The hangman, strong now in his assigned role, holds the convict steady before the rope, slowly pulling the thick loop over his grey balding hair befor... tightening the noose about his thin throat. Cautioning his client to remain still, the hangman walks off to the side of the platform and adjusts the length of the rope, long experience telling him the slack required. He returns to the man for a time, steadying him until the priest completes the hurried reading. The priest closes his drenched. I wanted to see You Mistress."She slapped him. Hard. His eyes lost focus at the blow for the moment.She kissed him."You should not be here." She whispered, stroking his face where her blow landed. "It is not proper, not like this." I love you."Her pale skin seemed to flush pale pink for the briefest moment. Her hand fumbled in one of her pouches. She withdrew a small jewel and clipped it to his collar."I have spoken to your mother." Oh." I will meet her mate-price." She ran her hand through his. After meeting with Ed I went to the head library and wandered around until I saw an office door that said HEAD LIBRARIAN on it. Picking up a magazine I sat down where I could watch the office door unobtrusively and waited. About half an hour later the door opened and a man about my age came out. He wasn't particularly handsome and would never stand out in a crowd. I wondered why she would risk our marriage for an affair with him.Now that I'd seen the "enemy" I left and headed for the local. "Ben stood up and put the telescope to his eye. He scanned the ground in front of them in a hundred and eighty-degree sweep, but there was nothing to see apart from rocks, grass, trees and some wildlife."I think we've lost him," he said."You can give up if you want, I'll never give up," replied Adam and the tone in his voice underlined his determination.Ben shrugged and the pair started forward again. Several hours later they still hadn't managed to pick up David's trail again and Ben knew that.