Then the Warden said, "Do you have anything you'd like to say?" and Gary looked up at the ceiling and hesitated, then said, "Let's do it." That was it. The most pronounced amount of courage, Vern decided, he'd ever seen, no quaver, no throatiness, right down the line.
In this moment from "The Executioner's Song" by Norman Mailer, the Warden prompts Gary with a question about whether he has anything to express. After a brief pause of contemplation, Gary responds affirmatively, demonstrating a remarkable level of bravery. His calm demeanor is striking, lacking any signs of fear or hesitation as he prepares to face his fate.
Vern observes Gary's courage and is deeply impacted by it, recognizing it as...
