飘

e　flags　of　flame　flared　triumphantly　to　the　sky　above　them。　Smoke　burnt　her　nostrils　and　Wade　and　Prissy　began　coughing。　The　baby　made　soft　sneezing　sounds。
　“Oh；　name　of　God；　Rhett！　Are　you　crazy？　Hurry！　Hurry！”
　Rhett　made　no　reply　but　brought　the　tree　limb　down　on　the　horse’s　back　with　a　cruel　force　that　made　the　animal　leap　forward。　With　all　the　speed　the　horse　could　summon；　they　jolted　and　bounced　across　Marietta　Street。　Ahead　of　them　was　a　tunnel　of　fire　where　buildings　were　blaring　on　either　side　of　the　short；　narrow　street　that　led　down　to　the　railroad　tracks。　They　plunged　into　it。　A　glare　brighter　than　a　dozen　suns　dazzled　their　eyes；　scorching　heat　seared　their　skins　and　the　roaring；　crackling　and　crashing　beat　upon　their　ears　in　painful　waves。　For　an　eternity；　it　seemed；　they　were　in　the　midst　of　flaming　torment　and　then　abruptly　they　were　in　semidarkness　again。
　As　they　dashed　down　the　street　and　bumped　over　the　railroad　tracks；　Rhett　applied　the　whip　automatically。　His　face　looked　set　and　absent；　as　though　he　had　forgotten　where　he　was。　His　broad　shoulders　were　hunched　forward　and　his　chin　jutted　out　as　though　the　thoughts　in　his　mind　were　not　pleasant。　The　heat　of　the　fire　made　sweat　stream　down　his　forehead　and　cheeks　but　he　did　not　wipe　it　off。
　They　pulled　into　a　side　street；　then　another；　then　turned　and　twisted　from　one　narrow　street　to　another　until　Scarlett　completely　lost　her　bearings　and　the　roaring　of　the　flames　died　behind　them。　Still　Rhett　did　not　speak。　He　only　laid　on　the　whip　with　regularity。　The　red　glow　in　the　sky　was　fading　now　and　the　road　became　so　dark；　so　frightening；　Scarlett　would　have　welcomed　words；　any　words　from　him；　even　jeering；　insulting　words；　words　that　cut。　But　he　did　not　speak。
　Silent　or　not；　she　thanked　Heaven　for　the　comfort　of　his　presence。　It　was　so　good　to　have　a　man　beside　her；　to　lean　close　to　him　and　feel　the　hard　swell　of　his　arm　and　know　that　he　stood　between　her　and　unnamable　terrors；　even　though　he　merely　sat　there　and　stared。
　“Oh；　Rhett；”　she　whispered　clasping　his　arm；　“What　would　we　ever　have　done　without　you？　I’m　so　glad　you　aren’t　in　the　army！”
　He　turned　his　head　and　gave　her　one　look；　a　look　that　made　her　drop　his　arm　and　shrink　back。　There　was　no　mockery　in　his　eyes　now。　They　were　naked　and　there　was　anger　and　something　like　bewilderment　in　them。　His　lip　curled　down　and　he　turned　his　head　away。　For　a　long　time　they　jounced　along　in　a　silence　unbroken　except　for　the　faint　wails　of　the　baby　and　sniffles　from　Prissy。　When　she　was　able　to　bear　the　sniffling　noise　no　longer；　Scarlett　turned　and　pinched　her　viciously；　causing　Prissy　to　scream　in　good　earnest　before　she　relapsed　into　frightened　silence。
　Finally　Rhett　turned　the　horse　at　right　angles　and　after　a　while　they　were　on　a　wider；　smoother　road。　The　dim　shapes　of　houses　grew　farther　and　farther　apart　and　unbroken　woods　loomed　wall…like　on　either　side。
　“We’re　out　of　town　now；”　said　Rhett　briefly；　drawing　rein；　“and　on　the　main　road　to　Rough　and　Ready。”
　“Hurry。　Don’t　stop！”
　“Let　the　animal　breathe　a　bit。”　Then　turning　to　her；　he　asked　slowly：　“Scarlett；　are　you　still　determined　to　do　this　crazy　thing？”
　“Do　what？’
　“Do　you　still　want　to　try　to　get　through　to　Tara？　It’s　suicidal。　Steve　Lee’s　cavalry　and　the　Yankee　Army　are　between　you　and　Tara。”
　Oh；　Dear　God！　Was　he　going　to　refuse　to　take　her　home；　after　all　she’d　gone　through　this　terrible　day？
　“Oh；　yes！　Yes！　Please；　Rhett；　let’s　hurry。　The　horse　isn’t　tired。”
　“Just　a　minute。　You　can’t　go　down　to　Jonesboro　on　this　road。　You　can’t　follow　the　train　tracks。　They’ve　been　fighting　up　and　down　mere　all　day　from　Rough　and　Ready　on　south。　Do　you　know　any　other　roads；　small　wagon　roads　or　lanes　that　don’t　go　through　Rough　and　Ready　or　Jonesboro？”
　“Oh；　yes；”　cried　Scarlett　in　relief。　“If　we　can　just　get　near　to　Rough　and　Ready；　I　know　a　wagon　trace　that　winds　off　from　the　main　Jonesboro　road　and　wanders　around　for　miles。　Pa　and　I　used　to　ride　it。　It　comes　out　right　near　the　Macintosh　place　and　that’s　only　a　mile　from　Tara。”
　“Good。　Maybe　you　can　get　past　Rough　and　Ready　all　right。　General　Steve　Lee　was　there　during　the　afternoon　covering　the　retreat　Maybe　the　Yankees　aren’t　there　yet。　Maybe　you　can　get　through　there；　if　Steve　Lee’s　men　don’t　pick　up　your　horse。”
　“I　can　get　through？”
　“Yes；　you。”　His　voice　was　rough。
　“But　Rhett—　You—Aren’t　going　to　take　us？”
　“No。　I’m　leaving　you　here。”
　She　looked　around　wildly；　at　the　livid　sky　behind　them；　at　the　dark　trees　on　either　hand　hemming　them　in　like　a　prison　wall；　at　the　frightened　figures　in　the　back　of　the　wagon—and　finally　at　him。　Had　she　gone　crazy？　Was　she　not　hearing　right？
　He　was　grinning　now。　She　could　just　see　his　white　teeth　in　the　faint　light　and　the　old　mockery　was　back　in　his　eyes。
　“Leaving　us？　Where—where　are　you　going？”
　“I　am　going；　dear　girl；　with　the　army。”
　She　sighed　with　relief　and　irritation。　Why　did　he　joke　at　this　time　of　all　times？　Rhett　in　the　army！　After　all　he’d　said　about　stupid　fools　who　were　enticed　into　losing　their　lives　by　a　roll　of　drums　and　brave　words　from　orators—fools　who　killed　themselves　that　wise　men　might　make　money！
　“Oh；　I　could　choke　you　for　scaring　me　so！　Let’s　get　on。”
　I’m　not　joking；　my　dear。　And　I　am　hurt；　Scarlett　that　you　do　not　take　my　gallant　sacrifice　with　better　spirit。　Where　is　your　patriotism；　your　love　for　Our　Glorious　Cause？　Now　is　your　chance　to　tell　me　to　return　with　my　shield　or　on　it。　But；　talk　fast；　for　I　want　time　to　make　a　brave　speech　before　departing　for　the　wars。”
　His　drawling　voice　gibed　in　her　ears。　He　was　jeering　at　her　and；　somehow；　she　knew　he　was　jeering　at　himself　too。　What　was　he　talking　about？　Patriotism；　shields；　brave　speeches？　It　wasn’t　possible　that　he　meant　what　he　was　saying。　It　just　wasn’t　believable　that　he　could　talk　so　blithely　of　leaving　her　here　on　this　dark　road　with　a　woman　who　might　be　dying；　a　new…born　infant；　a　foolish　black　wench　and　a　frightened　child；　leaving　her　to　pilot　them　through　miles　of　battle　fields　and　stragglers　and　Yankees　and　fire　and　God　knows　what。
　Once；　when　she　was　six　years　old；　she　had　fallen　from　a　tree；　flat　on　her　stomach。　She　could　still　recall　that　sickening　interval　before　breath　came　back　into　her　body。　Now；　as　she　looked　at　Rhett；　she　felt　the　same　way　she　had　felt　then；　breathless；　stunned；　nauseated。
　“Rhett；　you　are　joking！”
　She　grabbed　his　arm　and　felt　her　tears　of　fright　splash　down　her　wrist。　He　raised　her　hand　and　kissed　it　arily。
　“Selfish　to　the　end；　aren’t　you；　my　dear？　Thinking　only　of　your　own　precious　hide　and　not　of　the　gallant　Confederacy。　Think　how　our　troops　will　be　heartened　by　my　eleventh…hour　appearance。”　There　was　a　malicious　tenderness　in　his　voice。
　“Oh；　Rhett；”　she　wailed；　“how　can　you　do　this　to　me？　Why　are　you　leaving　me？”
　“Why？”　he　laughed　jauntily。　“Because；　perhaps；　of　the　betraying　sentimentality　that　lurks　in　all　of　us　Southerners。　Perhaps—perhaps　because　I　am　ashamed。　Who　knows？”
　“Ashamed？　You　should　die　of　shame。　To　desert　us　here；　alone；　helpless—”
　“Dear　Scarlett！　You　aren’t　helpless。　Anyone　as　selfish　and　determined　as　you　are　is　never　helpless。　God　help　the　Yankees　if　they　should　get　you。”
　He　stepped　abruptly　down　from　the　wagon　and；　as　she　watched　him；　stunned　with　bewilderment；　he　came　around　to　her　side　of　the　wagon。
　“Get　out；”　he　ordered。
　She　stared　at　him。　He　reached　up　roughly；　caught　her　under　the　arms　and　swung　her　to　the　ground　beside　him。　With　a　tight　grip　on　her　he　dragged　her　several　paces　away　from　the　wagon。　She　felt　the　dust　and　gravel　in　her　slippers　hurting　her　feet。　The　still　hot　darkness　wrapped　her　like　a　dream。
　“I’m　not　asking　you　to　understand　or　forgive。　I　don’t　give　a　damn　whether　you　do　either；　for　I　shall　never　understand　or　forgive　myself　for　this　idiocy。　I　am　annoyed　at　myself　to　find　that　so　much　quixoticism　still　lingers　in　me。　But　our　fair　Southland　needs　every　man。　Didn’t　our　brave　Governor　Brown　say　just　that？　Not　matter。　I’m　off　to　the　wars。”　He　laughed　suddenly；　a　ringing；　free　laugh　that　startled　the　echoes　in　the　dark　woods。
　“　‘I　could　not　love　thee；　Dear；　so　much；　loved　I　not　Honour　more。’　That’s　a　pat　speech；　isn’t　it？　Certainly　better　than　anything　I　can　think　up　myself；　at　the　present　moment。　For　I　do　love　you；　Scarlett；　in　spite　of　what　I　said　that　night　on　the　porch　last　month。”
　His　drawl　was　caressing　and　his　hands　slid　tip　her　bare　arms；　warm　strong　hands。　I　love　you；　Scarlett；　because　we　are　so　much　alike；　renegades；　both　of　us；　dear；　and　selfish　rascals。　Neither　of　us　cares　a　rap　if　the　whole　world　goes　to　pot　so　long　as　we　are　safe　and　comfortable。”
　His　voice　went　on　in　the　darkness　and　she　heard　words；　but　they　made　no　sense　to　her。　Her　mind　was　tiredly　trying　to　take　in　the　harsh　truth　that　he　was　leaving　her　here　to　face　the　Yankees　alone。　Her　mind　said：　“He’s　leaving　me。　He’s　leaving　me。”　But　no　emotion　stirred。
　Then　his　arms　went　around　her　waist　and　shoulders　and　she　felt　the　hard　muscles　of　his　thighs　against　her　body　and　the　buttons　of　his　coat　pressing　into　her　breast　A　warm　tide　of　feeling；