Just as the shadow of the woman faded from his sight, and the darkness settled over his eyelids, the rope around his neck suddenly snapped.,Villagers in homespun short shirts carried farm produce past him, casting sideways glances his way, their eyes twinkling with amusement. He could still hear the fading chatter of their conversation.,If he had a choice, he would still rather be a child of the 21st century.。