They shoot the white girl first, but the rest they can take their time. No need to hurry out here. They are 17 miles from a town which has 90 miles between it and any other. Hiding places will be plentiful in the convent, but there is time, and the day has just begun. They are nine. Over twice the number of the women, they are obliged to stampede or kill, and they have the paraphernalia for either requirement--rope, a palm leaf cross, handcuffs, mace, and sunglasses, along with clean, handsome guns.
The excerpt reveals a chilling scenario where a group of nine individuals prepares to confront a disproportionately smaller group of women. The urgency placed on the fate of the "white girl" underscores a disturbing racial dynamic, indicating a prioritization based on her race and suggesting a systematic violence. The mention of their distance from civilization highlights the isolation and the ensuing sense of impunity they might feel, as the remoteness of...
