It was very, very peaceful, and all of a sudden I found myself shaking so hard that I had to sit down on the stream bank. Anytime. It could happen anytime, and just this fast. I wasn't sure which seemed most unreal; the bear's attack, or this, the soft summer night, alive with promise. I rested my head on my knees, letting the sickness, the residue of shock, drain away.
In this passage from "Drums of Autumn" by Diana Gabaldon, the narrator experiences an abrupt shift from tranquility to intense fear. Sitting peacefully by a stream, the serene summer night is shattered by the memory of a bear attack, leaving the narrator feeling overwhelmed. The contrasting sensations of calmness and panic create a surreal moment, prompting them to sit down as they deal with the physical and emotional aftermath of shock.
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