At any moment a gloved hand would touch his leg. The wire would be carefully slipped into one of the holes. The machine’s whir would scream to life and his body would begin to shudder.
At any moment.
But that moment did not come. Instead, a new voice. He didn’t hear the words, only the sound of the voice. It took him only a few seconds to connect the voice to the warden, and with that connection came the memory that the warden had said he’d come back when the ordeal was over.
The words gained meaning.
“…that I don’t enjoy this any more than you do. But it was necessary.”
The punishment was finished. The pain was done. Danny’s chest rose and fell as his mind wrapped itself around the warden’s voice.
Danny opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling.
“The doctor said you were brave. I want you to know that I appreciate that.”
The warden had come. Danny’s mind stalled for a moment, then restarted, surging with question. It was done? No, it was only a ploy. And yet he’d said he would come at the end.
“It’s finished.” The warden walked up to the table.
From the deepest parts of Danny’s soul rose an emotion that he could never have anticipated. It started out as relief but then suddenly became more. Much more.
Gratitude. Appreciation. Wonder. Awe. He closed his eyes and let the emotions spread through his body, flooding him with a warmth and gratefulness that made the pain he’d felt a distant memory.
“I’m sorry, Danny. I truly am. You have to believe that I wish this on no one.”
Danny connected his intense relief to that voice. The warden had put an end to his suffering, and for that Danny felt deeply indebted. For that he owed the man his life. For that he loved the man.
He slowly released his grip on the rubber bit between his teeth. The blurred image of the warden’s face looked down at him. There was concern in his eyes.
“It is finished, Danny. No more. But you didn’t obey me, you understand that, don’t you? I don’t like this any more than a loving father enjoys punishing his son.”
The warden turned his head and looked at the wall, which held the restraints they’d strapped Danny into the last time he had visited deep meditation.
“I lost my children, but the truth is I’ve gained so many more,” he said in an introspective tone. “They’re all like sons to me. Even Slane. But Slane refused to accept my help. The terrible task of guiding them to the light falls on my shoulders now. It’s the only way I can honor my own son and daughter.”
The warden faced him, frowning.
“Say something, Danny. You’re a priest, you should understand these things. Tell me that what I’m doing is right.”
He wanted to say something, but his mind was awash with conflict. In the warden’s words, he was hearing his own thoughts of not so long ago. He’d never motivated others with the threat of sadistic punishment, but he’d killed them just the same.
“Just say something, for heaven’s sake. It’s not easy doing this sort of thing.”
Danny started to speak, but his voice cracked and he had to clear his throat.
“No,” he said. “It’s not easy.”
“So you approve then.”
The overwhelming emotion he’d felt only a minute earlier was gone. Now he felt mostly relief for himself and simple empathy for the warden. He did owe the man his life, because the man had spared his life, but he couldn’t find it in himself to voice support.
“You see? You still don’t get it, do you? But you will soon. I have great confidence in you, Danny. A profound respect.”
The warden let the words settle, then walked to the end of the table and began to release the leather straps that held Danny’s legs. When he spoke again, his voice had taken on the firmer, more assured tone that Danny had grown accustomed to.
“The ugly business of corrections is worthless unless we conform to what is right, my friend. All of this is lost unless you can truly expose that lingering core of depravity in your soul. Once we force it out into the light, we can go about correcting it. I hope you can appreciate that more now.” He looked up at Danny. “Your legs will ache for a few days, but you’d be surprised at how quickly the puncture wounds will heal.”
The doctor wiped the blood from his leg like a tattoo artist cleaning the skin as he worked. A transparent salve covered five tiny red pinpricks on his shin.
“I’ll give you a few hours to gather yourself before they take you back up.” He unfastened the straps on his left leg. “It’ll help if you get the blood flowing through your legs again. You’ll have some bruising on your heels, your tail bone, and the back of your head, but otherwise you’re no worse off for the wear.”
He undid the last strap and brushed his palms against each other. “Almost good as new. Bend your legs for me.”
Danny slowly turned his ankles, then drew his stiff legs up, one at a time. A dull pain throbbed in his shin, but on balance he was surprised he didn’t feel more.
“See?”
“Thank you.” The words sounded empty.
“It’s the least I can do.” Pape slipped his hand into his pocket and came around the table, staying clear of Danny’s legs. “You seem like a good man on the outside, but you’re here because you’ve broken the law. You strayed from a more righteous way. Until I am confident you can be truly rehabilitated, I can’t consider you for the privileged wing or for early release.”
“I’m not asking for either.”
“No, you’re not asking, are you? The question you should be asking is are you still a killer?”
“I didn’t kill Randell.”
“True, but that was hardly a sufficient test. And by refusing to obey you earned yourself some correction. You have to learn to follow my rules, Danny. No one else’s, only mine. Do that and perhaps you’ll win my confidence. It’s really that simple.”
“Even if it means killing.”
“If I command it, yes. Trust me.”
“I’ve taken a vow of nonviolence.”
“Sounds nice and cozy, but if I ask you to go to war, you must. Will you drop the bomb for me, Danny? There’s always a time for killing, and in my sanctuary I decide when that time is. Doesn’t God kill? As the good books say, ‘Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.’ And in here”—he spread his hands—“I am he.”
“I’m not sure you know who God is.”
“Don’t be absurd. God is God. They’re all the same.”
“All of this so that I’ll kill again.”
“No. All of this so that you never will unless I demand it. I need to lay you bare to see who you really are.” The warden lowered his arms. “I’ll leave you to consider that. Hopefully the worst is behind us.”
Pape headed for the door but turned back when he’d opened it.
“Oh, and a bit of news you might find interesting. Renee has decided to join us. She brought along a new friend.”
Danny blinked. “Renee?”
“Yes, Renee. She’s been put through the ringer and finally led here, where she can be of some use to all of us. Maybe she can fill Peter’s shoes. Maybe you’ll get a conjugal visit out of it. Remember to move your legs around. Good for the circulation.”
Danny didn’t hear the door shut. He heard nothing but the roar of blood rushing through his head. He didn’t actually see the warden leave. His vision had gone blank.
One thought alone consumed his mind. Renee was here. Renee was in Basal.
His bride was in hell.
Danny’s body began to shake.
34
JUST LIKE THAT.