The Antidote
by Karen Russell
Contents
Section III - Harp Oletsky (3)
Overview
Summary
From the stage of the Grange Hall, Harp Oletsky begins his speech to the assembled Grangers, noting Sheriff Vick Iscoe's conspicuous absence. Harp announces he will prove that Clemson Louis Dew, the seventeen-year-old violinist condemned as the Lucky Rabbit's Foot Killer, is innocent. He explains that Iscoe seized on a detail from earlier murders and began planting rabbits' feet on victims' bodies to close unsolved cases, then framed Dew, a vulnerable transient.
Dell and Cleo Allfrey display the photographs of Mink Petrusev's body beside Iscoe and Deputy Percival digging a burn pit. The crowd initially reacts with hysterical laughter and accusations that Harp is shilling for Iscoe's rival Ernie Whitson, demanding to know how much he was paid days before the election.
The Antidote, Antonina Rossi, joins Harp onstage in borrowed clothes, publicly revealing her identity as a memory-banking prairie witch. She reads transcripts from the jurors' deposits and Deputy Percival Gander's deposit, corroborating the photographs and detailing Iscoe's coerced confessions and cover-ups. The mood shifts from ridicule to dangerous anger; Grangers shout that she previously claimed she could not hear deposits, questioning her credibility.
Percival Gander stands and confesses, describing finding rabbits' feet in his trunk and pleading that he only followed Iscoe's orders. Juror Elwin McPhee storms the stage and slaps Antonina, insisting on his innocence, until his wife April McPhee helps Antonina up, publicly denounces Elwin, and turns the room against Iscoe. The crowd erupts into chants of "Justice for Clemson!" and "Jail for Iscoe!" Harp, unnerved by the mob's swift reversal and by Iscoe's continued absence, prepares to say more.
Who Appears
- Harp OletskyAsphodel's uncle; delivers the public accusation against Sheriff Iscoe from the Grange Hall stage, narrating this chapter.
- Antonina Rossi (the Antidote)Former prairie witch who reveals her true identity and reads depositions confirming Iscoe's crimes; slapped by a juror.
- Sheriff Vick IscoeConspicuously absent from the hall; accused of planting rabbits' feet, framing Dew, and committing murders.
- Cleo AllfreyPhotographer who holds up duplicate incriminating images of Iscoe and the burn pit on the opposite end of the stage.
- Dell (Asphodel Oletsky)Harp's niece, displays the photographs of Mink's body with Iscoe and Percival to the crowd.
- Percival GanderIscoe's young deputy; recognizes himself in the photos and publicly confesses, blaming Iscoe and pleading he only followed orders.
- Elwin McPheeA juror and Harp's old friend; storms the stage and slaps Antonina, denying the accusations against him.
- April McPheeElwin's wife; helps Antonina up, denounces her husband, and decisively turns the crowd against Iscoe.
- Ernie WhitsonIscoe's election rival, seated in the audience and pleased by the accusations.
- Tommy HotchkinImpatient old Granger who shouts at Harp to get on with the speech.
- Peter HaageA juror who appears to suffer a seizure-like reaction during Antonina's testimony.
- Clemson Louis DewInnocent seventeen-year-old violinist on death row, framed as the Lucky Rabbit's Foot Killer; not present but central to the speeches.