It was a long time before anyone spoke. Out of the corner of his eye Phouchg could see the sea of tense expectant faces down in the square outside.

"We're going to get lynched aren't we?" he whispered.

"It was a tough assignment," said Deep Thought mildly.

Today is my birthday and when I bemoaned the number of rings around my trunk, a dear friend reminded me what an important number it is.