From Cleo Allfrey's POV, she, Dell, and Antonina pick up a concussed, bruised Harp Oletsky in the downpour. Harp apologizes for how badly things went; the rain has dazed even the men who'd been chasing them, who now sing arm in arm. Cleo feels relief and gratitude, comforted that her negatives are hidden safely in the root cellar.

Driving through the swelling river and rising storm, they reach the Oletsky farm at dusk. The cat leaps out and savages the scarecrow in the wheat field, unsettling Cleo. Lightning reveals the Sheriff's car parked askew beside the farmhouse, door hanging open.

Sheriff Vick Iscoe emerges with his pistol drawn, mocking them and revealing he knows they have all been hiding at Harp's place. Harp orders everyone back to the truck and tosses Cleo the keys, but Iscoe herds them toward the porch.

Cleo opens her camera's dark slide as Iscoe cocks his gun; both shout "Don't shoot" simultaneously. Iscoe lunges and wrestles her for the Graflex. Harp catches Cleo, spins her, and shoves her toward the root cellar. She flees through the wheat but slips trying to protect the lens. Iscoe overtakes her, wrenches the camera away, and shoots it apart, destroying the lens. He then drags Cleo back at gunpoint to rejoin the others.