The Gallows (based on the novella “The Captain’s Daughter”)

By Katja Stroke-Adolphe

Thetraitorwhohangedhistraitors,Bespatteredbybloodoftheinnocentvictimsofhisfate,Awaitinginhisexecutiontheirs,Hismercyforgotten,Buthisterrorrememberedinthehanginglimbsofdeath,Hangingstillonthefrostymistofthegallows.CaptainMironov,Hisbodylifeless,DanglingfromtheropefromwhichIdidescape.HisbraveandtruedefianceOfdefiancetohisnobleruler,ProvedanendIsorrow,AndforthevillaintoperhapsregretAmongthewoefulactsofdeathThrownbyhisself‐declaredreign,Toomuchtocount,toomanytorepay.Alifeofdeath,asaberatthecaptain’swife’shead.Awordtooquickofmindinpowerofinjustice.Allfaithfulservantsofourcause,Todeathwerehangedwithoutapause.DeclaredbutnotundeclaredlikemineSonearandyetsofarByonehare‐skincoatForthevillaintoremember.Hismercygivenbythemood,Butdeathlikeaserpentclungtodoom,Mydarlingorphaned.Loveawavetosorrow’shand,Thecaptain’sdaughterbymyloveandShvabrin’sFatedbyourlove,hisinpoisonedjealousy,Tofightaduelbyriver’sfrostofpaininhate,Topushhimtotheriver’sdrowningedgeButunedgedbyavoice,myservantcallingme,HisdidplungemeintodarknessNotsleepbutnotawakeLikedeathaheavyshadowinafallengraveButtomywake,anangelbrightwasmycaptain’sdaughter,Herhandagentleroseoflife,Endingmyunendingstrife,AloveunmatchablemadeamatchButfortuneunfortunatepartedByaletterofunconsent.Myfather,cooltoheart,

Alovetopassingfancy,Consentednottomymostvigorousplea,ByothermouthheardoftheduelAndplungedmiseryOnmebyletter’swords.Myblazingloveburnedfireofdespair,Myloveavoidingme,Myhearttrappedinalion’slair,Itrappedmyselfwithinmygrief,MylifeabandonedbyabandonedpainOfloveungrantedinsideorunderneath,Thehope,Thelifeunlifed.ThepretenderonalyingthroneOflyingtodeathofpaininvasion.ThegallowsilluminatedbydoomIndoomedbydoomeddespair.Thecaptain’sdaughterhiddenButunhiddenyetrecoveredbyalie,Mylovenotsafeinsafety.ThepretenderletmegoButasheawaitshisdeathbyexecutionIamtriedforhelpinghim.Thetraitorcountsthesunrisesinwaitfordeath,AsIsitinthisprisonindarkpain,TosavemyselfI’dneedtotellthetruth,TotellthetruthI’dneedtomentionthecaptain’sdaughter.Asthetraitortriestocounthisvictimsdead,Iwrestletoprotectmyloveandunprotectmyself.NowfreeamIbyhermoststeadyword.Towatchthetraitorwalktotherope,Wherehewillfacehisvictim’sdoom.Hiseyesconnecttomineforbutamoment,Hiseyesalreadydeadoflight.Theropepulledbytheexecutioner’stremblinghand,Endingthelifeofamanwhoendedsomanylives.Killingatraitorwhokilledsomanyofhistraitors.Hangedfromthegallowsofhisvictims.Themanwhowassomercifultome,Themanonwhomnomercywasshown,Themanwhohangedmydarling’sparents,Themanwhonowhungfromtheirgallows, Thatman,Pugachev,Thepretender,Thetraitor,Andtheselfdeclaredsovereign,Isdead.