Just Before Dawn by Amado Hernandez The black pit is suddenly flung open in this burial place of the living-- the Leader arrives, fiery eyes burning, voice booming out the fateful words: “If you wish to regain your freedom, You have only to sign this--” The piece of paper, shaped like a diploma, was flung to the floor, lay there safely till the condemned man, skeletal and gaunt, picked it up, tore it to bits in fury as sudden as the lightning flash that struck him. Before the dawn unfurls its light, the hapless convict is led out by soldiers, led out to Nowhere . . . Suddenly the darkness is shattered by the sun soaked in blood.