It was about three days of travel through Ireland, Spain and a short drive to a small coastal town in Portugal when Mr.Pruce was taken to a 120 foot luxury yacht that Serena and her older sister Felina rented for a nice cruise to St.Barts. Bengiman was overjoyed to see the beautiful dark eyed ladies, they were like sisters to him, being around them reminded him so much of his best friend Xation that it was a little difficult for him at times. Especially when Felina would laugh at one of his stories. He, many times, had to hold back a tear, now and again, when they all shared a memory of the firey tempered Xation.
So then, during the first few weeks of the summer of 2000, Bengiman Pruce enjoyed his freedom out on the water, in the sun; which toasted his skin a dark, rich, tan color as he was want to take a dip in the open sea whenever they dropped anchor. Hays, Serena, Felina and himself were waited on hand and foot by a small group of young Portugese women and an old, weather worn sea captian. The group feasted on fresh seafood and fish, along with crate after crate of red Spanish wine. The group would gather at a table on deck at sunrise and sunset and eat and sit and talk with one another, as old friends will always do. It was on such an occasion, a few days into their cruise to the Bahamas at sunset, when Bengiman turned the conversation to Charles. He was very curious as he knew Xation's family had attended his execution in Huntsville last year. Now here Mr.Pruce chose his words carefully as he did not want to upset their happy time together, but he was so intrigued he took a sip of wine and opened his mouth and this is what he asked.
"Did Charles suffer?" he paused as he saw the two lovely women both give him a shocked look. "You know when they..," he trailed off as he thought the wild eyed Felina would slap him across the face at any moment. She did not, however, she merely stood up from her chair on deck as the sea gulls flew overhead then she covered up her toned, well tanned, bikini clad body with a bright blue towel. She sighed in silence as she looked at her little sister shaking her head before she went down to her cabin to shower and have a good cry.
Serena sat there across the table from Bengiman and Hays as they sat there a moment longer in uncomfortable silence. Now Serena gave a soft sweet smile as warm as an embrace and then she said in a low clear voice. "No Bengiman, Charles did not suffer at all."
"Now that, dear lady, is a God Damned Shame!" he said very loudly as he reached across and took her tiny hands in his massive rough hands. The two of them looked into each other's eyes knowing their minds were of the very same thoughts, sharing an unspoken language that each knew all too well. And it was painful. Then after a while she took in a deep breath of the fresh ocean air and prayed to the Lord to give her the courage to explain the details of the trial and execution of Charles, about Leah and little Jason. Serena had sworn to her sister she would never speak of it, but she felt the pain not knowing had on her dear, big, teddy- bear of a friend so she said. "This is very difficult to speak of, as the past and myself are muy antipatico. But I will answer any questions you might have, because to do so otherwise would not be fair to you, who are like a brother to me and now I have none. So if you are to take Xation's place, and be my brother, then I will not keep the truth from you." she said supressing her tears as the pain of loosing Xation was still as fresh in her mind as a dagger to the heart.
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