and torture. If these subjects offend you, do not read on. It is not intended for reading or downloading by anyone under the age of 18. If you are not of legal age, DO NOT download or read this article. All portions of this story are fiction. The actions and descriptions provided herein are not to replicated among partners consensual or otherwise. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This work is copyrighted 1996 by Uthur and is intended for non commercial free distribution. No part of this work may be reprinted, modified or distributed for a fee without the author s written and signed permission. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Author s Note:
This story is not for everyone. It was written for a select audience that is intrigued by mediaeval justice (if you can call it that) or historical fiction. Approximately 10 years ago I purchased a piece of a very old book that recounted the terrible torments and eventual deaths of a nameless young man and woman who were suspected of taking Village funds. What was unique about this snippet of text, was the detail that was packed into the few pages that recounted this event. It appears that the unknown author of this text took great pains to see that the punishments were recorded as a warning to others who would think of stealing public funds. Personally, I find it hard to believe that two ordinary citizens would have access to public moneys, but scapegoats were useful in olden days as perhaps they are sometimes used today.
Using the text in my possession as the basis of this story, I have taken what was recounted many, many years ago and tried to retell the story using modern language and interpreting the events using an author s prerogative. In some cases, I have used footnotes that reference the original text that may be of interest to the reader. But please remember as you read this, although it can now be considered fiction, two people endured the described torments on the way to meeting their maker. Their history is our history. In the uncertainty of these changing times, let us never forget the horrors of the past.
The Village Thieves by Uthur
Part One
The trial of Geoffrey and Miriam had a preordained conclusion. The verdict was guilty and the sentence would be death. But the viciousness of the sentence surprised even the most jaded observers. Bring forth the whelps of hell, said the judge who peered down from the pulpit of the tribunal. For your misappropriation of public funds and your theft from each and every hard working citizen of this humble Village, I do hereby proclaim your sentence, to carried out immediately. You both shall be stripped and tied to the back of a cart and whipped along the longest route to the gates of the Village where you shall be put to death, he droned on. There Miriam, you shall have your tongue burned from your mouth so that lies will no longer flow from your lips. The lids shall be cut from your eyes so that you cannot cast aside your looks from the people you have robbed. You shall be placed on the Throne of Judas where you can watch the torments and death of your husband. After watching him suffer the torments of hell, you shall be tarred and feathered, tied to a rail, and roasted over a slow fire until the flesh falls from your bones and you breathe no more. When well roasted your remains shall be hung from the gibbet for the feeding of maggots, said the judge. Miriam hearing the judgment fell to the floor and began to plead for mercy, but under the threat of the brank, she trembled in silence.
Then the judge turned to Geoffrey who tried to look brave in the face of horror. You Geoffrey, defiler of fair people, I condemn you to have hot irons applied to your body. You will have your lying tongue torn from your head and your eyelids ripped off so that you will witness all those who you have stolen from during you last hours. At the Village gates, you will be hung by the neck, slowly drawn, and hung in a grate until the maggots reduce your foul remains to dust, he went on. Geoffrey began to tremble and tried to reach out to his wife as the jailers dragged them outside.
While waiting for two carts to come forward, both condemned prisoners were placed on the pillory stand where they were stripped of their clothing. Geoffrey tried to fight as his meager covering was ripped from his body, but several vicious blows with a club reduced his will to fight. Standing naked before the crowd, the jeers of the assembly rang through his ears. Miriam cried pleading for the tormentors to spare her modesty, was dragged to the front of the platform. With her arms held tight, her clothing was torn from her slender figure exposing her to the cat calls from the crowd and making her shiver in shame.
The distinctive clatter of two approaching carts on the cobblestones became louder as the crowd was pushed back away from the pillory. With the carts in position, the two trembling victims were tied, arms upright and outstretched to the back of their respective cart with their feet barely touching the road. The executioner hired the services of the iron smith on the spot and handed the new hire a knotted cat-o-nine tails. As the executioner took his position behind the young woman, the smithy raised his whip and slashed the first blow across the upper back of the man who hunched his shoulders in pain and bit his lip to prevent him from crying out in pain.
With a slap of the reigns, the carts lurched forward with Geoffrey leading the procession. As the cart dragging Miriam moved, the whip cut through the air and landed on her tender back causing her scream in agony as the knots tore into her flesh. Slowly the carts snaked their way through the village and every 10 feet or so, the crack of the whip on bare flesh reverberated through the narrow streets as both parties torn with pain cried out in reaction to the torment.
On and on the carts rumbled towards the village gates and on and on went the whipping. The strokes of the lash were spread out over the victim from the tops of their shoulders to the backs of their knees. The strokes were aimed to cause the knotted tips of the strands to curl around and cut deeply into the chests of the poor couple. As the main gate of the village came into view, Geoffrey s back was well bloodied and angry welts crossed over his chest from the wrap around cuts.* Miriam s flesh was bright red from the blows and blood blisters covered her breasts from the impact of the strands that curled around her slender figure.
As they approached the final few yards, a rain of rotten food, small stones, pebbles, and even dead animals hit the condemn prisoners from the large angry crowd. When the cart stopped at the base of a wagon which would serve as the execution platform, the guards had to threaten the crowd with whips to keep them at bay. Miriam slumped in the arms of her tormentors as her bonds were cut. Crying and pleading for mercy for her and her husband, the poor woman was lifted onto the wagon by her hair.
The naked woman fell to her knees and began to pray as she saw a hooded executioner reposition a hot pincer in a kettle of coals. Two figures grabbed the poor woman and forced a spreading brank over her head. The iron cage that surrounded her pretty face had two plates which could be screwed apart to force her mouth open. As the device was operated and her jaw forced downward, the gagging woman cried out as several of her teeth were broken under the pressure. With two men holding her head still in the brank, a hooded figure approached her with a pair of spiked pliers and grabbed her tongue pulling it outward from her mouth. In terror she tried to scream and fight for freedom as the second hooded figure took the hot pincers from the glowing coals and slowly walked toward the woman as her eyes stared in horror.
The hot pincers wrapped around Miriam s tongue as her body convulsed in agony. The executioner squeezed the pincers together cutting the flesh from her mouth as the remains of her wet tongue sizzled and fell to the floor of the cart.** As the brank was removed from her head, the poor woman gagged and gurgled from the assault on her mouth. She convulsed in agony as her mouth burned and the guards pulled her head upward and backward leaving her staring upward at a hooded figure holding a pair of crude shears.
As she tried to struggle, the guards held her head fast and the hooded figure reached with his fingers grabbing the poor woman s eyelash and pulled it upward. A horrible noise came from her tongueless throat as she watched the shears come closer and the pain of her eyelid being cut off ripped through her face and head. As the process was repeated on her other eyelid, blood flowed over her eyes causing them to sting as well as blurring her vision.
Hearing the scraping sound of wood on wood, a cry from the crowd announce the placement of the Judas Throne while Miriam convulsed in fear and her husband s curses filled the air.
To be continued....
Footnotes:
*Original Text: The lash peeled the skin from his back leaving him well bloodied.
**Original Text: Her tongue sizzled like a goose over the fire.
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