(2 of 2)
First Ten. The condemned men refused white handkerchiefs, but the guards blindfolded them anyway, then stepped aside. Now the prisoners faced their executioners: 20 soldiers with automatic rifles, two soldiers—one kneeling and one standing—to each prisoner. One of the blindfolded Communists cried: "The nation is victorious." Once, that Tudeh slogan had electrified Teheran's streets, driven the young Shah into hasty exile and almost captured all Iran. But last week it bounced off a muddy wall and died. From others of the prisoners came the cries: "Death to imperialism! Long live Iran's proletariat!" Then the duty officer's arm went up, and one ragged volley smashed into the bound men, then another. The firing cut some of the ropes and bodies toppled to the ground. A sergeant unholstered his pistol and ran forward, to give the coup de grace. A sigh bubbled out of young Captain Shafa: "Kill me, I am not dead yet." The sergeant obliged.
Another twelve plotters have also been sentenced to die and are appealing. The rest of the 612 still wait trial or sentence. They could hardly be optimistic now.