Bemmon stopped struggling then and sagged weakly. For a moment it appeared that he would faint. Then he worked his mouth soundlessly until words came:

“You won’t⁠—you can’t⁠—really hang me?”

Lake spoke to him:

“We’re going to hang you. What you stole would have saved the lives of ten children. You’ve watched the children cry because they were so hungry and you’ve watched them become too weak to cry or care any more. You’ve watched them die each day and each night you’ve secretly eaten the food that was supposed to be theirs.

“We’re going to hang you, for the murder of children and the betrayal of our trust in you. If you have anything to say, say it now.”

“You can’t! I had a right to live⁠—to eat what would have been wasted on dying people!” Bemmon twisted to appeal to the ones who held him, his words quick and ragged with hysteria. “You can’t hang me⁠—I don’t want to die!”

Craig answered him, with a smile that was like the thin snarl of a wolf:

“Neither did two of my children.”

Lake nodded to Craig and Schroeder, not waiting any longer. They stepped back to seize the free end of the rope and Bemmon screamed at what was coming, tearing loose from the grip of Barber.

Then his scream was abruptly cut off as he was jerked into the air. There was a cracking sound and he kicked spasmodically, his head setting grotesquely to one side.

Craig and Schroeder and Barber watched him with hard, expressionless faces but Anders turned quickly away, to be suddenly and violently sick.

“He was the first to betray us,” Lake said. “Snub the rope and leave him to swing there. If there are any others like him, they’ll know what to expect.”