happening. It IS permissible, sir."
112 Morn knew that was risky. Broadcasting the executions could start
the whole damned mess all over again. But the word would get out sooner
or later anyway. Better to get it over with now, while they still had
troops in the city to handle any trouble.
113 "Very well," agreed Morn, "they may broadcast, but if they've taken
any downstairs recordings I want them confiscated. What those people
went through is bad enough. They don't have to have people seeing them
like that."
114 "Yes, sir!" the Officer saluted and moved off.
115 Morn summoned his courage, tried to remember how that damned speech
went. He'd read it one-hundred times but never used it, never WANTED to
use it, but now he HAD to. He reached the first man who was looking at
him in terror. Morn reached out, took the man's I.D. tags from around
his neck.
116 "Having reviewed the evidence against you," Morn began, "and taken
into consideration all circumstances, I find you guilty of the crime of
murder most foul, and with the authority put upon me by The Lord God, I
sentence you, this day, and this hour, to be burned unto death for that
crime that you have committed. As I have said, so shall it be done."
117 The first man shivered a little, then nodded.
118 "This Officer," continued Morn, "will take your last statement.
Keep it brief. There is a Priest at hand, should you want him."
119 Thirty-nine more times Morn delivered the sentence of death. Three
of the murderers were boys, barely older than North's dead son. But
having seen what they did on the recording, Morn could not even
consider mercy, even though he wished with all his soul, he could.