"Be brave." The words were the last Josephine uttered as she was pulled from the cart.  It was all Raoul could do to keep from crying out, let them hang him just not her...anything to keep them form hurting her.  But he knew it was no use and so he didn't say a word.  the Guards yanked them out one by one to their feet lining them up in a neat little row like dolls in a gruesome play set.  One by one the guards marched them up so they stood in the background morbid actors in the most cruel and unjust scene in the play.  They would not die without reason or cause however.  The people would know that they were dying for a reason, a higher purpose.  this thought made him lift his chin and he watched as the executioner slipped the course rope around Josephine's neck.  He would not look away he owed her that much, he could not abandon her in the hour that she would need him most.  He smiled in encouragement.  "The sparrow may die but her song shall live on" once again the mantra ran through his mind.  He was glad that she would go first that way she would not have to witness him swinging by a rope lifeless with tongue lolling and eyes wide open in a silent desperate scream.  He drew comfort in the thought that they would be together but a few moments from now away from all this pain and suffering.  the Executioner tightened his hand on the leaver preparing to drop her through the stage and Raoul took a steadying breath.