LET THEM EAT CAKE!

     Duc André was the head of the Duchy of Rousseau in 1789 France. Robespierre and his men had defeated King Louis XVI in battle, and had His Majesty on the run. Duc André led a desperate attack against Robespierre’s troops, but were soundly defeated, with the Duc losing his life, and the Royal Family taken captive and returned to Paris to await their fates. The Duc’s three sons were fighting with their father, but in another section of the field of battle. 21-year-old Louis had black hair and eyes, stood 5’6” and weighed 150 lbs.  19-year-old Jacques, known to his friends as Jay, had brown hair and eyes, stood 5’10” and weighed 189 lbs. 18-year-old Pierre had light brown hair and blue eyes, stood 6’ tall and weighed 190 lbs.  When they heard that their father had fallen in battle, they fell back to regroup and decide what to do.

    With his father’s death, Louis was now the Duc, so he spoke first. “Listen, my brothers. I told our father that this battle was doomed from the start. The peasants will win! There is no future for our family in France, we must flee to England!”

    Jay spoke up immediately. “Duc Louis, I realize that you are the head of the family, but our father is dead! We must fight on to defend his honor and the honor of the Rousseau family! Besides, how can you give up? You were named after His Majesty, in fact His Majesty is your Godfather!”

     Pierre then spoke up. “Yes, Duc Louis! Our brother Jay is right! We must fight on and defend our lands and heritage! Forgive me for saying this, but only a coward would flee to England!”

     Louis then replied to his brothers. “So, you think we must stay and fight! Well, if you wish to do so, I won’t stop you. I for one, however, have no desire to lose my head to an angry mob. I hereby abdicate my ducal title to Jay! Adieu, my brothers. There is talk that there is a boat at the harbor in Brittany by the English Channel waiting to take French noblemen to safety in London. I shall be on it!” And with those parting words to Jay and Pierre, Louis mounted his white Arabian horse, and fled to the coast!

     With their brother on the run, Duc Jay took charge. “Pierre, first of all, thank God that our father and mother never heard their son confess to cowardice. It is a blessing that they are both dead. Now, we need to return to our lands and defend Castle Rousseau. I can’t believe that God would side with these peasants over us who have their best interests at heart. We need to stay strong, and we will defeat them and restore the monarchy. Now, go and bring General d’Aubry to me. He was my father’s most trusted aide. We need his wisdom to help us safely back to Castle Rousseau.”

     “I will go at once, Duc Jay!” Pierre then mounted his white Arabian, and rode to the far end of the camp, where he found the tent of General d’Aubry.

     “General d’Aubry, come with me! My lord, the Duc, wishes to hear your counsel.”

     “At once! Men, wait here, I must go with the Duc’s brother.” And without another word, he mounted his black stallion, and they headed to Duc Jay’s tent.

     They pulled up and went inside. The general was surprised to see Jay and not Louis. “Jay, where is the Duc? Your brother, Pierre, came to my tent and said he wanted to see me.”

     “You are correct, mon general! However, I am the duc, not my brother Louis!”

     “I am afraid I still do not understand, Duc Jay!”

     “It is simple. When we got word that my father had died in battle, my brothers and I held a council to decide what steps to take. At that council, my brother Louis turned coward, abdicated the dukedom to me and is now on his way to a boat in Brittany to bring him and other cowardly nobles to England. My brother, Pierre, and I decided to stay and fight for my dukedom. Will you swear allegiance to me as your duc, and lead us safely back to Castle Rousseau, so that we may defend our land and title?”

     “Of course, Duc Jay! The d’Aubry family has served the ducs d’Rousseau for hundreds of years. But we must leave tonight, under cover of darkness. It is a long ride through hostile lands. If we leave as the sun sets, we should arrive at Castle Rousseau before the dawn.”

     That night, General d’Aubry, Duc Jay and the duc’s brother, Pierre left alone for the ride to Castle Rousseau. As they rode, Duc Jay asked about the General’s troops still in camp. “Mon General, what of your troops? Why do they not ride with us?”

     “Duc Jay, a large force would have attracted unwanted attention. We are three men out for a moonlight ride. No one will challenge us.”

     “A wise decision. What provisions have you made for their safety?”

     “They will be dead by morning. That is why I insisted we leave tonight. My spies told me that after the battle yesterday, that Robespierre’s men planned a midnight attack on our campsite, aided by the full moon. I have told no one, not even my aide-de-camp. There is not even a guard posted. Our men will probably be slaughtered in their sleep, at least the lucky ones will be. The others will soon feel the kiss of Madame Guillotine!”

     “Great work, mon general! First, had we brought them safely to Castle Rousseau, we would have had to feed them all, which could be a daunting task were the castle be put under siege. And the slaughter of those troops will keep Robespierre’s men busy, so that they will not follow us. What are the lives of a few hundred men compared to the life of their duc?”

     “Yes, or that of His brother!” replied Pierre.

     The three men continued their journey to Castle Rousseau. Duc Jay’s only regret was that he had to leave his father’s body on the field of battle. It would have made the men too noticeable if they had a dead body with them. He resolved that as soon as matters settled down that he would seek out his father’s body and bury it with their ancestors at Castle Rousseau, or failing that, he would build a massive memorial to his father using the peasants living on his lands to pay for and perform the labor necessary to accomplish this feat. Just as dawn broke over the horizon, the men arrived at Castle Rousseau. They were welcomed by their loyal servants, who saw that they had a good meal, followed by a luxurious bath. They then retired to their bedchambers for a well-deserved sleep.

     Meanwhile, as General d’Aubry had told Duc Jay, Robespierre’s troops attacked the duc’s forces as they slept. A couple hundred of the duc’s forces were slain in their tents as they slept. The rest, about 100 young men, awoke and saw that there was no hope of escape. They surrendered, hopeful of mercy from their captors. Such was not to be their fate, however. They were bound, placed in cages, and transported back to Paris for show trials that would be followed by dates with Madame Guillotine. Along the way, the peasant populace pelted their cages with rotten fruits and vegetables, and rained curses down upon their heads. Before they began their journey to their doom, several senior officers were asked about the whereabouts of the late duc’s three sons and General d’Aubry. None knew where the men were. Upon thoroughly searching the camp, Robespierre’s men realized that the main prizes had escaped, and most likely were headed for Castle Rousseau. Immediately, a large force set out in pursuit, intent on bringing the four men to justice!

     The duc, Pierre and the general had been asleep only a few hours when frightened servants awakened them. While they slept, Robespierre’s men as well as peasants from the duc’s lands had totally surrounded Castle Rousseau.

     Robespierre’s forces sent in a letter to the duc demanding the surrender of the castle and all of its occupants. It offered freedom, liberty and lands to the servants, but for the duc, his brothers and General d’Aubry the letter demanded their immediate and unconditional surrender and that they pay for their crimes against their fellow Frenchmen.

     Duc Jay read the letter with disgust and anger! He couldn’t believe that someone would DEMAND that he surrender and pay for his crimes! “CRIMES, WHAT CRIMES! My family and I have been benevolent masters to the peasants for generations. They would have nothing without our family’s benevolence! We shall stand against this criminal Robespierre and his minions! We know what is best for the peasants far more than Mssr. Robespierre! We shall NOT surrender!”

     The reply was sent out to Robespierre’s men, who increased their stranglehold on the castle, putting it under siege, and not allowing bread or water to come in to the castle, nor any men to come out, except under flag of surrender. The siege went on for a month, during which several servants snuck out at night and surrendered to Robespierre’s troops. True to their word, the troops allowed the servants to leave without harm, and they even gave them some lands confiscated from nearby duchies. And despite his best efforts, Duc Jay was unable to get food or supplies into Castle Rousseau. Conditions in the castle were rapidly deteriorating, and should the defections to the other side continue, it was almost a certainty that the castle would be attacked and very likely fall to Robespierre’s men. Duc Jay therefore called a war council meeting between himself, his brother Pierre and General d’Aubry.

     “General d’Aubry, how much longer can we hold out against these accursed rebels?”

     “Duc Jay, if things do not change, the castle will be out of food and water within a week, and shortly thereafter the rebels will attack us, and I see no prospects for us to repel successfully such an attack!”

     Pierre spoke up. “Is there nothing we can do? Our family has ruled from Castle Rousseau for centuries!”

     General d’Aubry replied, “There is one chance, a small one, but a chance. I will sneak out under cover of darkness. It should be possible for one man to sneak past their forces. Should I succeed, I will try to reach Castle Montpelier. The ruler there was your father’s closest ally. I will bring his troops back, and hopefully break the siege. Should I fail, of course, then all is lost!”

     “I do not know, Duc Jay! Can we trust the general? What if he defects to save his own neck? I think it is too risky!”

     “Pierre, I am surprised at you! I and my family have served your family faithfully for generations!”

     “The general is right, Pierre. Their family has been our faithful servants for over a hundred years. Besides, what choice do we have? We will be captured for sure if we do not attempt this!”

     “You are right of course, Duc Jay! We have no choice!”

     It was agreed that General d’Aubry would sneak out of the castle shortly before midnight and head for Castle Montpelier. If his mission were successful, he would return with a large enough force of men to break the siege. Once the siege was broken, he and the men would report to Duc Jay in the castle with arms, food and water.

     The general left that evening, as agreed. For the next three days, there was no news, and Duc Jay and his brother Pierre were wondering whether the mission would succeed or fail. On the fourth day after the general’s departure, Duc Jay was looking out of the windows of the castle, and saw a force clad in the colors of the monarchist forces battling Robespierre’s men. The battle raged for several hours, but suddenly the royalists broke through the line, and entered the castle. Robespierre’s men fled in disarray, ending the siege of the castle. Seeing this, Duc Jay immediately went to his audience chamber with his brother to await the arrival of General d’Aubry and the royalists. Both Duc Jay and Pierre were seated on their thrones, when General d’Aubry and his troops entered the audience chamber.

     “General d’Aubry, on behalf of my brother Pierre and the entire house of Rousseau, congratulations on a totally successful mission. Now we can drive the hated Robespierre and his men even further back, and restore the Bourbon dynasty to its rightful place on the throne!”

     “Men, in the name of citizen Robespierre, I command you to immediately take into custody Jay, the former duc d’Rousseau and his brother and former heir, Pierre!”

     “WHAT! Is this a joke??? You would dare betray your duc after all that he and his family have done for you?”

      “I hate to say it, duc Jay, but I told you not to trust General d’Aubry! If this is not a joke, we are both doomed!”

     Ignoring their protests, General d’Aubry and his men surrounded both Jay and Pierre and securely bound them both.

     “Jay Rousseau, had you not been so arrogant and cocksure of yourself, you and those like you would probably be living in your castles to a ripe old age. But you, like so many others in your station of life, took for granted that you could use and abuse your fellow citizens without penalty. I knew that my family and I would never be free of your yoke. In fact, by remaining loyal to you, I was condemning my family and I to sharing your fate. That is why I went, not to Castle Montpelier, but to Robespierre’s general leading the siege instead. It was simplicity itself to dress some of his men as royalists and stage a fake battle for your benefit. Once you saw the “royalists” win the battle, I knew you would open the gates of the castle.”

      “YOU TRAITOR! MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BURN IN HELL!!! AND I COMMAND YOU TO RELEASE MY BROTHER AND ME! HOW DARE YOU TOUCH OUR NOBLE PERSONAGES!”

     “Men, listen to the arrogance of the aristocracy! This is what we are fighting against! Now, take them to the dungeons! We must interrogate them while we await our other guest!”

     “What other guest? I demand that you answer me, d’Aubry!”

     “You demand! How rich is that! It is I who is in charge here; your rule is over, Rousseau! But I will answer your question. Even as we speak, Citizen Robespierre’s troops approach Brittany and the aristocracy planning to flee to England. The other aristocrats will be sent to Paris to await their fates, but your cravenly brother, Louis, is to be brought back here to suffer with his brothers.”

     With that, the two brothers were dragged cursing and struggling through the castle to the dungeons below. The same dungeons where the brothers had helped their father and his torturers torture their unfortunate prisoners, whose only crime was that of taking game necessary to feed their families. It wasn’t the peasants’ fault that the game had run onto the private lands of the Rousseaus. As they entered the dungeon, they were greeted by the sounds of ungodly screaming. The brothers looked around, and saw there on the rack the naked body of their older brother, Louis. Apparently, Robespierre’s men had already returned him to the castle. He was being interrogated by Marcel, one of their father’s best torturers.

     Marcel turned the wheel, stretching Louis’ limbs out much further than they were designed to be. “Louis Rousseau, do you confess to murdering and maiming your subjects?”

     “AAAAAA! YES, I CONFESS!! PLEASE STOP THE PAIN!! MY JOINTS ARE ABOUT TO POP OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS!”

     “Louis Rousseau, do you confess to stealing the wives and daughters of your subjects for your own enjoyment?” As he asked this, he turned the wheel again. There was a popping sound followed by a scream from Louis, who fainted. Marcel waited for Louis to regain consciousness, and then he asked the question again.

     “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I will confess to anything. But please, no more pain!”

     General d’Aubry heard this, and told Marcel to stop. “Release Louis Rousseau from the rack and return him to his cell. His own words have condemned him! He shall feel the kiss of Madame Guillotine as soon as she arrives!”

     “No! Not that! Not the guillotine! I’m only 21! I’m too young to die! Help me, somebody, anybody, please!”

     Then in desperation, Louis looked around the room, and saw his brothers Jay and Pierre. Duc Jay, I am your loyal subject! Save me, I beg of you!”

     The general spoke again! Jay and Pierre are my prisoners as well. They have no power to save you. Now to your cell with you, and I suggest you pray for forgiveness for the crimes you have admitted here. Guards, take him away, NOW!”

     Before Louis could reply, two burly guards dragged him from the room. Jay and Pierre heard their older brother pleading and crying until finally the cries were too far away for them to hear.

     “Guards, take Jay and Pierre, and bind their wrists with the manacles which hang from the dungeon ceiling. Make sure they are bound facing each other. Once they are bound, cut off their shirts.”

     Both Jay and Pierre protested as one. “Unhand us! How dare you peasants dare touch our aristocratic persons! Untie us now!”

    The guards mocked the two young men. “Forgive us, your graces! You are quite right. We shouldn’t even breathe the same air as you, masters. And soon enough we won’t! Just as soon as we remove those pompous heads from your bodies!”

    Within minutes, despite their protests, Jay and Pierre found themselves bound, shirtless and facing each other.

     One of the guards asked Marcel a question. “Marcel, I know that aristocrats are supposed to have blue blood, not red. But I was wondering about their seed. My papa once told me that their seed is blue too!”

     “Well, there is just one way to find out. I will jack off Jay Rousseau while you jack off his brother, Pierre! When they cum, you will have your answer.”

     Jay and Pierre immediately began struggling against their bonds. Jay said, “How dare you! I forbid you to touch my aristocratic person, swine!”

     Marcel laughed and said, “Oh, you forbid it, do you! Well, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re no longer in charge!” With that, he undid Jay’s pants, while the guard undid Pierre’s.

     The guard began jacking off Pierre, remarking to Marcel, “WOW! This aristo has 9” cock with two hen sized balls! Very impressive for an aristo!”

     Marcel replied, “That’s nothing! The former duc over here has a full 12’ cock and two ostrich sized eggs! What a pity he’s an aristo! All that equipment, wasted!”

     Both Jay and Pierre continued to object as Marcel and the guard continued jacking them off. However, their dicks began to harden and soon much to their embarrassment, they both began to moan with intense pleasure. This went on for several more minutes, with the guards and others laughing at the two aristos, who were both protesting their treatment, while at the same time their bodies were betraying intense gratification at the attention they were getting. Then, almost at the same time, they both shot ropes of hot, steamy cum, as they hung their heads in shame.

     “Well, guard, there’s your answer. I don’t know how blue their blood is, but their cum is as white as yours or mine!”

     “Yes, I see that! I was so sure that papa was correct!”

     “Well, guards, now that that’s settled, we need to get these two to confess their crimes. Bring me my cat o’nine-tails!”

     “Here you are, Marcel. Which one will get to feel the cat’s whiskers first?”

     “Marcel, why are you doing this to us? We have taken care of your family for years!”

     “Jay Rousseau, it is true that you have taken care of my family for years. Do you remember my son Francois?”

     “Yes, he and I are the same age. We grew up as best friends in the castle. Why do you ask?”

     “When was the last time you saw Francois?”

     “It was about a year ago, I was best man at his wedding to the girl from the village, Josephine.”

     “He and Josephine had a son, Philippe. Times were hard for a newly married couple with a baby to feed. Francois took his gun and went out to hunt. He saw a prized buck in the woods. He shot it, and his aim was perfect. Unfortunately, the buck did not drop immediately, but ran further into the woods before he collapsed. Francois went to collect his buck, but as he was in the process of butchering it, your father’s men surrounded him! He didn’t realize it, but the buck had crossed the invisible line between the public woods and your father’s private woods.”

     “Surely he could have explained!”

     “He tried, and so did I. But the great Duc André would hear none of it. He ordered Francois to undergo torture in the dungeon to force him to confess his crime. And as punishment for my defending my only son, he ordered me to be his torturer!”

     “If my father did not believe him, then Francois must have truly been guilty. He must have shot the buck on my father’s lands. And as to you being forced to torture him, surely you could have refused.”

     “You damn Rousseaus! Always believing that you are right, and those less fortunate are wrong! And as to me refusing, I would have then been tortured alongside my son, charged with treason. Oh, the things I had to do to that poor boy! First, he was stripped and given 50 lashes with this very cat-o-nine-tails. Then his scarred and bleeding body was strapped down to that rack, the one your brother just rode. I started with milder tortures. I drove white-hot splinters under his fingernails and toenails, all the time begging him to confess. He refused, insisting he had done nothing wrong, that the buck had been shot in the public forest. So I had to continue to torture my son, marring that handsome physique. I brought out thumb and finger screws, and broke every one of his fingers and thumbs. When that didn’t work, I put his feet into a wooden vise, and broke both his feet. He still refused to confess, and called the duc many vile names for not believing him. Finally, I was ordered to ensure a confession, as the duc’s patience was wearing thin. I was ordered to use the terrible force of the rack. I began to turn the wheels, very slowly, and stopping after every three turns. My poor son begged and cried for mercy, for the pain to stop. But when I asked him to confess, he refused, saying, ‘Father, I am guiltless of any crime! I have done nothing wrong!’”

     “Finally, I heard a sound which will haunt me to the end of my days! I heard a massive cracking sound, followed by my son’s low moaning. His shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles had all dislocated at once! The low moan was the only sound my son could make. Then he fainted from the pain and shock. Because of the arrogance of your father, I had turned my son into a cripple! And do you know what your dear father said to me?”

    “He probably said that if Francois had admitted his guilt, that none of this would have been necessary!”

     Marcel was livid and slapped Jay across his face! “No, Jay! Your father told me to revive my son and force him to confess, and if he did not confess, I was to use the rack as an execution device, and tear my sons body into pieces with it! I awoke Francois, who was still weak from the pain and shock. I told him that all the pain would end if only he would say the words ‘I confess’. I begged him to say the words; I told him they were only words, nothing more. Finally, from a mixture of his pain and my tears, he did say those dreadful words! He said them, and then the duc ordered me to release him. I was grateful, thinking that finally Francois’ punishment was at an end. But I was so wrong! Your father ordered the confiscation of Francois’ house and lands, and ordered Francois to take his wife and infant son, and to leave France forever. I told your father that Francois could never make such a journey with his broken body, and that his wife and infant son could not survive without a man to provide for them. He said that Francois should have thought of all that when he poached the stag on the duc’s lands! Francois and I were taken back to Francois’ house, where a cart and horse were readied. Francois and his infant son were laid on the cart, with his wife on the horse. Then the house was burned to the ground with all their possessions in it, and the lands were plowed under. The livestock were spared, but taken back to this castle, property of the duc. Then Josephine was ordered to lead the cart to the east and the Germanic lands. She was followed to the border, and was told that if any of the three of them ever re-entered France, their lives would be forfeit!”

     “What happened to the poacher and his family?”

     Marcel struck Jay again. “You and my son played together as children, you were best man at his wedding, and you DARE call him a poacher, and not even use his name! My poor son died from massive internal injuries shortly after crossing the French border. His wife and son were left to starve, and in an act of desperation, Josephine defied your father’s orders and re-entered France. She returned to her parents’ house, but the duc found out. He sent two of his most brutal guards. They found the unfortunate mother and child playing in a garden by a stream. They took Josephine and bound her. Then they made her watch while they took the little child by the ankles and dashed his brains out on the rocks! While she was still screaming, they took her down to the stream and drowned her. Finally, they built a large bonfire, and threw both of the bodies into it. All was burned, there was nothing left of either Josephine or little Philippe!”

    Pierre then said, “Well, she got what she deserved! She and the child would still be alive if she had obeyed my father’s command!”

    “Enough, you sons of a rabid dog! It is time for my cat to taste your tender aristocratic flesh!” And with that, Marcel began striking both young men, first one and then the other, all the while screaming, “Confess your guilt!”

     But these young men were so cock-sure of themselves that they would not admit to any crimes, although they did cry out over and over again at the intense pain. When Marcel saw that they would not confess, he ordered Pierre taken down and placed on the rack. He left Jay still bound to watch his younger brother’s suffering.

     “Jay, we have done nothing wrong. These peasants would have nothing without the aid of our family. Stay strong, my brother! Even if I cry out from this unjust torture, do not confess. God is on our side!”

     “I will definitely stay strong, dear brother. And you as well, steel yourself. Do not confess to anything, even to end the pain.”

     “You evil swine! Do you know that the entire time my son was on this rack, he was praying to God to release him! Now we will see if God hears Pierre’s prayers for mercy!”

     With that, Marcel gave the wheel 10 rapid turns! Pierre screamed, begged and prayed to God to end his suffering, but neither he nor Jay confessed. Marcel then decided to turn the wheel 10 more turns, but on the seventh turn, he heard the same sounds from Pierre and Pierre’s body that he had heard from his son when he was forced to torture him. But even the sight of Pierre’s once handsome body, indeed the handsomest of the three brothers, now broken and crippled did not move Jay’s cold heart to confess his crimes.

     General d’Aubry then said, “Enough! It is obvious that neither man will confess unless we kill them, and we intend to give that honor to Madame Guillotine. Marcel’s testimony and their replies concerning Marcel’s family are enough to condemn them to the deepest depths of Hell! Take them to the cells. Place them in separate cells so that they may not converse with one another! It is so ordered on behalf of Citizen Robespierre!”

    The men were taken to the cells, and left in isolation. For a week, they were fed only dry bread and tepid water. They were not allowed to change their clothing or even bathe or shave, and were forced to urinate and defecate in a small hole in a corner of their cell, the same treatment that they used to impose on their prisoners. A week went by, and they were forcibly taken from their cells and had their hands bound behind their backs, and their ankles likewise bound. They were then dragged up out of the dungeon to a waiting dung cart, used to collect the livestock dung for use as fertilizer. They were placed standing in this cart with their feet in the dung piles, and their arms tied to rungs on the side of the cart. This was very painful, especially for Pierre, who had been crippled on the rack. The cart then made its way through the castle gates to a greensward about a mile away. The path was lined with peasants who formerly had lived under their unjust rule. The peasants began pelting the men with rotten fruits, vegetables, and even dung balls, as well as insults!

    “Oh, Marc! What is that smell? Oh, it’s just the Rousseau brothers! HAHAHA!”

    “Here you go, aristocrats! Here’s some nice warm crap, like you fed us for years!”

    Jay shouted back, “How dare you repay my family’s benevolence this way! I command you to stop!”

    “Did you hear that, Henri? His lordship commands us to stop! Well, listen here, you brash young pup! I command you to lose your head! Care to guess which one of us will succeed?”

     And so it continued until the cart stopped, and the men saw the portable guillotine that had been brought to their castle to end their lives.

     General d’Aubry addressed the crowd. “Fellow citizens, today we take one more step in removing the yoke that the royalists and aristocrats have had around our neck for centuries! Today, we shall decapitate four members of the former duchy of Rousseau, who have evilly tortured and murdered our parents, husbands, wives and children!”

     The brothers were confused. There were only three of them, yet General d’Aubry had clearly said that FOUR members of the family would lose their heads today. Who was the fourth member?

     Their confusion did not last long. General d’Aubry read the first order of execution for André, the former duc of Rousseau.

     Jay thought, “André, but that is father, and he died on the battlefield. What is going on here?”

     “The criminal, André, former duc of Rousseau, died treasonously while fighting against Citizen Robespierre’s troops, but his crime was deemed so foul that his body was brought here and kept on ice in one of his freezers.”

     With that, the body of André was bound to the bascule, and lowered. Then the lunette was closed around his head, and the drumroll began. Thirty seconds later, the drumroll ended and the blade dropped, and with it, André’s head dropped into the waiting basket.

     General d’Aubry picked up the head from the basket and said, “Thus die all traitors to the French people!” The crowd cheered wildly, while Jay and Pierre stood stoically as their father’s head was displayed. The general then dropped the head back in the bucket. The sight of it was too much for Louis, however. He began to cry and moan and beg for mercy.

     “Please! I am only 21! I will go into exile! Please let me live.”

    While he was still pleading, two strong men entered the cart and undid his bonds tying his arms to the cart. “Thank you, kind sirs! You are releasing me! I promise you’ll never see me again!”

    “You’re right about us not seeing you again! You’re next!”

    And before Louis could even cry out in protest, General d’Aubry read out the order of execution for Louis, former duc of Rousseau.

     Hearing the grim order, Louis became a wild man, pulling and tugging at his bonds to get free. But he was no match for his captors, who dragged him crying and screaming up the steps of the guillotine and then strapped him into the bascule. He was lowered into position, still screaming and crying, and the lunette was closed around his neck. Jay and Pierre turned away, disgusted at how cowardly their brother was behaving. After the drumroll ended, the blade dropped, and only then did the cries and screams of Louis stop. In fact, when General d’Aubry held up the head, it looked to the citizens as if Louis was still screaming in death.

     Jay stood tall and straight in the cart as the guards returned. “I am ready to go with you, although I forbid you to touch my person!”

     One of the guards replied, “You’re not going anywhere! We’re here for your brother! Let’s go, you young pup! Damn, this one’s crippled. We’ll have to carry him!”

     General d’Aubry read the order of execution for Pierre, former heir to the former duc of Rousseau.

    So they grabbed Pierre, one by the hands and one by the feet, and carried him to the guillotine. Pierre tried to remain stoic, but couldn’t help cry out at the pain from his body’s injuries. They finally laid him on the bascule and fastened him to it. Then they lowered him, and closed the lunette, bloody with the blood of his brother, Louis. Pierre was horrified to feel the blood of that coward, and closed his eyes at the thought that someone as great as he would die by the same instrument as that excuse for a man! This time, Jay watched intently! “Die well, my brother, I will join you and papa soon.”

     The drumroll started up, it seemed to last forever. Finally, it stopped and the guillotine claimed another Rousseau head. Once again, the general held up the head before re-depositing it in the basket.

     The general read the final order. “The execution is hereby ordered for Jay, former duc of Rousseau! Guards, bring the prisoner!”

    The guards entered the cart one final time to take Jay to the guillotine. He again commanded them not to touch his body. “Very well, we won’t!”

    With that, one of the guards produced a rope with a noose at one end. The noose was thrown over Jay’s head and pulled snug. They then led Jay to the guillotine, as if he were livestock. They lowered Jay onto the bascule, removed the noose and secured him. As they were lowering him so that the lunette could encircle his head, his bare chest came in contact with the blood of his younger brother, Pierre. Then, as his head was confined, he looked down at the basket, and saw the heads of his father, André and brother Pierre looking back at him as if waiting for him to join them. He could only see the back of Louis’ head, as his head had landed facedown when the general dropped it back in. When the drumroll started, the emotions overtook him, and he came right on the bascule! Then the blade dropped, and Jay’s head joined the others. General d’Aubry picked up the head, and said for the final time, “Thus die all traitors to the French people”, before dropping it back in the basket.

     As the crowd dispersed, Marcel turned to the general and said, “Did you see the look on Jay’s face, even in death?”

     “Yes, it was a look of almost righteous indignation! The fool was arrogant to the end!”

     “By the way, General, what shall we do with the bodies?”

     “Did not the family have a garbage heap on the property to dispose of waste?”

     “Yes, General. Why do you ask?”

     “Dump their remains on the garbage heap. Good riddance to bad rubbish!”

     “Gladly, General! It will be done at once!”