Chapter 15 Chapter Thirteen A Man's Death

It was weeks before I learned how a man who meant nothing to me or anyone else in the case, who had nothing to do with Deo, the Fawcett brothers, or Fanny Cather, died that night.However, even though his life was so humble and his death was so tragic, his death not only affected Dow, Dr. Fawcett, Fanny Cather, but also affected others at the same time.If his death hadn't confirmed some facts, certain doubts would still remain in the dark, never to be clarified. The old gentleman later told me that while he was waiting hopelessly at Father Muir's, he heard that a Scalzi was about to be executed.Scalzi was a member of a bad gang who lived and died violently, and his disappearance would be a blessing to others.At that time, Mr. Wren was so bored that he panicked, or maybe it was because he was used to living a peaceful life, so he couldn’t help being curious. One week before the execution, he asked Warden Magnus if he could be executed. witness.

They had already talked about electrocution before, so the old gentleman knew a thing or two about it. "There is always strict discipline in the prison," said the warden, "this is necessary. But the execution process is very cruel. Of course, the death row inmates live in isolation cells, but private news in the prison spreads far faster than you think. , and other prisoners are obviously extremely sensitive to the so-called "House of Death" in their slang. Therefore, we will especially strengthen our vigilance when the execution is executed, because during this short period of time, the entire prison will be plunged into a hysterical and violent atmosphere Anything can happen. Seriously, we really have to be careful."

"I don't envy your job." "Of course you don't," Magnus sighed. "In any case, I put the same crew on duty for every execution—of course, occasionally someone is unable to To go to work, we have to find someone to take over, but so far, this has not happened.” "Why is that so?" Mr. Wren asked curiously. "Because," said the warden sternly, "I want the execution to be carried out by experienced men. You never know what will happen, so we took seven of the guards who usually worked the night shift to be in charge." This task is also the same for the other two prison doctors. In fact," he said with pride, "I can say without shame that this method is quite scientific and has never caused any trouble, because these guards have been carefully selected. and the shifts are fixed - for example, I never transfer people from the day shift to the night shift. They are very responsible and know what to do when there is an emergency. OK !" Magnus gave Mr. Wren a sharp look, "You want to be a witness to Scalzi's execution, don't you?" The old gentleman nodded.

"Are you sure? You know, that's not a pleasant thing to do, and Skazi isn't the type to face death with a smile on his face." "That'll be an experience," said Mr. Jerry Lane. "Well," said the warden flatly, "since you want to go, it's settled. The law states that the warden may invite 'twelve good grown-up citizens'—of course, all of whom have nothing to do with the prison." Unconnected citizens - come to witness the execution. If you wish to have this experience, I will put you in. Mark my words, it will be an unforgettable experience."

"It's horrible," said Father Muir uneasily. "God knows how hard it took me to force myself to do it, and I can't get used to this—this inhuman thing." Magnus shrugged: "Most of us feel the same way. After watching too much, I occasionally have doubts. Do I really believe in the necessity of the death penalty? You won't find out until you face it yourself." How difficult it is to be responsible for taking human life, even an evil one." "But it's not your fault," said the old gentleman. "In the final analysis, it's the state's fault."

"But I'm the one who gave the order to hit the electrocution button, which is very different. I know of a governor who would run out of the governor's mansion on execution night because he couldn't handle the pressure... Well, Mr. Wren, I'll arrange it for you." So, when I visited Dr. Fawcett on Thursday evening and was horrified, Mr. Wren and Father Muir were inside the great stone walls of the prison.Father Muir, busy with dying prayers, set out early in the morning; Mr. Wren arrived at the prison alone near eleven o'clock, and was escorted by a guard into the execution chamber, the "chamber of death."It was a low building in the corner of the prison, far away from other buildings, almost a prison within a prison. Mr. Wren was made nervous by the strange and morbid atmosphere of this building.The execution chamber was empty and monotonous, with only two rows of pew-like seats and the electric chair.

Naturally, his attention was immediately attracted by the cumbersome and ugly death weapon squatting indoors.Unexpectedly, he found that it was smaller than expected and not as scary as he had imagined.Empty straps dangle from the back, armrests, and legs of the chair, and a device above the back of the chair is reminiscent of the metal helmets of American football players.Everything seemed so innocuous at the moment, and too weird to be true. He sat on the hard bench and looked around. Eleven other witnesses were already seated.They were all elderly people, all looking restless and pale, and there was no one to talk to.He was surprised to find the usually rosy-cheeked Rufus Cotton sitting in the second row.The little old politician had a pale face and stared straight at the electric chair with trembling eyes.Jerry Lane didn't pay much attention, leaning on the chair and watching with cold eyes.

There was a small door on one side of the room, and he knew that it was the door leading to the morgue. He thought in his heart that the state government would never let the condemned prisoners have any chance of being resurrected. Will be shoved next door for an autopsy, destroying any miraculous signs of life. On the opposite side of the bench was another small dark green door with iron nails embedded in it. He knew that it led to a corridor, which was the last journey that the prisoner walked hesitantly in this life. The door was now open, and a solemn procession entered, their steps echoing hollowly on the hard floor.Two of them carried black leather bags—they were prison doctors, and the law required them to participate in the whole process and declare the prisoner dead.There were three other plainly dressed men, whom Jerry Wren learned later were court officials, legally obliged to be present to supervise the execution.In addition, there are three prison guards - wearing blue uniforms and grim expressions.At this time, the old gentleman noticed for the first time that there was a recessed small room in the corner of the room, in which stood a tall, middle-aged man.

He was checking some electronics in the alcove, his face serious, dull, expressionless, bordering on stupid.Executioner!until now.Jerry Lane suddenly remembered the cruel meaning of all this in front of him, his heart beat faster, his throat felt tight, and it was difficult to breathe.This room is no longer unreal, it has an evil atmosphere, as if ghosts are alive and walking in it. In a daze, he looked at his watch. The time was eleven past six. In an instant, everyone froze, and the room became dead silent.There was a burst of piercing footsteps outside the small green door, scratching everyone's nerves. Everyone clenched the edge of the bench and leaned forward tensely.The sound that came along with the footsteps sent chills down the spine: there were low whispers and husky weeping, and what overshadowed all of these was the shriek of a death banshee that heralds bad news. Crying, that is the vague animal roar of the condemned prisoners in the corridor of death outside, who saw their companions staggering, hesitant, and cowering, walking the last long road, and they were about to enter the afterlife.

The footsteps came closer, then the door swung open silently, and they saw... The cold gray face of Warden Magnus; Father Muir, hunched over, murmuring prayers all the way half-consciously; and finally the four guards.When everyone is present, the door falls back and closes again... The main character disappears for a moment, then he appears, and the others quietly fade away like ghosts. It was a tall, thin and gaunt man with dark skin and a pockmarked face of predatory bloodthirsty. His knees were slightly bent, and two guards held him from the armpit.He held a burning cigarette between his gray and purple lips, slippers were pulled on his feet, and a slit in the right trouser leg was torn from knee to trouser hem, hanging loosely.His hair was shaved short, his beard was unshaven... His eyes were empty, crystal eyes that were dead, and looked loosely across the crowd on the bench.The guards manipulated him like a puppet, twisting, nudging, whispering orders...

It was unbelievable that he was sitting in the electric chair with his head hanging on his chest and a cigarette still in his mouth.Four of the seven guards leaped forward like skilled and precise robots, with no hesitation in their movements.One knelt before the condemned prisoner and quickly fastened the straps on his feet; the second tied his hands to the armrest of the electric chair; the third wrapped the heavy thick straps around his body; the fourth pulled out a dark The cloth strips were tightly covered over the man's eyes.Then they stood up blankly and backed away. There was no sound in the room, and the execution officer quietly walked out of the alcove, knelt in front of the condemned prisoner, and began to adjust something on the condemned prisoner's right foot with his long fingers.Jerry Lane saw the Executor standing up, attaching an electrode to the condemned prisoner's bare leg.The executive officer quickly went around to the back of the electric chair and put the metal helmet on the man's head with extremely skilled movements.After everything was done, Skashi was like a statue in hell, waiting flickeringly... The executioner walked silently back into the alcove. Warden Magnus stood beside him silently, watch in hand. Father Muir leaned against a guard, wordlessly crossing himself. At that moment time seemed to stand still.At this time, perhaps influenced by the spirit, Skashi suddenly trembled, and the burning cigarette fell from the dead lips, and he let out a suppressed moan, like the death cry of a lost soul, echoed in the soundproof room, and then gradually disappeared. The warden's arm swung up and down, drawing a wide arc in the air. Jerry Lane sat on his seat, watching the left arm of the executive officer's blue uniform suddenly press a switch in the alcove, and Lane was suddenly overwhelmed by an indescribable impact sound, He felt that it was difficult to breathe, his heart was beating wildly, and his throat was gasping violently. For a moment, he thought that the impact that seemed to come from the fourth dimension was caused by his heartbeat, but later he realized that was not the case.It was the sound caused by the strong current gushing out and reaching the wires, and his skin tingled.The blinding lights of the execution room suddenly dimmed. At the same time as the executive officer pressed the button, the person on the electric chair struggled forward, as if trying to free himself from the straps that bound him.A wisp of gray smoke drifted from the metal helmet, and his hand tied to the armrest slowly turned red and then white.The veins in his neck bulged like black cords and suddenly turned an ugly leaden gray. Skazi was sitting upright now, like someone sitting at attention. The lights came on again. The two doctors stepped forward and put a stethoscope on the chest of the man on the electric chair, then stepped back a few steps, exchanged a look, and then the older one - a white-haired old man with indifferent eyes — silently made a gesture. The executioner's left arm was pressed down again, and the lights dimmed again... After the second inspection, the doctors stepped back again.The old doctor read the sentence in a low voice according to the law: "Warden, I declare this man dead." Derry Lane looked blankly at his watch. Ten past eleven. And Skashi is dead.