In Robb White’s Deathwatch, two men, Madec and Ben, go deep into the arid desert for a hunting trip when the unexpected happens. In attempt to shoot a bighorn sheep, Madec accidentally shoots an old man. Madec obviously doesn’t want to get in trouble so he tries to convince Ben into not reporting the crime.

“ If we take this old man back to town, it is going to start a big hassle. A hassle that doesn’t need to get started and doesn’t need mean anything in the end anyway. It’s just that the law has to go through all these motions regardless. They’ve got to have their trial with the judge and the lawyers and the total waste of time and money. And after they’ve obeyed all the little rules, what happens? The death is accidental; it’s nobody’s