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[Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water
Chapter 59
by Stuart, Woods,Stone, after a brief rest, begins his day by coordinating efforts to free Allison, who is imprisoned in St. Marks. He contacts Bill Eggers, who updates him on the progress made overnight, including media coverage and political outreach. The Today Show features Eggers, who shares the prime minister’s fax number, sparking public outrage. Stone visits Allison in jail, where she remains surprisingly composed despite the dire circumstances. Leslie Hewitt, her local attorney, arrives with breakfast and reveals the prime minister is inundated with protests, though his response remains uncertain.
The pressure on St. Marks’ government intensifies as U.S. officials, including Senator Helms and the White House, intervene. Stone remains hopeful the growing backlash will force the prime minister to reconsider Allison’s execution. Meanwhile, ominous sounds from a newly constructed scaffold in the jail’s courtyard hint at the impending danger. Hewitt shares a grim anecdote about a past client who was hanged, underscoring the stakes. Stone and Hewitt agree to reconvene later, clinging to the hope that public and diplomatic pressure will sway the prime minister.
Back at the marina, Stone fields calls from journalists and even the president’s secretary, who confirms a diplomatic cable has been sent. The media frenzy temporarily subsides, leaving Stone to reflect on the situation with Thomas, a local ally. Their conversation turns somber as Thomas reveals the infrequency but inevitability of executions in St. Marks. Stone grapples with the reality of Allison’s predicament, hoping the collective efforts will avert a tragic outcome.
The chapter culminates in a tense waiting game, with Stone balancing optimism and dread. While the international outcry grows, the prime minister’s stubbornness remains a wild card. Stone’s determination to save Allison is palpable, but the scaffold’s presence looms large, symbolizing the urgency of their mission. The narrative leaves readers questioning whether diplomacy and public pressure will be enough to overcome the island’s harsh justice system.
FAQs
1. What strategies did Stone and his team employ to generate public and political pressure on the St. Marks government regarding Allison’s case?
Answer:
Stone and his team implemented a multi-pronged media and political strategy to rally support. They secured coverage on major platforms like the Today show and The New York Times, where Eggers shared the prime minister’s fax number to encourage public protests. Politically, they leveraged connections with Senator Helms, the State Department’s Caribbean desk, and even the White House chief of staff, who promised a formal protest. These efforts aimed to inundate St. Marks with international outcry, hoping the pressure would force the prime minister to reconsider Allison’s execution. The chapter highlights the urgency of their campaign, as they raced against time to influence morning news cycles and government responses.
2. How does the chapter contrast Allison’s demeanor with the gravity of her situation, and what might this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Despite facing execution, Allison appears remarkably composed—she sleeps, reads, and expresses gratitude for small comforts like coffee and croissants. This contrasts sharply with Stone’s admission that he’d be “a gibbering idiot” in her position. Her calmness under extreme duress suggests resilience and emotional fortitude, traits likely honed through her experiences (implied by her political background). Additionally, her focus on mundane details (e.g., books) may reflect a coping mechanism to avoid dwelling on the scaffold’s ominous noises, which Stone recognizes but chooses not to explain to her. This duality underscores her strength while heightening the chapter’s tension.
3. Analyze Leslie Hewitt’s role in the chapter. How does his perspective on the prime minister’s behavior influence the narrative’s tension?
Answer:
Hewitt serves as both a local ally and a sobering voice of realism. His childhood knowledge of the prime minister as “stubborn” hints that public pressure might backfire, complicating Stone’s optimism. His anecdote about a past client who was hanged (“They hanged him”) starkly reminds readers of the high stakes. Yet, Hewitt also provides tactical guidance, such as advising against confronting the prime minister directly. His duality—hopeful yet pragmatic—deepens the narrative’s uncertainty, leaving readers to question whether the team’s efforts will sway a leader who may “dig in his heels.”
4. What symbolic or thematic significance does the scaffold’s testing hold in the chapter?
Answer:
The scaffold’s offstage presence serves as a grim metaphor for inevitability and institutional brutality. Its noises (creaking hinges, slapping wood) are described viscerally, chilling Stone and reminding readers of the countdown to execution. The detail that it’s dismantled and rebuilt only when needed underscores St. Marks’ bureaucratic detachment from executions. Meanwhile, Allison’s apparent ignorance of the sounds creates dramatic irony, amplifying the horror for readers. This juxtaposition—between her fragile normalcy and the state’s mechanical preparations—reinforces themes of powerlessness versus systemic oppression.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of Stone’s leadership in this chapter. What strengths and weaknesses does he demonstrate?
Answer:
Stone excels as a strategist, coordinating media blitzes and political outreach with precision (e.g., timing calls to maximize coverage). His decisiveness—delegating interviews to Eggers—shows pragmatic leadership. However, his optimism (“I don’t see how the prime minister can stand this wind”) may border on naivety, contrasting with Hewitt’s caution. He also displays emotional intelligence by shielding Allison from the scaffold’s reality, though this could be seen as paternalistic. Ultimately, his blend of resourcefulness and vulnerability humanizes him, making the chapter’s stakes feel more personal and urgent.
Quotes
1. “‘I’m nervous as a cat,’ she said, ‘but I got some sleep last night, amazingly enough.’”
This quote captures Allison’s remarkable composure under extreme duress while awaiting potential execution. It highlights the human capacity for resilience even in dire circumstances.
2. “‘That thing on the Today show is going to have half the country up in arms,’ he said. ‘And rightly so. By this time the St. Marks government has got to be up to its ass in faxes.’”
This statement demonstrates the strategic media campaign’s impact and the growing international pressure on St. Marks’ government. It shows how public opinion can become a powerful political tool.
3. “‘I hope all these calls and faxes will have an effect,’ Hewitt said. ‘I don’t think the prime minister has ever experienced anything quite like this.’”
This reveals the unprecedented nature of the international outcry and its potential to influence a previously insulated leader. It underscores the theme of modern global interconnectedness affecting local politics.
4. “‘Once.’ ‘What happened?’ ‘They hanged him.’”
This brutally concise exchange delivers one of the chapter’s most chilling moments, starkly reminding readers of the very real stakes involved in this legal battle.
5. “‘I think we’re going to pull this off, Stone; I don’t see how the prime minister can stand in the wind that’s blowing now.’”
This optimistic yet uncertain statement captures the tension between hope and reality in the final moments before the decision. It reflects the delicate balance of political pressure and personal stubbornness.