Rumors had been spread. It was suggested that I should leave Stanford, after just two weeks. It might be better that way, I was told, “until things die down.” Most of the rumors were about Derek. It was true that he had hoped the students’ release might be secured without payment—just because of the precedent that would be set. But the idea that their death would have been a preferable alternative was absurd. He had even been in negotiations to see if his friends in the SAS could rescue them. There were tales also about my lack of responsibility: Why hadn’t I given myself up in place of the
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