Mr. M gave the boy a difficult assignment. A public killing on the Fourth of July. In Vermont. Of a friend. Who he really cared for.This mission is of great political significance and the boy can't fail to complete it, because he will be assassinated if he does.Faced with this impossible choice, the boy procrastinates until circumstances make further delay impossible. Then he acts. As any boy of his age and experience would.But the results are not what he expected.