‘I’ll come with you.’ Everything had been unreal, but this suddenly was real pain, the moment of death. Like a prisoner he had not believed in the trial: it had been a dream: the condemnation had been a dream and the truck ride, and then suddenly here he was with his back to the blank wall and everything was true. One steeled oneself to end courageously. They went to the end of the passage, leaving the Halifaxes the cabin. ‘Good-bye, dear.’ ‘Good-bye. Ticki, you’ll write every …’ ‘Yes, dear.’ ‘I’m an awful deserter.’ ‘No, no. This isn’t the place for you.’
