Lea’s back in America but still in danger in “Stepping on Fingers:”
“…a tiny American flag dropped into a growing pool of water, blood, and home heating oil in the center of High Street. Eleven, twelve. High noon on Memorial Day in Camden, Maine.
Lea felt a small electric shock at the base of her skull at the exact moment Willy was crushed by the careening oil truck. “Is this my last moment?” she wondered, so frightened no sound would come out of her open mouth. With both hands over her ears, as if to somehow contain the explosion to come, she looked anxiously about for Thrasher, trying to decide whether to try to make her escape.
Thrasher glowered at her from the far edge of the gathering crowd, now focused on what was left of the accident rather than the parade, now stopped and wondering what was happening. As if to taunt her, Thrasher raised the Execution Box high above his head, pointed it in her direction and, laughing insanely, pushed the button. Lea’s head screamed! The shock was so severe she could taste the gold and silver in her fillings more strongly than ever before. She collapsed into the fetal position on the sidewalk, holding her throbbing head. As Lea slipped in and out of unconsciousness, a lightly brown-skinned man in gray home-spun clothing leaned over her trembling body. “At least this won’t take very long” she thought…”
@https://www.wmtw.com › article › memorial-day-events-maine-2023 › 44003490
#danger, #collision, #explosion, #savedbyafriend
