Slouching Towards Bedlam — 61 of 76

Section 3 - Before the Gallows

The description of Before the Gallows is "Set directly beside the towering stone walls of Newgate Gaol, the scaffolding's staircase rises northward, leading up to a tall, wide stage. Above, the noose sways gently in the breeze.[paragraph break]The slow dip of the hill takes the road eastward and down to where the hansom cab waits."

The scaffolding is scenery in Before the Gallows. "The scaffolding, while solid, is clearly modular to enable it to be removed easily after the execution. The noose hangs across a shaft of midday sun, its shadow swelling eastward."

The gaol walls are scenery in Before the Gallows. "Imposing from a distance, the gaol's walls now dwarf everything about them." Instead of doing something other than examining to the gaol walls, say "There is apparently no way to enter the gaol from here -- all that can be seen are the walls." Understand "wall" as the gaol walls.

Before going from Before the Gallows to Platform, say "A short flight of stairs, but the walk up to the gallows is still a long one..."