View source for Not enough punishment

[[Category:Player Created Fiction]]

=Preface=
''Not enough punishment'' is a piece of [[:Category:Player Created Fiction|Player Created Fiction]] written by [[Herko Kerghans (Character)|Herko Kerghans]] as one of his many Children's Tales.  Originally published in the EVE-online forums [http://www.eveonline.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=218178].



=Not enough punishment=

They tell, but perhaps it is not true (for only God is burdened with all-knowing, and by His mercy He spares us the knowledge of Everything) that once a pious Holder had his Advisor called for he was greatly troubled.

“Everywhere in my land there is order and prosperity. God (may He bless the lands I rule in His Name) is respected in every corner. His Law is followed. My subjects thrive, yet they do not respect me. Why?”

The Advisor answered dryly: “Not enough punishment.”

For a day the Holder pondered, deeply troubled by his advisor’s remark, and had him called again to his chambers the next morning.

“True perfection is found only in God (may His wisdom always illuminate our path), yet to the best of my abilities no sin in this land goes without retribution and no crime is left unpunished. Escaped slaves are killed; robbers are mutilated; whoever speaks against God (may He punish the heretics in His eternal Hell forever!) has his tongue torn off. The Law of God is enforced, the laws of the Emperor are followed, and I do my best to enforce proper rules on whatever is left on my hands to decide. My subjects follow the Law, the laws and the rules, yet they do not respect me. Why?”

The Advisor stared and replied: “Not enough punishment.”

A week the Holder spent in meditation and deep reflection until he sent for his advisor again.

“I do not understand”, he said.

“My Lord” bowed his head the Advisor, “God (may we always bask in His wisdom) gave His Law to men, yet He is not subjected to His Law, and He is above It. Thus His Law we follow, yet it is He who we fear and respect.”

“On the contrary my Lord, you only punish the guilty; the innocent who respect the Law, the laws and the rules has nothing to fear from you. Innocents have not enough punishment.”

The Holder stood in though for a few moments, then ordered his Advisor beheaded along with three other court members he chose right then and there according to his whim.

The beheading was the first of many.