Summary

In Part I, “Flight,” Chapter 1, “Del,” 28-year-old Del Reese was working “on Moe Sutton’s farm” in Georgia (3). When he arrived, he had nothing but a few dollars, the clothes he wore, his gun, and his grandfather’s harmonica, Melody (5). After only a few weeks there, Del had slept with several of the men’s wives. The women “seemed needy for something only he could give” (7).

Soon Del began sleeping with Moe’s wife Myra (8). One day, while they were having sex in a clearing, Moe appeared with a gun. The next day, Moe forced Del to work in one of the corn bins. Del was sucked under by the corn, convinced he would die.

In Chapter 2, “Rae Lynn,” 25-year-old Rae Lynn had been married to Warren for seven years. Before Warren, Rae Lynn had lived at a girls home. She...