coaleny

@@@@@She could imagine him all too well, a figure springing out from the darkHer sleep was broken by hideous dreams-memories, reallyAgain and again she saw the Yankee straggler who'd come to Tara, smelled the rank smell of him, saw hisfilthy, hairy hands pawing through the trinkets in her mother's work box, his red-rimmed eyes hot with violent lust staring at her and his broken-toothed mouth wet and twisted in an anticipatory leerObliterated the mouth and the eyes in an explosion of blood and bits of bone and viscous red-streaked gobbets of hisbrainsShe'd never been able to forget the echoing boom of the shot and the ghastly red spatterings and her fierce, rending triumphOh, if only she had a pistol to protect herself and Miss Eleanor from the Yankee! But there was no weapon in the houseShe ransacked cupboards and trunks, wardrobes and dresser drawers, even the shelves behind the books in the libraryShe was defenseless, helplessFor the first time in her life she felt weak, unable to face and overcome any obstacle in her wayIt all but crippled herShe begged Eleanor Butler to send a message to RhettYes, yes, she'd send wordYes, she'd tell him what Alicia had said about the hulking size of the man and the unearthly glint of moonlight in his inhumanly black eyesYes, she'd remind him that she and Scarlett were two women alone in the big house at night, that the servants all went to their own homes after supper except for Manigo, an old man, and Pansy, a small, weak girlYes, she'd make the note urgent, and she'd dispatch it right away-on the very next trip of the boat that brought game from the plantation"But when will that be, Miss Eleanor? Rhett has to come now! That magnolia tree is practically a ladder from the ground to the piazza outside our rooms!" Scarlett clutched MrsButler's arm, shook it for emphasisEleanor patted her hand"Soon, dear, it's bound to be soonWe haven't had any duck for a month, and roast duck is a particular favorite of mineBesides, everything will be all right nowRoss and his friends are going to patrol every night Ross! Scarlett screamed inwardlyWhat could a drunk like Ross Butler do? Or any of the Charleston men? Most of them were old men or cripples or still boysIf they'd been any use, they wouldn't have lost the stupid Wa