Again I rise up, and the agony ruins my body while I am tortured on my cross. I see Justin on his cross, and call him panting between two groans of pain, seeking to distract me from the torture of my crucifixion. "Justin! Can you hear me? Can you talk? I see him shivering with pain as he lifts up, and I hear him moan in pain, and then say in a hoarse voice, "Yes. I can. I did not imagine that such intense pain was possible. I gasp and then say, "I know. Even with all I know about the crucifixion, I had no idea of the suffering endured by a man dying on a cross. We can't take it anymore but our torment will last for days. Justin's piercing screams and screams echoed" "I can't stand it! How could this torture last for days? It's unbearable! I want to die! I feel my own agony, and gasp in response "I would like to die quickly too but we have no choice. There is no escape: our torment will last for days and we must accept it. But to make it less unbearable, you have to be able to distract yourself to forget part of the pain. Tell me about your life, why did you try to desert? Justin cries in pain "I don't have the strength. This pain will drive me crazy! How to endure it for days? I do not answer because exhausted and desperate, I let myself fall again screaming in pain suspended by my wrists. The pain ruins my naked body on the cross but I can whisper "I don't know. I can't stand this torment either, and certainly not for days. But there is no way to avoid it. We are crucified, and we can do nothing but show the torture of our naked bodies. »
Justin can't distract me with the story of his life but I absolutely have to try to forget my own sufferings. The Sun has passed the zenith but the heat remains overwhelming, there is not a breath of air.
The soldiers have taken refuge under a vellum and play dice to pass the time. They must ensure that no one shortens our suffering or tries to free us.
Two of them stand up. One takes a bucket of water, the other a stool: they come to give us to drink not out of pity but to prolong our torment. I could try to refuse water to die faster but I am too thirsty, my chapped lips, pasty tongue and inflamed throat will force me to accept it even if it prolongs my agony.