We are now very close to the top, I see that the crowd is rushing again on each side of the way.
A few steps and I arrived at the feet of an empty stipes. Benjamin is already placed in front of his, panting, head down, bent forward under the weight of his load.
The centurion approaches the crowd and shouts: "Horrea nostra incendere conati sunt hi qui rebellium. damnantur crucifigeretur. ut crucifigamus eos ibi. He orders. These two young men are rebels who tried to burn our attics. They are condemned to be crucified. Go ahead! Execution!
I see a guard take his knife and cut the rope holding Benjamin's loincloth completely stripping him in front of the raging crowd. I see him walking towards me. I feel a pull on the string and then see the loincloth fall to the ground revealing my sex.
I am totally naked for the second time today, but this time so, not only in front of Roman soldiers, but also in front of the vociferous crowd including a large number of women. I look down in shame because I can't cover myself with my hands. 'Oh Yahweh, why is that?' 'I whisper. I feel that tears are streaming down my cheeks.
They make fun of us. 'Ha! Ha! Said one of the guards. "They are less proud now, their tails are no longer rigid like this morning, they are all shriveled now!
Soldiers gather around me, my heart speeds up and panic looms over me. I am detached from the patibulum that falls to the ground behind me. I cover my sex with my hands but quickly two very strong slaves grab my arms.