Ten hollow-eyed men, ill-fed, tortured, sentenced to hard labor and death, were marched into the courtyard.
Ten soldiers, faces flushed in the glaring sunlight, formed a line, then executed the order to "Fire!"
Ten men lay dead or dying in the hot and blowing sand. Church bells rang out the noon hour. Somewhere a donkey brayed a nervous laugh.
The dictator took several sips of cool water, rose languidly from his chair, raised his hand and issued the command:
"Bring in the next ten men!"
Ten soldiers, faces flushed in the glaring sunlight, formed a line, then executed the order to "Fire!"
Ten men lay dead or dying in the hot and blowing sand. Church bells rang out the noon hour. Somewhere a donkey brayed a nervous laugh.
The dictator took several sips of cool water, rose languidly from his chair, raised his hand and issued the command:
"Bring in the next ten men!"
