"But you will die and become like that."

"No, I will not die."

"You will be executed. Here is the noose."

"I will be executed, but I will not die. How can I die, when I am
already-now- immortal?"

And the scientists and philosophers and hangmen would retreat,
speaking -with a shudder:

"Do not touch this place. It is holy." What else was Musya thinking
about? She was thinking of many things, for to her the thread of life
was not broken by Death, but kept winding along calmly and evenly. She
thought of her comrades, of those who were far away, and who in pain
and sorrow were living through the execution together with them, and
of those near by who were to mount the scaffold with her. She was
surprised at Vasily-that he should have been so disturbed-he, who had
always been so brave, and who had jested with Death. Thus, only on
Tuesday morning, when all together they had attached explosive
projectiles to their belts, which several hours later were to tear
them into pieces, Tanya Kovalchuk's hands had trembled with
nervousness, and it had become necessary to put her aside, while
Vasily jested, made merry, turned about, and was even so reckless that
Werner had said sternly:

"You must not be too familiar with Death."

What was he afraid of now? But this incomprehensible fear was so