In "Lord John and the Hand of Devils" by Diana Gabaldon, the protagonist recalls a harrowing incident from his past. While in a camp in Scotland shortly after the Battle of Culloden, he experienced a surprise attack that left him overwhelmed with fear and confusion. An unknown assailant ambushed him from behind, silencing him with a grip around his throat, making him feel as if he was on the brink of death.

The encounter was brutal yet silent, with the attacker saying nothing as he swiftly completed his actions. The aftermath left the protagonist in a state of shock, immobilized and lying on the ground in pain, struggling to comprehend the violence inflicted upon him. This memory serves to illustrate the dangers and unpredictability of the tumultuous times he lived in, echoing the themes of survival and trauma in the narrative.