Twelve Fearful Men

[Robert Crisman]

Three cars pulled up at the house on the hill and 12 men in black suits filed inside. The Man himself held the door; no servants on this night of secrets.

He watched from the thin strip of woods by the road as the last of them entered the house.

Twelve men, this city's rulers--well poisoners, lawyers, a Tommy Gun magnate--in that house now, seeking a plan to flush out the phantom that fed on the flesh of the city and then let it fester like garbage.

Twelve fearful men, soon to be basted.

They committed their sins in fortresses soon to be breached: the rapes bought and paid for, garrotings of children, the tortures, etc., etc.; he dreamed of their rotted heads eyeless on pikes, still alive...

Twelve fearful men, iced hell closing swiftly, their last chapter already written.

[Angela]

Oh, Lord.  A night of awful events just waiting to occur.  You do terror so well.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

This sounds like a hellish act of retribution is about to take place.