In perhaps her last act of defiance, Joan Tree refused to drink the guards’ piss no matter how parched she was. Under the midafternoon sun, she is somewhat regretting her decision. Suffering from her thirst, she laps at the sweat coating her skin, what she could reach in the confines of the spikes holding her to the cross.
Meanwhile, at the Tree estate, Tree is forced to entertain a visitor. Across the table from him sits a woman from the University of the Virgin Martyrs, a learning institute in a place called Minnesota. Tree had never heard of the school or any place called ‘Minnesota’.
Gruffly he asks “What brings you to Namor?”
The woman replies “I am writing a book about the demagoguery women are subjected to when they run afoul with ruthless rulers and are…”
“Whoa” Tree exclaims. “Those are some big words I am not familiar with. What is your name again?”
The woman says “I am Professor Barbara Moore. I am writing a book about… um… the judicial reparations women are subjected to when they violate the laws of a land.”
Tree lights up a smoke and says “More words I don’t know. What is your book about?”
“Well, like the woman crucified on the hill outside of Namor” Professor Moore says.
“You mean my cousin Joan? She stole from the land. That is treason. Treason carries a death sentence, even if she is a woman” Tree bluntly explains.
“There are easier ways to put someone to death” Barbara says. “You don’t have to crucify someone to kill them.”
Tree takes a drink and offers Miss Moore one. She accepts and manages to suppress her scoff as she is served a deep red wine. She takes a drink and finds it quite palatable, much to her surprise. Tree asks her if she likes it and she admits she more of a Riesling drinker but finds the wine quite acceptable.
They talk for a while and Miss Moore protests (but accepts) when Tree pours her a third glass. By this time, and accompanied with a few of Tree’s Madame Wu’s smokes, Barbara Moore is a bit tipsy but still intent on researching her book. She again presses Tree saying “Isn’t condemning someone to death by crucifixion a little barbaric?”
Tree lights up another smoke and says “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.”
Miss Moore, under the warm Namor sun and influenced by the consumption of wine, has stripped off most of her clothes and says “So, crucifixion is your punishment for certain crimes. Do you know the guards are giving Joan their piss to drink to ease her thirst?”
Tree is outraged by this news. Angrily he says “My cousin is drinking the guards piss while she’s being put to death?”
“Yes, and in front of mere commoners” Barbara Moore declares. “What are you going to do about that?”
“I’m going to dock the guards a month’s pay” Tree exclaims.
“You aren’t going to take Joan down? Hasn’t she suffered enough” Barbara asks.
“Hell, no! She’s been sentenced to death on the cross” Tree says, angered by the suggestion.
Barbara pulls out a bottle of white wine and, with shaky hands pours herself yet another glass of wine. She looks at Tree’s quizzical face and says “It’s Riesling. Perhaps you could give some wine to ease her pain.”
Tree takes the bottle and goes up the hill. He looks up at Joan and sees the cross has taken a toll on her. Making small talk, he says “You look thirsty.”
Joan looks down at Tree and watches him take a drink from his glass. She groans and says “I am. But I will not drink another swallow of your guards’ piss!”
“I brought some wine. It is pretty good” Tree says, lying because he has never had any Riesling.
Joan agrees to try some.
She drains the sponge and asks “I don’t guess you will take me down from this thing.”
Tree shrugs and says “Sure, once you are dead…”
