He set his glasses on the table. "And you," the man continued pointing at Irene. "You claim to be a woman, but look at yourself ... you have more facial hair, a bigger mustache than some of my men." He looked on either side of him. The heavyset man's face turned red. "I find you both guilty of murder, conspiracy, and espionage!" He stuck his neck out like a turtle and stared at the women, then leaned forward and sneered, "Unless you decide to confess by five this morning, you will be hung by the neck at sunrise." The other three men nodded their heads in agreement, got up hurriedly, and left the room.

Anna and Irene were taken to another room with the soft light from a candle illuminating the crumbling paint on the walls. The windows were barred, and the old wide floor planks squeaked loudly when they walked on them. Two old army blankets and heavy wool and goat hair shepherd capes lay on the floor. The women laid on them and waited.




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