He curled his legs, trying to lift himself with his hands, defending the last shred of dignity he had left after death. But then a child appeared out of nowhere, gripping his feet in both hands and swinging him from the beams like a pendulum.,Villagers in homespun short shirts carried farm produce past him, casting sideways glances his way, their eyes twinkling with amusement. He could still hear the fading chatter of their conversation.,Though it was clearly village gossip, they didn't seem to be avoiding him, the person involved.。