The scene opens with an evocative description of the evening sky, painted in shades of purple resembling torn plums, setting a moody backdrop. As light rain begins to fall, the narrator arrives at the end of a long blacktop road, surrounded by dense scrub oak and pine. This location marks the entrance to Angola penitentiary, creating an atmosphere charged with tension and anticipation.

James Lee Burke's writing immerses the reader in vivid imagery, conveying a sense of isolation and the weight of the environment. The setting serves as a powerful introduction to the themes of confinement and struggle that are likely to unfold within the narrative.