The already frantic murmur of the crowd turned into an audible gasp as I made my way into the square where the villagers had convened, outside of Oddwen’s house. I could feel my pale features growing flushed, my arms trembling. I should not, I decided, have come.
What’s he doing here? someone murmured, thinking himself out of the range of my ear.
I’ll bet he did it – him and his old mum, said another, bolder voice. I clenched my fists and drew a deep breath.
No coincidence, this: ‘im turnin’ up in public fer the first time in months, day after a murder’s be done.
I tried to redirect my attention; walking as composedly as my nerves would allow, I went and took a seat on a bench, next to an elderly man who I recognized: I’d built him a plain bureau for his wife a few months ago, a surprise for their anniversary. He nodded at me and smiled, I think somewhat gravely. My eyes were fixed downward on my feet, but I returned the nod.
"I’m only hear to listen, for the time being", I said, inexplicably compelled to explain myself to the old man.
That is as it should be, he replied. There was a pause. My wife thanks you for the bureau. It is quite sturdy.
I sat for awhile and listened to the villagers. To my surprise, one of the village elders called upon me to give my thoughts. I could feel the crowd’s gaze upon me, and knew that no answer I gave would be satisfactory. I also knew that my remaining silent could prove deadly in this panicked atmosphere.
"Well," I stammered, after some hesitation, "I noticed that Fordim was not only the first to speak, but the only to mention others’ names; was it perhaps a deflection of perceived suspicion? And then there was that old mason, planning the execution before it was decided who was to be executed; it seemed to me an overreaction, at the least." The crowd was visibly aghast at my audacity: me, the hermitic carpenter, making so bold as to name names.
There would be a time, I knew, ere the sun set this very day, when I would have to cast my vote for a hanging. With this in mind, I added, "Certainly now is not the time for rash judgement. I meant no hurt upon the characters of the men I named, if it be proved that my suspicions are unfounded."
Last edited by Son of Númenor; 05-22-2005 at 09:43 AM.
Reason: minor changes in wording
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