“I wonder if morality is as important as deviance in Basal. By that I mean—”
“I know what you mean, Danny. I’m not a fool.”
In another place, another time, he would have recoiled at such condescension. Now he only took the man’s dismissal in stride.
The warden continued. “You’re wondering if I accept immoral behavior in my sanctuary as a means of punishing deviance. And the answer is, you’re missing the point entirely. But that’s understandable, you’re only a fish here.”
“Then perhaps you could explain your point to this fish.”
Easy, Danny. Don’t push the man.
The warden lowered his chin. “I intend to. The point is, I have no control over the morality of the members in our institution. The point is, morality cannot be legislated. It occurs primarily in the mind. Anger, jealousy, envy…all matters of the mind. As the good book says, every soul walking the earth is guilty. They are all evil. Surely you know that, Priest. Morality rests with the judgment of a higher authority.”
He clasped his hands in front of him and continued:
“Deviance, on the other hand, can be measured by man. That’s why we have the law. To monitor and control behavior, not morality. Does that clear things up for you?”
“And should a member of society be punished if he deviates from that law to protest or prevent a grave injustice?”
“Didn’t you hear me, Danny? No? Then I’ll repeat myself. It is for a higher authority to decide what injustice to punish, and at Basal I am he. If a man doesn’t want his eye plucked out, he shouldn’t pluck out someone else’s eye. If your boy didn’t want to be hurt, he shouldn’t have hurt whoever he hurt to land himself in this hellhole.”
“He hurt no one. He is innocent.”
“Again, please pay close attention so that I don’t have to keep repeating myself. No one is innocent. Everyone is guilty. Injustice is in the heart of every man. Truth be told, the whole world belongs in here, where justice is true. It’s quite simple, really: you do wrong and you pay the price. The members of this institution should consider themselves fortunate enough to be given the privilege of learning this here, before they face much worse, wouldn’t you agree?”
No. But already Danny saw the futility of this exercise. No good could come of it. His only hope now was to make his position clearer for the members, irrespective of the warden.
“I’ve found that grace and love, which come from the highest authority, are better teachers than punishment,” Danny said. “But I’m sure you know that all too well. I suppose it’s why you have the privileged wing. I only wonder what grace can be shown to the guilty who live among the commons.”
The warden stared at him for a moment, then faced the rest, smiling. “You see, this is why I brought a priest here. His fancy words, his big heart—you would think you’re in his sanctuary. Such comfort for the masses. But he’s as guilty as the rest. A murderer like so many of you. And as for grace…”
He faced Danny, mouth flat now. “Grace is a sham. It’s only another word for obedience. As the good book says, if you only believe and accept you will be saved. What they don’t tell you is that belief and following are the hardest work. There is no free ride. Even your faith teaches that you must do something to be saved. And that belief is pronounced dead if not accompanied by good works. So you see, grace is no grace at all. All that matters is reward for obedience and punishment for deviance. And that, dear murderer, is what my sanctuary is all about.”
A slight but crooked grin twisted the warden’s face. “You do believe in punishment, don’t you, Danny?”
“I’m trying to understand it. The God I love is love. How punishment works within the context of that love is a mystery known only to him. My part is to love, not judge or punish. Morality is love. As such I try to be a moral being, finding love and grace in my heart.”
“Oh? And here I thought you believed that the end result of your actions is what determined your morality. Isn’t that how you justified your numerous vigilante murders as a priest? Killing evil men to free the oppressed under their thumb? Ring any bells?”
Danny’s heart stalled. Numerous…
He was certain in that moment that the warden knew far more about his own unconfessed crimes than he had any business knowing. There was more to the man’s decision to bring him to Basal than Danny had first known.
And if Pape knew more about his guilt, he might also know about Renee’s. Concern swelled in his mind. He could not allow anything or anyone to compromise Renee.
“I was wrong.”
“Yes, you were,” the warden said. “And frankly, you’re still that same man, willing to unleash your wrath. Which is why you are here. I intend to show you that much.”
“By unleashing your own wrath on a boy like Peter? On the rest of us? We are both men trying to understand love and serve God.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Danny. In here, I am God. And you must be taught obedience, which begins with the understanding that you’re still rotten to the core. My punishment will help you see that.”
“By extending punishment, rather than grace?”
“Punishment wasn’t my idea, it was your God’s. I am only subjecting you to your own God’s way of correction.” He cocked his head, brandishing a daring grin. “You think my punishment for not following the prescribed way is harsh? I’m an angel, Danny. Far too softhearted, really. As the holy book says, ‘He that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.’ Do you see me stoning twelve-year-old girls? I’m not so harsh as your Jesus, who, according to Christian doctrine, was the same God who made that law.”
Pape’s eyes flitted to the other tables. “And if there’s one law that all of you should be eternally grateful I don’t borrow from the priest’s God, it’s that anyone who shows contempt for a judge should be put to death. So you see, relatively speaking, I’m a merciful man filled with grace.”
Danny held his tongue. Here then was the core of the dilemma that had haunted him for too many years. The great mystery that only elaborate theological arguments could attempt to unravel, finally acquiescing to blind belief.
“You’ve failed to make your case, Danny. The fact is, I think God was on to something. Punishment works. Everyone is guilty. And, clearly, as I’ve shown, his so-called free gift of grace isn’t free at all. You now live in the big house where I am your God. How you do your time depends on how well you follow the rules. And those rules include not crying out in the middle of the night as Peter did. He did the crime and now he will do the time, it’s simply the law. He should have known better.”
Pape looked at the captain. “Take the boy down.”
Bostich nodded at the facilitators, and two of them began to cross the room. Peter shifted behind Danny and grabbed his pant leg.
“Excuse me, sir, but I have one final request.”
The warden held up his hand and stopped the guards.
“Oh?”
“If not for my need to learn your ways, you wouldn’t have put Slane with the boy last night, and he wouldn’t have been in a position to cry out. I was the one who objected. Send me down instead of the boy. I’m the one who stands to gain more from learning your ways.”
The room could not have been more still. But by the look in the warden’s eyes, Danny wondered if Pape had anticipated this, wanted this. He was a master chess player, one step ahead at every turn.
“The boy paid his price last night,” Danny said. “I haven’t.”