[Gone with the Wind] Parallel Time and Space

Chapter 17 Stealing the Horse

"Miss Scarlett?" Prissy stood in the yard, stretching her neck to look at Scarlett's distressed expression.Scarlett wiped away her tears secretly, got up as if nothing had happened, and reprimanded Prissy: "What are you doing here, go and see Melanie, you slacker." Prissy muttered softly, no Reluctantly went upstairs.

Scarlett pushed open the courtyard door, and when she was about to go into the house, she heard a cannonball, which was deafening.The shell hit the house across from Aunt Pitty's house, and in an instant the second floor was gone.Immediately afterwards, more people came from the other side of the street, and Scarlett's ears were buzzing. A kind gentleman reminded Scarlett: "Hey, madam, leave quickly. The Yankees are calling!"

Scarlett was a little dizzy by the sound of the shells, and by the time she understood what the gentleman said, the gentleman had already gone away, so she nodded vigorously.But how do we leave?Scarlett suddenly realized that she, a girl under twenty, had to flee with Melanie, who had just given birth, Wade, who was a few years old, a newborn baby, and Prissy, who had nothing to do. At that time, she felt that the burden on her shoulders was extremely heavy.She wished she hadn't realized it.But this is her responsibility, she can't leave anyone behind, let alone leave everyone to escape alone.Although she had thought about it, she couldn't shake the thought that she had committed herself.Thinking of Rhett's ruthless walk just now, her heart throbbed.All the carriages and horses in Atlanta were confiscated, and now there are only two places with horses.One is Rhett Butler's and one is the army.Scarlett naturally chose the former.

She called Prissy and asked her to pack her things, and went to the second floor to have a few words with Melanie.Before leaving, she hesitated and stuffed a small knife into her pocket.

Along the way, there were sores everywhere.Now in Atlanta, only two places are colored.Red light district - Bel Watling and the Atlanta Hotel, the red light district is even more dazzling.Scarlett naturally understood the truth of this-she had discussed this issue with Rhett. "Here's everything they have, and they have nothing to fear." She cursed viciously now for a cannonball that fell right on top of their heads.The Atlanta Hotel was much inferior, but it was also clean. Scarlett climbed over the wall and entered the backyard.

There wasn't a single horse, and the stables were empty, not even the one Rhett had just ridden.He went elsewhere?Where is Bell Watling?No, no, I didn't see his horse there just now.he hid?He must have been hiding, he knew I was coming to steal the horse... how did he know?oh!Don't be silly, Scarlett, he sees through you.Ah, what a hateful, what a hateful man.Now she has to risk her life to go to the army to steal horses!If she dies... I hope you, Rhett Butler, will feel guilty for the rest of your life!She thought bitterly, then climbed out of the courtyard wall again, and she was going to try her luck at the train station.Soldiers evacuating from Atlanta will pass through the train station.

And the dead bodies lying all over the train station made her gasp—they were all alive in the morning, and Scarlett didn't see Dr. Meade or the army.They must have withdrawn.Army, army... where the hell is the army?At this time, Scarlett heard gunshots—three shots in a row... There must be an army if there is a gunshot, Scarlett followed the sound and passed.

She walked from the woods on both sides of the road so as not to bump into the army. As she got closer, Scarlett smiled. She heard the sound of the horse's hooves, and at the same time she slowed down her pace.But this voice... doesn't seem to come from behind.Scarlett looked forward, and a man hurried towards her.Look at that figure...it's Rhett! "It's not stealing to take back your own horse, Lieutenant General!" He shouted behind him.

Rhett was pursued by an officer, firing as he ran, but stopped after a shot or two, and stopped in his tracks.Rhett fled, and Scarlett didn't know whether he was safe or not. She supported the tree trunk beside her and found that her hands were shaking.She collected her mind and remained still, because more soldiers were approaching.

"Damn Butler, if it weren't for the emergency, I would have used up all the bullets in my gun!" The officer gritted his teeth.

"You missed him? Lieutenant General?" a soldier asked him.

"Hit! I'm asking you motherfucker." The lieutenant general took off his hat and began to beat the questioning soldier. "Ask! Ask again!" But the soldier didn't seem to care, and then the two actually laughed.

Hit?Scarlett's heart tightened.

"Okay, let's go. I'm sorry for that kid, I can't spare him next time I see him... But, I don't know if there will be a next time." The lieutenant general sighed.

After the lieutenant general finished speaking, they should have walked back, but they surrounded Scarlet at lightning speed.

"Why is she a lady?" Scarlett saw the lieutenant general's face clearly. He had thin golden hair but a thick light golden beard.Like the soldiers around him, his body and face are covered with mud, but the three silver stars on his shoulders are shining brightly in the sun.Scarlett dared not say a word.She saw that the lieutenant general was still holding the gun in his hand.

"Miss, I won't point this gun at you, don't worry. Leave Atlanta quickly, it's not safe here." The lieutenant general waved his hand, turned around and was about to leave.

"You missed that man, did you?" He's a good officer, Scarlett thought.

"Oh?" The lieutenant general turned around and looked at Scarlett with great interest. "You are his... lover?"

Scarlett blushed, and she shook her head.

"So, sister?"

She shook her head.

"relative?"

She shook her head.

"Don't shake it, miss. If you shake it again, you'll faint. It's nobody. Why do you ask him?" The lieutenant general laughed. "I see. Could it be... fiancee?"

"I'm leaving!" Scarlett felt cold.fiancée?She had never heard of it.

"Don't be upset, miss. He and I are still classmates. We went to West Point Military Academy together, but I graduated and he didn't." The lieutenant general walked around, as if recalling. "It was a great time, we always had fun with him around."

"Okay, don't say much, you can get out of here quickly." Scarlett thanked and turned to leave.

"By the way, say hello for me. He came and stole the horse in a hurry just now, and we haven't talked yet." The lieutenant general said.

"Okay, are you retreating?" Scarlett couldn't help asking.

"Withdraw? Miss, we will not withdraw...we will stick to it..."

When Scarlett finally saw Aunt Pitty's red house, Rhett and Melanie had waited anxiously for a long time, Prissy couldn't figure out the situation, Wade was coaxed by Rhett and finally stopped crying , while Melanie's little baby was sleeping peacefully.

Melanie was lying on the cart, she was unconscious but knew that Scarlett was back. "Scarlett, you're back." Wade called his mother, and Prissy greeted Miss.

"Let's go." Rhett didn't say anything else.