Free The Masked Family by Robert T. Jeschonek Page A

think you'd be the one swingin' from a tree tonight, son." Stefan laughed as he draped the noose around the man's neck. "Life's full a' surprises, huh?"
    "Excuse me." Father Stanislavski chose that moment to step forward. At seven feet tall, he towered over the rest of the crowd. "What's your name?"
    The captive's eyes only flickered away from the noose around his neck for an instant. "Max Beckenbauer," he said.
    "Thank you, Max." Father turned to Stefan. "And why do you think we should kill Max, did you say?"
    "He's Klan." Stefan glared at Max like he wanted to tear out his throat with his teeth. "It's them or us."
    "I understand," said Father. "But what has this man right here done wrong?"
    "He came to town with the rest of 'em," said Stefan. "To attack us."
    "And where did you find him?" said Father.
    "He was wanderin' around town."
    "Just wandering?" said Father. "And how many Klansmen were with him?"
    Stefan shrugged. "You'll haveta ask Yock. He's the one who found him."
    Father turned and scanned the crowd. "Hey, Yock! How many Klannies were with Max here when you found him?"
    Yock hollered back from the crowd. "None, I guess."
    "But you're sure he's a Klannie?" said Father.
    "If he's not, I don't know what the mask was for," said Yock.
    The crowd growled and mumbled. Father looked down and met Olenka's dark-eyed gaze. For an instant, she felt a flash of his hope, his determination to save the man's life...and underlaying it all, his own fear that he wouldn't succeed.
    He looked away from her. "He was wearing a Klan mask? A hood?"
    Now it was Yock's turn to hesitate. "He was stuffin' it in his pocket. Didn't want me to see it."
    "But you're sure it was a mask?" said Father.
    "It was white," said Yock. "Don't know what else it would be."
    A handkerchief, maybe? Olenka expected Father Stanislavski to say exactly that. It was the obvious answer.
    But he didn't. She was ready for him to shoot her a knowing wink, but he didn't do that, either.
    "Bring him," he said to Dominick and Nicolo. "I need to hear his confession before he dies."
    Men and women in the crowd cheered and clapped. Dominick and Nicolo looked confused, then followed Father when he waved for them to hurry. Stefan hung back, glaring, then ran out to walk alongside Father.
    Olenka couldn't believe what was happening.
    Was Father Stanislavski really going to let them hang Max? It went against everything she'd heard Father preach and everything she'd seen him do. Even if Max was a Klannie, Olenka couldn't imagine Father standing back and letting him be killed.
    She couldn't imagine herself letting that happen, either.
    "In here, please." Father led the way into the train station and held the door open for Stefan, Dominick, Nicolo, and Max. After Olenka crossed the threshold, he shut the door and locked it, cutting off the leading edge of the crowd from pushing in, too.
    "Now then." Father turned and folded his hands. "Confession time."
    Max swallowed hard. "I'm not a Catholic, Father. I'll take last rites if you'll give 'em, though."
    Father shook his head. "That's not the kind of confession I was talking about. I just want you to answer some questions truthfully."
    "Okay, sure."Max looked as worried as ever.
    Father stood close to him and stared into his eyes. "Are you a Klansman?"
    Max didn't look away and didn't answer, either.
    "We can twist his arms a little, if you like," said Dominick.
    "No thank you." Father didn't break eye contact with Max. "In fact, I'd appreciate it if you and Nicolo would let go of him."
    After a moment's hesitation, Dominick released Max's arm. Nicolo did the same. They both stayed close to their prisoner, however, and Stefan moved closer than he'd been.
    "That's better, isn't it?" said Father.
    Max rubbed his wrists and nodded.
    "Now, I'll ask the same question," said Father. "But there's something you should know before you answer."
    "What's that?" said Max.
    "If you tell us the truth, we'll let you go."
    "Hey!" Stefan Volta