Читать книгу The Tom Wills Picture Show - Martin Flanagan - Страница 12

Elizabeth Wills in her tent. Turns and sees black man with cold hate in his eyes. He pushes her to the ground but before he falls upon her she screams. As the sound continues, we see the scene from a different perspective – from outside the tent. We see Horatio and the men working, erecting a shed for storage. Hearing the scream Horatio runs for the tent, shouting, Elizabeth! Elizabeth. One of the men with Horatio – not Miller – picks up a gun and fires into the air. He does it in several directions so the noise gets out as far as possible while Horatio and Miller run for the tent. Inside the tent, Elizabeth Wills’ face is one of manic desperation as she holds off this black man who has one hand pressing on her face. Distracted by the gunshots, the black man looks up; in that instant, she hits him with a candle stick. The sound of running can be heard approaching the tent, the sound of voices. The black man pushes off her – it can be seen he has not succeeded in raping her – her dress is not pulled up – and runs off. Horatio Wills, pulling open the tent door is met with a distraught wife and her long shuddering cry. He embraces her, comforting her.