Story I thought of

[Dead-Beat-Nick]

Imagine a man is with a death sentence by firing squad. Maybe it's treason, maybe it's murder, or rape, we never know but the point is he's going to die because of something terrible he did. However, he tells the people he's innocent and he will be saved by something up there in proof of his innocence. We don't know his religion, he has a necklace chain around his neck, but he's always covering the icon at the bottom in prayer.

The moment is close. He's escorted in front of the firing squad blindfolded.

This moment lasts forever, and yet it comes too soon. He remains faithful, and they fire. He falls to his knees, with quick shallow breaths... but he doesn't fall down. The squad leader takes a step closer with someone to check vitals and the man breathes again like life was brought back to him. In fact, he wasn't hit by a single one of the five riflemen in the squad. Not even a scratch.

We take a moment to go back now and realize the first rifleman's rifle had a terrible alignment he neglected to check the previous day. The second rifle jammed, misfiring. The third closed his eyes as he squeezed the trigger and he jolted to aim above, accidentally missing. The fourth we find out grabbed a blank cartridge on accident when they were all supposed to use real ammunition, he was sure he hit him. The final rifleman refused to acknowledge responsibility for firing a fatal shot on any man and purposely aimed to miss.

Perhaps someone was looking out for him. While the man rejoices and the riflemen are astonished at the insane coincidence, the squad colonel pulls his pistol walking over to the man, rubs the barrel in the man's hair so his smile will disappear saying "Can he stop this one too?" and he fires the fatal blow.

The end.


Was the man innocent or guilty?

[Righteous]

Innocent, because if the firing squad failed to kill him, he has paid his justice to stand in front of a firing squad for execution. Which makes the colonel guilty of first degree murder.

In real life they would probably set him up again at a later date or just have him serve life in prison; Especially because it's cheaper!

[Dead-Beat-Nick]

Time period gives a good idea of this. Perhaps early 1800's when firing squads were ideal to other alternatives with the advances in guns and rifles. But anyway, it's my take on a more modern fable. Not too modern, but beyond the restrictions of reality of the situation.

As long as the colonel is set up as one who would go beyond justice and take it into his own hands. Ooo, perhaps he does it behind closed doors.