Chapter 21
Suddenly I could breathe, and the pressure on my neck was replaced by a heavy weight across my legs. Connie’s face swam into view. She stood over me, a towering giant, Brunnhilde wielding a wooden pole. At the other end of the pole dangled the Maryland state flag. “Are you OK?” The flagpole clattered to the floor as she bent to help me up. But first she had to roll Voorhis away with a push of her foot.
Free of my attacker, I sat on the chancel steps, rubbing my throat. It hurt to swallow, and I was certain my voice box had been badly bruised. I looked at the doctor, whose head was gashed and bleeding profusely. “Is he dead?” I croaked.
“I doubt it. I just knocked him cold.”
“Thank God you showed up! I wondered what had happened to you. Couldn’t you hear what was going on?”
