He said, “Lie still. Do you heardamn you? Lie still.”
She went limp suddenly, throwing her arms wide. One of her hands touched a heavy stone and her fingers closed round it. She tried to get the stone out of the ground.
Something was happening to her. She said: “Nonono” But one of his hands gripped her throat, and then, with a tremendous effort, she swung the stone wildly and hit him violently on the side of his head.
21
January 3rd, 11.45 p.m.
SNOW FELL heavily, but there was quite a crowd outside the State Prison gates.
Hogarty and Jay pushed their way through and showed their passes to the guard. They were glad to get inside for warmth.
Jay said, “It gets me why the hell those guys come to stand outside.”
Hogarty took off his coat. “They’re hopin’ to catch a glimpse of the executioner. They don’t know, but they haven’t got a chance. He comes in a side entrance.”
Jay looked round the bare room nervously. “I’ll be mighty glad when this is over,” he said. “I never liked executions.”