The third stroke landed and Martha cried out again with the pain. She saw the third red line appear and now her hand was really starting to sting. The... fourth stroke made her hand sting so much that she started to cry, and the fifth stroke had her crying uncontrollably. The sixth stroke landed and she was still crying, but at least knew that her punishment was half over.The young officer was very used to caning grannies palms and ordered, “Hold out your left palm, granny. Make sure that you do. I picked out a young woman who had been badly beaten and gave her a road flare after striking it alight. Pointing her toward the church I told her to burn it. She walked up to the door and with a scream of rage she threw the flare onto one of the bodies. John walked up to her and held her in his arms while we watched the fire start to burn the clothing on the bodies. They stepped back only when the flames grew too hot to stand any more. Rita searched through the people we had rescued looking. I suppose you could say that yes, there is a problem. What am I going to do? I don't want this to end but I'm doomed if it doesn't!"I asked how anyone would find out. "You know there are several people who live with me. None of them will say a word about what goes on there. There are no neighbors and no one to see you come and go. You could move in this house and nobody would find out." She seemed resigned but only slightly convinced as she left.After school the twins went to practice with me.. She will eat later in the kitchen with the cook.”“Oh!” I looked down at the floor, for a moment and then up at Mr DiMartino.“I hope that isn’t because I’m here.”Mr DiMartino looked at me with a flat face. It was like he was trying not to show any expression but somehow I could tell he didn’t want to be talking about this. Maybe he’s not as good at stone-face as Mum and Miss Webster are.“Laura has been confined to her room and the kitchen since Saturday evening. I expect it will be some days yet.