Yes, it was the middle of the French Revolution, and Robespierre and his revolutionaries had gathered up a priest, a member of the aristocracy and an engineer, packed them into a tumbrel and dragged them off to the square to the waiting guillotine.
First they dragged the priest up onto the platform and asked if he had any last words. “Non”. he replied proudly, “but I do have a last request. I would like to face my Lord so that I can see the beauty of his kingdom as my last sight, and to do this I wish to be placed onto my back for this, the final act”.
“D’accord” announced Robespierre, and he declared that it be so. The priest was laid on the platform, facing up to the guillotine blade. And then… the executioner yanked the handle, there was a screech, and the blade - stuck half way down!
The crowd murmured nervously. Was this a sign from God? The executioner face Robespierre, who shrugged, and so they pulled the priest to his feet and said “God has spoken, you are free to go”.
Next, they dragged the aristocrat up the stairs to the guillotine’s platform and asked if he had any last words. “Yes!” he cried. “I, too believe in a good and just God, and want to go to my maker facing him honestly!”
“So be it!” cried Robespierre, and the aristocrat was thrown down roughly onto the guillotine’s platform, facing the blade.
“Clank, clank, clank!” - it was drawn back up to full height, and then - “Clunk!”, the lever was pulled and the blade began its fateful journey downward.
And then - “Screech!” It jammed again!
Again, the crowd murmured nervously, the revolutionaries eyed each other and Robespierre nodded. “God has spoken! You are free to go!”
So, finally the engineer was dragged up the stairs and asked if he had any last words. “Well, sure - if everyone else was facing up, can I do the same?”
“Let it be so!” Cried Robespierre.
21-May-2020 12:07:31
