[Gone with the Wind] Back to the beginning

The sky was gloomy, the strong wind rolled the dark clouds, and the window panes groaned.Scarlett couldn't help wrapping Aunt Pitt's black suede cloak a little more tightly, praying secretly that it wouldn't rain, and then went out alone.

Big Sam was sent away half an hour ago with some excuses. Scarlett didn't intend to make this visit public, and her concern for Rhett would not make her lose her sense of proportion.It's just—the green-eyed beauty raised her eyebrows high, even if Rhett Butler's imprisonment is calculated, the pain in those prisons must be tasted, right?The "experience" he used to talk about with a hippie smile may be serious.Thinking of this, Scarlett, who was planning to go out, went back again, baked some small biscuits with the little flour left in Aunt Pete's kitchen, brought a gold coin to buy some milk, and tidied up her appearance carefully. .

She is wearing a dark green high-necked kudzu skirt today, which is simple and warm.Because of the style of this skirt, it was not convenient for working. Scarlett wore it less, so it was still complete.One or two damaged places were patched up with light green geese, and Karin skillfully wove them into the shape of branches and leaves.The high collar just brings out the elegance that belongs to the mother in the face, and the delicacy that is lost after removing the lace cuffs is filled by heroism.A long necklace hangs around the neck, and sealskin muffs are held in both hands to block the wind.Finally, she put on the green soft hat that Rhett had given her—the ostrich feathers that had been folded for a long time in the closet were now fluttering in the wind, and Scarlett finally felt that she was dressed properly.

God knows what girl wouldn't want to be as tidy as possible when she goes to meet her sweetheart!Especially her and Rhett Butler, the relationship between the two has not yet been settled, let alone be weak at this time.But thinking of the last unhappy breakup in her previous life——Scarlett sighed silently when she saw her hands that were much better than her previous life but still looked rough, she gave up on herself and threw the sealskin muff back on the dilapidated sofa.

After all, she was carrying a ridiculously large rattan basket that didn't fit her body—Aunt Pitt's couldn't find a smaller basket, and she only carried a velvet bag—and wearing the muff made it even worse. reluctantly.Scarlett pinched her cheeks to turn blood, and then pursed her lips tightly, and finally decided to believe in her own charm—and she clearly had a reason in front of Rhett!Always wondered what he would think of her!

Walking down Ivy Street to the end, Scarlett got into a carriage that was willing to take her to the downtown square.After saying good-bye to the good lady, Scarlett climbed out of the carriage, and the white dome of the Town Hall was in sight.There was not a single familiar face around, and groups of Yankee soldiers roamed the streets. Scarlett's heart was beating like a drum. It was not always pleasant to walk through the enemy.She saw rows of wooden barracks next to the red brick city hall, and guessed that this muddy place was the camp of the Northern Army.

Looking towards the end of the road, the wide arches of the fire station are tightly closed and thick iron bars are inserted.The two sentries in front of the gate were standing guard one after another, and Rhett was locked there.Thinking about Rhett, and thinking about the Yankee who killed herself, love and hatred gave her strength together, Scarlett lifted her skirt to avoid the mud on the ground, and walked straight to the place of the two sentries until she was caught by them in front of the door. stop.

"Miss, what are you doing here?"

The sentry spoke in an uncomfortable Midwestern accent, but in a very polite tone.Thinking of this, Scarlett replied calmly:

"I'm coming here to see a man—a prisoner here."

"I can't help it, Miss." The sentry scratched his head, "Visitors are not allowed to enter the prison casually, besides, those who are locked here are all..." He stopped talking suddenly, and stared at Scarlett, "Oh, Miss, don't you Cry! You can plead with the officers of the camp headquarters over there, maybe they will agree, don't cry!"

Scarlett suppressed a smile with slightly trembling eyelashes, and gave the sentinel a grateful look.The sentinel turned and called to his companion: "Bill, come here—take this lady to headquarters."

Bill came walking through the mud, a big, bearded, tough-looking man wrapped in a military overcoat.

Scarlett thanked the sentinel and followed the bearded man away.

The bearded man also has a nasal accent, but he is quite friendly.He helped Scarlett step on the rocks and wade through the mud, and took her all the way to the gate of the headquarters.

"Here it is—here it is."

"Here?" Scarlett looked at the federal flag fluttering on the familiar building for a while, and then remembered to thank him, "Thank you, I will go in now."

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Scarlett climbed up the steps by holding on to the broken white railings. She pushed open the front door, and the hall was dark and cold like a cellar.A sentry leaned against the door that originally led to the dining room and shivered. After Scarlett said that he wanted to see the captain, he quickly opened the door.

The room was stuffy, with the smell of fire, tobacco, and leather, and the smell of human body. Scarlett saw a mess--the walls were bare, the wallpaper was torn, and a row of Yankee blues hung on the nails. Military uniforms and floppy caps.A blazing fire was burning, the long table was piled with papers, and several Yankees were chatting and laughing.She took a breath, and said as if nothing had happened: "Which one is the captain?"

"I am," replied a fat officer with his uniform unbuttoned, his cigar still dangling from his mouth.

"I want to see a prisoner—" Scarlett tried not to change her face, but her voice still trembled uncontrollably when she said the name, "Captain Rhett Butler."

How long have you not seen him?It must have been more than a year since the parting of La Freddy Village.Nothing for a year but a message—Scarlett bit her lower lip bitterly.Although I didn't write to him myself, isn't that because someone is hateful first?

"Ah, I'm here to see Captain Butler again." The fat officer leaned back on the seat with a relaxed expression, and thought of making a small joke, "This guy is really popular. Who is he, miss?"

I was going to ask him.Scarlett snorted coldly in her heart, but still replied: "His friend, sir."

The fat officer laughed again: "I have quite a few friends, and I only visited one yesterday—a beautiful lady."

It must be Bell Watling!Scarlett thought furiously, although she probably knew only one prostitute in Atlanta, but this did not prevent her from remembering everything to Bell.In short, Scarlett was quite sure that she would never have the slightest liking for that woman.

"Yes—" she began dryly, "then may I see Mr. Butler?"

"Of course, of course, we have to ask him." The fat officer laughed, and a young officer beside him had stood up, looked at him with disapproving eyes, and then said to Scarlett with a pleasant face.

"Sit down and warm yourself by the fire, miss, and let me find a way—what's your name? The lady who came yesterday—he won't see."

"Scarlett O'Hara." Scarlett said reluctantly, knowing that Rhett refused to see the woman she had already identified as Bell made her feel better, "I'll be with you—"

"You just wait here." The young officer smiled and said, "It's very cold outside, I'll bring him over later." He opened the door and went out.

Scarlett sat down on a chair near the door with some discomfort—the fire slowly warmed her body, and the joy of seeing Rhett soon filled her heart.Oh, don't make him too proud!Let him know how serious it is not to write to her, and to go through life and death!Thoughts were spinning quickly in my mind, and after a while, there was a voice outside the door, it was Rhett laughing.Scarlett subconsciously stood up, the door opened, a gust of cold wind rushed in, Rhett's all-too-familiar figure appeared at the door.Scarlett wondered how she had kept herself from throwing herself into his arms—

"Rett!"

The captain helped her do what she wanted to do.Rhett immediately came to her, with bright smiles in his eyes, he hugged Scarlett into his arms: "Scarlett! My dearest Scarlett!"

He was hatless, and a long, dirty cloak was draped carelessly over his shoulders.The stubble is quite long, and there is no tie.But although he was disheveled, he was full of air.It was so hard to hold her tight, and Scarlett loved Rhett's shining black eyes.

"My dearest friend Scarlett!" he cried again, as if declaring to someone, and Scarlett blushed.Rhett held her hands tightly, and a wave of enthusiasm, vitality and excitement followed his hands into her body, and at the same time, there was a passion that made her ecstatic.Before Scarlett could react, Rhett had bent down and kissed her cheek, his beard was itchy.Sensing her surprise, Rhett put his arms around her shoulders tightly again, and laughed loudly, "Dearest friend!" He kept laughing at her, making Scarlett embarrassed, and finally Also followed him to laugh.

Anyway, it's really... great to see him again!