A song in the morning

**

"I'm truly sorry, Carew."

"Thank you, sir."

"There's not a decent man I know who can get pleasure out of this moment."

"I'm sure there isn't, sir."

"For what we do in life… we have to take the consequences of our actions."

"Just so, sir."

"I take no delight in seeing a man go to his punishment, whatever he's done."

"I appreciate that, sir."

The governor stood ramrod straight in the doorway of the cell. Behind him, his message read, the deputy sheriff of Pretoria waited, his arms hanging, his hands clasped in front of his trouser flies. Jeez had the centre of the floor space, he was at attention, his thumbs on the seams of his trousers. He thought the sympathy was genuine. He thought the governor was an honest man. The governor didn't frighten Jeez, not so that he had to imagine him out of his tailored uniform, shorn of his medal ribbons, stripped to his underpants. The governor was nothing like the bastard who had run Spac, who had been Jeez's gaoler way back for so many long years.

"I like a man to go proudly. I like a man to behave like a man. I can tell you this, Carew, go like a man and it will be easier for you. A prisoner who makes difficulties hurts himself, not us."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'd bet money on you, Carew, that you'll go like a man who is proud."

"Yes, sir."

"I always tell a man at this time that he should think through his life, think about his affairs, and stay with the good times. We don't want any melancholy."

"No, sir."

"Carew, you wrote a letter a few weeks ago, I checked with Records and you've had no letter back. I'm sorry. Of course, you are permitted to write as many letters as you wish."

"There won't be any more letters, sir."

"Is there anyone we should contact, anyone you would like to be offered facilities for a visit?"

"No, sir. There's no one who should visit."

"I tell you frankly, I've never met a man who has been here, White, who has been as private as you. Nor of your bearing, if I may say so."

"Yes, sir."

"There's a point I would like to make to you, Carew. The State President has refused you clemency, he has named the date of your execution. There have come from abroad several representations to the State President urging him to think again. From His Holiness the Pope, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, many others. Carew, you should know that in these matters the State President will not alter his decision. I tell you that, man to man, because it is better that you prepare yourself without the distraction of false hope."

"Yes, sir."

"The decision that you hang next Thursday is irrevers-ible."

"I know that, sir."

"The colonel from the security police, he will come back and see you, Carew, if you care to reconsider his proposal."

"I have nothing to say to the colonel, sir."