Head Case

   There was the quick swoosh of the guillotine blade, and then the whole world began to spin and tumble.  It was over almost as soon as it started, and he found himself looking up at the crowd.  Some faces were horrified, some were grief stricken, and just as many wore sickly grins of uncompromising pleasure.  The scene froze and got fuzzy, making the world seem like a painting.  He had an opportunity to scan the crowd one last time before everything was gone.