Invitation to a Beheading

That night, the scratching sounds are even closer, and Cincinnatus is convinced that the unseen digger must be nearing his cell. He is thrilled by the idea that he may be rescued soon. When morning comes, Rodion enters the cell. The scratching sounds are still audible. Emmie rushes in behind Rodion and finds a hiding place. She waits for Rodion to leave then attacks Cincinnatus in a playful manner. Emmie reveals that she has devised a plan to rescue him. She will do so the following day. She tells him that she wants to run away with him and marry him.

Cincinnatus wants to know more about her plan. When she whispers in his ear, he can only discern “a hot, moist and utterly unintelligible noise” (149). As Emmie continues to crawl over his bed and his body, he begins to feel sleepy. Rodion enters to remove Emmie. When they leave, Cincinnatus hears the scratching sound again. He is astounded to hear the sound during the daytime.

That evening, Pierre comes to the cell, smoking a meerschaum pipe and wanting to continue the previous day’s conversation about love. Rodrig enters, insisting that he simply wants to listen to Pierre’s conversation. Asking for no interruptions, Pierre talks effusively about love and romance. Rodrig agrees enthusiastically with Pierre’s descriptions of seasons, art, and food. Cincinnatus is consulted for his opinion on the conversation, which he dismisses as “dreary, obtrusive nonsense” (154). His sour mood ends the conversation, and Pierre exits with Rodrig. When the light goes out, Cincinnatus listens intently. Rodion enters to collect his stool but sits down and begins to nap. Cincinnatus questions him about the arrival of his executioner. Rodion immediately leaves. Cincinnatus spends the night mentally reviewing the two weeks he has spent waiting for his execution. He imagines the people he has met whirling around him with joined hands.

Late in the afternoon, the scratching sounds start again. Cincinnatus hears a louder noise and believes that this indicates some kind of breakthrough. He gathers what few belongings he has, hoping that the unseen digger will soon reach the cell. The wall collapses with a crash. As the dust clears, Pierre and Rodrig step through the cloud of debris. They are laughing at Cincinnatus and praising each other for their funny joke.

Pierre reveals that he dug the tunnel to visit his friend Cincinnatus whenever he wants. He wants Cincinnatus to come with him through the tunnel to have tea in his own cell. Cincinnatus crawls through the tunnel, which is narrow and uncomfortable, with “terrible, unmitigated dejection” (160). They emerge into Pierre’s cell covered in dust, so Pierre changes his outfit. Though they have identical cells, Pierre brags, he has decorated his living quarters. He has a calendar on his wall and a blanket on his cot. He also has “salacious photographs,” a fan, and many other items. Pierre praises their new friendship, but criticizes Cincinnatus’s sullen, spiteful attitude. He waits for the tea to be brought and takes out a key to a case. Inside is a “broad, shiny ax” (163). He reveals that he is the man who will execute Cincinnatus.

Pierre cancels the tea appointment and recommends that Cincinnatus return to his cell to rest. Everything, he says, will be explained tomorrow. He insists that Cincinnatus return through the tunnel. Cincinnatus crawls alone through the tunnel and is surprised to emerge into “one of the many turfy taluses” that are located around the fortress (164). He stands at the foot of the fortress walls. As he begins to walk, Emmie emerges from a bush and joins him. She leads him to the director’s apartment, where Rodrig is drinking tea with his wife and Pierre. Rodrig is shocked to see Cincinnatus. Pierre encourages Rodrig to let the new arrivals be, as “they are both children” (166). Emmie sits down and eats melon. Rodrig tells Cincinnatus to sit and wait. He will be taken back to his cell but, in the meantime, he is encouraged to look at a photohoroscope, made for Emmie by Pierre.

Cincinnatus looks at the spider in his cell. It seems to be well fed but is still hungry. Cincinnatus has some injuries from his recent experience; he is “a mass of scrapes and bruises” (169). The entrance to the tunnel has been sealed by two prison guards. Cincinnatus still has the photohoroscope. He examines the pictures inside, all of which show Emmie’s face superimposed onto those of other people. The photohoroscope claims to plan out Emmie’s life, all the way up until the age of 40, when she will supposedly die. Rodion removes the photohoroscope from the cell; Emmie will need it when she returns to school, he says. Rodion will be sad to see Emmie go. He is pleased, however, that Cincinnatus has stopped asking about the date of his execution.

Pierre enters, accompanied by Rodrig and Roman. The men sit at the table and, after pacing up and down, Cincinnatus joins them. The lawyer prepares to take notes. After a sip of water, Pierre outlines “what has already been accomplished” (173). He describes the way in which he pretended to be Cincinnatus’s friend and fellow prisoner, which, he claims, is part of the executioner’s craft. Executioners must form a bond of friendship with the people they plan to execute. He asks for Cincinnatus’s forgiveness. Rodrig glances expectantly at Cincinnatus but Pierre assures him that this request is only a formality. He now claims to know “the structure of Cincinnatus’s soul” (175). He asks Rodrig to formally introduce him to Cincinnatus. The director introduces M’sieur Pierre, “the performer of the execution” (176), but Pierre criticizes his technique. The execution, Pierre says, is scheduled for two days’ time in Thriller Square. First, however, he and Cincinnatus must visit the city fathers. According to tradition, Cincinnatus has the opportunity to say something, much to Rodrig’s annoyance. He remains quiet and the meeting ends. Pierre, Rodrig, and Roman exit, talking about execution methods. The librarian enters almost immediately to fetch the books. Cincinnatus refuses the offer of religious texts. He is upset that he never finished Quercus and hands back several Arabic books that were given to him by mistake. The librarian leaves.