@@@@@"Ne gave me his word The sergeant shoved
@@@@@"Ne gave me his
word
The sergeant shoved her away"I only had orders for the flogging,
the
rest is none of my business The blackcloaked
figure stood alone on the street, watching the soldiers walk into the
barShe made one sound, a shuddering sob
Then she turned and ran to the wheel, the blood-covered body
"Danny, oh Danny, oh my dear She crouched, then kneeled in the
ghastly mud, trying to lift torn shoulders and lolling head into her
lapHer hood fell away, revealing a pale fine-boned face, neatly
chignoned golden hair, blue eyes in shadowed circles of grief
Scarlett was frozen in placeTo move, to clatter wheels over cobbles
would be an obscene intrusion on the woman's tragedy
A dirty little boy ran barefoot across the square"Can I have a
button or something, lady? My ma wants a keepsake he shook the
woman's shoulderScarlett raced over the cobbles, the bloodspattered
grass, the edge of the churned mudShe grabbed the boy's armhe
looked up, startled, mouth gapingScarlett slapped his face with all
the strength in her armThe sound of it was like the crack of a rifle
shot"Get out of here, you filthy little devil! Get out of here
The boy ran, bawling with fear"Thank you," said the wife of the man
who had been beaten to deathShe was in it now, Scarlett knewShe
had to do what little could be done"I know a doctor in Trim," she
s