Widow
toe...@lycos.com
"The crash of the drop, as usual, muffled the sighs of those startled or enticed by this ritual of justice, but my neighbor surprised me by sitting on the edge of her chair and peeping down the trap, nearly getting up to see the job done. I quickly tried to reassure her:
- Don't worry, dear. They will soon let us down to see he got his justice with our own eyes.
Her eyes flickered and her nostrils flared from the excitement.
- Yes, I know. I just wanted to see if his neck snapped when he bounced down there...
- I'm sure it did, honey. Natalia is a very competent hangwoman. You can always ask her when we go down there. – then I risked to be indiscreet and asked - You knew this man?
- Yes. He was my husband."
[Excerpt from the short story 'Let No Man Put Asunder']
