[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

The news about the great war was not very accurate, and it came too late, all the way through Maryland, Richmond, and finally Atlanta.The atmosphere became more and more tense, fear gradually pervaded the whole city, and every family was worried.

On the fifth day, bad news came from the west that Vicksburg had fallen and the Confederacy was cut in two.Time was getting harder and harder, and people silently hoped that General Lee could make up for the losses in the Mississippi battle by inflicting heavy losses on the Union Army at Gettysburg.The shadow of the disaster enveloped the whole city, people encouraged each other, dared not say a word of discouragement, but their hearts became more and more heavy.They gathered at railway stations and telegraph offices, hoping to hear some news.Almost every household in the city has relatives participating in this war, sons, brothers, fathers, lovers, husbands.People are waiting to hear the news of the sacrifice of their loved ones.They wait for news of death, not defeat.

Relatives may be sacrificed, but the cause of the Confederacy will never fade.People firmly believe that General Lee can perform miracles and that Virginia's army is invincible, just as they firmly believe that there is a just and wise God in heaven.

Scarlett was different from people, she would rather hear the news of failure than death.

Scarlett believed that she could muster all her courage to go through the years of hunger and pain and turmoil again, could bear all the sufferings of the conquerors, because she could always find a way to deal with the past, and tomorrow would be another day.But when she was in the crowd of sad and determined people, Scarlett realized very intuitively that even if she did it all over again, there were still so many, so many things she couldn't do.She clutched the letter she received ten days ago, and read it silently over and over again, telling herself "Maybe a miracle will happen, maybe they are not dead. Didn't I tell them many times to stop being impulsive and be safe?"

Passive acceptance of results had never been Scarlett's style.As early as when Scarlett was reborn, she tried to change the fate of the two brothers.It was the day after Scarlett agreed to Charles' marriage proposal, and the two brothers, who were sad and angry, came directly to her.The two of them happily went to the neighboring county to report the news of the war, but they heard that Scarlett had agreed to someone else's marriage proposal as soon as they came back!The two brothers were furious, and Stuart even threatened to kill either Charles or Scarlett, or the three of them would do it together.

Scarlett remembered that the twin brothers had joined the Army of Northern Virginia, fought with General Lee, and died at Gettysburg.When they found her, Scarlett thought to herself that there is nothing worse than death in the world, so it is better to fight.So she deliberately showed great pain and disappointment at Stuart's words, as if she was about to jump into the river.Finally the red-haired twins both came out of the water safely and came back with colds.The two of them were so suppressed by Mrs. Tarleton that they were allowed to go to war after recovering from their illnesses. They were so unhappy at the time!

But everything eventually came back to square one.Scarlett thought that this illness would cause the twins to miss the opportunity to join the Northern Virginia Army and join another army, such as the South Carolina Army.Even if it's just as dangerous, at least it doesn't follow the old path of the previous life, so there is a glimmer of life.But two months ago, the two brothers happily wrote to her telling her that they were still transferred to the Northern Virginia Army because of their bravery in combat... Scarlett squeezed the letter in her hand and closed her eyes.

There was a sudden commotion on the periphery of the crowd not far away, and the people retreated restrainedly.Rhett Butler was carefully riding towards Aunt Pete's carriage.He was dressed in a brand-new crisp linen shirt, with an expensive cigar in his mouth, tall and handsome, with a rosy complexion, as if he was the deepest mockery of the poor and dignified residents.He walked slowly through the crowd with no expression on his face.And everyone turned their eyes on him with hatred, this coward who refuses to join the army, a traitor who laughs at the great cause, and a profiteer who seeks to make money!Mrs. Merriwether straightened up from the carriage, and rebuked clearly and angrily:

"Speculators!"

There could never have been a more vicious word than that at this moment.But Ritter paid no heed.He made a soothing gesture to Scarlett, turned to the crowd and said loudly:

"I have a message for you. I have just come from headquarters. The first casualty lists have been sent to the newspaper and will be out soon."

coming!Scarlett's heart trembled, but Mei Li's eyes were full of tears: "Thank you so much, Captain Butler! How long will it be until the list comes out?" Ashley also participated in this big battle.

Rhett bowed slightly, and said, "Hurry up, Mrs. Wilkes. The newspaper office is... ah, it's out!"

A hand stretched out from the window of the newspaper office, grabbing a stack of rolls with wet ink, all of which were densely packed with names.The crowd immediately became agitated and rushed forward one after another.Ritter dismounted quickly, threw the reins to Uncle Peter, gave orders and pushed him all the way, and came back with half a dozen newspapers in his hand after a while.He tossed one at Melanie and passed it out to the other nearby ladies.

Mei Li's face was pale, her hands were shaking, and she could hardly open the newspaper.Scarlett was anxious to see it, and snatched it over, and then heard Mei Li whispered: "Look for the ones starting with 'w'."

Scarlett took a deep breath, and she felt a sense of fear at the end of the matter, and her voice trembled, but she finally read it clearly:

"White, Wilkins... Wins... Zebulon! Merry, don't worry! No Ashley! Thank goodness... Ah, Auntie? Sniffing salt shaker, quick!"

There was a rush of war, and Mei Li burst into tears with joy, holding Aunt Pete's head that was stumbling around, and kept saying "Thank God".Just as Scarlett was about to continue reading the entire list, she suddenly heard a humming behind her back.Looking back, Fanny Elsing was lying on her mother's chest, and the casualty list floated to the floor of the carriage.Mrs. Elsing's thin lips were trembling, and she put her arms around her daughter and whispered to the coachman to go home.The carriage of the two McLuney ladies passed in silence, the two sisters pale and stiff.Dallas, their favorite little brother, was killed.Mrs. Meade looked at the new boots for her eldest son in silence.

"He's useless now." She sighed softly.

Scarlett suddenly felt desolate, Rhett did not know when he had returned to her side, and Scarlett had no idea.She noticed that her hands were shaking more and more.Scarlett unfolded the list again, and young and fresh faces flashed before her eyes.Scarlett tried to steady her mind and finally read on.

The ink in the newspaper in front of him had melted a lot, and it seemed that a death knell was ringing in his ears.Even though it was under the sun, Scarlett felt cold all over.The list seems endlessly long, a big loss!

She searched for familiar names inside.

Paul, Edward... Lieutenant Calvert Reft... Private Fontaine Joseph K... Captain Munro Lafitte...

Rows of names flashed across the eyes.Even though they are the most common letters, they look extraordinarily glaring and hideous.Where are her lovers and friends buried?This short line of names, each line is followed by a passionate and lively face... Scarlett looked down with trembling hands, those boys who grew up with her, danced, flirted with, and kissed , is there anyone else on this list?Will there be a miracle, and God will also take care of them?

Impossible—impossible—how could there be three "Tarletons" on the list?Maybe—maybe the typesetter panicked and made a mistake.No, no, isn't that clear—Tarleton Brent, Private; Tarleton Stewart, Private, Tarleton Thomas, Private—Scarlett still anxiously descending She looked, but she no longer knew what she was seeing.My throat is so sore and my eyes are sore, why is the newspaper blurred?My heart hurts like an iron claw is digging.

"Scarlett," Rhett said, "I'm sorry, but there are many friends of yours, right?"

Scarlett had almost forgotten his existence.She wiped the corners of her eyes indiscriminately, without raising her head, and said with great effort: "Almost every family in the county has spread—the four brothers of the Tarleton family, Boyd died in the battle the first year, and now there are three remaining. One is—dead."

War has always been so cruel, and she can't change anything.

Rhett's face was calm, almost gloomy, and his eyes swept away the usual sarcasm.

"It's not over yet." He said, "This is just the first batch, not all of them. Tomorrow's list will be even longer."

"Tomorrow!" Scarlett raised her eyes, the wet green eyes widened like a frightened child, "And tomorrow? Tomorrow!"

"Yes." Rhett lowered his voice to prevent the nearby carriages from listening, "General Lee must have suffered a defeat. I heard at the headquarters that he has retreated to Maryland."

"Tomorrow," Scarlett repeated, almost numbly.For the first time, I felt that the word was so scary.Her eyes were blurred with tears, and the cedar avenue of that day suddenly appeared in front of her eyes. The summer sun was shining brightly, but under the branches, there was a thick shade and coolness.The sun dappled through the pine needles, and the wild honeysuckle spread a carpet of scarlet and orange and rose.The breeze brought the white fragrance of dogwood, and a series of laughter was left behind by boys and girls on horseback.These brightly colored memories were finally black and white by death and war, and became a yesterday that she could never get back.

"Give."

Rhett produced a gray linen check handkerchief and handed it to her, which Scarlett took without a word.She ran her fingers over the "rkb" on it, over and over.The gloomy despair was suddenly pierced by sharp resentment and jealousy. Scarlett recalled that she still had such a veil in her possession, the veil from Bell Watling, and remembered her brooding over that veil.This extremist but vital feeling brought back all about life and passion, and Scarlett gripped the handkerchief unconsciously.

"We'll get through it," she said.