recurrent dreams of Franz Kafka/ part 3

recurrent dreams of Franz Kafka/ Part 3

fiction
edward w pritchard

Wood wheels on a tumbrel cart on the trip to the guillotine makes for a bumpy ride for the guest of honor.

Something very bad has happen to the guest of honor and everyone looks at him sideways and no one may speak to him. No one taunts him either for what has happen to him could happen to you. The incident involves new pink underwear and clandestine liaisons. Under no circumstances may the Guest of honor hear of such rumors.

The guillotine is broken so the alternate execution is commenced of a square board being placed across the Guest's chest after he has comfortably found a spot to lay on the raised platform. The executioner will have to work hard and quickly for he must remount the platform by the eight steps each time to choose a large stone piled for emergency use should the Guillotine not function and then skillfully fit the odd shaped stones on the board on the Guest of Honors chest that will eventually crush him, extinguish his breath, and break his Will.

In his haste the executioner has forgotten to ask the Guest of honor if he has anything to say. Too late, the guest of honor is crushed. Just as well for it would be absurd to speak public-ally of what has happened and it makes people uncomfortable. Surely the executioner will be reprimanded for his lapse in granting the guest of honor a few words, although in the executioners defense the guillotine was broken and a makeshift alternate had to be commenced.