English L D 9
ALSO B Y C O LSO N W HIT EH EA D
The N oble H ustle
Zone O ne
Sag H arb or
Apex H id es t h e H urt
The C olo ssu s o f N ew Y o rk
Jo hn H en ry D ays
The I n tu itio nis t This is a w ork o f f ic tio n. N am es, c hara cte rs , p la ces, a nd in cid ents e it h er a re th e p ro duct o f th e a uth or’s im agin atio n o r a re u se d f ic tit io usly .
Any r e se m bla nce to a ctu al p ers o ns, liv in g o r d ead, e vents , o r lo cale s is e ntir e ly c oin cid enta l.
Copyrig ht © 2 016 b y C ols o n W hit e head
All r ig hts r e se rv ed. P ublis h ed in th e U nit e d S ta te s b y D ouble day, a d iv is io n o f P enguin R andom H ouse L LC , N ew Y ork ,
a nd d is tr ib ute d in
Canada b y R andom H ouse o f C anada, a d iv is io n o f P enguin R andom H ouse C anada L im it e d, T oro nto .
www.d ouble day.c om
DOUBLED AY
a nd th e p ortr a yal o f a n a nchor w it h a d olp hin a re r e gis te re d tr a dem ark s o f P enguin R andom H ouse L LC .
Cover d esig n b y O liv er M unday
Lib ra ry o f C ongre ss C ata lo gin g-in -P ublic atio n D ata
Nam es: W hit e head, C ols o n, 1 969– a uth or.
Tit le : T he u nderg ro und r a ilr o ad
: a n ovel / C ols o n W hit e head.
Desc rip tio n: N ew Y ork : D ouble day, 2 016.
Id entif ie rs : L C CN 2 016000643 ( p rin t) | L C CN 2 016004953 ( e book) I S B N 9 780385542364 ( h ard cover) | I S B N 9 780385537049 ( e book)
S ubje cts : L C SH : U nderg ro und R ailr o ad— Fic tio n. | F ugit iv e s la ves— Unit e d S ta te s— Fic tio n. | U nit e d S ta te s— His to ry — 19th c entu ry — Fic tio n.
BIS A C: F IC TIO N / L it e ra ry . | F IC TIO N / H is to ric al.
FIC TIO N / A fric an
A meric an / G enera l. | G SA FD : H is to ric al f ic tio n.
Cla ssif ic atio n: L C C P S3573.H 4768 U 53 2 016 ( p rin t)
LC C P S3573.H 4768 ( e book)
DDC 8 13/.5 4— dc23
LC r e cord a vaila ble a t
http :/ /lc cn.lo c.g ov/
2 016000643
ebook I S B N 9780385537049
v4.1
ep Con te n ts
C over
A ls o b y C ols o n W hite h ea d
T itle P age
C opyrig ht
D ed ic a tio n
Aja rry
Geo rg ia
Rid gew ay
South C aro lin a
Ste v en s
North C aro lin a
Eth el
Ten nesse e
Caesa r
In dia n a
Mab el
The N orth
A ck now le d gm en ts
A bout th e A uth or For J u lie Aja rry
T H E
fir s t ti m e C aesa r a p pro ached C ora a b out r u nnin g n o rth , s h e s a id n o .
This w as h er g ra nd m oth er ta lk in g. C ora ’s g ra nd m oth er h ad n ev er s e en th e o cean b efo re th at b rig ht
a fte rn o on in th e p ort o f O uid ah a nd th e w ate r d azzle d a fte r h er ti m e in th e fo rt’ s d ungeo n. T he d ungeo n
s to re d th em u nti l th e sh ip s a rriv ed . D aho m eyan ra id ers k id nap ped th e m en fir s t, th en re tu rn ed to h er
v illa ge th e n ext m oon
f o r th e w om en a nd c hild re n, m arc hin g th em i n c hain s to th e s e a tw o b y tw o. A s s h e
s ta re d in to th e b la ck d oorw ay, A ja rry th o ught s h e’d b e r e unite d w ith h er fa th er, d ow n th ere in th e d ark .
T he s u rv iv ors f r o m h er v illa ge to ld h er th at w hen h er f a th er c o uld n’t k eep th e p ace o f th e l o ng m arc h, th e
s la v ers s to ve i n h is h ead a nd l e ft h is b ody b y th e tr a il. H er m oth er h ad d ie d y ears b efo re .
Cora ’s g ra nd m oth er
w as s o ld a f e w ti m es o n th e tr e k to th e f o rt, p asse d b etw een s la v ers f o r c o w rie
s h ells a nd g la ss b ead s. I t w as h ard to s a y h o w m uch th ey p aid f o r h er i n O uid ah a s s h e w as p art o f a b ulk
p urc hase , e ig hty -e ig ht h um an s o uls f o r s ix ty c ra te s o f r u m a nd g unp ow der, th e p ric e a rriv ed u p on a fte r th e
s ta nd ard hagglin g in C oast E nglis h . A ble -b odie d m en and child bearin g w om en fe tc hed m ore th an
j u v enile s,
m akin g a n i n d iv id ual a cco unti n g d iffic ult.
The
Nanny
w as o ut o f L iv erp ool a nd h ad m ad e tw o p re v io us sto ps a lo ng th e G old C oast. T he
c ap ta in s ta ggere d h is p urc hase s, ra th er th an fin d h im se lf w ith c arg o o f s in gula r c ultu re a nd d is p ositi o n.
W ho k new w hat b ra nd o f m uti n y h is c ap ti v es m ig ht c o ok u p i f th ey s h are d a c o m mon to ngue. T his w as th e
s h ip ’s fin al p ort o f c all b efo re th ey c ro sse d th e A tl a nti c .
T w o y ello w -h air e d s a ilo rs r o w ed A ja rry o ut to
t h e s h ip , h um min g. W hite s k in l ik e b one.
The n o xio us a ir o f th e h o ld , th e g lo om o f c o nfin em ent, a nd th e s c re am s o f th o se s h ackle d to h er
c o ntr iv ed to d riv e A ja rry to m ad ness. B ecause o f h er te nd er a ge, h er c ap to rs d id n o t im med ia te ly fo rc e
t h eir u rg es u p on h er, b ut e v entu ally s o m e o f th e m ore s e aso ned m ate s d ra gged h er f r o m th e h o ld s ix w eeks
i n to
th e p assa ge. S he tw ic e tr ie d to k ill h ers e lf o n th e v oyage to A meric a, o nce b y d enyin g h ers e lf fo od
a nd th en a gain b y d ro w nin g. T he s a ilo rs s ty m ie d h er b oth ti m es, v ers e d i n th e s c hem es a nd i n clin ati o ns o f
c hatte l. A ja rry d id n’t e v en m ake it to th e g unw ale w hen sh e tr ie d to ju m p o verb oard . H er sim perin g
p ostu re a nd p ite o us a sp ect, re co gniz a b le fr o m th o usa nd s o f s la v es b efo re h er, b etr a yed h er in te nti o ns.
C hain ed h ead to to e, h ead to to e, i n e xp onenti a l m is e ry .
Alth o ugh th ey h ad tr ie d n o t to g et se p ara te d a t th e a ucti o n in O uid ah, th e re st o f h er fa m ily w as
p urc hase d b y P ortu guese tr a d ers f r o m th e f r ig ate
Viv ilia
, n ext s e en f o ur m onth s l a te r d rifti n g te n m ile s o ff
B erm ud a. P la gue h ad c la im ed a ll o n b oard . A uth o riti e s lit th e s h ip o n fir e a nd w atc hed h er c ra ckle a nd
s in k. C ora ’s g ra nd m oth er k new
n o th in g a b out th e s h ip ’s fa te . F or th e re st o f h er life s h e im agin ed h er
c o usin s w ork ed fo r k in d a nd g enero us m aste rs u p n o rth , e ngaged in m ore fo rg iv in g tr a d es th an h er o w n,
w eav in g o r s p in nin g, n o th in g in th e fie ld s. In h er s to rie s, Is a y a nd S id oo a nd th e re st s o m eho w b ought
t h eir w ay o ut o f b ond age a nd liv ed a s fr e e m en a nd w om en in th e C ity o f P ennsy lv ania , a p la ce s h e h ad
o verh eard tw o w hite
m en d is c uss o nce. T hese f a nta sie s g av e A ja rry c o m fo rt w hen h er b urd ens w ere s u ch
t o s p lin te r h er i n to a th o usa nd p ie ces.
The n ext ti m e C ora ’s g ra nd m oth er w as s o ld w as a fte r a m onth i n th e p est h o use o n S ulliv an’s I s la nd ,
o nce th e p hysic ia ns c erti fie d h er a nd th e r e st o f th e
Nanny
’s c arg o c le ar o f illn ess. A no th er b usy d ay o n
t h e E xchange. A b ig a ucti o n a lw ays d re w a c o lo rfu l c ro w d. T ra d ers a nd
p ro cure rs f r o m u p a nd d ow n th e
c o ast c o nv erg ed o n C harle sto n, c heckin g th e m erc hand is e ’s e yes a nd jo in ts a nd s p in es, w ary o f v enere al
d is te m per a nd o th er a fflic ti o ns. O nlo okers c hew ed fr e sh o yste rs a nd h o t c o rn a s th e a ucti o neers s h o ute d in to th e a ir. T he s la v es s to od n aked o n th e p la tf o rm . T here w as a b id din g w ar o ver a g ro up o f A sh anti
stu d s, th o se A fr ic ans o f r e no w ned i n d ustr y a nd m usc ula tu re ,
a nd th e f o re m an o f a l im esto ne q uarry b ought
a b unch o f p ic kanin nie s i n a n a sto und in g b arg ain . C ora ’s g ra nd m oth er s a w a l ittl e b oy a m ong th e g aw kers
eati n g r o ck c and y a nd w ond ere d w hat h e w as p utti n g i n h is m outh .
Ju st b efo re su nse t a n a gent b ought h er fo r tw o h und re d a nd tw enty -s ix d olla rs . S he w ould h av e
fe tc hed m ore b ut f o r th at s e aso n’s g lu t o f y o ung g ir ls . H is s u it w as m ad e o f th e w hite st
c lo th s h e h ad e v er
se en. R in gs s e t w ith c o lo re d s to ne f la sh ed o n h is f in gers . W hen h e p in ched h er b re asts to s e e i f s h e w as i n
flo w er, th e m eta l w as c o ol o n h er s k in . S he w as b ra nd ed , n o t f o r th e f ir s t o r l a st ti m e, a nd f e tte re d to th e
re st o f th e d ay’s a cq uis iti o ns. T he c o ffle b egan th eir lo ng m arc h s o uth th at n ig ht, s ta ggerin g b ehin d th e
tr a d er’s b uggy. T he
Nanny
b y th at ti m e w as e n r o ute b ack
to L iv erp ool, fu ll o f s u gar a nd to bacco . T here
were f e w er s c re am s b elo w decks.
You w ould h av e th o ught C ora ’s g ra nd m oth er c urs e d , s o m any ti m es w as s h e s o ld a nd s w ap ped a nd
re so ld o ver th e n ext fe w y ears . H er o w ners c am e to ru in w ith s ta rtl in g fr e q uency. H er fir s t m aste r g o t
sw in d le d b y a m an w ho s o ld a d ev ic e th at c le aned c o tto n tw ic e a s fa st a s W hitn ey’s g in . T he d ia gra m s
were c o nv in cin g, b ut
i n th e e nd A ja rry w as a no th er a sse t l iq uid ate d b y o rd er o f th e m agis tr a te . S he w ent
fo r tw o h und re d a nd e ig hte en d olla rs in a h asty e xchange, a d ro p in p ric e o ccasio ned b y th e r e aliti e s o f
th e l o cal m ark et. A no th er o w ner e xp ir e d f r o m d ro psy, w here up on h is w id ow h eld a n e sta te s a le to f u nd a
re tu rn to h er n ati v e E uro pe, w here i t w as c le an. A ja rry s p ent th re e m onth s a s th e p ro perty o f a W els h m an
who
e v entu ally l o st h er, th re e o th er s la v es, a nd tw o h o gs i n a g am e o f w his t. A nd s o o n.
Her p ric e flu ctu ate d . W hen y o u a re s o ld th at m any ti m es, th e w orld is te achin g y o u to p ay a tte nti o n.
She l e arn ed to q uic kly a d ju st to th e n ew p la nta ti o ns, s o rti n g th e n ig ger b re akers f r o m th e m ere ly c ru el, th e
la yab outs f r o m th e h ard w ork in g, th e i n fo rm ers f r o m th e s e cre t- k eep ers . M aste rs a nd m is tr e sse s i n d egre es
of w ic ked ness, e sta te s o f d is p ara te m eans a nd a m biti o n. S om eti m es th e p la nte rs w ante d n o th in g m ore th an
to m ake a h um ble l iv in g, a nd th en th ere w ere m en a nd w om en w ho w ante d to o w n th e w orld , a s i f i t w ere
a m atte r o f th e p ro per a cre age. T w o h und re d a nd fo rty -e ig ht, tw o h und re d a nd s ix ty , tw o h und re d a nd
se v enty d olla rs . W here v er s h e w ent i t w as s u gar a nd i n d ig o , e xcep t f o r a s ti n t f o ld in g to bacco
le av es fo r
one w eek b efo re s h e w as s o ld a gain . T he tr a d er c alle d u p on th e to bacco p la nta ti o n l o okin g f o r s la v es o f
bre ed in g a ge, p re fe ra b ly w ith a ll th eir te eth a nd o f p lia b le d is p ositi o n. S he w as a w om an n o w . O ff s h e
went.
She k new th at th e w hite m an’s s c ie nti s ts p eere d b eneath th in gs to u nd ers ta nd h o w th ey w ork ed . T he
movem ent of th e sta rs acro ss th e nig ht, th e co opera ti o n of hum ors in th e
blo od. T he te m pera tu re
re q uir e m ents f o r a h ealth y c o tto n h arv est. A ja rry m ad e a s c ie nce o f h er o w n b la ck b ody a nd a ccum ula te d
obse rv ati o ns. E ach th in g h ad a v alu e a nd a s th e v alu e c hanged , e v ery th in g e ls e c hanged a ls o . A b ro ken
cala b ash w as w orth l e ss th an o ne th at h eld i ts w ate r, a h o ok th at k ep t i ts c atf is h m ore p riz e d th an o ne th at
re lin q uis h ed i ts b ait. I n A meric a th e q uir k w as th at p eo ple w ere
th in gs. B est to c ut y o ur lo sse s o n a n o ld
man w ho w on’t s u rv iv e a tr ip a cro ss th e o cean. A y o ung b uck f r o m s tr o ng tr ib al s to ck g o t c usto m ers i n to a
fr o th . A s la v e g ir l s q ueezin g o ut p up s w as l ik e a m in t, m oney th at b re d m oney. I f y o u w ere a th in g— a c art
or a h o rs e o r a s la v e— yo ur v alu e d ete rm in ed y o ur p ossib iliti e s. S he m in d ed h er p la ce.
Fin ally , G eo rg ia . A r e p re se nta ti v e o f th e R and all p la nta ti o n
b ought h er fo r tw o h und re d a nd n in ety -
tw o d olla rs , i n s p ite o f th e n ew b la nkness b ehin d h er e yes, w hic h m ad e h er l o ok s im ple m in d ed . S he n ev er
dre w a b re ath o ff R and all l a nd f o r th e r e st o f h er l ife . S he w as h o m e, o n th is i s la nd i n s ig ht o f n o th in g.
Cora ’s g ra nd m oth er to ok a h usb and th re e ti m es. S he h ad a p re d ile cti o n fo r b ro ad s h o uld ers a nd b ig
hand s, a s d id O ld R and all, a lth o ugh th e m aste r a nd
h is s la v e h ad d iffe re nt s o rts o f l a b or i n m in d . T he tw o
pla nta ti o ns w ere w ell- s to cked , n in ety h ead o f n ig ger o n th e n o rth ern h alf a nd e ig hty -fiv e h ead o n th e so uth ern h alf. A ja rry g enera lly h ad h er p ic k. W hen s h e d id n’t, s h e w as p ati e nt.
Her fir s t h usb and d ev elo ped a h ankerin g fo r c o rn w his k ey a nd s ta rte d u sin g h is b ig h and s to m ake
big f is ts . A ja rry w asn ’t s a d to s e e h im d is a p pear d ow n th e r o ad
w hen th ey s o ld h im to a s u garc ane e sta te
in F lo rid a. S he n ext to ok u p w ith o ne o f th e s w eet b oys fr o m th e s o uth ern h alf. B efo re h e p asse d fr o m
cho le ra h e lik ed to s h are s to rie s fr o m th e B ib le , h is fo rm er m aste r b ein g m ore lib era l- m in d ed w hen it
cam e to s la v es a nd re lig io n. S he e njo yed th e s to rie s a nd p ara b le s a nd s u p pose d th at w hite m en h ad a
poin t: T alk o f s a lv ati o n c o uld g iv e a n A fr ic an id eas.
P oor s o ns o f H am . H er la st h usb and h ad h is e ars
bore d f o r s te alin g h o ney. T he w ound s g av e u p p us u nti l h e w aste d a w ay.
Aja rry b ore fiv e c hild re n b y th o se m en, e ach d eliv ere d in th e s a m e s p ot o n th e p la nks o f th e c ab in ,
whic h s h e p oin te d to w hen th ey m is ste p ped . T hat’ s w here y o u c am e fr o m a nd w here I’ ll p ut y o u b ack if
yo u d on’t lis te n. T each th em to o bey h er a nd m ayb e th ey’ll o bey a ll th e m aste rs
to c o m e a nd th ey w ill
su rv iv e. T w o d ie d m is e ra b ly o f fe v er. O ne b oy c ut h is fo ot w hile p la yin g o n a ru ste d p lo w , w hic h
pois o ned h is b lo od. H er y o ungest n ev er w oke u p a fte r a b oss h it h im in th e h ead w ith a w ooden b lo ck.
One a fte r a no th er. A t l e ast th ey w ere n ev er s o ld o ff, a n o ld er w om an to ld A ja rry . W hic h w as tr u e— back
th en R and all r a re ly s o ld th e l ittl e o nes. Y ou k new w here a nd h o w y o ur c hild re n
w ould d ie . T he c hild th at
liv ed p ast th e a ge o f te n w as C ora ’s m oth er, M ab el.
Aja rry d ie d i n th e c o tto n, th e b olls b obbin g a ro und h er l ik e w hite cap s o n th e b ru te o cean. T he l a st o f
her v illa ge, k eele d o ver i n th e r o w s f r o m a k no t i n h er b ra in , b lo od p ourin g f r o m h er n o se a nd w hite f r o th
co verin g h er l ip s. A s i f i t c o uld h av e b een a nyw here e ls e . L ib erty w as r e se rv ed f o r o th er p eo ple , f o r th e
citi z e ns
o f th e C ity o f P ennsy lv ania b ustl in g a th o usa nd m ile s to th e no rth . S in ce th e nig ht sh e w as
kid nap ped s h e h ad b een a p pra is e d a nd r e ap pra is e d , e ach d ay w akin g u p on th e p an o f a n ew s c ale . K no w
yo ur v alu e a nd y o u k no w y o ur p la ce i n th e o rd er. T o e sc ap e th e b ound ary o f th e p la nta ti o n w as to e sc ap e
th e f u nd am enta l p rin cip le s o f y o ur e xis te nce: i m possib le .
It w as her gra nd m oth er ta lk in g th at S und ay
ev enin g w hen C aesa r ap pro ached C ora ab out th e
und erg ro und r a ilr o ad , a nd s h e s a id n o .
Thre e w eeks l a te r s h e s a id y es.
This ti m e i t w as h er m oth er ta lk in g. Geo rg ia TH IR TY D O LLA R R EW ARD
Ran a w ay fr o m t h e s u bscrib er, liv in g in S alis b ury, o n t h e 5 th in sta n t, a n egro g ir l b y t h e n am e o f
LIZ ZIE
. I t is s u ppose d t h at
said g ir l is in th e v ic in it y o f M rs . S te el’s p la n ta tio n. I w ill g iv e th e ab ove re w ard o n th e d eliv ery o f th e g ir l, o r fo r
in fo rm atio n o n h er b ein g lo dged in a n y G ao l in t h is s ta te . A ll p ers o ns a re fo re w arn ed o f h arb orin g s aid g ir l, u nder p enalt y o f
la w p re scrib ed.
W .
M .
DIX O N
J ULY 1 8, 1 820
J O CK EY ’S
bir th d ay o nly c am e o nce o r tw ic e a y ear. T hey tr ie d to m ake a p ro per c ele b ra ti o n. I t w as a lw ays
S und ay, th eir h alf d ay. A t th re e o ’c lo ck th e b osse s s ig nale d th e e nd o f w ork a nd th e n o rth ern p la nta ti o n
s c urrie d to p re p are , r u sh in g th ro ugh c ho re s. M end in g, s c av engin g m oss, p atc hin g th e l e ak i n th e r o of. T he
f e ast to ok p re ced ence, u nle ss y o u h ad a p ass to g o i n to to w n to s e ll c ra fts o r h ad
h ir e d y o urs e lf o ut f o r d ay
l a b or. E ven i f y o u w ere i n clin ed to f o rg o th e e xtr a w ages— and n o o ne w as s o i n clin ed — im possib le w as
t h e sla v e im pud ent eno ugh to te ll a w hite m an he co uld n’t w ork b ecause it w as a sla v e’s b ir th d ay.
E very b ody k new n ig gers d id n’t h av e b ir th d ays.
Cora sa t b y th e e d ge o f h er p lo t o n h er b lo ck o f su gar m ap le a nd w ork ed d ir t fr o m u nd er h er
f in gern ails . W hen s h e c o uld , C ora
c o ntr ib ute d tu rn ip s o r g re ens to th e b ir th d ay fe asts , b ut n o th in g w as
c o m in g i n to day. S om eo ne s h o ute d d ow n th e a lle y, o ne o f th e n ew b oys m ost l ik ely , n o t c o m ple te ly b ro ken
i n b y C onnelly y et, a nd th e s h o uts c ra cked o pen i n to a d is p ute . T he v oic es m ore c ro tc hety th an a ngry , b ut
l o ud . I t w as g o in g to b e a m em ora b le b ir th d ay i f f o lk s w ere a lr e ad y th is r ile d .
“If y o u c o uld p ic k y o ur b ir th d ay, w hat
w ould i t b e?” L ovey a sk ed .
Cora c o uld n’t s e e L ovey’s fa ce fo r th e s u n b ehin d h er, b ut s h e k new h er fr ie nd ’s e xp re ssio n. L ovey
w as unco m plic ate d , and th ere w as go in g to b e a cele b ra ti o n th at nig ht. L ovey glo rie d in th ese ra re
e sc ap es, w heth er it w as J o ckey’s b ir th d ay, C hris tm as, o r o ne o f th e h arv est n ig hts w hen e v ery o ne w ith
t w o h and s s ta yed u p p ic kin g a nd th e R and alls h ad th e b osse s d is tr ib ute
c o rn w his k ey to k eep th em h ap py.
I t w as w ork , b ut th e m oon m ad e i t o kay. T he g ir l w as th e f ir s t to te ll th e f id dle r to g et b usy a nd th e f ir s t to
d ance. S he’d tr y to p ull C ora fr o m th e s id elin es, ig no rin g h er p ro te sta ti o ns. A s if th ey’d tw ir l in c ir c le s,
a rm in a rm , w ith L ovey c atc hin g a b oy’s e yes fo r a s e co nd o n e v ery r e v olu ti o n a nd C ora fo llo w in g s u it.
B ut C ora n ev er j o in ed h er, tu ggin g h er a rm
a w ay. S he w atc hed .
“T old yo u w hen I w as born ,” C ora sa id . She w as born in w in te r. H er m oth er, M ab el, had
c o m pla in ed e no ugh a b out h er h ard d eliv ery , th e ra re fr o st th at m orn in g, th e w in d h o w lin g b etw een th e
s e am s in th e c ab in . H ow h er m oth er b le d fo r d ays a nd C onnelly d id n’t b oth er to c all th e d octo r u nti l s h e
l o oked half a gho st. O ccasio nally C ora ’s m in d tr ic ked her and sh e’d tu rn th e sto ry in to
o ne o f her
m em orie s, in se rti n g th e fa ces o f gho sts , all th e sla v e d ead , w ho lo oked d ow n at her w ith lo ve and
i n d ulg ence. E ven p eo ple s h e h ate d , th e o nes w ho k ic ked h er o r s to le h er f o od o nce h er m oth er w as g o ne.
“If y o u c o uld p ic k,” L ovey s a id .
“C an’t p ic k,” C ora s a id . “ It’ s d ecid ed f o r y o u.”
“Y ou b est f ix y o ur m ood,” L ovey s a id . S he s p ed o ff.
Cora k nead ed h er c alv es, g ra te fu l fo r th e ti m e
o ff h er fe et. F east o r n o fe ast, th is w as w here C ora
e nd ed u p e v ery S und ay w hen th eir h alf d ay o f w ork w as d one: p erc hed o n h er s e at, lo okin g fo r th in gs to
f ix . S he o w ned h ers e lf fo r a fe w h o urs e v ery w eek w as h o w sh e lo oked a t it, to tu g w eed s, p lu ck
c ate rp illa rs , th in o ut th e s o ur g re ens, a nd g la re a t a nyo ne p la nnin g in curs io ns o n h er te rrito ry . T end in g to
h er b ed w as n ecessa ry m ain te nance b ut
a ls o a m essa ge th at s h e h ad n o t lo st h er r e so lv e s in ce th e d ay o f
t h e h atc het.
The d ir t a t h er f e et h ad a s to ry , th e o ld est s to ry C ora k new . W hen A ja rry p la nte d th ere , s o on a fte r h er
l o ng m arc h to th e p la nta ti o n, th e p lo t w as a r u m ble o f d ir t a nd s c ru b b ehin d h er c ab in , a t th e e nd o f th e
l in e o f s la v e q uarte rs . B eyo nd th at la y fie ld s a nd a fte r th at th e s w am p. T hen R and all h ad a d re am o ne
n ig ht
a b out a w hite s e a th at ra nged a s fa r a s th e e ye c o uld s e e a nd s w itc hed h is c ro p fr o m d ep end ab le in d ig o to S ea I s la nd c o tto n. H e m ad e n ew c o nta cts i n N ew O rle ans, s h o ok h and s w ith s p ecula to rs b acked
by th e B ank o f E ngla nd . T he m oney c am e i n a s n ev er b efo re . E uro pe w as f a m is h ed f o r c o tto n a nd n eed ed
to b e f e d , b ale b y b ale . O ne d ay th e b ucks c le are d th e tr e es a nd a t n ig ht w hen th ey r e tu rn ed f r o m th e
fie ld s
th ey g o t i n c ho ppin g l o gs f o r th e n ew r o w o f c ab in s.
Lookin g a t th em n o w a s f o lk s c hase d i n a nd o ut, g etti n g r e ad y, i t w as h ard f o r C ora to i m agin e a ti m e
when th e fo urte en c ab in s h ad n’t b een th ere . F or a ll th e w ear, th e c o m pla in ts fr o m d eep in th e w ood a t
ev ery ste p , th e c ab in s h ad th e a lw ays-q uality o f th e h ills to th e w est, o f th e c re ek th at b is e cte d th e
pro perty . T he c ab in s r a d ia te d
p erm anence a nd i n tu rn s u m moned ti m ele ss f e elin gs i n th o se w ho l iv ed a nd
die d i n th em : e nv y a nd s p ite . I f th ey’d l e ft m ore s p ace b etw een th e o ld c ab in s a nd th e n ew c ab in s i t w ould
hav e s p are d a l o t o f g rie f o ver th e y ears .
White m en s q uab ble d b efo re j u d ges o ver c la im s to th is o r th at tr a ct h und re d s o f m ile s a w ay th at h ad
been c arv ed u p o n a m ap . S la v es fo ught w ith e q ual fe rv or o ver th eir ti n y
p arc els a t th eir fe et. T he s tr ip
betw een th e c ab in s w as a p la ce to ti e a g o at, b uild a c hic ken c o op, a s p ot to g ro w f o od to f ill y o ur b elly
on to p o f th e m ash d ole d o ut b y th e k itc hen e v ery m orn in g. I f y o u g o t th ere f ir s t. W hen R and all, a nd l a te r
his s o ns, g o t a n o ti o n to s e ll y o u, th e c o ntr a ct w asn ’t d ry b efo re s o m eo ne h ad s n atc hed u p y o ur p lo t.
Seein g y o u o ut th ere i n th e e v enin g c alm , s m ilin g
o r h um min g, m ig ht g iv e y o ur n eig hb or a n i d ea to c o erc e
yo u fr o m y o ur c la im u sin g m eth o ds o f in ti m id ati o n, v ario us p ro vocati o ns. W ho w ould h ear y o ur a p peal?
There w ere n o j u d ges h ere .
“B ut m y m oth er w ould n’t l e t th em to uch h er f ie ld ,” M ab el to ld h er d aughte r. F ie ld i n j e st, a s A ja rry ’s
sta ke w as s c arc ely th re e y ard s s q uare . “ S aid s h e’d d ig a h am mer i n th ey h ead s i f th ey s o m uch a s l o oked
at i t.”
The im age o f h er g ra nd m oth er a ssa ulti n g a no th er s la v e d id n’t jib e w ith C ora ’s r e co lle cti o ns o f th e
wom an, b ut o nce s h e s ta rte d te nd in g to th e p lo t s h e u nd ers to od th e tr u th o f th e p ortr a it. A ja rry k ep t w atc h
over h er g ard en th ro ugh p ro sp erity ’s tr a nsfo rm ati o ns. T he R and alls b ought o ut th e S pencer s p re ad to th e
no rth , o nce th at fa m ily d ecid ed to tr y th eir lu ck o ut w est. T hey b ought th e n ext p la nta ti o n
so uth and
sw itc hed th e c ro p f r o m r ic e to c o tto n, a d din g tw o m ore c ab in s to e ach r o w , b ut A ja rry ’s p lo t r e m ain ed i n
th e m id dle o f it a ll, im movab le , lik e a s tu m p th at re ached d ow n to o d eep . A fte r A ja rry ’s d eath , M ab el
assu m ed c are o f th e y am s a nd o kra , w hate v er s tr u ck h er f a ncy. T he f u ss s ta rte d w hen C ora to ok i t o ver.
—
WHEN
Mab el v anis h ed C ora b ecam e a s tr a y. E le v en y ears o ld , te n y ears , th ere ab outs — th ere
w as n o
one n o w to te ll f o r s u re . I n C ora ’s s h o ck, th e w orld d ra in ed to g ra y i m pre ssio ns. T he f ir s t c o lo r to r e tu rn
was th e s im merin g b ro w n-re d o f th e s o il i n h er f a m ily ’s p lo t. I t r e aw akened h er to p eo ple a nd th in gs, a nd
sh e d ecid ed to h o ld o n to h er s ta ke, e v en th o ugh s h e w as y o ung a nd s m all a nd h ad n o body to l o ok a fte r h er
anym ore . M ab el w as to o q uie t a nd s tu b born to b e p opula r b ut
p eo ple h ad r e sp ecte d A ja rry . H er s h ad ow
had p ro vid ed p ro te cti o n. M ost o f th e o rig in al R and all sla v es w ere in th e g ro und n o w o r so ld , so m e
varie ty o f g o ne. W as th ere a nyo ne le ft w ho w as lo yal to h er g ra nd m oth er? C ora m ad e a c anv ass o f th e
villa ge: N ot a s o ul. T hey w ere a ll d ead .
She f o ught f o r th e d ir t. T here w ere th e s m all p ests , th e o nes to o y o ung f o r r e al w ork . C ora s h o oed o ff
th o se c hild re n
tr a m plin g h er s p ro uts a nd y elle d a t th em fo r d ig gin g u p h er y am s lip s, u sin g th e s a m e to ne
sh e u se d a t J o ckey’s f e asts to c o rra l th em i n to f o otr a ces a nd g am es. S he h and le d th em w ith g o od n atu re .
But p re te nd ers s te p ped f r o m th e w in gs. A va. C ora ’s m oth er a nd A va g re w u p o n th e p la nta ti o n a t th e
sa m e ti m e. T hey w ere tr e ate d to th e s a m e R and all h o sp ita lity , th e tr a v esti e s s o r o uti n e a nd fa m ilia r
th at th ey w ere a k in d o f w eath er, a nd th e o nes s o im agin ati v e in th eir m onstr o usn ess th at th e m in d r e fu se d to
acco m modate th em . S om eti m es s u ch a n e xp erie nce b ound o ne p ers o n to a no th er; j u st a s o fte n th e s h am e o f
one’s p ow erle ssn ess m ad e a ll w itn esse s i n to e nem ie s. A va a nd M ab el d id n o t g et a lo ng.
Ava w as w ir y a nd s tr o ng, w ith h and s a s q uic k a s a c o tto nm outh . S peed th at w as g o od f o r p ic kin g a nd
fo r c lo ppin g h er littl e o nes a cro ss th e fa ce fo r id le ness a nd o th er s in s. S he c heris h ed h er c hic kens m ore
th an th o se c hild re n a nd c o vete d C ora ’s la nd to e xp and h er c o op. “ It’ s a w aste ,” A va s a id , ti c kin g h er
to ngue a gain st h er te eth . “ A ll th at fo r h er.” A va a nd C ora s le p t n ext to e ach o th er e v ery n ig ht in th e lo ft
and e v en th o ugh th ey w ere c ra m med u p th ere w ith e ig ht o th er p eo ple C ora c o uld d is ti n guis h
A va’s e v ery
fr u str a ti o n a s it m oved th ro ugh th e w ood. T he w om an’s b re ath w as h um id w ith ra ge, s o ur. S he m ad e a
poin t o f k no ckin g C ora w henev er s h e g o t u p to m ake w ate r.
“Y ou in H ob n o w ,” M ose s to ld C ora o ne a fte rn o on w hen s h e c am e in fr o m h elp in g w ith th e b alin g.
Mose s h ad m ad e a d eal w ith A va, u sin g s o m e fo rm o f c urre ncy. E ver s in ce C onnelly h ad p ro m ote d th e
fie ld h and to b oss, to o ne o f th e
o vers e er’s e nfo rc ers , M ose s h ad s e t h im se lf u p a s a b ro ker o f c ab in
in tr ig ues. O rd er in th e r o w s, s u ch a s it w as, n eed ed to b e p re se rv ed , a nd th ere w ere th in gs a w hite m an
co uld n o t d o. M ose s a ccep te d h is ro le w ith e nth usia sm . C ora th o ught h e h ad a m ean fa ce, lik e a b url
sp ro uti n g fr o m a s q uat, s w eaty tr u nk. S he w asn ’t s u rp ris e d w hen h is c hara cte r re v eale d its e lf— if y o u
waite d lo ng e no ugh, it a lw ays
d id . L ik e th e d aw n. C ora slu nk o ver to H ob, w here th ey b anis h ed th e
wre tc hed . T here w as n o r e co urs e , w ere n o la w s b ut th e o nes r e w ritte n e v ery d ay. S om eo ne h ad a lr e ad y
moved h er th in gs o ver.
No o ne re m em bere d th e u nfo rtu nate w ho h ad le nt h is n am e to th e c ab in . H e liv ed lo ng e no ugh to
em body q ualiti e s b efo re b ein g u nd one b y th em . O ff to H ob w ith th o se w ho h ad b een c rip ple d b y th e
overs e ers ’ p unis h m ents ,
o ff to H ob w ith th o se w ho h ad b een b ro ken b y th e la b or in w ays y o u c o uld s e e
and i n w ays y o u c o uld n o t s e e, o ff to H ob w ith th o se w ho h ad l o st th eir w its . O ff to H ob w ith s tr a ys.
The d am aged m en, th e h alf m en, liv ed in H ob fir s t. T hen th e w om en to ok u p r e sid ence. W hite m en
and b ro w n m en h ad u se d th e w om en’s b odie s v io le ntl y , th eir b ab ie s c am e o ut stu nte d a nd sh ru nken,
beati n gs h ad k no cked th e
s e nse o ut o f th eir h ead s, a nd th ey r e p eate d th e n am es o f th eir d ead c hild re n in
th e d ark ness: E ve, E liz a b eth , N ’th anie l, T om . C ora c urle d o n th e flo or o f th e m ain ro om , to o a fr a id to
sle ep u p th ere w ith th em , th o se a b je ct c re atu re s. C urs in g h ers e lf fo r h er s m all- m in d ed ness e v en a s s h e
was p ow erle ss b efo re it. S he s ta re d a t d ark s h ap es. T he fir e p la ce, th e b eam s u nd erg ir d in g th e lo ft, th e
to ols d anglin g
o ff n ails o n th e w alls . T he f ir s t ti m e s h e h ad s p ent a n ig ht o uts id e th e c ab in s h e’d b een b orn
in . A h und re d p aces a nd a s m any m ile s.
It w as o nly a m atte r o f ti m e b efo re A va im ple m ente d th e n ext s ta ge o f h er s c hem e. A nd th ere w as
Old A bra ham to c o nte nd w ith . O ld A bra ham , w ho w as n o t o ld a t a ll b ut w ho h ad c o m porte d h im se lf in
th e m anner o f a n e ld erly m is a nth ro pe s in ce h e fir s t le arn ed to s it
u p . H e h ad n o d esig ns b ut w ante d th e
plo t g o ne o n p rin cip le . W hy s h o uld h e a nd e v ery o ne e ls e r e sp ect th is littl e g ir l’s c la im ju st b ecause h er
gra nd m oth er h ad k ic ked th e d ir t o ver o nce? O ld A bra ham w as n o t o ne fo r tr a d iti o n. H e’d b een s o ld to o
many ti m es fo r th e p ro positi o n to h av e m uch w eig ht. O n n um ero us o ccasio ns a s s h e p asse d o n e rra nd s,
Cora o verh eard h im l o bby f o r th e r e d is tr ib uti o n o f h er p arc el.
“ A ll th at f o r h er.” A ll th re e s q uare y ard s o f
it.
—
TH EN
Bla ke a rriv ed . T hat s u m mer y o ung T erra nce R and all a ssu m ed d uti e s to p re p are fo r th e d ay h e
and h is b ro th er to ok o ver th e p la nta ti o n. H e b ought a b unch o f n ig gers o ut o f th e C aro lin as. S ix o f th em , Fanti a nd M and in go if th e b ro ker w as to b e b elie v ed , th eir b odie s a nd te m pera m ent h o ned fo r la b or b y
natu re . B la ke, P ot, E dw ard , a nd th e r e st
m ad e a tr ib e o f th em se lv es o n R and all la nd a nd w ere n o t a b ove
help in g th em se lv es to th at w hic h w as n o t th eir s . T erra nce R and all m ad e it k no w n th ey w ere h is n ew
fa v orite s, a nd C onnelly m ad e s u re th at e v ery o ne r e m em bere d it. Y ou le arn ed to s te p a sid e w hen th e m en
were i n a m ood, o r o n a S atu rd ay n ig ht o nce th ey’d e m pti e d a ll th e c id er.
Bla ke w as a b ig o ak, a d oub le -ra ti o n m an w ho q uic kly p ro ved
a te sta m ent to T erra nce R and all’s
in v estm ent a cum en. T he p ric e th ey’d g et f o r th e o ffs p rin g o f s u ch a s tu d a lo ne. B la ke w ra ssle d h is b ud die s
and a ny o th er c o m ers i n a f r e q uent s p ecta cle , k ic kin g u p th e d ust, i n ev ita b ly e m erg in g th e c o nq uero r. H is
voic e b oom ed th ro ugh th e ro w s a s h e w ork ed a nd e v en th o se w ho d esp is e d h im c o uld n’t h elp b ut s in g
alo ng. T he m an h ad a m is e ra b le p ers o nality b ut th e s o und s
th at c am e f r o m h is b ody m ad e th e l a b or f ly .
Afte r a fe w w eeks o f sn iffin g a ro und a nd a sse ssin g th e n o rth ern h alf, B la ke d ecid ed th at C ora ’s
sp re ad w ould b e a n ic e p la ce to ti e u p h is d og. S un, b re eze , p ro xim ity . B la ke h ad c o axed th e m utt to h is
sid e d urin g a tr ip to to w n. T he d og s ta yed , lin gerin g a ro und th e s m okeho use w hen B la ke w ork ed a nd
bark in g a t e v ery n o is e i n th e b usy G eo rg ia n ig ht. B la ke
k new s o m e c arp entr y — it w as n o t, a s w as o fte n th e
case , a l ie p ut o ut b y th e tr a d er to b um p u p h is p ric e. H e b uilt a l ittl e h o use f o r h is m utt a nd tr ie d to i n d uce
co m plim ents . T he k in d w ord s w ere g enuin e, fo r th e d ogho use w as a h and so m e p ie ce o f w ork , o f n ic e
pro porti o n, w ith c le an a ngle s. T here w as a d oor o n a h in ge a nd s u n a nd m oon c uto uts a lo ng th e b ack w all.
“A in ’t th is a nic e m ansio n?” B la ke
ask ed O ld A bra ham . B la ke had co m e to valu e th e m an’s
so m eti m es b ra cin g c and or s in ce h is a rriv al.
“M ig hty f in e w ork . T hat a l ittl e b ed i n th ere ?”
Bla ke h ad s e w n a p illo w case a nd s tu ffe d it w ith m oss. H e d ecid ed th at th e p atc h o uts id e h is c ab in
was th e m ost a p pro pria te s p ot fo r h is d og’s h o m e. C ora h ad b een in v is ib le to h im b ut n o w h e s o ught h er
eyes w hen s h e w as c lo se , to w arn h er th at s h e w as
i n v is ib le n o m ore .
She tr ie d to c all in a fe w d eb ts o w ed h er m oth er, th e o nes s h e k new a b out. T hey r e b uffe d h er. L ik e
Beau, th e s e am str e ss M ab el h ad n urs e d b ack to h ealth w hen s h e w as s tr u ck w ith fe v er. M ab el h ad g iv en
th e g ir l h er o w n s u p per p orti o n a nd s p ooned p otl ik ker a nd r o ots in to h er tr e m blin g lip s u nti l s h e o pened
her e yes a gain . B eau s a id s h e h ad p aid th at d eb t a nd th en s o m e a nd to ld
C ora to g et b ack to H ob. C ora
re m em bere d th at M ab el h ad e xte nd ed a n a lib i to C alv in w hen s o m e p la nti n g to ols w ent m is sin g. C onnelly ,
who h ad a n a p ti tu d e f o r th e c at- o ’-n in e-ta ils , w ould h av e s tr ip ped th e m eat o ff C alv in ’s b ack i f s h e h ad n’t
co nco cte d h is d efe nse . W ould h av e d one th e s a m e to M ab el if h e’d fo und s h e w as ly in g. C ora c re p t o n
Calv in a fte r s u p per: I n eed h elp . H e w av ed h er a w ay. M ab el
h ad s a id th at s h e n ev er d is c o vere d to w hat
purp ose h e u se d th o se i n str u m ents .
Not s o on a fte r B la ke m ad e h is in te nti o ns k no w n, C ora w oke o ne m orn in g to th e v io la ti o n. S he le ft
Hob to c heck h er g ard en. It h ad b een a c o ol d aw n. W is p s o f w hite m ois tu re h o vere d o ver th e g ro und .
There sh e sa w it— th e re m ain s o f w hat w ould h av e b een h er fir s t c ab bages. H eap ed b y th e ste p s o f
Bla ke’s c ab in , th e ta ngle d
v in es a lr e ad y d ry in g o ut. T he g ro und h ad b een tu rn ed a nd ta m ped to m ake a
nic e y ard fo r th e m utt’ s h o use , w hic h s a t in th e c ente r o f h er p lo t lik e a g ra nd m ansio n in th e h eart o f a
pla nta ti o n.
The d og p oked h is h ead o ut o f th e d oor a s if it k new it h ad b een h er la nd a nd w ante d to s ig nal h is
in d iffe re nce.
Bla ke s te p ped o ut o f th e c ab in a nd c ro sse d h is a rm s. H e s p at.
Peo ple m oved in th e c o rn ers
o f C ora ’s v is io n: s h ad ow s o f g o ssip s a nd s c o ld s. W atc hin g h er. H er
moth er w as g o ne. S he’d b een m oved i n to th e w re tc h h o use a nd n o o ne h ad c o m e to h er a id . N ow th is m an th re e ti m es h er s iz e , a b ru is e r, h ad ta ken h er s ta ke.
Cora h ad b een m ullin g s tr a te gy. I n l a te r y ears s h e c o uld h av e tu rn ed to th e H ob w om en, o r L ovey, b ut
th is w as th en. H er g ra nd m oth er h ad w arn ed th at s h e w ould k no ck o pen th e
h ead o f a nyo ne w ho m esse d
with h er la nd . T hat s e em ed o ut o f p ro porti o n to C ora . In a s p ell, s h e w alk ed b ack to H ob a nd p lu cked a
hatc het o ff th e w all, th e h atc het sh e sta re d a t w hen sh e c o uld n o t sle ep . L eft b y o ne o f th e p re v io us
re sid ents w ho c am e to o ne b ad e nd o r a no th er, lu ng s ic kness o r p eele d o pen b y a w hip o r s h itti n g th eir
in sid es o ut o n th e f lo or.
By n o w w ord h ad s p re ad a nd b ysta nd ers
lin gere d o uts id e th e c ab in s, h ead s ti lte d in a nti c ip ati o n.
Cora m arc hed p ast th em , b ent a s i f b urro w in g h er b ody i n to a g ale . N o o ne m oved to s to p h er, s o s tr a nge
was th is d is p la y. H er fir s t b lo w b ro ught d ow n th e r o of o f th e d ogho use , a nd a s q ueal fr o m th e d og, w ho
had ju st h ad h is ta il h alf s e v ere d . H e s c ra m ble d to a h id ey-h o le b eneath h is o w ner’s c ab in . H er s e co nd
blo w w ound ed th e l e ft s id e o f
th e d ogho use g ra v ely a nd h er l a st p ut i t o ut o f i ts m is e ry .
She s to od th ere , h eav in g. B oth h and s o n th e h atc het. T he h atc het w av ere d in th e a ir, in a tu g-o f- w ar
with a g ho st, b ut th e g ir l d id n o t f a lte r.
Bla ke m ad e fis ts a nd s te p ped to w ard C ora . H is b oys b ehin d h im , te nsin g. T hen h e s to pped . W hat
hap pened b etw een th o se tw o fig ure s in th at m om ent— th e b urly y o ung m an a nd th e s le nd er g ir l in w hite
sh ift— becam e a m atte r o f v anta ge. T o th o se w atc hin g b y th e f ir s t l in e o f c ab in s B la ke’s f a ce d is to rte d i n
su rp ris e a nd w orry , th at o f a m an s tu m blin g in to a k in gd om o f h o rn ets . T ho se s ta nd in g b y th e n ew c ab in s
sa w C ora ’s e yes d art to a nd fr o , a s if s h e to ok th e m easu re o f a n a d vancin g h o st, n o t ju st o ne m an. A n
arm y sh e w as n o neth ele ss p re p are d to m eet. R egard le ss o f p ers p ecti v e, w hat w as im porta nt
w as th e
messa ge im parte d b y o ne th ro ugh p ostu re a nd e xp re ssio n a nd in te rp re te d b y th e o th er: Y ou m ay g et th e
bette r o f m e, b ut i t w ill c o st y o u.
They s to od a fe w m om ents u nti l A lic e s o und ed th e b ell fo r b re akfa st. N obody w as g o in g to fo rg o
th eir m ash . W hen th ey c am e i n f r o m th e f ie ld s, C ora c le aned u p th e m ess th at h ad b een m ad e o f h er p lo t.
She r o lle d o ver th e b lo ck o f s u gar m ap le , a c asto ff
fr o m s o m eo ne’s c o nstr u cti o n p ro je ct, a nd it b ecam e
her p erc h w henev er s h e h ad a s p are m om ent.
If C ora d id n’t b elo ng in H ob b efo re A va’s m aneuv erin g, s h e d id n o w . Its m ost in fa m ous o ccup ant,
and th e m ost lo ng-te rm . E ventu ally th e w ork b ro ke th e c rip ple d — it a lw ays d id — and th o se in a s ta te o f
unre aso n w ere s o ld o ff c heap o r to ok a k nife to th eir o w n th ro ats . V acancie s w ere b rie f. C ora r e m ain ed .
Hob w as h er h o m e.
She u se d th e d ogho use fo r fir e w ood. It k ep t h er a nd th e r e st o f H ob w arm o ne n ig ht, b ut its le gend
mark ed h er fo r th e r e st o f h er ti m e o n th e R and all p la nta ti o n. B la ke a nd h is fr ie nd s s ta rte d te llin g ta le s.
Bla ke re co unte d h o w h e w oke fr o m a n ap b ehin d th e s ta b le s to fin d C ora s ta nd in g o ver h im w ith h er
hatc het, b lu b berin g. H e w as a n atu ra l m im ic a nd h is g estu re s s o ld th e s to ry .
O nce C ora ’s c hest s ta rte d to
sp ro ut, E dw ard , th e m ost w ic ked o f B la ke’s g ang, b ra gged o f h o w C ora fla p ped h er d re ss a t h im w hile
sh e m ad e la sc iv io us su ggesti o ns and th re ate ned to sc alp him w hen he re fu se d her. Y oung w om en
whis p ere d h o w th ey w atc hed h er s lin k a w ay fr o m th e c ab in s o n th e fu ll m oon, to th e w oods, w here s h e
fo rn ic ate d w ith donkeys and go ats . T ho se w ho fo und th is la st sto ry le ss th an
cre d ib le no neth ele ss
re co gniz e d th e u se fu ln ess o f k eep in g th e s tr a nge g ir l o uts id e th e c ir c le o f r e sp ecta b ility .
Not l o ng a fte r i t b ecam e k no w n th at C ora ’s w om anho od h ad c o m e i n to f lo w er, E dw ard , P ot, a nd tw o
hand s fr o m th e s o uth ern h alf d ra gged h er b ehin d th e s m okeho use . If a nyo ne h eard o r s a w , th ey d id n o t
in te rv ene. T he H ob w om en s e w ed h er u p . B la ke w as g o ne b y th en. P erh ap s h av in g lo oked
in to h er fa ce
th at d ay, h e h ad c o unse le d h is c o m panio ns a gain st r e v enge: I t w ill c o st y o u. B ut h e w as g o ne. H e r a n o ff
th re e y ears a fte r s h e b uste d u p th e d ogho use , h id in g i n th e s w am p f o r w eeks. I t w as h is m utt’ s b ark in g th at gav e a w ay h is l o cati o n to th e p atr o lle rs . C ora w ould h av e s a id i t s e rv ed h im r ig ht, h ad h is p unis h m ent n o t
mad e h er s h iv er to th in k a b out. They h ad a lr e ad y d ra gged th e b ig ta b le fr o m th e k itc hen a nd c o vere d it w ith fo od fo r Jo ckey’s
c ele b ra ti o n. A t o ne e nd a tr a p per sk in ned h is ra cco ons a nd a t th e o th er F lo re nce sc ra p ed d ir t fr o m a
m ound o f s w eet p ota to es. T he fir e u nd er th e b ig c auld ro n c ra cked a nd w his tl e d . T he s o up r o ile d w ith in
t h e b la ck p ot, b its o f c ab bage c hasin g a ro und th e h o g’s h ead th at b obbed u p a nd d ow n, th e e ye r o vin g
in
t h e g ra y fo am . L ittl e C heste r r a n u p a nd tr ie d to g ra b a h and fu l o f c o w peas, b ut A lic e s w atte d h im a w ay
w ith h er l a d le .
“N oth in g to day, C ora ?” A lic e s a id .
“T oo e arly ,” C ora s a id .
Alic e m ad e a b rie f s h o w o f d is a p poin tm ent a nd r e tu rn ed to s u p per.
That’ s w hat a l ie l o oks l ik e, C ora th o ught, a nd m ark ed i t. I t w as j u st a s w ell h er g ard en h ad r e fu se d .
O n J o ckey’s la st b ir th d ay s h e h ad d onate d
tw o h ead s o f c ab bage, w hic h w ere g ra cio usly r e ceiv ed . C ora
m ad e th e m is ta ke o f tu rn in g b ack a s s h e d ep arte d th e k itc hen a nd c aught A lic e to ssin g th e h ead s in to th e
s lo p b ucket. S he s ta ggere d i n to th e s u nlig ht. D id th e w om an th in k h er f o od ta in te d ? I s th at h o w A lic e h ad
g o t r id o f e v ery th in g C ora h ad c o ntr ib ute d th ese p ast fiv e y ears , tr e ate d e v ery tu rn ip k no b a nd b unch o f
s o ur g re ens? H ad it s ta rte d
w ith C ora , o r M ab el, o r h er g ra nd m oth er? T here w as n o p oin t in c o nfr o nti n g
t h e w om an. A lic e h ad b een b elo ved o f R and all, a nd n o w Ja m es R and all, w ho h ad g ro w n ta ll o n h er
m in cem eat p ie s. T here w as a n o rd er o f m is e ry , m is e ry tu cked in sid e m is e rie s, a nd y o u w ere m eant to
k eep tr a ck.
The R and all b ro th ers . S in ce h e w as a y o ung b oy, J a m es c o uld b e p la cate d b y a tr e at fr o m A lic e’s
k itc hen, th e s u gar
a p ple th at c ut s h o rt a f it o r ta ntr u m . H is y o unger b ro th er, T erra nce, w as a d iffe re nt s o rt.
T he c o ok s ti ll h ad a k no t n ext to h er e ar w here M aste r T erra nce e xp re sse d h is d is p le asu re o ver o ne o f h er
b ro th s. H e h ad b een te n y ears o ld . T he s ig ns h ad b een th ere s in ce h e c o uld w alk , a nd h e p erfe cte d th e
m ore d is ta ste fu l a sp ects o f h is p ers o nality a s h e lu rc hed in to m anho od a nd a ssu m ed h is r e sp onsib iliti e s.
J a m es had a nauti lu s d is p ositi o n, b urro w in g in to his p riv ate ap peti te s, b ut T erra nce in flic te d ev ery
f le eti n g a nd d eep -s e ate d f a ncy o n a ll i n h is p ow er. A s w as h is r ig ht.
Aro und C ora , p ots c la nged a nd p ic kanin nie s s q ueale d o ver th e d elig hts to c o m e. F ro m th e s o uth ern
h alf: n o th in g. T he R and all b ro th ers h ad f lip ped a c o in y ears a go to d ete rm in e s te w ard sh ip o f e ach h alf o f
t h e p la nta ti o n a nd i n
d oin g s o m ad e th is d ay p ossib le . F easts l ik e th is d id n’t h ap pen i n T erra nce’s d om ain ,
f o r th e y o unger b ro th er w as s ti n gy w ith s la v e a m use m ents . T he R and all s o ns m anaged th eir in herita nces
a cco rd in g to th eir te m pera m ents . Ja m es c o nte nte d h im se lf w ith th e se curity o f a fa sh io nab le c ro p, th e
s lo w , in ev ita b le a ccum ula ti o ns o f h is e sta te . L and a nd n ig gers to te nd it w ere a s u re ty b eyo nd w hat a ny
b ank
c o uld o ffe r. T erra nce to ok a m ore a cti v e h and , e v er s c hem in g f o r w ays to i n cre ase th e l o ad s s e nt to
N ew O rle ans. H e w ru ng o ut e v ery p ossib le d olla r. W hen b la ck b lo od w as m oney, th e s a v vy b usin essm an
k new to o pen th e v ein .
The b oy C heste r a nd h is fr ie nd s g ra b bed C ora , s ta rtl in g h er. B ut it w as o nly c hild re n. T im e fo r th e
r a ces. C ora a lw ays a rra nged th e c hild re n a t th e s ta rti n g lin e, a im in g th eir
fe et, c alm in g th e s k itti s h o nes,
a nd g ra d uati n g s o m e to th e o ld er k id s’ r a ce i f n eed b e. T his y ear s h e k ic ked u p C heste r o ne s lo t. H e w as a
s tr a y, lik e h er, h is p are nts s o ld o ff b efo re h e c o uld w alk . C ora lo oked a fte r h im . B urr-h ead ed a nd re d -
e yed . H e’d s h o t u p th e la st s ix m onth s, th e r o w s tr ig gerin g s o m eth in g in h is lith e b ody. C onnelly s a id h e
h ad th e m akin gs o f a to p p ic ker, a r a re c o m plim ent
f r o m h im . “Y ou r u n f a st,” C ora s a id .
He c ro sse d h is a rm s a nd c o cked h is h ead : Y ou d on’t n eed to te ll m e a nyth in g. C heste r w as h alf a
man, e v en i f h e d id n’t k no w i t. H e w ould n’t r a ce n ext y ear, C ora s a w , b ut l o ll a t th e s id elin es, j o kin g w ith
his f r ie nd s, d ev is in g m is c hie f.
The y o ung s la v es a nd th e o ld s la v es g ath ere d o n th e s id elin es o f th e h o rs e p ath . W om en w ho h ad l o st
th eir c hild re n d rifte d
o ver littl e b y littl e , to m orti fy th em se lv es w ith p ossib iliti e s a nd n ev er-w ould -b es.
Hud dle s o f m en s w ap ped c id er j u gs a nd f e lt th eir h um ilia ti o ns s lip a w ay. H ob w om en r a re ly p arti c ip ate d
in th e f e asts , b ut N ag h ustl e d a b out i n h er h elp fu l w ay, r o und in g u p l ittl e o nes f r o m th eir d is tr a cti o ns.
Lovey s to od a t th e fin is h a s th e ju d ge. E very o ne b ut th e c hild re n k new th at s h e a lw ays p ro cla im ed
her
d arlin gs th e w in ner, w hen s h e c o uld g et a w ay w ith i t. J o ckey a ls o p re sid ed a t th e f in is h , i n h is r ic kety
map le a rm chair, th e o ne h e u se d to w atc h th e s ta rs m ost n ig hts . O n h is b ir th d ays h e d ra gged it u p a nd
dow n th e a lle y, to g iv e p ro per a tte nti o n to th e a m use m ents h eld in h is n am e. T he r u nners w ent to J o ckey
afte r th ey w ere d one w ith th eir r a ces, a nd h e d ro pped a p ie ce o f g in ger c ake o nto th eir
p alm s, n o m atte r
what th ey p la ced .
Cheste r p ante d , h and s o n h is k nees. H e h ad f la gged a t th e e nd .
“A lm ost h ad i t,” C ora s a id .
The b oy s a id , “ A lm ost,” a nd w ent f o r h is p ie ce o f g in ger c ake.
Cora p atte d th e o ld m an’s a rm a fte r th e l a st r a ce. Y ou n ev er c o uld te ll h o w m uch h e s a w w ith th o se
milk y e yes o f h is . “ H ow o ld a re y o u, J o ckey?”
“O h, l e t m e s e e.” H e d rifte d o ff.
She w as s u re h e h ad c la im ed
a h und re d a nd o ne y ears a t h is l a st p arty . H e w as o nly h alf th at, w hic h
meant h e w as th e o ld est s la v e a nyo ne o n th e tw o R and all p la nta ti o ns h ad e v er m et. O nce y o u g o t th at o ld ,
yo u m ig ht a s w ell b e n in ety -e ig ht o r a h und re d a nd e ig ht. N oth in g le ft fo r th e w orld to s h o w y o u b ut th e
la te st i n carn ati o ns o f c ru elty .
Six te en o r s e v ente en. T hat’ s w here C ora p ut h er a ge. O ne y ear s in ce C onnelly o rd ere d
h er to ta ke a
husb and . T w o y ears s in ce P ot a nd h is f r ie nd s h ad s e aso ned h er. T hey h ad n o t r e p eate d th eir v io la ti o n, a nd
no w orth y m an p aid h er n o ti c e a fte r th at d ay, g iv en th e c ab in s h e c alle d h o m e a nd th e s to rie s o f h er l u nacy.
Six y ears s in ce h er m oth er l e ft.
Jo ckey h ad a g o od b ir th d ay p la n, C ora th o ught. J o ckey a w oke o n a s u rp ris e S und ay to a nno unce h is
cele b ra ti o n a nd th at w as th at. S om eti m es
i t w as i n th e m id st o f th e s p rin g r a in s, o th er ti m es a fte r h arv est.
He s k ip ped s o m e y ears o r f o rg o t o r d ecid ed a cco rd in g to s o m e p ers o nal a cco unti n g o f g rie v ance th at th e
pla nta ti o n w as u nd ese rv in g. N o o ne m in d ed h is c ap ric es. It w as e no ugh th at h e w as th e o ld est c o lo re d
man th ey h ad e v er m et, th at h e h ad s u rv iv ed e v ery to rm ent b ig a nd s m all w hite m en h ad c o nco cte d a nd
im ple m ente d . H is e yes w ere
c lo ud ed , h is l e g l a m e, h is r u in ed h and p erm anentl y c urle d a s i f s ti ll c le nched
aro und a s p ad e, b ut h e w as a liv e.
The w hite m en l e ft h im a lo ne n o w . O ld m an R and all s a id n o th in g a b out h is b ir th d ays, a nd n eith er d id
Ja m es w hen h e to ok o ver. C onnelly , th e o vers e er, m ad e h im se lf s c arc e e v ery S und ay, w hen h e s u m moned
whate v er s la v e g al h e’d m ad e h is w ife th at m onth . T he w hite m en w ere s ile nt. A s if
th ey’d g iv en u p o r
decid ed th at a s m all f r e ed om w as th e w ors t p unis h m ent o f a ll, p re se nti n g th e b ounty o f tr u e f r e ed om i n to
pain fu l r e lie f.
One d ay J o ckey w as b ound to c ho ose th e c o rre ct d ay o f h is b ir th . I f h e l iv ed l o ng e no ugh. I f th at w as
tr u e, th en i f C ora p ic ked a d ay f o r h er b ir th d ay e v ery n o w a nd th en s h e m ig ht h it u p on h ers a s w ell. I n f a ct,
to day m ig ht b e h er b ir th d ay. W hat d id y o u g et
fo r th at, fo r k no w in g th e d ay y o u w ere b orn in to th e w hite man’s w orld ? I t d id n’t s e em l ik e th e th in g to r e m em ber. M ore l ik e to f o rg et.
“C ora .”
Most o f th e n o rth ern h alf h ad m oved to th e k itc hen to g et f e d b ut C aesa r d allie d . H ere h e w as. S he’d
nev er h ad o ccasio n to sp eak to th e m an sin ce h e a rriv ed a t th e p la nta ti o n. N ew sla v es w ere q uic kly
warn ed a gain st th e H ob w om en. I t s a v ed ti m e.
“C an
I ta lk w ith y o u?” h e a sk ed .
Ja m es R and all h ad b ought h im a nd th re e o th er s la v es fr o m a tr a v elin g a gent a fte r th e fe v er d eath s a
year a nd a h alf a go . T w o w om en to w ork th e la und ry , a nd C aesa r a nd P rin ce to jo in th e fie ld g angs. S he
had s e en h im w hittl in g, w orry in g b lo cks o f p in e w ith h is c urv ed c arv in g k niv es. H e d id n’t m ix w ith th e
more b oth ers o m e e le m ent o n th e p la nta ti o n, a nd s h e k new th at
h e s o m eti m es w ent o ff w ith F ra nces, o ne o f
th e h o use m aid s. W ere th ey s ti ll l a yin g to geth er? L ovey w ould k no w . S he w as a g ir l, b ut L ovey k ep t tr a ck
of m an-a nd -w om an b usin ess, th e i m pend in g a rra ngem ents .
Cora f e lt p ro per. “ W hat c an I d o f o r y o u, C aesa r? ”
He d id n’t b oth er to s e e i f a nyo ne w as i n e ars h o t. H e k new th ere w as n o o ne b ecause h e h ad p la nned .
“I’ m g o in g b ack n o rth ,” h e s a id . “ S oon. R unnin g
a w ay. I w ant y o u to c o m e.”
Cora tr ie d to th in k o f w ho p ut h im u p to th is p ra nk. “ Y ou g o in g n o rth a nd I ’ m g o in g to e at,” s h e s a id .
Caesa r h eld h er a rm , g entl y a nd i n sis te nt. H is b ody w as l e an a nd s tr o ng, l ik e a ny f ie ld h and h is a ge,
but h e c arrie d h is s tr e ngth l ig htl y . H is f a ce w as r o und , w ith a f la t b utto n n o se — sh e h ad a q uic k m em ory o f
dim ple s w hen h e l a ughed . W hy h ad s h e k ep t th at i n h er h ead ?
“I d on’t w ant y o u to te ll o n m e,” h e s a id . “ H av e to tr u st y o u o n th at. B ut I ’ m g o in g s o on, a nd I w ant
yo u. F or g o od l u ck.”
Then s h e u nd ers to od h im . It w as n o t a tr ic k b ein g p la yed o n h er. It w as a tr ic k h e w as p la yin g o n
him se lf. T he b oy w as s im ple . T he s m ell o f th e r a cco on m eat b ro ught h er b ack to th e c ele b ra ti o n a nd s h e
pulle d h er a rm a w ay. “ I a in ’t tr y in g to g et k ille d b y C onnelly , o r p atr o lle rs ,
o r s n akes.”
Cora w as s ti ll s q uin ti n g o ver h is i d io cy w hen s h e g o t h er f ir s t b ow l o f th e s o up . W hite m an tr y in g to
kill y o u s lo w e v ery d ay, a nd s o m eti m es tr y in g to k ill y o u fa st. W hy m ake it e asy fo r h im ? T hat w as o ne
kin d o f w ork y o u c o uld s a y n o to .
She fo und L ovey, b ut d id n o t a sk h er w hat th e g ir ls w his p ere d a b out C aesa r a nd F ra nces. If h e w as
se rio us a b out h is p la n, F ra nces w as a w id ow .
It w as th e m ost a ny y o ung m an h ad ta lk ed to h er s in ce s h e m oved to H ob.
They lit th e to rc hes fo r th e w re stl in g m atc hes. S om eo ne h ad u nearth ed a s ta sh o f c o rn w his k ey a nd
cid er, w hic h c ir c ula te d i n d ue c o urs e a nd f e d th e s p ecta to rs ’ e nth usia sm . B y n o w , th e h usb and s w ho l iv ed
on o th er p la nta ti o ns h ad c o m e f o r th eir S und ay-n ig ht v is its . W alk in g m ile s, ti m e e no ugh to f a nta siz e . S om e
wiv es w ere h ap pie r
a t th e p ro sp ect o f m arita l r e la ti o ns th an o th ers .
Lovey g ig gle d . “ I’ d w re stl e w ith h im ,” s h e s a id , n o ddin g a t M ajo r.
Majo r l o oked u p a s i f h e h eard h er. H e w as tu rn in g o ut to b e a p rim e b uck. W ork ed h ard a nd r a re ly
fo rc ed th e b osse s to ra is e th e w hip . H e w as re sp ectf u l to L ovey b ecause o f h er a ge a nd it w ould n’t
su rp ris e i f C onnelly a rra nged a m atc h o ne d ay. T he y o ung m an a nd h is o pponent tw is te d
i n th e g ra ss. T ake
it o ut o n e ach o th er i f y o u c anno t ta ke i t o ut o n th e o nes w ho d ese rv e i t. T he c hild re n p eeked b etw een th eir
eld ers , m akin g b ets th ey h ad n o th in g to b ack u p w ith . T hey p ulle d w eed s a nd w ork ed i n tr a sh g angs n o w ,
but o ne d ay th e fie ld w ork w ould m ake th em a s b ig a s th e m en g ra p plin g a nd p in nin g e ach o th er to th e
gra ss. G et h im , g et th at b oy, te ach h im w hat h e n eed s to l e arn . When th e m usic s ta rte d a nd th e d ancin g c o m menced , th ey a p pre cia te d th e e xte nt o f th eir g ra ti tu d e f o r
Jo ckey. O nce a gain h e p ic ked th e rig ht d ay fo r a b ir th d ay. H e h ad b een a ttu ned to a s h are d te nsio n, a
co m munal a p pre hensio n b eyo nd th e r o uti n e f a cts o f th eir b ond age. I t h ad b uilt u p . T he l a st f e w h o urs h ad
dis p elle d m uch o f th e i ll f e elin g. T hey c o uld f a ce th e m orn in g to il a nd th e f o llo w in g m orn in gs
a nd th e l o ng
days w ith th eir sp ir its re p le nis h ed , h o w ev er m eagerly , b y a fo nd n ig ht to lo ok b ack o n a nd th e n ext
bir th d ay f e ast to l o ok f o rw ard to . B y m akin g a c ir c le o f th em se lv es th at s e p ara te d th e h um an s p ir its w ith in
fr o m th e d egra d ati o n w ith o ut.
Noble p ic ked u p a ta m bourin e a nd ta p ped i t. H e w as a f a st p ic ker i n th e r o w s a nd a j o yfu l i n sti g ato r
outs id e o f th em ; h e b ro ught b oth k in d s o f d exte rity
to th is n ig ht. C la p h and s, c ro ok e lb ow s, s h ake h ip s.
There a re in str u m ents a nd h um an p la yers b ut s o m eti m es a fid dle o r a d ru m m akes in str u m ents o f th o se
who p la y th em , a nd a ll a re p ut in s e rv itu d e to th e s o ng. S o it w as w hen G eo rg e a nd W esle y p ic ked u p
th eir f id dle a nd b anjo o n d ays o f c aro usin g. J o ckey s a t i n h is m ap le c hair, ta p pin g h is b are f e et o n th e d ir t.
The s la v es m oved f o rw ard a nd
d anced .
Cora d id n o t m ove. S he w as w ary o f h o w s o m eti m es w hen th e m usic tu gged , y o u m ig ht s u d denly b e
next to a m an a nd y o u d id n’t k no w w hat h e m ig ht d o. A ll th e b odie s in m oti o n, g iv en lic ense . T o p ull o n
yo u, ta ke b oth o f y o ur h and s, e v en i f th ey w ere d oin g i t w ith a n ic e th o ught. O ne ti m e o n J o ckey’s b ir th d ay,
Wesle y tr e ate d th em to a s o ng h e k new fr o m h is d ays u p n o rth , a n ew s o und n o ne o f
th em h ad h eard
befo re . C ora h ad d are d to s te p o ut a m ong th e d ancers a nd c lo se h er e yes a nd tw ir l a nd w hen s h e o pened
th em E dw ard w as th ere , his ey es alig ht. E ven w ith E dw ard and P ot d ead — Edw ard str u ng up afte r
sh o rti n g th e s c ale b y lo ad in g h is s a ck w ith s to nes a nd P ot in th e g ro und a fte r a r a t b ite tu rn ed h im b la ck
and p urp le — sh e s h ra nk f r o m th e i d ea o f l o ose nin g h er l e ash o n h ers e lf. G eo rg e s a w ed
w ith h is f id dle , th e
no te s s w ir lin g u p in to n ig ht lik e s p ark s g uste d fr o m a fir e . N o o ne a p pro ached to p ull h er in to th e liv ely
mad ness.
—
TH E
music s to pped . T he c ir c le b ro ke. S om eti m es a s la v e w ill b e l o st i n a b rie f e d dy o f l ib era ti o n. I n
th e s w ay o f a s u d den re v erie a m ong th e fu rro w s o r w hile u nta nglin g th e m yste rie s o f a n e arly -m orn in g
dre am . In th e m id dle o f a s o ng o n a w arm S und ay n ig ht.
T hen it c o m es, a lw ays— th e o vers e er’s c ry , th e
call to w ork , th e s h ad ow o f th e m aste r, th e re m in d er th at s h e is o nly a h um an b ein g fo r a ti n y m om ent
acro ss th e e te rn ity o f h er s e rv itu d e.
The R and all b ro th ers h ad e m erg ed f r o m th e g re at h o use a nd w ere a m ong th em .
The s la v es s te p ped a sid e, m akin g c alc ula ti o ns o f w hat d is ta nce r e p re se nte d th e r ig ht p ro porti o n o f
fe ar and re sp ect. G odfr e y, Ja m es’s
ho use b oy, held up a la nte rn . A cco rd in g to O ld A bra ham , Ja m es
fa v ore d th e m oth er, s to ut a s a b arre l a nd j u st a s f ir m i n c o unte nance, a nd T erra nce to ok a fte r th e f a th er, ta ll
and o w l- fa ced , p erp etu ally o n th e v erg e o f s w oopin g d ow n o n p re y. I n a d diti o n to th e l a nd , th ey i n herite d
th eir f a th er’s ta ilo r, w ho a rriv ed o nce a m onth i n h is r ic kety c arria ge w ith h is s a m ple s o f l in en a nd c o tto n.
The b ro th ers
d re sse d a lik e w hen th ey w ere c hild re n a nd c o nti n ued to d o so in m anho od. T heir w hite
tr o use rs a nd s h ir ts w ere a s c le an a s th e l a und ry g ir ls ’ h and s c o uld m ake th em , a nd th e o ra nge g lo w m ad e
th e m en l o ok l ik e g ho sts e m erg in g f r o m th e d ark .
“M aste r J a m es,” J o ckey s a id . H is g o od h and g rip ped th e a rm o f h is c hair a s i f to r is e , b ut h e d id n o t
sti r. “ M aste r T erra nce.”
“D on’t l e t u s d is tu rb y o u,” T erra nce
s a id . “ M y b ro th er a nd I w ere d is c ussin g b usin ess a nd h eard th e
music . I to ld h im , N ow th at i s th e m ost g o d-a w fu l r a cket I ’ d e v er h eard .” The R and alls w ere d rin kin g w in e o ut o f g o ble ts o f c ut g la ss a nd l o oked a s i f th ey h ad d ra in ed a f e w
bottl e s. C ora s e arc hed fo r C aesa r’s fa ce in th e c ro w d. S he d id n o t fin d h im . H e h ad n’t b een p re se nt th e
la st ti m e th e b ro th ers a p peare d to geth er o n th e n o rth ern
h alf. Y ou d id w ell to re m em ber th e d iffe re nt
le sso ns o f th o se o ccasio ns. S om eth in g a lw ays h ap pened w hen th e R and alls v entu re d in to th e q uarte r.
Sooner o r l a te r. A n ew th in g c o m in g th at y o u c o uld n’t p re d ic t u nti l i t w as u p on y o u.
Ja m es le ft th e d aily o pera ti o ns to h is m an C onnelly a nd ra re ly v is ite d . H e m ig ht g ra nt a to ur to a
vis ito r, a d is ti n guis h ed n eig hb or o r c urio us p la nte r f r o m a no th er n eck
o f th e w oods, b ut i t w as r a re . J a m es
ra re ly a d dre sse d h is n ig gers , w ho h ad b een ta ught b y th e la sh to k eep w ork in g a nd ig no re h is p re se nce.
When T erra nce a p peare d o n h is b ro th er’s p la nta ti o n, h e u su ally a p pra is e d e ach s la v e a nd m ad e a n o te o f
whic h m en w ere th e m ost a b le a nd w hic h w om en th e m ost a p pealin g. C onte nt to le er a t h is b ro th er’s
wom en, h e g ra ze d h earti ly u p on th e w om en o f h is o w n h alf.
“ I lik e to ta ste m y p lu m s,” T erra nce s a id ,
pro w lin g th e r o w s o f c ab in s to s e e w hat s tr u ck h is fa ncy. H e v io la te d th e b ond s o f a ffe cti o n, s o m eti m es
vis iti n g s la v es o n th eir w ed din g n ig ht to s h o w th e h usb and th e p ro per w ay to d is c harg e h is m arita l d uty .
He ta ste d h is p lu m s, a nd b ro ke th e s k in , a nd l e ft h is m ark .
It w as a ccep te d th at J a m es w as o f a d iffe re nt o rie nta ti o n. U nlik e h is f a th er a nd b ro th er,
J a m es d id n o t
use h is p ro perty to g ra ti fy h im se lf. O ccasio nally h e h ad w om en fr o m th e c o unty to d in e, a nd A lic e w as
alw ays s u re to m ake th e m ost s u m ptu o us, s e d ucti v e s u p per a t h er m eans. M rs . R and all h ad p asse d m any
years b efo re , a nd it w as A lic e’s th o ught th at a w om an w ould b e a c iv iliz in g p re se nce o n th e p la nta ti o n.
For m onth s a t a ti m e, J a m es e nte rta in ed th ese p ale c re atu re s, th eir w hite
b uggie s tr a v ers in g th e m ud tr a ck s
th at le d to th e g re at h o use . T he k itc hen g ir ls g ig gle d a nd sp ecula te d . A nd th en a n ew w om an w ould
ap pear.
To h ear h is v ale t P rid efu l te ll it, J a m es c o nfin ed h is e ro ti c e nerg ie s to s p ecia liz e d r o om s in a N ew
Orle ans e sta b lis h m ent. T he m ad am w as b ro ad -m in d ed a nd m odern , a d ep t in th e tr a je cto rie s o f h um an
desir e . P rid efu l’s s to rie s w ere h ard to b elie v e, d esp ite
a ssu ra nces th at h e r e ceiv ed h is r e p orts fr o m th e
sta ff o f th e p la ce, w ith w ho m h e’d g ro w n c lo se o ver th e y ears . W hat k in d o f w hite m an w ould w illin gly
su b m it to th e w hip ?
Terra nce s c ra tc hed h is c ane in th e d ir t. It h ad b een h is fa th er’s c ane, to pped w ith a s ilv er w olf ’s
head . M any r e m em bere d i ts b ite o n th eir f le sh . “ T hen I r e co lle cte d J a m es te llin g m e a b out a n ig ger h e h ad
dow n h ere ,” T erra nce
s a id , “ co uld r e cite th e D ecla ra ti o n o f I n d ep end ence. I c an’t b rin g m yse lf to b elie v e
him . I th o ught p erh ap s to nig ht h e c an s h o w m e, s in ce e v ery o ne i s o ut a nd a b out, f r o m th e s o und o f i t.”
“W e’ll s e ttl e i t,” J a m es s a id . “ W here i s th at b oy? M ic hael.”
No one sa id anyth in g. G odfr e y w av ed th e la nte rn aro und path eti c ally . M ose s w as th e boss
unfo rtu nate e no ugh to s ta nd c lo se st to th e R and all b ro th ers .
H e c le are d h is th ro at. “ M ic hael d ead , M aste r
Ja m es.”
Mose s i n str u cte d o ne o f th e p ic kanin nie s to f e tc h C onnelly , e v en i f i t m eant i n te rru p ti n g th e o vers e er
fr o m h is S und ay-e v enin g c o ncub in age. T he e xp re ssio n o n J a m es’s f a ce to ld M ose s to s ta rt e xp la in in g.
Mic hael, th e s la v e in q uesti o n, h ad in d eed p osse sse d th e a b ility to r e cite lo ng p assa ges. A cco rd in g
to C onnelly , w ho h eard th e s to ry fr o m
th e n ig ger tr a d er, M ic hael’s fo rm er m aste r w as fa sc in ate d b y th e
ab iliti e s o f S outh A meric an p arro ts a nd r e aso ned th at i f a b ir d c o uld b e ta ught l im eric ks, a s la v e m ig ht b e
ta ught to r e m em ber a s w ell. M ere ly g la ncin g a t th e s iz e o f th e s k ulls to ld y o u th at a n ig ger p osse sse d a
big ger b ra in th an a b ir d .
Mic hael h ad b een th e s o n o f h is m aste r’s c o achm an. H ad a b ra nd o f a nim al c le v ern ess, th e k in d
y o u
se e in p ig s s o m eti m es. T he m aste r a nd h is u nlik ely p up il s ta rte d w ith s im ple r h ym es a nd s h o rt p assa ges fr o m p opula r B riti s h v ers ifie rs . T hey w ent s lo w o ver th e w ord s th e n ig ger d id n’t u nd ers ta nd a nd , i f tr u th
be to ld , th e m aste r o nly h alf u nd ers to od, a s h is tu to r h ad b een a re p ro bate w ho h ad b een c hase d fr o m
ev ery d ecent p ositi o n h e h ad e v er h eld a nd w ho d ecid ed to m ake h is f in al p osti n g th e
c anv as f o r h is s e cre t
re v enge. They m ad e m ir a cle s, th e to bacco fa rm er and th e co achm an’s so n. The D ecla ra ti o n of
In d ep end ence w as th eir m aste rp ie ce. “ A h is to ry o f r e p eate d i n ju rie s a nd u su rp ati o ns.”
Mic hael’s ab ility nev er am ounte d to m ore th an a parlo r tr ic k, delig hti n g vis ito rs befo re th e
dis c ussio n tu rn ed a s i t a lw ays d id to th e d im in is h ed f a culti e s o f n ig gers . H is o w ner g re w b ore d a nd s o ld
th e b oy s o uth . B y th e ti m e M ic hael g o t to R and all, s o m e to rtu re o r p unis h m ent h ad a d dle d h is s e nse s. H e
was a m ed io cre w ork er. H e co m pla in ed of no is e s and bla ck sp ells th at blo tte d his m em ory . In
exasp era ti o n C onnelly b eat o ut w hat littl e b ra in s h e h ad le ft. It w as a s c o urg in g th at M ic hael w as n o t
in te nd ed to s u rv iv e, a nd i t a chie v ed i ts p urp ose .
“I s h o uld h av e b een to ld ,” J a m es s a id , h is d is p le asu re
p la in . M ic hael’s r e cita ti o n h ad b een a n o vel
div ers io n th e tw o ti m es h e tr o tte d th e n ig ger o ut f o r g uests .
Terra nce lik ed to te ase h is b ro th er. “ Ja m es,” h e sa id , “ yo u n eed to k eep b ette r a cco unt o f y o ur
pro perty .”
“D on’t m ed dle .”
“I k new y o u l e t y o ur s la v es h av e r e v els , b ut I h ad n o i d ea th ey w ere s o e xtr a v agant. A re y o u tr y in g to
make m e l o ok b ad ?”
“D on’t p re te nd y o u c are w hat a n ig ger th in ks
o f y o u, T erra nce.” J a m es’s g la ss w as e m pty . H e tu rn ed
to g o .
“O ne m ore s o ng, J a m es. T hese s o und s h av e g ro w n o n m e.”
Geo rg e and W esle y w ere fo rlo rn . N oble and his ta m bourin e w ere no w here to b e se en. Ja m es
pre sse d h is l ip s i n to a s lit. H e g estu re d a nd th e m en s ta rte d p la yin g.
Terra nce ta p ped h is c ane. H is f a ce s a nk a s h e to ok i n th e c ro w d. “ Y ou’re n o t g o in g to d ance? I h av e
to i n sis t. Y ou a nd
y o u.”
They d id n’t w ait fo r th eir m aste r’s s ig nal. T he s la v es o f th e n o rth ern h alf c o nv erg ed o n th e a lle y,
halti n gly , tr y in g to in sin uate th em se lv es in to th eir p re v io us r h yth m a nd p ut o n a s h o w . C ro oked A va h ad
no t lo st h er p ow er to d is se m ble s in ce h er d ays o f h ara ssin g C ora — sh e h o ote d a nd s to m ped a s if it w ere
th e h eig ht o f th e C hris tm as c ele b ra ti o ns. P utti n g o n a s h o w fo r th e m aste r w as a fa m ilia r
s k ill, th e s m all
angle s a nd a d vanta ges o f th e m ask , a nd th ey s h o ok o ff th eir f e ar a s th ey s e ttl e d i n to th e p erfo rm ance. O h,
ho w th ey c ap ere d a nd h o lle re d , s h o ute d a nd h o pped ! C erta in ly th is w as th e m ost l iv ely s o ng th ey h ad e v er
heard , th e m usic ia ns th e m ost a cco m plis h ed p la yers th e c o lo re d r a ce h ad to o ffe r. C ora d ra gged h ers e lf
in to th e c ir c le , c heckin g th e R and all b ro th ers ’ r e acti o ns o n
e v ery tu rn l ik e e v ery o ne e ls e . J o ckey tu m ble d
his h and s in h is la p to k eep ti m e. C ora fo und C aesa r’s fa ce. H e s to od in th e s h ad ow o f th e k itc hen, h is
exp re ssio n f la t. T hen h e w ith d re w .
“Y ou!”
It w as T erra nce. H e h eld h is h and b efo re h im a s i f i t w ere c o vere d i n s o m e e te rn al s ta in th at o nly h e
co uld s e e. T hen C ora c aught s ig ht o f i t— th e s in gle d ro p o f w in e s ta in in g th e c uff o f h is l o vely w hite
s h ir t.
Cheste r h ad b um ped h im .
Cheste r s im pere d a nd b ow ed d ow n b efo re th e w hite m an. “ S orry , m aste r! S orry , m aste r!” T he c ane
cra sh ed a cro ss h is s h o uld er a nd h ead , a gain a nd a gain . T he b oy s c re am ed a nd s h ra nk to th e d ir t a s th e
blo w s c o nti n ued . T erra nce’s a rm r o se a nd f e ll. J a m es l o oked ti r e d .
One d ro p. A fe elin g s e ttl e d o ver C ora . S he h ad n o t b een u nd er its s p ell in y ears , s in ce s h e b ro ught th e h atc het d ow n o n B la ke’s d ogho use a nd s e nt th e s p lin te rs i n to th e a ir. S he h ad s e en m en h ung f r o m tr e es
and l e ft f o r b uzza rd s a nd c ro w s. W om en c arv ed o pen to th e b ones w ith th e c at- o ’-n in e-ta ils . B odie s a liv e
and d ead ro aste d o n p yre s. F eet c ut o ff to p re v ent e sc ap e a nd h and s c ut o ff to s to p th eft. S he h ad s e en
boys a nd g ir ls y o unger th an th is b eate n a nd h ad d one n o th in g. T his n ig ht th e fe elin g
s e ttl e d o n h er h eart
again . I t g ra b bed h o ld o f h er a nd b efo re th e s la v e p art o f h er c aught u p w ith th e h um an p art o f h er, s h e w as
bent o ver th e b oy’s b ody a s a s h ie ld . S he h eld th e c ane in h er h and lik e a s w am p m an h and lin g a s n ake
and s a w th e o rn am ent a t i ts ti p . T he s ilv er w olf b are d i ts s ilv er te eth . T hen th e c ane w as o ut o f h er h and .
It c am e d ow n o n h er h ead . I t c ra sh ed d ow n a gain a nd th is ti m e
th e s ilv er te eth r ip ped a cro ss h er e yes a nd
her b lo od s p la tte re d th e d ir t. The H ob w om en w ere s e v en th at y ear. M ary w as th e o ld est. S he w as i n H ob b ecause s h e w as p ro ne
t o f its . F oam in g a t th e m outh l ik e a m ad d og, w rith in g i n th e d ir t w ith w ild e yes. S he h ad f e ud ed f o r y ears
w ith a no th er p ic ker n am ed B erth a, w ho fin ally p ut a c urs e o n h er. O ld A bra ham c o m pla in ed th at M ary ’s
a fflic ti o n d ate d b ack to w hen s h e w as a p ic kanin ny, b ut n o o ne l is te ned to h im . B y a ny r e cko nin g
th ese f its
w ere n o th in g lik e th o se s h e h ad s u ffe re d in h er y o uth . S he w oke fr o m th em b atte re d a nd c o nfu se d a nd
l is tl e ss, w hic h le d to p unis h m ents fo r lo st w ork , a nd re cup era ti o n fr o m p unis h m ents le d to m ore lo st
w ork . O nce th e b osse s’ m ood tu rn ed a gain st y o u, a nyo ne m ig ht b e s w ep t u p i n i t. M ary m oved h er th in gs
t o H ob to a v oid th e sc o rn o f h er c ab in m ate s. S he d ra gged h er fe et a ll th e w ay a s
if so m eo ne m ig ht
i n te rv ene.
Mary w ork ed in th e m ilk h o use w ith M arg are t a nd R id a. B efo re th eir p urc hase b y J a m es R and all
t h ese tw o h ad b een s o ta ngle d b y s u ffe rin gs th at th ey c o uld n o t w eav e th em se lv es in to th e fa b ric o f th e
p la nta ti o n. M arg are t p ro duced a w fu l s o und s fr o m h er th ro at a t in o pportu ne m om ents , a nim al s o und s, th e
m ost m is e ra b le k eenin gs a nd v ulg ar o ath s. W hen th e m aste r m ad e h is r o und s,
s h e k ep t h er h and o ver h er
m outh , l e st s h e c all a tte nti o n to h er a fflic ti o n. R id a w as i n d iffe re nt to h ygie ne a nd n o i n d ucem ent o r th re at
c o uld s w ay h er. S he s ta nk.
Lucy a nd T ita nia n ev er s p oke, th e f o rm er b ecause s h e c ho se n o t to a nd th e l a tte r b ecause h er to ngue
h ad b een hacked o ut b y a p re v io us o w ner. T hey w ork ed in th e kitc hen und er A lic e, w ho p re fe rre d
a ssis ta nts w ho w ere d is in clin ed to n atte r
a ll d ay, to b ette r h ear h er o w n v oic e.
Tw o o th er w om en to ok th eir o w n liv es th at s p rin g, m ore th an u su al b ut n o th in g r e m ark ab le . N o o ne
w ith a n am e th at w ould b e r e m em bere d c o m e w in te r, s o s h allo w w as th eir m ark . T hat l e ft N ag a nd C ora .
T hey te nd ed to th e c o tto n i n a ll o f i ts p hase s.
At th e e nd o f th e w ork d ay C ora s ta ggere d a nd N ag r u sh ed to s te ad y h er. S he le d C ora b ack to H ob.
T he b oss g la re d
a t th eir s lo w p ro gre ss o ut o f th e ro w s b ut s a id n o th in g. C ora ’s o bvio us m ad ness h ad
r e m oved h er fr o m c asu al re b uke. T hey p asse d C aesa r, w ho lo ite re d b y o ne o f th e w ork s h ed s w ith a
g ro up o f y o ung h and s, c arv in g a p ie ce o f w ood w ith h is k nife . C ora a v erte d h er e yes a nd m ad e h er fa ce
i n to s la te f o r h im , a s s h e h ad e v er s in ce h is p ro posa l.
It w as tw o w eeks a fte r J o ckey’s b ir th d ay a nd C ora w as s ti ll
o n th e m end . T he b lo w s to h er f a ce h ad
l e ft o ne e ye s w olle n s h ut a nd p erfo rm ed a g ro ss i n ju ry to h er te m ple . T he s w ellin g d is a p peare d b ut w here
t h e s ilv er w olf h ad k is se d w as n o w a r u efu l s c ar s h ap ed l ik e a n X . I t s e ep ed f o r d ays. T hat w as h er ta lly
f o r th e n ig ht o f fe ast. F ar w ors e w as th e la sh in g C onnelly g av e h er th e n ext m orn in g u nd er th e p iti le ss
b oughs o f th e w hip pin g tr e e.
Connelly w as
o ne o f O ld R and all’s fir s t h ir e s. J a m es p re se rv ed th e m an’s a p poin tm ent u nd er h is
s te w ard sh ip . W hen C ora w as y o ung, th e o vers e er’s h air w as a liv id Ir is h r e d th at c urle d fr o m h is s tr a w
h at lik e th e w in gs of a card in al. In th o se days he patr o lle d w ith a bla ck um bre lla but ev entu ally
s u rre nd ere d a nd n o w h is w hite b lo use s w ere s ta rk a gain st h is ta nned fle sh . H is h air h ad g o ne w hite a nd
h is b elly o verflo w ed
h is b elt, b ut a p art f r o m th at h e w as th e s a m e m an w ho h ad w hip ped h er g ra nd m oth er
a nd m oth er, s ta lk in g th e v illa ge w ith a l o psid ed g ait th at r e m in d ed h er o f a n o ld o x. T here w as n o r u sh in g
h im if h e c ho se n o t to b e r u sh ed . T he o nly ti m e h e e xhib ite d s p eed w as w hen h e r e ached fo r h is c at- o ’-
n in e-ta ils . T hen h e d em onstr a te d th e e nerg y a nd r a m buncti o usn ess o f a c hild a t a n ew p asti m e.
The o vers e er
w as n o t p le ase d b y w hat h ad tr a nsp ir e d d urin g th e R and all b ro th ers ’ s u rp ris e v is it. Fir s t, C onnelly h ad b een i n te rru p te d w hile ta kin g h is p le asu re w ith G lo ria , h is c urre nt w ench. H e f lo gged
th e m esse nger a nd ro use d h im se lf fr o m b ed . S eco nd , th ere w as th e m atte r o f M ic hael. C onnelly h ad n’t
in fo rm ed Ja m es a b out M ic hael’s lo ss a s h is e m plo yer n ev er b oth ere d o ver ro uti n e flu ctu ati o ns in th e
hand s,
b ut T erra nce’s c urio sity h ad m ad e i t a p ro ble m .
Then th ere w as th e m atte r o f C heste r’s c lu m sin ess a nd C ora ’s in co m pre hensib le a cti o n. C onnelly
peele d th em o pen th e fo llo w in g su nris e . H e sta rte d w ith C heste r, to fo llo w th e o rd er in w hic h th e
tr a nsg re ssio ns h ad o ccurre d , a nd c alle d fo r th eir b lo ody b acks to b e sc ru b bed o ut w ith p ep per w ate r
afte rw ard . It w as C heste r’s fir s t p ro per lic kin g, a nd
C ora ’s fir s t in h alf a y ear. C onnelly re p eate d th e
whip pin gs th e n ext tw o m orn in gs. A cco rd in g to th e h o use s la v es, M aste r J a m es w as m ore u p se t th at h is
bro th er h ad to uched h is p ro perty , a nd b efo re s o m any w itn esse s, th an w ith C heste r a nd C ora . T hus w as
th e b ru nt o f o ne b ro th er’s i r e to w ard a no th er b orn e b y p ro perty . C heste r n ev er s a id a w ord to C ora a gain .
Nag h elp ed C ora u p th e s te p s to H ob.
C ora c o lla p se d o nce th ey e nte re d th e c ab in a nd w ere o ut o f
sig ht o f th e r e st o f th e v illa ge. “ L et m e g et y o u s o m e s u p per,” N ag s a id .
Lik e C ora , N ag had been re lo cate d to H ob over politi c s. F or years sh e had been C onnelly ’s
pre fe rre d , s p end in g m ost n ig hts in h is b ed . N ag w as h aughty fo r a n ig ger g al e v en b efo re th e o vers e er
besto w ed h is s lim fa v ors u p on h er, w ith h er p ale g ra y e yes a nd ro ilin g
h ip s. S he b ecam e in su ffe ra b le .
Pre enin g, g lo ati n g o ver th e i ll tr e atm ent th at s h e a lo ne e sc ap ed . H er m oth er h ad c o nso rte d f r e q uentl y w ith
white m en a nd tu to re d N ag i n l ic enti o us p ra cti c es. S he b ent i n d ed ic ati o n to th e ta sk e v en a s h e s w ap ped
th eir o ffs p rin g. T he n o rth ern a nd s o uth ern h alv es o f th e g re at R and all p la nta ti o n e xchanged s la v es a ll th e
ti m e, unlo ad in g b eat nig gers , sk ulk y w ork ers , and
ra sc als o n each o th er in a d esu lto ry gam e. N ag’s
child re n w ere to kens. C onnelly c o uld n o t c o unte nance h is m ula tto b asta rd s w hen th eir c urls g lo w ed h is
Ir is h r e d i n th e s u nlig ht.
One m orn in g C onnelly m ad e it c le ar th at h e n o lo nger r e q uir e d N ag in h is b ed . It w as th e d ay h er
enem ie s h ad w aite d fo r. E very o ne s a w it c o m in g e xcep t fo r h er. S he r e tu rn ed fr o m th e fie ld s to fin d h er
posse ssio ns h ad
b een m oved to H ob, a nno uncin g h er lo ss in s ta tu s to th e v illa ge. H er s h am e n o uris h ed
th em a s n o f o od c o uld . H ob h ard ened h er, a s w as i ts w ay. T he c ab in te nd ed to s e t o ne’s p ers o nality .
Nag h ad n ev er b een c lo se to C ora ’s m oth er b ut th at d id n’t s to p h er fr o m b efr ie nd in g th e g ir l w hen
sh e b ecam e a s tr a y. A fte r th e n ig ht o f th e f e ast a nd i n th e f o llo w in g b lo ody d ays s h e a nd M ary m in is te re d
to C ora ,
a p ply in g b rin e a nd p oulti c es to h er r a v aged s k in a nd m akin g s u re s h e a te . T hey c ra d le d h er h ead
and s a ng lu lla b ie s to th eir lo st c hild re n th ro ugh h er. L ovey v is ite d h er fr ie nd a s w ell, b ut th e y o ung g ir l
was n o t i m mune to H ob’s r e p uta ti o n a nd g o t s k itti s h i n th e p re se nce o f N ag a nd M ary a nd th e o th ers . S he
sta yed u nti l h er n erv es g av e o ut.
Cora la y o n th e flo or a nd m oaned . T w o w eeks a fte r h er
b eati n g, sh e e nd ure d d iz zy sp ells a nd a
pound in g i n h er s k ull. F or th e m ost p art s h e w as a b le to k eep i t a t b ay a nd w ork th e r o w , b ut s o m eti m es i t
was a ll s h e c o uld d o to s ta y u p rig ht u nti l th e s u n s a nk. E very h o ur w hen th e w ate r g ir l b ro ught th e la d le
sh e l ic ked i t c le an a nd f e lt th e m eta l o n h er te eth . N ow s h e h ad n o th in g l e ft.
Mary a p peare d . “ S ic k a gain ,” s h e s a id . S he h ad a w et c lo th r e ad y
a nd p la ced i t o n C ora ’s b ro w . S he
sti ll m ain ta in ed a r e se rv oir o f m ate rn al f e elin g a fte r th e l o ss o f h er f iv e c hild re n— th re e d ead b efo re th ey
co uld w alk a nd th e o th ers s o ld o ff w hen th ey w ere o ld e no ugh to c arry w ate r a nd g ra b w eed s a ro und th e
gre at h o use . M ary d esc end ed fr o m p ure A sh anti s to ck, a s d id h er tw o h usb and s. P up s lik e th at, it d id n’t
ta ke m uch s a le sm ansh ip . C ora m oved h er m outh i n s ile nt
th anks. T he c ab in w alls p re sse d o n h er. U p i n th e
lo ft o ne o f th e o th er w om en— Rid a b y th e s te nch— ru m maged a nd b anged . N ag ru b bed o ut th e k no ts in
Cora ’s h and s. “ I d on’t k no w w hat’ s w ors e ,” s h e s a id . “ Y ou s ic k a nd o ut o f s ig ht o r y o u u p a nd o uts id e
when M aste r T erra nce c o m e to m orro w .” The p ro sp ect o f h is v is it d ep le te d C ora . J a m es R and all w as b ed rid den. H e’d f a lle n i ll a fte r a tr ip to
New O rle ans
to n ego ti a te w ith a d ele gati o n o f tr a d in g a gents fr o m L iv erp ool a nd to v is it h is d is g ra cefu l
hav en. H e f a in te d i n h is b uggy o n h is r e tu rn a nd h ad b een o ut o f s ig ht s in ce. N ow w his p ers c am e f r o m th e
ho use s ta ff th at T erra nce w as g o in g to ta ke o ver w hile h is b ro th er w as o n th e m end . In th e m orn in g h e
would in sp ect th e n o rth ern h alf to b rin g th e o pera ti o n in h arm ony w ith h o w th in gs w ere d one in th e
so uth ern h alf.
No o ne d oub te d th at i t w ould b e a b lo ody s o rt o f h arm ony.
Her f r ie nd s’ h and s s lip ped a w ay a nd th e w alls r e lin q uis h ed th eir p re ssu re a nd s h e p asse d o ut. C ora
woke in th e p it o f th e n ig ht, h er h ead r e sti n g o n a r o lle d -u p lin se y b la nket. E very o ne a sle ep a b ove. S he
ru b bed th e s c ar o n h er te m ple . I t f e lt l ik e i t w as s e ep in g. S he k new w hy s h e h ad r u sh ed to p ro te ct C heste r.
But s h e w as
s ty m ie d w hen s h e tr ie d to re call th e u rg ency o f th at m om ent, th e g ra in o f th e fe elin g th at
posse sse d h er. It h ad re tr e ate d to th at o bsc ure c o rn er in h ers e lf fr o m w here it c am e a nd c o uld n’t b e
co axed . T o e ase h er r e stl e ssn ess s h e c re p t o ut to h er p lo t a nd s a t o n h er m ap le a nd s m elle d th e a ir a nd
lis te ned . T hin gs in th e s w am p w his tl e d a nd s p la sh ed , h unti n g in th e liv in g d ark ness. T o w alk in th ere
a t
nig ht, h ead in g n o rth to th e F re e S ta te s. H av e to ta ke l e av e o f y o ur s e nse s to d o th at.
But h er m oth er h ad .
—
AS
if to r e fle ct A ja rry , w ho d id n o t s te p o ff R and all l a nd o nce s h e a rriv ed o n i t, M ab el n ev er l e ft th e
pla nta ti o n u nti l th e d ay o f h er e sc ap e. S he g av e n o in d ic ati o n o f h er in te nti o ns, a t le ast to n o o ne w ho
ad m itte d to th at kno w le d ge und er su b se q uent in te rro gati o ns. N o m ean fe at
in a v illa ge te em in g w ith
tr e achero us n atu re s a nd in fo rm ers w ho w ould s e ll o ut th eir d eare st to e sc ap e th e b ite o f th e c at- o ’-n in e-
ta ils .
Cora fe ll a sle ep n estl e d a gain st h er m oth er’s s to m ach a nd n ev er s a w h er a gain . O ld R and all r a is e d
th e a la rm a nd s u m moned th e p atr o lle rs . W ith in a n h o ur th e h unti n g p arty tr o m ped i n to th e s w am p, c hasin g
afte r N ate K etc hum ’s d ogs. T he la te st in a lo ng lin e o f
s p ecia liz e rs , K etc hum h ad s la v e-c atc hin g in h is
blo od. T he h o und s h ad b een b re d fo r g enera ti o ns to d ete ct n ig ger s c ent a cro ss w ho le c o unti e s, c hew in g
and m anglin g m any a w ayw ard h and . W hen th e c re atu re s s tr a in ed a gain st th eir l e ath er s tr a p s a nd p aw ed a t
th e a ir, th eir b ark in g m ad e e v ery s o ul i n th e q uarte rs w ant to r u n to th eir c ab in s. B ut th e d ay’s p ic kin g l a y
befo re th e sla v es fo re m ost a nd th ey
sto oped to th eir o rd ers , e nd urin g th e d ogs’ te rrib le n o is e a nd th e
vis io ns o f b lo od to c o m e.
The b ills a nd flie rs c ir c ula te d fo r h und re d s o f m ile s. F re e n egro es w ho s u p ple m ente d th eir liv in g
catc hin g ru naw ays co m bed th ro ugh th e w oods and w orm ed in fo rm ati o n fr o m lik ely acco m plic es.
Patr o lle rs a nd p osse s o f l o w w hite s h ara sse d a nd b ullie d . T he q uarte rs o f a ll th e n earb y p la nta ti o ns w ere
th o ro ughly
s e arc hed a nd n o s m all n um ber o f s la v es b eate n o n p rin cip le . B ut th e h o und s c am e u p e m pty , a s
did th eir m aste rs .
Rand all re ta in ed th e s e rv ic es o f a w itc h to g o ofe r h is p ro perty s o th at n o o ne w ith A fr ic an b lo od
co uld esc ap e w ith o ut b ein g str ic ken w ith hid eo us p als y. T he w itc h w om an b urie d fe ti s h es in se cre t
pla ces, to ok h er p aym ent, a nd d ep arte d i n h er m ule c art. T here w as a h earty d eb ate i n th e
v illa ge o ver th e
sp ir it o f th e g o ofe r. D id th e c o nju re a p ply o nly to th o se w ho h ad a n in te nti o n to ru n o r to a ll c o lo re d
pers o ns w ho s te p ped o ver th e l in e? A w eek p asse d b efo re th e s la v es h unte d a nd s c av enged i n th e s w am p
again . T hat’ s w here th e f o od w as.
Of M ab el th ere w as n o s ig n. N o o ne h ad e sc ap ed th e R and all p la nta ti o n b efo re . T he fu giti v es w ere alw ays c la w ed b ack, b etr a yed b y f r ie nd s, th ey
m is in te rp re te d th e s ta rs a nd r a n d eep er i n to th e l a b yrin th o f
bond age. O n th eir re tu rn th ey w ere a b use d m ig hti ly b efo re b ein g p erm itte d to d ie a nd th o se th ey le ft
behin d w ere f o rc ed to o bse rv e th e g ris ly i n cre m ents o f th eir d em is e .
The i n fa m ous s la v e c atc her R id gew ay p aid a c all o n th e p la nta ti o n o ne w eek l a te r. H e r o de u p o n h is
ho rs e s w ith h is a sso cia te s, fiv e m en o f d is re p uta b le m ie n, le d
b y a fe ars o m e In d ia n s c o ut w ho w ore a
neckla ce o f s h riv ele d e ars . R id gew ay w as s ix a nd a h alf f e et ta ll, w ith th e s q uare f a ce a nd th ic k n eck o f a
ham mer. H e m ain ta in ed a s e re ne c o m portm ent a t a ll ti m es b ut g enera te d a th re ate nin g a tm osp here , lik e a
th und erh ead th at s e em s f a r a w ay b ut th en i s s u d denly o verh ead w ith l o ud v io le nce.
Rid gew ay’s a ud ie nce l a ste d h alf a n h o ur. H e to ok n o te s i n a s m all
d ia ry a nd to h ear th e h o use s p ea k
of it w as a m an o f in te nse c o ncentr a ti o n a nd flo w ery m anner o f s p eech. H e d id n o t r e tu rn fo r tw o y ears ,
no t l o ng b efo re O ld R and all’s d eath , to a p olo giz e i n p ers o n f o r h is f a ilu re . T he I n d ia n w as g o ne, b ut th ere
was a y o ung r id er w ith l o ng b la ck h air w ho w ore a s im ila r r in g o f tr o phie s o ver h is h id e v est. R id gew ay
was i n th e v ic in ity to v is it a n eig hb orin g p la nte r,
o ffe rin g a s p ro of o f c ap tu re th e h ead s o f tw o r u naw ays i n
a le ath er s a ck. C ro ssin g th e s ta te lin e w as a c ap ita l o ffe nse in G eo rg ia ; s o m eti m es a m aste r p re fe rre d a n
exam ple o ver th e r e tu rn o f h is p ro perty .
The s la v e c atc her s h are d r u m ors o f a n ew b ra nch o f th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad s a id to b e o pera ti n g i n
th e s o uth ern p art o f th e s ta te , a s im possib le a s it s o und ed . O ld R and all s c o ffe d . T he s y m path iz e rs
w ould
be r o ote d o ut a n d ta rre d a nd fe ath ere d , R id gew ay a ssu re d h is h o st. O r w hate v er s a ti s fie d lo cal c usto m .
Rid gew ay a p olo giz e d o nce a gain a nd to ok h is l e av e a nd s o on h is g ang c ra sh ed to th e c o unty r o ad to w ard
th eir n ext m is sio n. T here w as n o e nd to th eir w ork , th e r iv er o f s la v es th at n eed ed to b e d riv en f r o m th eir
hid ey-h o le s a nd b ro ught to th e w hite m an’s p ro per a cco unti n g.
Mab el h ad p acked
fo r h er a d ventu re . A m achete . F lin t a nd ti n d er. S he s to le a c ab in m ate ’s s h o es,
whic h w ere in b ette r s h ap e. F or w eeks, h er e m pty g ard en te sti fie d to h er m ir a cle . B efo re s h e lit o ut s h e
dug u p e v ery y am fr o m th eir p lo t, a c um bers o m e lo ad a nd ill- a d vis e d fo r a jo urn ey th at r e q uir e d a fle et
fo ot. T he lu m ps a nd b urro w s in th e d ir t w ere a r e m in d er to a ll w ho w alk ed b y. T hen o ne m orn in g th ey
were s m ooth ed
o ver. C ora g o t o n h er k nees a nd p la nte d a new . I t w as h er i n herita nce.
—
NOW
in th e th in m oonlig ht, h er h ead th ro bbin g, C ora a p pra is e d h er ti n y g ard en. W eed s, w eev ils , th e
ra gged f o otp rin ts o f c ritte rs . S he h ad n egle cte d h er l a nd s in ce th e f e ast. T im e to r e tu rn to i t.
Terra nce’s v is it th e n ext d ay w as u nev entf u l sa v e fo r o ne d is tu rb in g m om ent. C onnelly to ok h im
th ro ugh h is b ro th er’s o pera ti o n,
a s it h ad b een s o m e y ears s in ce T erra nce h ad m ad e a p ro per to ur. H is
manner w as u nexp ecte d ly c iv il fr o m a ll a cco unts , a b se nt h is s ta nd ard s a rd onic r e m ark s. T hey d is c usse d
th e n um bers f r o m l a st y ear’s h aul a nd e xam in ed th e l e d gers th at c o nta in ed th e w eig h-in s f r o m th e p re v io us
Sep te m ber. T erra nce e xp re sse d a nno yance a t th e o vers e er’s la m enta b le h and w riti n g b ut a p art fr o m th at
th e m en g o t a lo ng a m ia b ly .
T hey d id n o t i n sp ect th e s la v es o r th e v illa ge.
On h o rs e s th ey c ir c um nav ig ate d th e f ie ld s, c o m parin g th e p ro gre ss o f th e h arv est o n th e tw o h alv es.
Where T erra nce a nd C onnelly m ad e th eir c ro ssin gs th ro ugh th e c o tto n, th e n earb y s la v es r e d oub le d th eir
effo rts in a fu rio us w av e. T he h and s h ad b een c ho ppin g th e w eed s fo r w eeks, sla sh in g h o es in to th e
fu rro w s. T he s ta lk s w ere u p to C ora ’s s h o uld ers
n o w , b end in g a nd to tte rin g, s p ro uti n g l e av es a nd s q uare s
th at w ere b ig ger e v ery m orn in g. N ext m onth th e b olls w ould e xp lo de in to w hite ness. S he p ra yed th e
pla nts w ere ta ll e no ugh to h id e h er w hen th e w hite m en p asse d . S he s a w th eir b acks a s th ey p ro ceed ed
fr o m h er. T hen T erra nce tu rn ed . H e n o dded , ti p ped h is c ane a t h er, a nd c o nti n ued o n. Ja m es d ie d tw o d ays l a te r. H is k id neys, th e d octo r s a id .
Longti m e r e sid ents o f th e R and all p la nta ti o n c o uld n’t h elp b ut c o m pare th e f u nera ls o f th e f a th er a nd
th e s o n. T he e ld er R and all h ad b een a r e v ere d m em ber o f p la nte r s o cie ty . T he w este rn r id ers c o m mand ed
all th e a tte nti o n n o w b ut i t w as R and all a nd h is b re th re n w ho w ere th e tr u e p io neers , c arv in g o ut a l ife i n
th is h um id G eo rg ia h ell a ll th o se y ears a go . H is f e llo w p la nte rs c heris h ed h im a s a
v is io nary f o r b ein g th e
fir s t in th e re gio n to sw itc h to co tto n, le ad in g th e pro fita b le charg e. M any w as th e yo ung fa rm er
su ffo cati n g in c re d it w ho c am e to R and all fo r a d vic e— ad vic e fr e ely a nd g enero usly g iv en— and in h is
ti m e c am e to m aste r a n e nv ia b le s p re ad .
The s la v es g o t ti m e o ff to a tte nd O ld R and all’s fu nera l. T hey s to od in a q uie t h ud dle w hile a ll th e
fin e w hite m en and w om en paid th eir
re sp ects to th e belo ved fa th er. T he ho use nig gers acte d as
pallb eare rs , w hic h e v ery o ne th o ught s c and alo us a t fir s t b ut o n fu rth er c o nsid era ti o n to ok a s a n in d ic ato r
of g enuin e a ffe cti o n, o ne th ey h ad in d eed e njo yed w ith th eir o w n s la v es, w ith th e m am my w ho se ti tti e s
th ey s u ckle d i n m ore i n no cent ti m es a nd th e a tte nd ant w ho s lip ped a h and u nd er s o ap y w ate r a t b ath ti m e.
At th e e nd o f th e s e rv ic e
i t b egan to r a in . I t p ut a n e nd to th e m em oria l b ut e v ery o ne w as r e lie v ed b ecause
th e d ro ught h ad g o ne o n to o l o ng. T he c o tto n w as th ir s ty .
By th e ti m e o f J a m es’s p assin g, th e R and all s o ns h ad c ut o ff s o cia l ti e s w ith th eir f a th er’s p eers a nd
pro té gés. J a m es h ad m any b usin ess p artn ers o n p ap er, s o m e o f w ho m h e h ad m et i n p ers o n, b ut h e h ad f e w
fr ie nd s. T o th e p oin t, T erra nce’s b ro th er h ad n ev er
re ceiv ed h is h um an p orti o n o f se nti m enta lity . H is
fu nera l w as s p ars e ly a tte nd ed . T he s la v es w ork ed th e r o w s— with th e h arv est a p pro achin g th ere w as n o
questi o n. It w as a ll s p elle d o ut in h is w ill, T erra nce s a id . J a m es w as b urie d n ear h is p are nts in a q uie t
co rn er o f th eir a b und ant a cre age, n ext to h is fa th er’s m asti ffs P la to a nd D em osth enes, w ho h ad b een
belo ved b y a ll, m an a nd n ig ger a lik e, e v en
i f th ey c o uld n’t k eep a w ay f r o m th e c hic kens.
Terra nce tr a v ele d to N ew O rle ans to s tr a ig hte n h is b ro th er’s a ffa ir s w ith th e c o tto n tr a d e. A lth o ugh
th ere w as n ev er a g o od ti m e to r u n, T erra nce’s s te w ard sh ip o f b oth h alv es p ro vid ed a g o od a rg um ent. T he
no rth ern h alf h ad a lw ays r e lis h ed th eir e asie r c lim ate . J a m es w as a s r u th le ss a nd b ru ta l a s a ny w hite m an
but h e w as th e p ortr a it o f m odera ti o n
c o m pare d to h is y o unger b ro th er. T he s to rie s f r o m th e s o uth ern h alf
were c hillin g, i n m agnitu d e i f n o t i n p arti c ula rs .
Big A nth o ny to ok h is o pportu nity . B ig A nth o ny w as n o t th e m ost c le v er b uck in th e v illa ge, b ut n o
one c o uld s a y h e la cked a s e nse fo r o pportu nity . It w as th e fir s t e sc ap e a tte m pt s in ce M ab el. H e b ra v ed
th e w itc h w om an’s go ofe r w ith o ut in cid ent and m ad e it tw enty -s ix m ile s b efo re
he w as d is c o vere d
sn o ozin g in a h aylo ft. T he c o nsta b le s r e tu rn ed h im in a n ir o n c age m ad e b y o ne o f th eir c o usin s. “ T ake
flig ht l ik e a b ir d , y o u d ese rv e a b ir d cage.” T he f r o nt o f th e c age h ad a s lo t f o r th e n am e o f th e i n hab ita nt,
but n o o ne h ad b oth ere d to u se i t. T hey to ok th e c age w ith th em w hen th ey l e ft.
On th e e v e o f B ig A nth o ny’s p unis h m ent— whenev er w hite m en p ut o ff p unis h m ent s o m e th eate r
w as
bound to b e i n v olv ed — Caesa r v is ite d H ob. M ary l e t h im i n . S he w as p uzzle d . F ew v is ito rs e v er c am e to
call, a nd m en o nly w hen it w as a b oss w ith b ad n ew s. C ora h ad n’t to ld a nyo ne o f th e y o ung m an’s
pro positi o n.
The lo ft w as fu ll o f w om en e ith e r s le ep in g o r lis te nin g. C ora p ut h er m end in g to th e flo or a nd to ok
him o uts id e.
—
OLD
Rand all b uilt th e s c ho olh o use fo r h is s o ns a nd th e g ra nd child re n
h e h ad h o ped to h av e o ne d ay.
The lo neso m e h ulk w as u nlik ely to fu lfill its p urp ose a nyti m e s o on. S in ce R and all’s s o ns h ad fin is h ed th eir e d ucati o n it w as u se d o nly fo r a ssig nati o ns a nd a ll th o se d iffe re nt le sso ns. L ovey s a w C aesa r a nd
Cora w alk to i t, a nd C ora s h o ok h er h ead a t h er f r ie nd ’s a m use m ent.
The r o tti n g s c ho olh o use s m elle d r a nk. S m all a nim als m ad e r e gula r h ab ita ti o n. T he c hair s a nd
ta b le s
had b een r e m oved a l o ng ti m e b efo re , m akin g r o om f o r d ead l e av es a nd s p id erw eb s. S he w ond ere d i f h e
had b ro ught F ra nces h ere w hen th ey w ere to geth er, a nd w hat th ey d id . C aesa r h ad s e en C ora s tr ip ped
naked f o r h er w hip pin gs, th e b lo od p ourin g o ver h er s k in .
Caesa r c hecked th e w in d ow a nd s a id , “ I’ m s o rry th at h ap pened to y o u.”
“T hat’ s w hat th ey d o,” C ora s a id .
Tw o w eeks a go s h e h ad ju d ged
h im a fo ol. T his n ig ht h e c arrie d h im se lf a s o ne b eyo nd h is y ears ,
lik e o ne o f th o se w is e o ld h and s w ho te ll y o u a s to ry w ho se tr u e m essa ge y o u o nly u nd ers ta nd d ays o r
weeks l a te r, w hen th eir f a cts a re i m possib le to a v oid .
“W ill y o u c o m e w ith m e n o w ?” C aesa r s a id . “ B een th in kin g i t’ s p ast ti m e to g o .”
She c o uld n o t fig ure h im . O n th e m orn in gs o f h er th re e w hip pin gs, C aesa r h ad s to od in th e fr o nt
o f
th e p ack. I t w as c usto m ary f o r s la v es to w itn ess th e a b use o f th eir b re th re n a s m ora l i n str u cti o n. A t s o m e
poin t d urin g th e s h o w e v ery o ne h ad to tu rn a w ay, i f o nly f o r a m om ent, a s th ey c o nsid ere d th e s la v e’s p ain
and th e d ay s o oner o r la te r w hen it w ould b e th eir tu rn a t th e fo ul e nd o f th e la sh . T hat w as y o u u p th ere
ev en w hen i t w as n o t. B ut C aesa r d id n o t f lin ch. H e d id n’t s e ek h er e yes
b ut l o oked a t s o m eth in g b eyo nd
her, s o m eth in g g re at a nd d iffic ult to m ake o ut.
She s a id , “ Y ou th in k I ’ m a l u cky c harm b ecause M ab el g o t a w ay. B ut I a in ’t. Y ou s a w m e. Y ou s a w
what h ap pens w hen y o u g et a th o ught i n y o ur h ead .”
Caesa r w as u nm oved . “ It’ s g o in g to b e b ad w hen h e g ets b ack.”
“It’ s b ad n o w ,” C ora s a id . “ E ver h as b een.” S he l e ft h im th ere .
The n ew s to cks T erra nce o rd ere d e xp la in ed
th e d ela y in B ig A nth o ny’s ju sti c e. T he w oodw ork ers
to ile d a ll th ro ugh th e n ig ht to c o m ple te th e r e str a in ts , f u rn is h in g th em w ith a m biti o us i f c ru d e e ngra v in gs.
Min o ta urs , b usty m erm aid s, a nd o th er f a nta sti c c re atu re s f r o lic ked i n th e w ood. T he s to cks w ere i n sta lle d
on th e f r o nt l a w n i n th e l u sh g ra ss. T w o b osse s s e cure d B ig A nth o ny a nd th ere h e d angle d th e f ir s t d ay.
On th e s e co nd d ay a b and
o f v is ito rs a rriv ed i n a c arria ge, a ugust s o uls f r o m A tl a nta a nd S av annah.
Sw ell l a d ie s a nd g entl e m en th at T erra nce h ad m et o n h is tr a v els , a s w ell a s a n ew sp ap erm an f r o m L ond on
co m e to r e p ort o n th e A meric an s c ene. T hey a te a t a ta b le s e t u p o n th e l a w n, s a v orin g A lic e’s tu rtl e s o up
and m utto n a nd d ev is in g c o m plim ents fo r th e c o ok, w ho w ould n ev er re ceiv e th em . B ig A nth o ny w as
whip ped f o r th e d ura ti o n
o f th eir m eal, a nd th ey a te s lo w . T he n ew sp ap erm an s c rib ble d o n p ap er b etw een
bite s. D esse rt c am e a nd th e re v ele rs m oved in sid e to b e fr e e o f th e m osq uito es w hile B ig A nth o ny’s
punis h m ent c o nti n ued .
On th e th ir d d ay, j u st a fte r l u nch, th e h and s w ere r e calle d f r o m th e f ie ld s, th e w ash w om en a nd c o oks
and s ta b le h and s i n te rru p te d f r o m th eir ta sk s, th e h o use s ta ff d iv erte d f r o m i ts m ain te nance. T hey
g ath ere d
on th e f r o nt l a w n. R and all’s v is ito rs s ip ped s p ic ed r u m a s B ig A nth o ny w as d ouse d w ith o il a nd r o aste d .
The w itn esse s w ere s p are d h is s c re am s, a s h is m anho od h ad b een c ut o ff o n th e fir s t d ay, s tu ffe d in h is
mouth , a nd se w n in . T he sto cks sm oked , c harre d , a nd b urn ed , th e fig ure s in th e w ood tw is ti n g in th e
fla m es a s i f a liv e.
Terra nce a d dre sse d th e sla v es o f th e n o rth ern a nd so uth ern
h alv es. T here is o ne p la nta ti o n n o w ,
unite d i n p urp ose a nd m eth o d, h e s a id . H e e xp re sse d h is g rie f o ver h is b ro th er’s d eath a nd h is c o nso la ti o n
in th e k no w le d ge th at J a m es w as in h eav en u nite d w ith th eir m oth er a nd fa th er. H e w alk ed a m ong h is
sla v es a s h e ta lk ed , ta p pin g h is c ane, ru b bin g th e h ead s o f p ic kanin nie s a nd p etti n g s o m e o f th e o ld er worth ie s fr o m th e so uth ern half. H e checked th e te eth
of a yo ung buck he had nev er se en befo re ,
wre nchin g th e b oy’s ja w to get a go od lo ok, and no dded in ap pro val. In o rd er to fe ed th e w orld ’s
in sa ti a b le d em and f o r c o tto n g o ods, h e s a id , e v ery p ic ker’s d aily q uo ta w ill b e i n cre ase d b y a p erc enta ge
dete rm in ed b y th eir n um bers f r o m th e p re v io us h arv est. T he f ie ld s w ill b e r e o rg aniz e d to a cco m modate a
more e ffic ie nt n um ber o f r o w s. H e w alk ed . H e s la p ped
a m an a cro ss th e fa ce fo r w eep in g a t th e s ig ht o f
his f r ie nd th ra sh in g a gain st th e s to cks.
When T erra nce g o t to C ora , h e s lip ped h is h and in to h er s h ift a nd c up ped h er b re ast. H e s q ueeze d .
She d id n o t m ove. N o o ne h ad m oved s in ce th e b egin nin g o f h is a d dre ss, n o t e v en to p in ch th eir n o se s to
keep o ut th e s m ell o f B ig A nth o ny’s ro asti n g fle sh . N o m ore fe asts o uts id e o f C hris tm as a nd E aste r, h e
sa id . H e w ill a rra nge a nd a p pro ve a ll m arria ges p ers o nally to e nsu re th e a p pro pria te ness o f th e m atc h a nd
th e p ro m is e o f th e o ffs p rin g. A n ew ta x o n S und ay la b or o ff th e p la nta ti o n. H e n o dded a t C ora a nd
co nti n ued h is s tr o ll a m ong h is A fr ic ans a s h e s h are d h is i m pro vem ents .
Terra nce co nclu d ed his ad dre ss. It w as und ers to od th at th e sla v es w ere to re m ain th ere unti l
Connelly d is m is se d th em . T he
S av annah l a d ie s r e fr e sh ed th eir d rin ks f r o m th e p itc her. T he n ew sp ap erm an
opened a f r e sh d ia ry a nd r e su m ed h is n o te -ta kin g. M aste r T erra nce j o in ed h is g uests a nd th ey d ep arte d f o r
a to ur o f th e c o tto n.
She h ad n o t b een h is a nd n o w s h e w as h is . O r s h e h ad a lw ays b een h is a nd j u st n o w k new i t. C ora ’s
atte nti o n d eta ched i ts e lf. I t f lo ate d s o m ep la ce p ast th e b urn in g s la v e a nd th e g re at h o use a nd
th e l in es th at
defin ed th e R and all d om ain . S he tr ie d to fill in its d eta ils fr o m s to rie s, s ifti n g th ro ugh th e a cco unts o f
sla v es w ho h ad s e en it. E ach ti m e s h e c aught h o ld o f s o m eth in g— build in gs o f p olis h ed w hite s to ne, a n
ocean s o v ast th ere w asn ’t a tr e e in s ig ht, th e s h o p o f a c o lo re d b la cksm ith w ho s e rv ed n o m aste r b ut
him se lf— it w rig gle d fr e e lik e a fis h a nd r a ced a w ay. S he w ould h av e to s e e
it fo r h ers e lf if s h e w ere to
keep i t. Who c o uld s h e te ll? L ovey a nd N ag w ould k eep h er c o nfid ence, b ut s h e fe are d T erra nce’s r e v enge.
B ette r th at th eir ig no ra nce b e sin cere . N o, th e o nly p ers o n sh e co uld d is c uss th e p la n w ith w as its
a rc hite ct.
She a p pro ached h im th e n ig ht o f T erra nce’s a d dre ss a nd h e a cte d a s if s h e h ad a gre ed lo ng b efo re .
C aesa r w as lik e n o c o lo re d m an s h e h ad e v er m et. H e h ad b een b orn o n a s m all fa rm in V ir g in ia
o w ned
b y a p eti te o ld w id ow . M rs . G arn er e njo yed b akin g, th e d aily c o m plic ati o ns o f h er flo w er b ed , a nd
c o ncern ed h ers e lf w ith littl e e ls e . C aesa r a nd h is fa th er to ok c are o f th e p la nti n g a nd th e sta b le s, h is
m oth er th e d om esti c a ffa ir s . T hey g re w a m odest c ro p o f v egeta b le s to s e ll in to w n. H is fa m ily liv ed in
t h eir o w n tw o-ro om c o tta ge a t th e r e ar o f th e p ro perty . T hey p ain te d it w hite w ith
r o bin ’s e gg tr im , ju st
l ik e a w hite p ers o n’s h o use h is m oth er h ad s e en o nce.
Mrs . G arn er d esir e d n o th in g m ore th an to s p end h er f in al y ears i n c o m fo rt. S he d id n’t a gre e w ith th e
p opula r a rg um ents f o r s la v ery b ut s a w i t a s a n ecessa ry e v il g iv en th e o bvio us i n te lle ctu al d efic ie ncie s o f
t h e A fr ic an tr ib e. T o fr e e th em fr o m b ond age a ll a t o nce w ould b e d is a str o us— ho w w ould th ey m anage
t h eir a ffa ir s
w ith o ut a c are fu l a nd p ati e nt e ye to g uid e th em ? M rs . G arn er h elp ed i n h er o w n w ay, te achin g
h er s la v es th eir le tte rs s o th ey c o uld r e ceiv e th e w ord o f G od w ith th eir o w n e yes. S he w as lib era l w ith
p asse s, allo w in g C aesa r and his fa m ily to ra nge acro ss th e co unty as th ey ple ase d . It ra nkle d her
n eig hb ors . In h er d egre es, s h e p re p are d th em fo r th e lib era ti o n th at a w aite d th em , fo r s h e h ad p le d ged
to
s e t th em f r e e u p on h er d eath .
When M rs . G arn er p asse d , C aesa r a nd h is fa m ily m ourn ed a nd te nd ed to th e fa rm , a w aiti n g o ffic ia l
w ord o f th eir m anum is sio n. S he l e ft n o w ill. H er o nly r e la ti v e w as a n ie ce i n B osto n, w ho a rra nged f o r a
l o cal la w yer to liq uid ate M rs . G arn er’s p ro perty . It w as a te rrib le d ay w hen h e a rriv ed w ith c o nsta b le s
a nd in fo rm ed C aesa r a nd h is p are nts th at th ey w ere to b e
s o ld . W ors e — so ld s o uth , w ith its fe ars o m e
l e gend s o f c ru elty a nd a b om in ati o n. C aesa r a nd h is f a m ily j o in ed th e m arc h o f c o ffle s, h is f a th er g o in g o ne
w ay, h is m oth er a no th er, a nd C aesa r to h is o w n d esti n y. T heir s w as a p ath eti c g o odbye, c ut s h o rt b y th e
w hip o f th e tr a d er. S o b ore d w as th e tr a d er w ith th e d is p la y, o ne h e h ad w itn esse d c o untl e ss ti m es b efo re ,
t h at h e o nly h alfh earte d ly b eat th e d is tr a ught
f a m ily . C aesa r, i n tu rn , to ok th is w eak l ic kin g a s a s ig n th at h e
c o uld w eath er th e b lo w s to c o m e. A n a ucti o n in S av annah le d h im to th e R and all p la nta ti o n a nd h is
g ru eso m e a w akenin g.
“Y ou c an r e ad ?” C ora a sk ed .
“Y es.” A d em onstr a ti o n w as im possib le o f c o urs e , b ut if th ey m ad e it o ff th e p la nta ti o n th ey w ould
d ep end o n th is r a re g ift.
They m et a t th e s c ho olh o use , b y th e m ilk h o use a fte r th e
w ork th ere w as d one, w here v er th ey c o uld .
N ow th at s h e h ad c ast h er l o t w ith h im a nd h is s c hem e, s h e b ris tl e d w ith i d eas. C ora s u ggeste d th ey w ait
f o r th e fu ll m oon. C aesa r co unte re d th at afte r B ig A nth o ny’s esc ap e th e o vers e ers and b osse s had
i n cre ase d th eir sc ru ti n y a nd w ould b e e xtr a v ig ila nt o n th e fu ll m oon, th e w hite b eaco n th at so o fte n
a gita te d th e s la v e w ith a m in d to r u n. N o, h e s a id . H e
w ante d to g o a s s o on a s p ossib le . T he fo llo w in g
n ig ht. T he w axin g m oon w ould h av e to s u ffic e. A gents o f th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad w ould b e w aiti n g.
The und erg ro und ra ilr o ad — Caesa r had been very busy. D id th ey re ally opera te th is deep in
G eo rg ia ? T he id ea o f e sc ap e o verw helm ed h er. A part fr o m h er o w n p re p ara ti o ns, h o w w ould th ey a le rt
t h e r a ilr o ad in ti m e? C aesa r h ad n o p re te xt o n w hic h to le av e
th e g ro und s u nti l S und ay. H e to ld h er th at th eir e sc ap e w ould c ause s u ch a r u ckus th at th ere w ould b e n o n eed to a le rt h is m an.
Mrs . G arn er h ad s o w n th e s e ed s o f C aesa r’s flig ht in m any w ays, b ut o ne in str u cti o n in p arti c ula r
bro ught h im to th e a tte nti o n o f th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad . It w as a S atu rd ay a fte rn o on a nd th ey s a t o n h er
fr o nt p orc h. O n th e m ain ro ad th e w eekend s p ecta cle s tr o lle d b efo re
th em . T ra d esm en w ith th eir c arts ,
fa m ilie s w alk in g to th e m ark et. P ite o us s la v es c hain ed n eck to n eck, s h ufflin g in s te p . A s C aesa r r u b bed
her fe et, th e w id ow e nco ura ged h im to c ulti v ate a s k ill, o ne th at w ould s e rv e h im in g o od s te ad a s a
fr e em an. H e b ecam e a w oodw ork er, a p pre nti c in g a t a n earb y s h o p o w ned b y a b ro ad -m in d ed U nita ria n.
Eventu ally h e s o ld h is h and so m ely c ra fte d b ow ls o n th e s q uare .
A s M rs . G arn er r e m ark ed , h e w as g o od
with h is h and s.
At th e R and all p la nta ti o n h e c o nti n ued h is e nte rp ris e , j o in in g th e S und ay c ara v an i n to to w n w ith th e
moss s e lle rs , p enny s e am str e sse s, a nd d ay la b ore rs . H e s o ld littl e , b ut th e w eekly tr ip w as a s m all, if
bitte r, r e m in d er o f h is life in th e n o rth . It to rtu re d h im a t s u nd ow n to te ar a w ay fr o m th e p ageant b efo re
him , th e m esm eriz in g d ance b etw een
c o m merc e a nd d esir e .
A s to oped , g ra y-h air e d w hite m an a p pro ached h im o ne S und ay a nd i n v ite d h im to h is s h o p. P erh ap s
he c o uld s e ll C aesa r’s c ra fts d urin g th e w eek, h e o ffe re d , a nd th ey m ig ht b oth p ro fit. C aesa r h ad n o ti c ed
th e m an b efo re , s tr o llin g a m ong th e c o lo re d v end ors a nd p ausin g b y h is c ra fts w ith a c urio us e xp re ssio n.
He h ad n’t p aid h im a ny m in d b ut n o w th e re q uest m ad e h im su sp ic io us.
B ein g so ld d ow n so uth h ad
dra sti c ally a lte re d h is a tti tu d e to w ard w hite s. H e to ok c are .
The m an so ld p ro vis io ns, d ry g o ods, a nd fa rm in g to ols . T he sh o p w as d ev oid o f c usto m ers . H e
lo w ere d h is v oic e a nd a sk ed , “ Y ou c an r e ad , c an’t y o u?”
“S ir ? ” S ayin g i t l ik e th e G eo rg ia b oys s a id i t.
“I’ v e s e en y o u in th e s q uare , r e ad in g s ig ns. A n ew sp ap er. Y ou h av e to g uard o ver y o urs e lf. I’ m n o t
th e o nly o ne
c an s p ot s u ch a th in g.”
Mr. F le tc her w as a P ennsy lv ania n. H e r e lo cate d to G eo rg ia b ecause , h e f o und o ut b ela te d ly , h is w ife
re fu se d to l iv e a nyw here e ls e . S he h ad a n o ti o n a b out th e a ir d ow n h ere a nd i ts a m elio ra ti n g e ffe cts o n th e
cir c ula ti o n. H is w ife h ad a p oin t a b out th e a ir, h e c o nced ed , b ut in e v ery o th er w ay th e p la ce w as a
mis e ry . M r. F le tc her a b ho rre d s la v ery a s a n a ffr o nt b efo re G od.
H e h ad n ev er b een a cti v e in a b oliti o nis t
cir c le s u p n o rth b ut o bse rv in g th e m onstr o us s y ste m fir s th and g av e h im th o ughts h e d id n o t re co gniz e .
Tho ughts th at c o uld g et h im r u n o ut o f to w n o r w ors e .
He to ok C aesa r i n to h is c o nfid ence, r is k in g th at th e s la v e m ig ht i n fo rm o n h im f o r a r e w ard . C aesa r
tr u ste d h im i n tu rn . H e h ad m et th is s o rt o f w hite m an b efo re , e arn est a nd b elie v in g w hat c am e o ut
o f th eir
mouth s. T he v era city o f th eir w ord s w as a no th er m atte r, b ut a t le ast th ey b elie v ed th em . T he s o uth ern
white m an w as s p at f r o m th e l o in s o f th e d ev il a nd th ere w as n o w ay to f o re cast h is n ext e v il a ct.
At th e c o nclu sio n o f th at f ir s t m eeti n g F le tc her to ok C aesa r’s th re e b ow ls a nd to ld h im to r e tu rn n ext
week. T he b ow ls d id n’t s e ll, b ut th e d uo ’s tr u e e nte rp ris e th riv ed a s th eir d is c ussio ns
g av e it fo rm . T he
id ea w as l ik e a h unk o f w ood, C aesa r th o ught, r e q uir in g h um an c ra ft a nd i n genuity to r e v eal th e n ew s h ap e
with in .
Sund ays w ere b est. S und ays h is w ife v is ite d h er c o usin s. F le tc her h ad n ev er w arm ed to th at b ra nch
of th e fa m ily , no r th ey to him , ow in g to his peculia r te m pera m ent. It w as co m monly held th at th e
und erg ro und ra ilr o ad d id no t o pera te th is fa r so uth , F le tc her to ld him .
C aesa r alr e ad y knew th is . In
Vir g in ia , y o u c o uld s m uggle y o urs e lf in to D ela w are o r u p th e C hesa p eake o n a b arg e, e v ad in g p atr o lle rs
and b ounty h unte rs b y y o ur w its a nd th e i n v is ib le h and o f P ro vid ence. O r th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad c o uld
help y o u, w ith i ts s e cre t tr u nk l in es a nd m yste rio us r o ute s. Anti s la v ery l ite ra tu re w as i lle gal i n th is p art o f th e n ati o n. A boliti o nis ts a nd s y m path iz e rs w ho
c am e
dow n to G eo rg ia a nd F lo rid a w ere r u n o ff, f lo gged a nd a b use d b y m obs, ta rre d a nd f e ath ere d . M eth o dis ts
and th eir i n aniti e s h ad n o p la ce i n th e b oso m o f K in g C otto n. T he p la nte rs d id n o t a b id e c o nta gio n.
A s ta ti o n h ad o pened u p n o neth ele ss. I f C aesa r c o uld m ake i t th e th ir ty m ile s to F le tc her’s h o use , th e
sh o pkeep er p le d ged to c o nv ey h im to th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad .
“H ow m any s la v es h e h elp ed ?”
C ora a sk ed .
“N one,” C aesa r s a id . H is v oic e d id n o t w av er, to fo rti fy C ora a s m uch a s h im se lf. H e to ld h er th at
Fle tc her h ad m ad e c o nta ct w ith o ne s la v e p re v io us b ut th e m an n ev er m ad e it to th e re nd ezv ous. N ext
week th e n ew sp ap er r e p orte d th e m an’s c ap tu re a nd d esc rib ed th e n atu re o f h is p unis h m ent.
“H ow w e k no w h e a in ’t tr ic kin g u s? ”
“H e is n o t.” C aesa r h ad th o ught it o ut a lr e ad y. J u st ta lk in g
to F le tc her in h is s h o p p ro vid ed e no ugh
gro und s to s tr in g h im u p . N o n eed fo r e la b ora te s c hem es. C aesa r a nd C ora lis te ned to th e in se cts a s th e
eno rm ity o f th eir p la n m oved o ver th em .
“H e’ll h elp u s,” C ora s a id . “ H e h as to .”
Caesa r to ok h er h and s in h is a nd th en th e g estu re d is c o m fite d h im . H e le t g o . “ T om orro w n ig ht,” h e
sa id .
Her fin al n ig ht in th e q uarte rs w as s le ep le ss, e v en th o ugh s h e
n eed ed h er s tr e ngth . T he o th er H ob
wom en d oze d b esid e h er i n th e l o ft. S he l is te ned to th eir b re ath in g: T hat i s N ag; th at i s R id a w ith h er o ne
ra gged e xhala ti o n e v ery o th er m in ute . T his ti m e to m orro w s h e w ould b e l o ose i n th e n ig ht. I s th is w hat h er
moth er fe lt w hen s h e d ecid ed ? C ora ’s im age o f h er w as re m ote . W hat s h e re m em bere d m ost w as h er
sa d ness. H er m oth er w as a H ob w om an b efo re th ere w as a
H ob. W ith th e s a m e re lu cta nce to m ix , th e
burd en th at b ent h er a t a ll ti m es a nd s e t h er a p art. C ora c o uld n’t p ut h er to geth er in h er m in d . W ho w as
sh e? W here w as s h e n o w ? W hy h ad s h e le ft h er? W ith o ut a s p ecia l k is s to s a y, W hen y o u r e m em ber th is
mom ent l a te r y o u w ill u nd ers ta nd th at I w as s a yin g g o odbye e v en i f y o u d id n o t k no w i t.
Cora ’s la st d ay in th e fie ld s h e fu rio usly h acked in to th e e arth
a s if d ig gin g a tu nnel. T hro ugh it a nd
beyo nd i s y o ur s a lv ati o n.
She s a id g o odbye w ith o ut s a yin g g o odbye. T he p re v io us d ay s h e s a t w ith L ovey a fte r s u p per a nd
th ey ta lk ed in a w ay th ey h ad n’t s in ce J o ckey’s b ir th d ay. C ora tr ie d to s lid e in g entl e w ord s a b out h er
fr ie nd , a g ift th at s h e c o uld h o ld la te r.
Of c o urse y o u d id th at fo r h er, y o u a re a k in d p erso n. O f c o urse
Majo r l ik es y o u, h e c a n s e e
w hat I s e e i n y o u.
Cora s a v ed h er l a st m eal f o r th e H ob w om en. I t w as r a re f o r th em to s p end th eir f r e e h o urs to geth er
but s h e r o und ed th em u p fr o m th eir p re o ccup ati o ns. W hat w ould b eco m e o f th em ? T hey w ere e xile s, b ut
Hob p ro vid ed a ty p e o f p ro te cti o n o nce th ey s e ttl e d in . B y p la yin g u p th eir s tr a ngeness, th e w ay a s la v e
sim pere d a nd a cte d c hild lik e to e sc ap e a b eati n g, th ey e v ad ed th e e nta ngle m ents
o f th e q uarte r. T he w alls
of H ob m ad e a f o rtr e ss s o m e n ig hts , r e sc uin g th em f r o m th e f e ud s a nd c o nsp ir a cie s. W hite m en e at y o u u p ,
but s o m eti m es c o lo re d f o lk e at y o u u p , to o.
She le ft a p ile o f her th in gs b y th e d oor: a co m b, a sq uare o f p olis h ed silv er th at A ja rry had
sc ro unged y ears a go , th e p ile o f b lu e s to nes th at N ag c alle d h er “ In d ia n r o cks.” H er f a re w ell.
She to ok h er h atc het. S he to ok
flin t a nd ti n d er. A nd lik e h er m oth er s h e d ug u p h er y am s. T he n ext
nig ht so m eo ne w ill h av e c la im ed th e p lo t, sh e th o ught, tu rn ed th e d ir t o ver. P ut a fe nce a ro und it fo r
chic kens. A d ogho use . O r m ayb e sh e w ill k eep it a g ard en. A n a ncho r in th e v ic io us w ate rs o f th e
pla nta ti o n to p re v ent h er f r o m b ein g c arrie d a w ay. U nti l s h e c ho se to b e c arrie d a w ay.
They m et b y th e c o tto n a fte r th e v illa ge
q uie te d d ow n. C aesa r m ad e a q uiz zic al e xp re ssio n a t h er bulg in g s a ck o f y am s b ut d id n’t s p eak. T hey m oved th ro ugh th e ta ll p la nts , s o k no tte d u p in sid e th at th ey
fo rg o t to r u n u nti l th ey w ere h alfw ay th ro ugh. T heir s p eed m ad e th em g id dy. T he i m possib ility o f i t. T heir
fe ar calle d afte r th em ev en if no one els e did . T hey had six ho urs unti l th eir dis a p peara nce w as
dis c o vere d a nd a no th er o ne o r tw o
b efo re th e p osse s r e ached w here th ey w ere n o w . B ut f e ar w as a lr e ad y
in p urs u it, a s i t h ad b een e v ery d ay o n th e p la nta ti o n, a nd i t m atc hed th eir p ace.
They c ro sse d th e m ead ow w ho se s o il w as to o th in fo r p la nti n g a nd e nte re d th e s w am p. It h ad b een
years s in ce C ora h ad p la yed i n th e b la ck w ate r w ith th e o th er p ic kanin nie s, s c arin g e ach o th er w ith ta le s
of b ears a nd h id den g ato rs a nd fa st- s w im min g
w ate r m occasin s. M en h unte d o tte r a nd b eav er in th e
sw am p a nd th e m oss s e lle rs s c av enged fr o m th e tr e es, tr a ckin g fa r b ut n ev er to o fa r, y anked b ack to th e
pla nta ti o n b y in v is ib le c hain s. C aesa r h ad a cco m panie d s o m e o f th e tr a p pers o n th eir fis h in g a nd h unti n g
exp ed iti o ns fo r m onth s n o w , le arn in g h o w to s te p in th e p eat a nd s ilt, w here to s ti c k c lo se to th e r e ed s,
and h o w to fin d th e is la nd s o f
s u re g ro und . H e p ro bed th e m urk b efo re th em w ith h is w alk in g s ti c k. T he
pla n w as to s h o ot w est u nti l th ey h it a s tr in g o f i s la nd s a tr a p per h ad s h o w n h im , a nd th en b ow n o rth east
unti l th e s w am p d rie d u p . T he p re cio us f ir m f o oti n g m ad e i t th e f a ste st r o ute n o rth , d esp ite th e d iv ers io n.
They h ad m ad e it o nly a sm all w ays in w hen th ey h eard th e v oic e a nd sto pped . C ora lo oked a t
Caesa r f o r a c ue.
H e h eld h is h and s o ut a nd l is te ned . I t w as n o t a n a ngry v oic e. O r a m an’s v oic e.
Caesa r s h o ok h is h ead w hen h e r e aliz e d th e i d enti ty o f th e c ulp rit. “ L ovey— sh ush !”
Lovey h ad e no ugh s e nse to b e q uie t o nce s h e g o t a b ead o n th em . “ I k new y o u w ere u p to s o m eth in g,”
sh e w his p ere d w hen s h e c aught u p . “ S neakin g a ro und w ith h im b ut n o t ta lk in g a b out it. A nd th en y o u d ig
up th em y am s n o t e v en r ip e y et! ”
S he h ad c in ched s o m e o ld fa b ric to m ake a b ag th at s h e s lu ng o ver h er
sh o uld er.
“Y ou g et o n b ack b efo re y o u r u in u s,” C aesa r s a id .
“I’ m g o in g w here y o u g o in g,” L ovey s a id .
Cora fr o w ned . If th ey s e nt L ovey b ack, th e g ir l m ig ht b e c aught s n eakin g in to h er c ab in . L ovey w as
no t o ne to k eep h er to ngue s ti ll. N o m ore h ead s ta rt. S he d id n’t w ant to b e r e sp onsib le fo r th e g ir l, b ut
co uld n’t f ig ure
i t.
“H e’s n o t g o in g to ta ke th re e o f u s,” C aesa r s a id .
“H e k no w I ’ m c o m in g?” C ora a sk ed .
He s h o ok h is h ead .
“T hen tw o s u rp ris e s a s g o od a s o ne,” s h e s a id . S he l ifte d h er s a ck. “ W e g o t e no ugh f o od, a nyw ay.”
He h ad a ll n ig ht to g et u se d to th e i d ea. I t w ould b e a l o ng ti m e b efo re th ey s le p t. E ventu ally L ovey
sto pped c ry in g o ut a t e v ery s u d den n o is e fr o m th e n ig ht c re atu re s, o r w hen s h e s te p ped
to o d eep a nd th e
wate r s u rg ed to h er w ais t. C ora w as a cq uain te d w ith th is s q ueam is h q uality o f L ovey’s , b ut s h e d id n o t
re co gniz e th e o th er s id e o f h er f r ie nd , w hate v er h ad o verta ken th e g ir l a nd m ad e h er r u n. B ut e v ery s la v e
th in ks a b out i t. I n th e m orn in g a nd i n th e a fte rn o on a nd i n th e n ig ht. D re am in g o f i t. E very d re am a d re am
of e sc ap e e v en w hen i t d id n’t l o ok l ik e i t. W hen i t w as a d re am
o f n ew s h o es. T he o pportu nity s te p ped u p
and L ovey a v aile d h ers e lf, h eed le ss o f th e w hip .
The th re e o f th em w end ed w est, tr o m pin g th ro ugh th e b la ck w ate r. C ora c o uld n’t h av e l e d th em . S he
did n’t k no w h o w C aesa r d id it. B ut h e w as e v er s u rp ris in g h er. O f c o urs e h e h ad a m ap in h is h ead a nd
co uld r e ad s ta rs a s w ell a s l e tte rs .
Lovey’s s ig hs a nd c urs e s w hen s h e n eed ed a r e st s a v ed C ora fr o m a sk in g.
W hen th ey d em and ed to
lo ok in h er to w sa ck, it c o nta in ed n o th in g p ra cti c al, o nly o dd to kens sh e h ad c o lle cte d , lik e a sm all
wooden d uck a nd a b lu e g la ss b ottl e . A s f o r h is o w n p ra cti c ality , C aesa r w as a c ap ab le n av ig ato r w hen i t cam e to fin d in g is la nd s. W heth er o r n o t h e k ep t to h is ro ute , C ora c o uld n’t te ll. T hey s ta rte d tr a ckin g
no rth east a nd b y th e ti m e it g o t lig ht th ey w ere o ut o f th e s w am p.
“ T hey k no w ,” L ovey s a id w hen th e
ora nge s u n b ro ke in th e w est. T he tr io to ok a no th er re st a nd c ut a y am in to s lic es. T he m osq uito es a nd
bla ckflie s p ers e cute d th em . I n th e d aylig ht th ey w ere a m ess, s p la sh ed u p to th eir n ecks i n m ud , c o vere d i n
burrs a nd te nd rils . I t d id n o t b oth er C ora . T his w as th e f a rth est s h e h ad e v er b een f r o m h o m e. E ven i f s h e
were d ra gged a w ay a t th is m om ent a nd p ut i n
c hain s, s h e w ould s ti ll h av e th ese m ile s.
Caesa r to sse d h is w alk in g s ti c k to th e g ro und a nd th ey to ok o ff a gain . T he n ext ti m e th ey s to pped , h e
to ld th em th at h e h ad to g o fin d th e c o unty ro ad . H e p ro m is e d to re tu rn so on, b ut h e n eed ed to ta ke
measu re o f th eir p ro gre ss. L ovey h ad th e s e nse n o t to a sk w hat h ap pened if h e d id n’t r e tu rn . T o r e assu re
th em , h e l e ft h is s a ck a nd w ate rs k in n ext to a
c yp re ss. O r to h elp th em i f h e d id n o t.
“I k new it,” L ovey s a id , s ti ll w anti n g to p ic k a t it d esp ite h er e xhausti o n. T he g ir ls s a t a gain st th e
tr e es, g ra te fu l f o r s o lid , d ry d ir t.
Cora f ille d h er i n o n w hat th ere w as l e ft to te ll, g o in g b ack to J o ckey’s b ir th d ay.
“I k new i t,” L ovey r e p eate d .
“H e th in ks I ’ m g o od l u ck, b ecause m y m oth er w as th e o nly o ne.”
“Y ou w ant l u ck, c ut o ff a r a b bit f o ot,”
L ovey s a id .
“W hat y o ur m oth er g o nna d o?” C ora a sk ed .
Lovey a nd h er m oth er a rriv ed o n R and all w hen s h e w as fiv e y ears o ld . H er p re v io us m aste r d id n’t
belie v e i n c lo th in g p ic kanin nie s s o i t w as th e f ir s t ti m e s h e h ad s o m eth in g o n h er b ack. H er m oth er, J e er,
had b een b orn i n A fr ic a a nd l o ved to te ll h er d aughte r a nd h er f r ie nd s s to rie s o f h er c hild ho od i n a s m all
villa ge b y a r iv er a nd a ll th e
a nim als w ho l iv ed n earb y. P ic kin g b ro ke h er b ody. H er j o in ts w ere s w olle n
and s ti ff, m akin g h er c ro oked , a nd it a nguis h ed h er to w alk . W hen J e er c o uld n o lo nger w ork s h e lo oked
afte r b ab ie s w hen th eir m oth ers w ere in th e fie ld s. D esp ite h er to rm ents , s h e w as a lw ays te nd er to h er
gir l, e v en i f h er b ig to oth le ss s m ile f e ll l ik e a n a x th e m om ent L ovey tu rn ed a w ay.
“B e p ro ud o f m e,” L ovey a nsw ere d .
S he l a y d ow n a nd tu rn ed h er b ack.
Caesa r a p peare d s o oner th an th ey e xp ecte d . T hey w ere to o c lo se to th e r o ad , h e s a id , b ut h ad m ad e
go od ti m e. N ow th eir p arty h ad to p re ss o n, g et a s fa r a s th ey c o uld b efo re th e rid ers se t o ut. T he
ho rs e m en w ould w ip e o ut th eir l e ad i n s h o rt o rd er.
“W hen w e g o in g to s le ep ?” C ora a sk ed .
“L et’ s g et a w ay fr o m th e r o ad a nd th en w e s e e,” C aesa r s a id . F ro m h is c o m portm ent,
h e w as s p ent,
to o.
They s e t th eir b ags d ow n n o t l o ng a fte r. W hen C aesa r w oke C ora , th e s u n w as g etti n g d ow n. S he h ad
no t s ti r re d o nce, e v en w ith h er b ody d ra p ed a w kw ard ly o ver th e r o ots o f a n o ld o ak. L ovey w as a lr e ad y
aw ake. T hey r e ached th e c le arin g w hen i t w as a lm ost d ark , a c o rn fie ld b ehin d a p riv ate f a rm . T he o w ners
were h o m e a nd b usie d th em se lv es i n th eir c ho re s, c hasin g e ach o th er i n a nd
o ut o f th e s m all c o tta ge. T he
fu giti v es w ith d re w a nd w aite d u nti l th e fa m ily p ut o ut th eir la m ps. F ro m h ere u nti l F le tc her’s fa rm th e
most d ir e ct r o ute w as th ro ugh p eo ple ’s la nd , b ut it w as to o d angero us. T hey s ta yed in th e fo re st, lo opin g
aro und .
Ulti m ate ly th e p ig s d id th em i n . T hey w ere f o llo w in g th e r u t o f a h o g tr a il w hen th e w hite m en r u sh ed
fr o m th e tr e es. T here w ere fo ur o f th em . B ait
la id o n th e tr a il, th e h o g h unte rs w aite d fo r th eir q uarry ,
whic h tu rn ed no ctu rn al in th e ho t w eath er. T he ru naw ays w ere a diffe re nt so rt of beast but m ore
re m unera ti v e. There w as n o m is ta kin g th e i d enti ty o f th e tr io , g iv en th e s p ecific ity o f th e b ulle ti n s. T w o o f th e h o g
hunte rs ta ckle d th e s m alle st o f th e p arty , p in nin g h er to th e g ro und . A fte r b ein g s o q uie t fo r s o lo ng— th e
sla v es to e sc ap e
th e d ete cti o n o f h unte rs , a nd th e h unte rs to e sc ap e th e d ete cti o n o f th eir p re y— all o f th em
crie d o ut a nd s h rie ked w ith th eir e xerti o ns. C aesa r g ra p ple d w ith a h eav yse t m an w ith a l o ng d ark b eard .
The fu giti v e w as y o unger a nd str o nger, b ut th e m an h eld h is g ro und a nd se iz e d C aesa r b y th e w ais t.
Caesa r f o ught l ik e h e h ad s tr u ck m any a w hite m an, a n i m possib le o ccurre nce o r e ls e h e w ould h av e b een
in th e g ra v e lo ng a go . It w as th e g ra v e th e r u naw ays fo ught a gain st, fo r th at w as th eir d esti n ati o n if th ese
men p re v aile d a nd r e tu rn ed th em to th eir m aste r.
Lovey ho w le d as th e tw o m en d ra gged her in to th e d ark ness. C ora ’s assa ila nt w as b oyis h and
sle nd er, p erh ap s th e s o n o f o ne o f th e o th er h unte rs . S he w as ta ken u naw are s b ut th e m om ent h e l a id h and s
on h er p ers o n, h er b lo od q uic kened . S he
w as b ro ught b ack to th e n ig ht b ehin d th e sm okeho use w hen
Edw ard a nd P ot a nd th e re st b ru ta liz e d h er. S he b attl e d . S tr e ngth p oure d in to h er lim bs, sh e b it a nd
sla p ped a nd b ash ed , fig hti n g n o w a s s h e h ad n o t b een a b le to th en. S he re aliz e d s h e h ad d ro pped h er
hatc het. S he w ante d i t. E dw ard w as i n th e d ir t a nd th is b oy w ould j o in h im , to o, b efo re s h e w as ta ken.
The b oy y anked C ora to th e g ro und .
S he ro lle d o ver a nd b ash ed h er h ead a gain st a stu m p. H e
sc ra m ble d to h er, p in nin g h er. H er b lo od w as h o t— sh e re ached o ut a nd c am e u p w ith a ro ck th at s h e
sla m med i n to th e b oy’s s k ull. H e r e ele d a nd s h e r e p eate d h er a ssa ult. H is g ro ans c ease d .
Tim e w as a fig m ent. C aesa r c alle d h er n am e, p ullin g h er u p . T he b eard ed m an h ad fle d , a s m uch a s
th e d ark ness a llo w ed h er to s e e. “ T his w ay!”
Cora c rie d
a fte r h er f r ie nd .
There w as n o s ig n o f h er, n o w ay to te ll w here th ey h ad g o ne. C ora h esita te d a nd h e tu gged h er
ro ughly f o rw ard . S he f o llo w ed h is i n str u cti o ns.
They s to pped r u nnin g w hen th ey r e aliz e d th ey h ad n o in klin g o f w here th ey w ere h ead ed . C ora s a w
no th in g f o r th e d ark ness a nd h er te ars . C aesa r h ad r e sc ued h is w ate rs k in b ut th ey h ad l o st th e r e st o f th eir
pro vis io ns. T hey h ad lo st L ovey.
H e o rie nte d h im se lf w ith th e c o nste lla ti o ns a nd th e r u naw ays s tu m ble d
on, im pelle d in to th e n ig ht. T hey d id n’t sp eak fo r h o urs . F ro m th e tr u nk o f th eir sc hem e, c ho ic es a nd
decis io ns s p ro ute d lik e b ra nches a nd s h o ots . If th ey h ad tu rn ed th e g ir l b ack a t th e s w am p. If th ey h ad
ta ken a d eep er r o ute a ro und th e fa rm s. If C ora h ad ta ken th e r e ar a nd b een th e o ne g ra b bed b y th e tw o
men. I f th ey h ad
n ev er l e ft a t a ll. Caesa r s c o ute d a p ro m is in g s p ot a nd th ey c lim bed tr e es, s le ep in g l ik e r a cco ons.
When sh e sti r re d , th e su n w as u p a nd C aesa r p aced b etw een tw o p in es, ta lk in g to h im se lf. S he
d esc end ed f r o m h er r o ost, n um b i n h er a rm s a nd l e gs f r o m h er e nta ngle m ent i n th e r o ugh l im bs. C aesa r’s
f a ce w as s e rio us. B y n o w th e w ord h ad s p re ad a b out la st n ig ht’ s a lte rc ati o n. T he p atr o lle rs k new th e
d ir e cti o n th ey tr a v ele d .
“ D id y o u te ll h er a b out th e r a ilr o ad ?”
“I d on’t th in k s o .”
“I d on’t th in k I d id . W e w ere f o olis h n o t to th in k o n th is .”
The c re ek th ey w ad ed a t n o on w as a la nd m ark . T hey w ere c lo se , C aesa r s a id . A fte r a m ile , h e le ft
h er to s c o ut. O n h is r e tu rn th ey a d opte d a m ore s h allo w tr a ck in th e w oods th at p erm itte d th em to b are ly
s e e h o use s th ro ugh th e b ru sh .
“T hat’ s it,” C aesa r s a id . It w as a ti d y
o ne-s to ry c o tta ge th at lo oked o ut o n a p astu re . T he la nd h ad
b een c le are d b ut la y fa llo w . T he r e d w eath erv ane w as C aesa r’s s ig n th at th is w as th e h o use , th e y ello w
c urta in s p ulle d s h ut i n th e b ack w in d ow th e s ig nal th at F le tc her w as h o m e b ut h is w ife w as n o t.
“If L ovey to ld th em ,” C ora s a id .
They s a w n o o th er h o use s fr o m th eir v anta ge, a nd n o p eo ple . C ora a nd C aesa r s p rin te d th ro ugh th e
w ild
g ra ss, e xp ose d f o r th e f ir s t ti m e s in ce th e s w am p. I t w as u nnerv in g o ut i n th e o pen. S he f e lt l ik e s h e
h ad b een th ro w n i n to o ne o f A lic e’s b ig b la ck s k ille ts , f ir e s l ic kin g b elo w . T hey w aite d a t th e b ack d oor
f o r F le tc her to a nsw er th eir k no ck. C ora im agin ed th e p osse s m assin g in th e w oods, g ir d in g th em se lv es
f o r a d ash i n to th e f ie ld . O r p erh ap s th ey l a y w ait i n sid e. I f L ovey to ld th em . F le tc her
f in ally u sh ere d th em
i n to th e k itc hen.
The k itc hen w as s m all b ut c o m fo rta b le . F av orite p ots s h o w ed th eir d ark b otto m s fr o m h o oks a nd
g aily c o lo re d flo w ers fr o m th e p astu re le aned o ut o f th in g la ssw are . A n o ld re d -e yed h o und d id n’t s ti r
f r o m h is c o rn er, in d iffe re nt to th e v is ito rs . C ora a nd C aesa r d ra nk g re ed ily fr o m th e p itc her F le tc her
o ffe re d th em . T he h o st w as u nha p py to s e e th e e xtr a p asse nger,
b ut s o m any th in gs h ad g o ne w ro ng fr o m
t h e v ery s ta rt.
The s h o pkeep er c aught th em u p . F ir s t, L ovey’s m oth er, J e er, n o ti c ed h er d aughte r’s a b se nce a nd l e ft
t h eir c ab in to m ake a q uie t s e arc h. T he b oys lik ed L ovey, a nd L ovey lik ed th e b oys. O ne o f th e b osse s
s to pped J e er a nd g o t th e s to ry o ut o f h er.
Cora a nd C aesa r lo oked a t e ach o th er. T heir s ix -h o ur h ead s ta rt h ad b een a fa nta sy. T he p atr o lle rs
h ad b een d eep i n th e h unt th e w ho le ti m e.
By m id m orn in g, F le tc her s a id , e v ery s p are h and in th e c o unty a nd fr o m a ll a ro und e nlis te d in th e
s e arc h. T erra nce’s re w ard w as u np re ced ente d . A dverti s e m ents w ere p oste d a t e v ery p ub lic p la ce. T he
w ors t s o rt o f s c o und re ls to ok u p th e c hase . D ru nkard s, in co rrig ib le s, p oor w hite s w ho d id n’t e v en o w n
s h o es d elig hte d in th is o pportu nity to s c o urg e th e c o lo re d
p opula ti o n. P atr o l b and s m ara ud ed th ro ugh th e
s la v e v illa ges a nd r a nsa cked th e h o m es o f f r e em en, s te alin g a nd c o m mitti n g a ssa ults .
Pro vid ence s m ile d o n th e fu giti v es: T he h unte rs b elie v ed th ey h id in th e s w am p— with tw o y o ung
f e m ale s in to w , a ny o th er a m biti o ns m ust h av e b een c urta ile d . M ost sla v es m ad e tr a cks fo r th e b la ck
w ate r, as th ere w ere no help fu l w hite s th is fa r so uth , no und erg ro und
ra ilr o ad w aiti n g to re sc ue a
w ayw ard n ig ger. T his m is ste p a llo w ed th e tr io to g et a s f a r n o rth east a s th ey d id . Unti l th e h o g h unte rs c am e u p on th em . L ovey w as b ack o n R and all. P osse s h ad c alle d o n F le tc her’s
ho use tw ic e a lr e ad y to s p re ad th e w ord a nd s n eak a g la nce a t th e s h ad ow s. B ut th e w ors t n ew s w as th at
th e y o ungest o f th e h unte rs — a b oy o f tw elv e— had n o t a w akened f r o m h is i n ju rie s. C aesa r
a nd C ora w ere
as g o od a s m urd ere rs i n th e e yes o f th e c o unty . T he w hite m en w ante d b lo od.
Caesa r c o vere d h is fa ce a nd F le tc her p la ced a re assu rin g h and o n h is s h o uld er. C ora ’s la ck o f a
re sp onse to th e in fo rm ati o n w as c o nsp ic uo us. T he m en w aite d . S he to re o ff a p ie ce o f b re ad . C aesa r’s
morti fic ati o n w ould h av e to s u ffic e f o r th e p air.
The sto ry o f th e e sc ap e a nd th eir o w n a cco unt o f th e fig ht
in th e w oods d id m uch to alle v ia te
Fle tc her’s d is m ay. T he th re e o f th em in h is k itc hen m eant th at L ovey d id n’t k no w a b out th e r a ilr o ad , a nd
th ey h ad n’t m enti o ned th e s h o pkeep er’s n am e a t a ny p oin t. T hey w ould p ro ceed .
As C aesa r a nd C ora w olfe d d ow n th e re st o f th e p um pern ic kel lo af a nd slic es o f h am , th e m en
deb ate d th e m erits o f v entu rin g n o w o r a fte r n ig htf a ll. C ora th o ught b ette r o f c o ntr ib uti n g
to th e d is c ussio n.
This w as h er fir s t ti m e o ut in th e w orld a nd th ere w as m uch s h e d id n o t k no w . H er o w n v ote w as fo r
lig hti n g o ut a s s o on a s p ossib le . E very m ile b etw een h er a nd th e p la nta ti o n w as a v ic to ry . S he w ould a d d
to h er c o lle cti o n.
The m en d ecid ed th at tr a v elin g rig ht u nd er th eir n o se s, w ith th e s la v es h id den b eneath a H essia n
bla nket in th e b ack o f F le tc her’s c art, w as th e m ost p ru d ent.
It re m oved th e d iffic ulty o f h id in g in th e
cella r, n ego ti a ti n g M rs . F le tc her’s c o m in gs a nd g o in gs. “ If y o u th in k s o ,” C ora s a id . T he h o und p asse d
gas.
On th e s ile nt r o ad C aesa r a nd C ora n estl e d a m ong F le tc her’s c ra te s. T he s u nlig ht g lo w ed th ro ugh th e
bla nket b etw een th e sh ad ow s o f o verh angin g tr e es w hile F le tc her m ad e c o nv ers a ti o n w ith h is h o rs e s.
Cora c lo se d h er e yes, b ut a v is io n o f th e b oy
ly in g in b ed , h is h ead b and aged a nd th e b ig m an w ith th e
beard s ta nd in g o ver h im , fo re sta lle d h er s lu m ber. H e w as y o unger th an s h e h ad r e cko ned . B ut h e s h o uld
no t h av e l a id h is h and s o n h er. T he b oy s h o uld h av e p ic ked a d iffe re nt p asti m e th an h unti n g h o gs a t n ig ht.
She d id n’t c are i f h e r e co vere d , s h e d ecid ed . T hey w ere g o in g to b e k ille d w heth er h e w oke o r n o t.
The n o is e o f th e to w n r o use d h e r.
S he c o uld o nly im agin e w hat it lo oked lik e, th e p eo ple o n th eir
erra nd s, th e b usy sh o ps, th e b uggie s a nd c arts n av ig ati n g e ach o th er. T he v oic es w ere c lo se , th e m ad
chatte r o f a d is e m bodie d m ob. C aesa r s q ueeze d h er h and . T heir a rra ngem ent a m ong th e c ra te s p re v ente d
her fr o m s e ein g h is fa ce b ut s h e k new h is e xp re ssio n. T hen F le tc her s to pped h is c art. C ora e xp ecte d th e
bla nket to b e r ip ped o ff th e
n ext m om ent a nd m ad e a p ortr a it o f th e e nsu in g m ayhem . T he r o arin g s u nlig ht.
Fle tc her f lo gged a nd a rre ste d , m ore l ik ely l y nched f o r h arb orin g n o m ere s la v es b ut m urd ere rs . C ora a nd
Caesa r r o und ly b eate n b y th e c ro w d i n p re p ara ti o n f o r th eir d eliv ery b ack to T erra nce, a nd w hate v er th eir
maste r h ad d ev is e d to s u rp ass B ig A nth o ny’s to rm ents . A nd w hat h e h ad a lr e ad y m ete d o ut to L ovey, i f h e
was n o t
w aiti n g o n a r e unio n o f th e th re e r u naw ays. S he h eld h er b re ath .
Fle tc her h ad s to pped a t th e h ail o f a f r ie nd . C ora l e t o ut a n o is e w hen th e m an l e aned a gain st th e c art,
ro ckin g i t, b ut h e d id n’t h ear. T he m an g re ete d F le tc her a nd g av e th e s h o pkeep er a n u p date o n th e p osse s
and th eir s e arc h— th e m urd ere rs h ad b een c ap tu re d ! F le tc her th anked G od. A no th er v oic e j o in ed to r e b ut
th is r u m or. T he s la v es
w ere s ti ll a b out, s te alin g a f a rm er’s c hic kens i n a m orn in g r a id , b ut th e h o und s h ad
th e s c ent. F le tc her r e p eate d h is g ra ti tu d e to w ard a G od th at l o oked o ver a w hite m an a nd h is i n te re sts . O f
th e b oy th ere w as n o n ew s. A p ity , F le tc her s a id .
Dir e ctl y , th e c art w as b ack o n th e q uie t c o unty r o ad . F le tc her s a id , “ Y ou’v e g o t th em c hasin g th eir
ta ils .” It w asn ’t c le ar if h e w as ta lk in g to th e s la v es
o r h is h o rs e s. C ora d oze d a gain , th e r ig o rs o f th eir
flig ht s ti ll e xacti n g th eir to ll. S le ep in g p re v ente d th o ughts o f L ovey. W hen s h e n ext o pened h er e yes, it
was d ark . C aesa r p atte d h er i n r e assu ra nce. T here w as a r u m blin g a nd a j in glin g a nd th e s o und o f a b olt. Fle tc her r e m oved th e b la nket a nd th e f u giti v es s tr e tc hed th eir a chin g l im bs a s th ey to ok i n th e b arn .
She s a w th e c hain s fir s t. T ho usa nd s
o f th em d angle d o ff th e w all o n n ails in a m orb id in v ento ry o f
manacle s a nd fe tte rs , o f sh ackle s fo r a nkle s a nd w ris ts a nd n ecks in a ll v arie ti e s a nd c o m bin ati o ns.
Shackle s to p re v ent a p ers o n fr o m a b sc o nd in g, fr o m m ovin g th e ir h and s, o r to s u sp end a b ody in th e a ir
fo r a b eati n g. O ne r o w w as d ev ote d to c hild re n’s c hain s a nd th e ti n y m anacle s a nd l in ks c o nnecti n g th em .
Ano th er ro w s h o w case d
ir o n c uffs s o th ic k th at n o s a w c o uld b ite th em , a nd c uffs s o th in th at o nly th e
th o ught o f p unis h m ent p re v ente d th eir w eare r fr o m s p litti n g th em . A lin e o f o rn ate m uzzle s c o m mand ed
th eir o w n s e cti o n, a nd th ere w as a p ile o f b all a nd c hain s in th e c o rn er. T he b alls w ere a rra nged in a
pyra m id , th e c hain s tr a ilin g o ff in S s h ap es. S om e o f th e s h ackle s w ere ru ste d , s o m e w ere b ro ken, a nd
oth ers s e em ed
a s i f th ey h ad b een f o rg ed th at v ery m orn in g. C ora m oved to o ne p art o f th e c o lle cti o n a nd
to uched a m eta l l o op w ith s p ik es r a d ia ti n g to w ard i ts c ente r. S he d ecid ed i t w as i n te nd ed f o r w ear a ro und
th e n eck.
“A f e ars o m e d is p la y,” a m an s a id . “ I p ic ked th em u p h ere a nd th ere .”
They h ad n’t h eard h im e nte r; h ad h e b een th ere a ll a lo ng? H e w ore g ra y tr o use rs a nd a sh ir t o f
poro us c lo th th at d id n o t
h id e h is s k ele ta l a p peara nce. C ora h ad s e en s ta rv in g s la v es w ith m ore m eat o n
th eir b ones. “ S om e s o uv enir s fr o m m y tr a v els ,” th e w hite m an s a id . H e h ad a n o dd m anner o f s p eech, a
queer l ilt th at r e m in d ed C ora o f th e w ay th o se o n th e p la nta ti o n s o und ed a fte r th ey l o st th eir w its .
Fle tc her i n tr o duced h im a s L um bly . H e s h o ok th eir h and s w eakly .
“Y ou th e c o nd ucto r? ” C aesa r a sk ed .
“N o g o od w ith
s te am ,” L um bly s a id . “ M ore o f a s ta ti o n a gent.” W hen n o t c o ncern in g h im se lf w ith
ra ilr o ad m atte rs , h e s a id , h e le d a q uie t life o n h is fa rm . T his w as h is la nd . C ora a nd C aesa r n eed ed to
arriv e u nd er th e b la nket o r e ls e b lin d fo ld ed , h e e xp la in ed . B est th ey r e m ain ig no ra nt o f th eir lo cati o n. “ I
was e xp ecti n g th re e p asse ngers to day,” h e s a id . “ Y ou’ll b e a b le to s tr e tc h o ut.”
Befo re th ey c o uld f ig ure
h is w ord s, F le tc her i n fo rm ed th em i t w as ti m e f o r h im to r e tu rn to h is w ife :
“M y p art i s f in is h ed , m y f r ie nd s.” H e e m bra ced th e r u naw ays w ith d esp era te a ffe cti o n. C ora c o uld n’t h elp
but s h rin k a w ay. T w o w hite m en in tw o d ays h ad th eir h and s a ro und h er. W as th is a c o nd iti o n o f h er
fr e ed om ?
Caesa r s ile ntl y w atc hed th e s h o pkeep er a nd h is c art d ep art. F le tc her a d dre sse d h is h o rs e s a nd th en
his v oic e
tr a ile d a w ay. C oncern tr o ub le d th e fe atu re s o f C ora ’s c o m panio n. F le tc her h ad u nd erta ken a
gre at ris k fo r th em , e v en w hen th e situ ati o n g re w m ore c o m plic ate d th an h e h ad b arg ain ed . T he o nly
curre ncy to s a ti s fy th e d eb t w as th eir s u rv iv al a nd to h elp o th ers w hen c ir c um sta nces p erm itte d . B y h er
acco unti n g, a t l e ast. C aesa r o w ed th e m an m uch m ore f o r ta kin g h im i n to h is s h o p a ll th o se m onth s b efo re .
That is w hat s h e s a w in h is fa ce— no t c o ncern b ut r e sp onsib ility . L um bly s h ut th e b arn d oor, th e c hain s
jin glin g w ith th e v ib ra ti o n.
Lum bly w as n o t a s s e nti m enta l. H e l it a l a nte rn a nd g av e i t to C aesa r w hile h e k ic ked s o m e h ay a nd
pulle d u p a tr a p door in th e flo or. A t th eir tr e p id ati o n h e s a id , “ I’ ll g o fir s t, if y o u w is h .” T he s ta ir w ell
was lin ed w ith s to nes a nd a s o ur s m ell e m anate d fr o m b elo w .
It d id n o t o pen in to a c ella r b ut c o nti n ued
dow n. C ora a p pre cia te d th e l a b or th at h ad g o ne i n to i ts c o nstr u cti o n. T he s te p s w ere s te ep , b ut th e s to nes
alig ned in e v en p la nes a nd p ro vid ed a n e asy d esc ent. T hen th ey re ached th e tu nnel, a nd a p pre cia ti o n
becam e to o m ealy a w ord to c o nta in w hat l a y b efo re h er.
The s ta ir s l e d o nto a s m all p la tf o rm . T he b la ck m outh s o f th e g ig anti c tu nnel o pened a t
e ith er e nd . It
must h av e b een tw enty fe et ta ll, w alls lin ed w ith d ark a nd lig ht c o lo re d s to nes in a n a lte rn ati n g p atte rn .
The s h eer in d ustr y th at h ad m ad e s u ch a p ro je ct p ossib le . C ora a nd C aesa r n o ti c ed th e r a ils . T w o s te el ra ils r a n th e v is ib le l e ngth o f th e tu nnel, p in ned i n to th e d ir t b y w ooden c ro ssti e s. T he s te el r a n s o uth a nd
no rth p re su m ab ly , s p rin gin g f r o m s o m e i n co nceiv ab le s o urc e a nd s h o oti n g
to w ard a m ir a culo us te rm in us.
Som eo ne h ad b een th o ughtf u l e no ugh to a rra nge a s m all b ench o n th e p la tf o rm . C ora fe lt d iz zy a nd s a t
dow n.
Caesa r c o uld s c arc ely s p eak. “ H ow f a r d oes th e tu nnel e xte nd ?”
Lum bly s h ru gged . “ F ar e no ugh f o r y o u.”
“It m ust h av e ta ken y ears .”
“M ore th an y o u k no w . S olv in g th e p ro ble m o f v enti la ti o n, th at to ok a b it o f ti m e.”
“W ho b uilt i t? ”
“W ho b uild s a nyth in g i n
th is c o untr y ?”
Cora s a w th at L um bly r e lis h ed th eir a sto nis h m ent. T his w as n o t h is f ir s t p erfo rm ance.
Caesa r s a id , “ B ut h o w ?”
“W ith th eir h and s, h o w e ls e ? W e n eed to d is c uss y o ur d ep artu re .” L um bly p ulle d a y ello w p ap er
fr o m h is p ocket a nd s q uin te d . “ Y ou h av e tw o c ho ic es. W e h av e a tr a in l e av in g i n o ne h o ur a nd a no th er i n
six h o urs . N ot th e m ost c o nv enie nt s c hed ule . W ould th at o ur p asse ngers
c o uld ti m e th eir a rriv als m ore
ap pro pria te ly , b ut w e o pera te u nd er c erta in c o nstr a in ts .”
“T he n ext o ne,” C ora s a id , s ta nd in g. T here w as n o q uesti o n.
“T he tr ic k o f i t i s , th ey’re n o t g o in g to th e s a m e p la ce,” L um bly s a id . “ O ne’s g o in g o ne w ay a nd th e
oth er… ”
“T o w here ?” C ora a sk ed .
“A w ay fr o m h ere , th at’ s a ll I c an te ll y o u. Y ou u nd ers ta nd th e d iffic ulti e s in c o m munic ati n g a ll th e
changes i n
th e r o ute s. L ocals , e xp re sse s, w hat s ta ti o n’s c lo se d d ow n, w here th ey’re e xte nd in g th e h ead in g.
The p ro ble m i s th at o ne d esti n ati o n m ay b e m ore to y o ur l ik in g th an a no th er. S ta ti o ns a re d is c o vere d , l in es
dis c o nti n ued . Y ou w on’t k no w w hat w aits a b ove u nti l y o u p ull i n .”
The r u naw ays d id n’t u nd ers ta nd . F ro m th e s ta ti o n a gent’ s w ord s, o ne r o ute m ig ht b e m ore d ir e ct b ut
more d angero us. W as h e s a yin g
o ne r o ute w as l o nger? L um bly w ould n o t e la b ora te . H e h ad to ld th em a ll
he k new , h e m ain ta in ed . In th e e nd , th e s la v e’s c ho ic e la y b efo re th em , a s e v er: a nyp la ce b ut w here th ey
had e sc ap ed . A fte r c o nsu lti n g w ith h is p artn er C aesa r s a id , “ W e’ll ta ke th e n ext o ne.”
“It’ s u p to y o u,” L um bly s a id . H e m oti o ned to w ard th e b ench.
They w aite d . A t C aesa r’s r e q uest th e s ta ti o n a gent to ld o f h o w h e c am e
to w ork f o r th e u nd erg ro und
ra ilr o ad . C ora c o uld n’t p ay a tte nti o n. T he tu nnel p ulle d a t h er. H ow m any h and s h ad it r e q uir e d to m ake
th is p la ce? A nd th e tu nnels b eyo nd , w here v er a nd h o w fa r th ey le d ? S he th o ught o f th e p ic kin g, h o w it
ra ced d ow n th e f u rro w s a t h arv est, th e A fr ic an b odie s w ork in g a s o ne, a s f a st a s th eir s tr e ngth p erm itte d .
The v ast f ie ld s b urs t w ith h und re d s o f th o usa nd s o f w hite
b olls , s tr u ng l ik e s ta rs i n th e s k y o n th e c le are st
of c le ar n ig hts . W hen th e s la v es fin is h ed , th ey h ad s tr ip ped th e fie ld s o f th eir c o lo r. It w as a m agnific ent
opera ti o n, f r o m s e ed to b ale , b ut n o t o ne o f th em c o uld b e p rid efu l o f th eir l a b or. I t h ad b een s to le n f r o m
th em . B le d f r o m th em . T he tu nnel, th e tr a cks, th e d esp era te s o uls w ho f o und s a lv ati o n i n th e c o ord in ati o n
of i ts s ta ti o ns a nd ti m eta b le s— th is
w as a m arv el to b e p ro ud o f. S he w ond ere d i f th o se w ho h ad b uilt th is
th in g h ad r e ceiv ed th eir p ro per r e w ard .
“E very s ta te i s d iffe re nt,” L um bly w as s a yin g. “ E ach o ne a s ta te o f p ossib ility , w ith i ts o w n c usto m s
and w ay o f d oin g th in gs. M ovin g th ro ugh th em , y o u’ll s e e th e b re ad th o f th e c o untr y b efo re y o u r e ach y o ur
fin al s to p.” At th at, th e b ench r u m ble d . T hey h ush ed , a nd th e r u m blin g b ecam e
a s o und . L um bly le d th em to th e
ed ge o f th e p la tf o rm . T he th in g a rriv ed i n i ts h ulk in g s tr a ngeness. C aesa r h ad s e en tr a in s i n V ir g in ia ; C ora
had o nly h eard te ll o f th e m achin es. I t w asn ’t w hat s h e e nv is io ned . T he l o co m oti v e w as b la ck, a n u ngain ly
co ntr a p ti o n le d b y th e tr ia ngula r s n o ut o f th e c o w catc her, th o ugh th ere w ould b e fe w a nim als w here th is
engin e w as h ead ed . T he b ulb o f th e s m okesta ck w as
n ext, a s o ot- c o vere d s ta lk . T he m ain b ody c o nsis te d
of a l a rg e b la ck b ox to pped b y th e e ngin eer’s c ab in . B elo w th at, p is to ns a nd l a rg e c ylin d ers e ngaged i n a
re le ntl e ss d ance w ith th e te n w heels , tw o s e ts o f s m all o nes in fr o nt a nd th re e b ehin d . T he lo co m oti v e
pulle d o ne s in gle c ar, a d ila p id ate d b oxcar m is sin g n um ero us p la nks i n i ts w alls .
The c o lo re d e ngin eer w av ed b ack a t th em f r o m h is c ab in ,
g rin nin g to oth le ssly . “ A ll a b oard ,” h e s a id .
To c urta il C aesa r’s a nno yin g in te rro gati o ns, L um bly q uic kly u nho oked th e b oxcar d oor a nd s lid it
wid e. “ S hall w e p ro ceed ?”
Cora a nd C aesa r c lim bed i n to th e c ar a nd L um bly a b ru p tl y s h ut th em i n . H e p eere d b etw een th e g ap s
in th e w ood. “ If y o u w ant to s e e w hat th is n ati o n i s a ll a b out, I a lw ays s a y, y o u h av e to r id e th e r a ils . L ook
outs id e a s y o u s p eed
th ro ugh, a nd y o u’ll f in d th e tr u e f a ce o f A meric a.” H e s la p ped th e w all o f th e b oxcar
as a s ig nal. T he tr a in l u rc hed f o rw ard .
The r u naw ays lo st th eir b ala nce a nd s tu m ble d to th e n est o f h ay b ale s th at w as to s e rv e a s s e ati n g.
The b oxcar c re aked a nd s h ud dere d . It w as n o n ew m odel, a nd o n n um ero us o ccasio ns d urin g th eir tr ip
Cora f e are d i t w as o n th e v erg e o f c o lla p se . T he c ar w as e m pty a p art f r o m
h ay b ale s, d ead m ic e, a nd b ent
nails . S he l a te r d is c o vere d a c harre d p atc h w here s o m eo ne h ad s ta rte d a f ir e . C aesa r w as n um b f r o m th e
se rie s o f c urio us e v ents a nd h e c urle d u p o n th e f lo or. F ollo w in g L um bly ’s f in al i n str u cti o ns, C ora l o oked
th ro ugh th e s la ts . T here w as o nly d ark ness, m ile a fte r m ile .
When th ey next ste p ped in to th e su nlig ht, th ey w ere in S outh C aro lin a. S he lo oked up at th e
sk ysc ra p er
a nd r e ele d , w ond erin g h o w f a r s h e h ad tr a v ele d . Rid gew ay
A RN OLD
Rid gew ay’s f a th er w as a b la cksm ith . T he s u nse t g lo w o f m olte n i r o n b ew itc hed h im , th e w ay th e
c o lo r e m erg ed in th e s to ck s lo w a nd th en fa st, o verta kin g it lik e a n e m oti o n, th e s u d den p lia b ility a nd
r e stl e ss w rith in g o f th e th in g a s i t w aite d f o r p urp ose . H is f o rg e w as a w in d ow i n to th e p rim iti v e e nerg ie s
o f th e w orld .
He h ad a s a lo on p artn er n am ed T om B ir d , a h alf- b re ed w ho to ok a s e nti m enta l
tu rn w hen lu b ric ate d
b y w his k ey. O n n ig hts w hen T om B ir d fe lt s e p ara te fr o m h is life ’s d esig n, h e s h are d s to rie s o f th e G re at
S pir it. T he G re at S pir it liv ed in a ll th in gs— th e e arth , th e s k y, th e a nim als a nd fo re sts — flo w in g th ro ugh
a nd c o nnecti n g th em in a d iv in e th re ad . A lth o ugh R id gew ay’s fa th er s c o rn ed re lig io us ta lk , T om B ir d ’s
t e sti m ony o n th e G re at S pir it r e m in d ed h im o f h o w h e f e lt a b out
i r o n. H e b ent to n o g o d s a v e th e g lo w in g
i r o n h e te nd ed i n h is f o rg e. H e’d r e ad a b out th e g re at v olc ano es, th e l o st c ity o f P om peii d estr o yed b y f ir e
t h at p oure d o ut o f m ounta in s fr o m d eep b elo w . L iq uid fir e w as th e v ery b lo od o f th e e arth . It w as h is
m is sio n to u p se t, m ash , a nd d ra w o ut th e m eta l in to th e u se fu l th in gs th at m ad e s o cie ty o pera te : n ails ,
h o rs e sh o es, p lo w s, k niv es, g uns. C hain s.
W ork in g th e s p ir it, h e c alle d i t.
When p erm itte d , y o ung R id gew ay s to od in th e c o rn er w hile h is fa th er w ork ed P ennsy lv ania ir o n.
M elti n g, h am merin g, d ancin g a ro und h is a nv il. S w eat d rip pin g d ow n h is fa ce, c o vere d in s o ot fo ot to
c ro w n, b la cker th an a n A fr ic an d ev il. “ Y ou g o t to w ork th at s p ir it, b oy.” O ne d ay h e w ould f in d h is s p ir it,
h is f a th er to ld h im .
It w as e nco ura gem ent. R id gew ay h o is te d
it a s a lo neso m e b urd en. T here w as n o m odel fo r th e ty p e
o f m an h e w ante d to b eco m e. H e c o uld n’t tu rn to th e a nv il b ecause th ere w as n o w ay to su rp ass h is
f a th er’s ta le nt. In to w n h e sc ru ti n iz e d th e fa ces o f m en in th e sa m e w ay th at h is fa th er se arc hed fo r
i m puriti e s in m eta l. E very w here m en b usie d th em se lv es in fr iv olo us a nd w orth le ss o ccup ati o ns. T he
f a rm er w aite d o n ra in lik e a n im becile , th e
sh o pkeep er a rra nged ro w a fte r ro w o f n ecessa ry b ut d ull
m erc hand is e . C ra fts m en a nd a rti s a ns c re ate d ite m s th at w ere b rittl e ru m ors c o m pare d w ith h is fa th er’s
i r o n fa cts . E ven th e w ealth ie st m en, in flu encin g th e fa r-o ff L ond on e xchanges a nd lo cal c o m merc e a lik e,
p ro vid ed no in sp ir a ti o n. H e ackno w le d ged th eir p la ce in th e sy ste m , ere cti n g th eir b ig ho use s o n a
f o und ati o n o f n um bers , b ut h e d id n’t r e sp ect
th em . If y o u w ere n’t a littl e d ir ty a t th e e nd o f th e d ay, y o u
w ere n’t m uch o f a m an.
Every m orn in g, th e s o und s o f h is fa th er p ound in g m eta l w ere th e fo ots te p s o f a d esti n y th at n ev er
d re w c lo se r.
Rid gew ay w as fo urte en w hen h e to ok u p w ith th e p atr o lle rs . H e w as a h ulk in g fo urte en, s ix a nd a
h alf f e et ta ll, b urly a nd r e so lu te . H is b ody g av e n o i n d ic ati o n o f th e c o nfu sio n w ith in . H e b eat h is
fe llo w s
w hen h e s p ie d h is w eaknesse s in th em . R id gew ay w as y o ung fo r p atr o l b ut th e b usin ess w as c hangin g.
K in g C otto n c ro w ded th e c o untr y sid e w ith s la v es. T he r e v olts i n th e W est I n d ie s a nd d is q uie ti n g i n cid ents
c lo se r to h o m e w orrie d th e l o cal p la nte rs . W hat c le ar-th in kin g w hite m an w ould n’t b e w orrie d , s la v er o r
o th erw is e . T he p atr o ls i n cre ase d i n s iz e , a s d id th eir m and ate . A b oy m ig ht f in d a
p la ce.
The head patr o lle r in th e co unty w as th e fie rc est sp ecim en R id gew ay had ev er la id eyes on.
C hand le r w as a b ra w le r a nd b ully , th e lo cal te rro r d ecent p eo ple c ro sse d th e s tr e et to a v oid e v en w hen
t h e r a in m ad e it a s te w o f m ud . H e s p ent m ore d ays in ja il th an th e r u naw ays h e b ro ught in , s n o rin g in a
c ell n ext to th e m is c re ant h e h ad sto pped h o urs e arlie r. A n im perfe ct m odel, b ut c lo se to
th e sh ap e
R id gew ay so ught. In sid e th e ru le s, enfo rc in g th em , b ut als o o uts id e. It help ed th at his fa th er hate d Chand le r, s ti ll s m arti n g f r o m a r o w y ears b efo re . R id gew ay l o ved h is f a th er, b ut th e m an’s c o nsta nt ta lk o f
sp ir its r e m in d ed h im o f h is o w n l a ck o f p urp ose .
Patr o l w as n o t d iffic ult w ork . T hey s to pped a ny n ig gers th ey s a w a nd d em and ed th eir p asse s. T hey
sto pped n ig gers th ey k new to b e
fr e e, fo r th eir a m use m ent b ut a ls o to r e m in d th e A fr ic ans o f th e fo rc es
arra yed a gain st th em , w heth er th ey w ere o w ned b y a w hite m an o r n o t. M ad e th e ro und s o f th e s la v e
villa ges i n s e arc h o f a nyth in g a m is s, a s m ile o r a b ook. T hey f lo gged th e w ayw ard n ig gers b efo re b rin gin g
th em to th e ja il, o r d ir e ctl y to th eir o w ner if th ey w ere in th e m ood a nd it w as n o t to o c lo se to q uitti n g
ti m e.
New s o f
a ru naw ay s e nt th em in to c heerfu l a cti v ity . T hey ra id ed th e p la nta ti o ns a fte r th eir q uarry ,
in te rro gati n g a h o st o f q uiv erin g d ark ie s. F re em en k new w hat w as c o m in g a nd h id th eir v alu ab le s a nd
moaned w hen th e w hite m en s m ash ed th eir f u rn itu re a nd g la ss. P ra yin g th at th ey c o nfin ed th eir d am age to
obje cts . T here w ere p erq uis ite s, a p art fr o m th e th rill o f s h am in g a m an in fr o nt o f h is fa m ily o r r o ughin g
up a n u nse aso ned b uck w ho sq uin te d a t y o u th e w ro ng w ay. T he o ld M utte r fa rm h ad th e c o m elie st
co lo re d w enches— Mr. M utte r h ad a ta ste — and th e e xcite m ent o f th e h unt p ut a y o ung p atr o lle r i n a l u sty
mood. A cco rd in g to s o m e, th e b ackw oods s ti lls o f th e o ld m en o n th e S to ne p la nta ti o n p ro duced th e b est
co rn w his k ey i n th e c o unty . A r o ust a llo w ed C hand le r to r e p le nis h h is j a rs .
Rid gew ay co m mand ed
his ap peti te s in th o se days, w ith d ra w in g befo re his co nfe d era te s’ m ore
egre gio us d is p la ys. T he o th er p atr o lle rs w ere b oys a nd m en o f b ad c hara cte r; th e w ork a ttr a cte d a ty p e. I n
ano th er c o untr y th ey w ould h av e b een c rim in als , b ut th is w as A meric a. H e lik ed th e n ig ht w ork b est,
when th ey la y in w ait fo r a b uck w ho s n eaked th ro ugh th e w oods to v is it h is w ife o n a p la nta ti o n u p th e
ro ad , o r a s q uir re l
h unte r l o okin g to s u p ple m ent h is d aily m eal o f s lo p. O th er p atr o lle rs c arrie d g uns a nd
eagerly c ut d ow n a ny r a sc al d um b e no ugh to fle e, b ut R id gew ay c o pie d C hand le r. N atu re h ad e q uip ped
him w ith w eap ons e no ugh. R id gew ay ra n th em d ow n a s if th ey w ere ra b bits a nd th en h is fis ts s u b dued
th em . B eat th em fo r b ein g o ut, b eat th em fo r r u nnin g, e v en th o ugh th e c hase w as th e o nly r e m ed y fo r h is
re stl e ssn ess.
C harg in g th ro ugh th e d ark , b ra nches la sh in g h is fa ce, s tu m ps s e nd in g h im a ss o ver e lb ow
befo re h e g o t u p a gain . I n th e c hase h is b lo od s a ng a nd g lo w ed .
When h is f a th er f in is h ed h is w ork d ay, th e f r u it o f h is l a b or l a y b efo re h im : a m usk et, a r a ke, a w ago n
sp rin g. R id gew ay f a ced th e m an o r w om an h e h ad c ap tu re d . O ne m ad e to ols , th e o th er r e tr ie v ed th em . H is
fa th er te ase d h im a b out th e s p ir it. W hat
k in d o f a c allin g w as r u nnin g d ow n n ig gers w ho b are ly h av e th e
wits o f a d og?
Rid gew ay w as e ig hte en n o w , a m an. “ W e’re b oth o f u s w ork in g f o r M r. E li W hitn ey,” h e s a id . I t w as
tr u e; h is fa th er h ad ju st h ir e d tw o a p pre nti c es a nd c o ntr a cte d w ork o ut to s m alle r s m ith s. T he c o tto n g in
meant b ig ger c o tto n y ie ld s a nd th e ir o n to ols to h arv est it, ir o n h o rs e sh o es fo r th e h o rs e s tu ggin g th e
wago ns w ith
ir o n r im s a nd p arts th at to ok it to m ark et. M ore s la v es a nd th e ir o n to h o ld th em . T he c ro p
bir th ed c o m muniti e s, r e q uir in g n ails a nd b ra ces f o r h o use s, th e to ols to b uild th e h o use s, r o ad s to c o nnect
th em , a nd m ore i r o n to k eep i t a ll r u nnin g. L et h is f a th er k eep h is d is d ain a nd h is s p ir it, to o. T he tw o m en
were p arts o f th e s a m e s y ste m , s e rv in g a n ati o n r is in g to i ts d esti n y.
An a b sc o nd ed s la v e
m ig ht f e tc h a s l ittl e a s tw o d olla rs i f th e o w ner w as a s k in flin t o r th e n ig ger w as
buste d , a nd a s m uch a s a h und re d d olla rs , d oub le th at i f c ap tu re d o ut o f s ta te . R id gew ay b ecam e a p ro per
sla v e c atc her a fte r h is f ir s t tr ip to N ew J e rs e y, w hen h e w ent u p to r e tr ie v e th e p ro perty o f a l o cal p la nte r.
Bets y m ad e i t a ll th e w ay f r o m th e V ir g in ia to bacco f ie ld s to T re nto n. S he h id w ith c o usin s u nti l
a fr ie nd
of h er o w ner r e co gniz e d h er a t th e m ark et. H er m aste r o ffe re d th e lo cal b oys tw enty d olla rs fo r d eliv ery
plu s a ll r e aso nab le e xp ense s.
He’d n ev er tr a v ele d s o f a r b efo re . T he f a rth er n o rth h e g o t, th e m ore f a m is h ed h is n o ti o ns. H ow b ig th e c o untr y w as! E ach to w n m ore lu nati c a nd c o m plic ate d th an th e la st. T he h urly -b urly o f W ash in gto n,
D.C ., m ad e h im d iz zy. H e v om ite d w hen h e tu rn ed a
c o rn er a nd s a w th e c o nstr u cti o n s ite o f th e C ap ito l,
em pty in g h is g uts f r o m e ith er a b ad o yste r o r th e h ugeness o f th e th in g s ti r rin g r e b ellio n i n h is v ery b ein g.
He s o ught o ut th e c heap est ta v ern s a nd tu rn ed th e s to rie s o f th e m en o ver in h is m in d a s h e s c ra tc hed a t
lic e. E ven th e s h o rte st f e rry r id e d eliv ere d h im to a n ew i s la nd n ati o n, g aris h a nd i m posin g.
At th e T re nto n ja il th e d ep uty tr e ate d
h im lik e a m an o f sta nd in g. T his w as n o t sc o urg in g so m e
co lo re d b oy in th e tw ilig ht o r b re akin g u p a s la v e fe sti v al fo r a m use m ent. T his w as m an’s w ork . In a
gro ve o uts id e R ic hm ond , B ets y m ad e a le w d p ro positi o n in e xchange fo r fr e ed om , p ullin g u p h er d re ss
with s le nd er f in gers . S he w as s li m i n th e h ip s, w ith a w id e m outh a nd g ra y e yes. H e m ad e n o p ro m is e s. I t
was th e f ir s t ti m e h e l a y w ith a
w om an. S he s p at a t h im w hen h e f a ste ned h er c hain s, a nd o nce a gain w hen
th ey r e ached h er o w ner’s m ansio n. T he m aste r a nd h is s o ns la ughed a s h e w ip ed h is fa ce, b ut th e tw enty
dolla rs w ent to n ew b oots a nd a b ro cad e c o at lik e h e’d s e en s o m e w orth ie s w ear in D .C . H e w ore th e
boots f o r m any y ears . H is b elly o utg re w th e c o at s o oner th an th at.
New Y ork w as th e s ta rt o f a w ild ti m e. R id gew ay w ork ed
r e tr ie v al, h ead in g n o rth w hen c o nsta b le s
se nt w ord th ey’d c ap tu re d a ru naw ay fr o m V ir g in ia o r N orth C aro lin a. N ew Y ork b ecam e a fr e q uent
desti n ati o n, a nd a fte r e xp lo rin g n ew a sp ects o f h is c hara cte r, R id gew ay p ic ked u p s ta kes. T he fu giti v e
tr a d e b ack h o m e w as s tr a ig htf o rw ard . K no ckin g h ead s. U p n o rth , th e g arg antu an m etr o polis , th e lib erty
movem ent, a nd th e i n genuity o f th e c o lo re d c o m munity a ll
c o nv erg ed to p ortr a y th e tr u e s c ale o f th e h unt.
He w as a q uic k stu d y. It w as m ore lik e re m em berin g th an le arn in g. S ym path iz e rs a nd m erc enary
cap ta in s s m uggle d f u giti v es i n to th e c ity p orts . I n tu rn , s te v ed ore s a nd d ockhand s a nd c le rk s f u rn is h ed h im
with in fo rm ati o n a nd h e s c o oped u p th e ra sc als o n th e th re sh o ld o f d eliv era nce. F re em en in fo rm ed o n
th eir A fr ic an b ro th ers a nd s is te rs , c o m parin g
th e d esc rip ti o ns o f r u naw ays i n th e g aze tte s w ith th e f u rti v e
cre atu re s s lin kin g a ro und th e c o lo re d c hurc hes, s a lo ons, a nd m eeti n g h o use s.
Barry is a s to ut w ell m ade
fe llo w fiv e fe et six o r se ven , h ig h sm all e yes a nd a n im puden t lo ok. H asty is fa r a dva nced in h er
pre g nancy a nd i s p re su m ed t o h ave b een c o nveyed a w ay b y s o m e p erso n, a s s h e c o uld n ot u nderg o t h e
fa tig ue o f t r a velin g.
B arry c ru m ple d
w ith a w him per. H asty a nd h er p up h o w le d a ll th e w ay to C harlo tte .
Soon h e o w ned th re e f in e c o ats . R id gew ay f e ll i n w ith a c ir c le o f s la v e c atc hers , g o rilla s s tu ffe d i n to
bla ck s u its w ith r id ic ulo us d erb ie s. H e h ad to p ro ve h e w as n o t a b um pkin , b ut ju st o nce. T ogeth er th ey
sh ad ow ed r u naw ays fo r d ays, h id in g o uts id e p la ces o f w ork u nti l o pportu nity a nno unced its e lf, b re akin g
in to th eir n egro
h o vels a t n ig ht to k id nap th em . A fte r y ears a w ay fr o m th e p la nta ti o n, a fte r ta kin g a w ife
and s ta rti n g a fa m ily , th ey h ad c o nv in ced th em se lv es th ey w ere fr e e. A s if o w ners fo rg o t a b out p ro perty .
Their d elu sio ns m ad e th em e asy p re y. H e s n ub bed th e b la ckb ir d ers , th e F iv e P oin ts g angs w ho h o g-ti e d
fr e em en a nd d ra gged th em s o uth fo r a ucti o n. T hat w as lo w b ehav io r, p atr o lle r b ehav io r. H e w as a s la v e
catc her
n o w .
New Y ork C ity w as a fa cto ry o f a nti s la v ery s e nti m ent. T he c o urts h ad to s ig n o ff b efo re R id gew ay
was p erm itte d to ta ke h is c harg es s o uth . A boliti o nis t la w yers e re cte d b arric ad es o f p ap erw ork , e v ery
week a new str a ta gem . N ew Y ork w as a F re e S ta te , th ey arg ued , and any co lo re d p ers o n b ecam e
magic ally fr e e o nce th ey s te p ped o ver th e b ord er. T hey e xp lo ite d u nd ers ta nd ab le d is c re p ancie s b etw een
th e b ulle ti n s a nd th e in d iv id ual in th e c o urtr o om — was th ere p ro of th at th is B enja m in Jo nes w as th e
Benja m in J o nes i n q uesti o n? M ost p la nte rs c o uld n’t te ll o ne s la v e f r o m a no th er, e v en a fte r ta kin g th em to
bed . N o w ond er th ey lo st tr a ck o f th eir p ro perty . It b ecam e a g am e, p ry in g n ig gers fr o m ja il b efo re th e
la w yers u nv eile d th eir l a te st g am bit. H ig h-m in d ed i d io cy p itte d a gain st th e p ow er o f c o in .
F or a g ra tu ity ,
th e c ity r e co rd er ti p ped h im to f r e sh ly j a ile d f u giti v es a nd h urrie d ly s ig ned th em o ver f o r r e le ase . T hey’d
be h alfw ay th ro ugh N ew J e rs e y b efo re th e a b oliti o nis ts h ad e v en g o tte n o ut o f b ed . Rid gew ay b yp asse d th e c o urth o use w hen n eed ed , b ut n o t o fte n. I t w as a b oth er to b e s to pped o n th e
ro ad i n a F re e S ta te w hen th e l o st p ro perty tu rn ed o ut to h av e a s ilv er to ngue. G et th em o ff
th e p la nta ti o n
and th ey l e arn ed to r e ad , i t w as a d is e ase .
While R id gew ay w aite d a t th e d ocks fo r sm uggle rs , th e m agnific ent sh ip s fr o m E uro pe d ro pped
ancho r and dis c harg ed th eir passe ngers . E very th in g th ey ow ned in sa cks, half sta rv in g. H ap le ss as
nig gers , b y a ny m easu re . B ut th ey’d b e c alle d to th eir p ro per p la ces, a s h e h ad b een. H is w ho le w orld
gro w in g u p in th e s o uth w as a r ip ple o f th is
fir s t a rriv al. T his d ir ty w hite flo od w ith n o w here to g o b ut
out. S outh . W est. T he s a m e la w s g o vern ed g arb age a nd p eo ple . T he g utte rs o f th e c ity o verflo w ed w ith
offa l a nd r e fu se — but th e m ess f o und i ts p la ce i n ti m e.
Rid gew ay w atc hed th em sta gger d ow n th e g angp la nks, rh eum y a nd b ew ild ere d , o verc o m e b y th e
city . T he p ossib iliti e s la y b efo re th ese p ilg rim s lik e a b anq uet, a nd th ey’d b een s o h ungry
th eir w ho le
liv es. T hey’d n ev er s e en th e l ik e s o f th is , b ut th ey’d l e av e th eir m ark o n th is n ew l a nd , a s s u re ly a s th o se
fa m ous s o uls a t J a m esto w n, m akin g i t th eir s th ro ugh u nsto ppab le r a cia l l o gic . I f n ig gers w ere s u p pose d to
hav e th eir f r e ed om , th ey w ould n’t b e i n c hain s. I f th e r e d m an w as s u p pose d to k eep h o ld o f h is l a nd , i t’ d
sti ll b e h is . I f th e w hite m an w asn ’t d esti n ed to ta ke th is n ew
w orld , h e w ould n’t o w n i t n o w .
Here w as th e tr u e G re at S pir it, th e d iv in e th re ad c o nnecti n g a ll h um an e nd eav or— if y o u c an k eep i t,
it i s y o urs . Y our p ro perty , s la v e o r c o nti n ent. T he A meric an i m pera ti v e.
Rid gew ay g ath ere d re no w n w ith h is fa cility fo r e nsu rin g th at p ro perty re m ain ed p ro perty . W hen a
ru naw ay to ok o ff d ow n a n a lle y, h e k new w here th e m an w as h ead ed . T he d ir e cti o n a nd a im . H is tr ic k:
Don’t s p ecula te w here th e s la v e is h ead ed n ext. C oncentr a te in ste ad o n th e id ea th at h e is r u nnin g a w ay
fr o m y o u. N ot fr o m a c ru el m aste r, o r th e v ast a gency o f b ond age, b ut y o u s p ecific ally . It w ork ed a gain
and a gain , h is o w n i r o n f a ct, i n a lle ys a nd p in e b arre ns a nd s w am ps. H e f in ally l e ft h is f a th er b ehin d , a nd
th e b urd en o f th at m an’s p hilo so phy. R id gew ay w as no t w ork in g th e sp ir it. H e w as
no t th e sm ith ,
re nd erin g o rd er. N ot th e h am mer. N ot th e a nv il. H e w as th e h eat.
His f a th er d ie d a nd th e s m ith d ow n th e r o ad a ssu m ed h is o pera ti o n. I t w as ti m e to r e tu rn s o uth — back
ho m e to V ir g in ia a nd fa rth er, w here v er th e w ork le d — and h e c am e w ith a g ang. T oo m any fu giti v es to
hand le b y h im se lf. E li W hitn ey h ad ru n h is fa th er in to th e g ro und , th e o ld m an c o ughin g so ot o n h is
death b ed , a nd k ep t
R id gew ay o n th e h unt. T he p la nta ti o ns w ere tw ic e a s b ig , tw ic e a s n um ero us, th e
fu giti v es m ore p le nti fu l a nd n im ble , th e b ounti e s h ig her. T here w as l e ss m ed dlin g f r o m th e l a w makers a nd
ab oliti o nis ts d ow n s o uth , th e p la nte rs s a w to th at. T he u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad m ain ta in ed n o l in es to s p eak
of. T he d eco ys i n n egro d re ss, th e s e cre t c o des i n th e b ack p ages o f n ew sp ap ers . T hey o penly b ra gged o f
th eir
s u b vers io n, h ustl in g a s la v e o ut th e b ack d oor a s th e s la v e c atc hers b ro ke d ow n th e fr o nt. It w as a
crim in al c o nsp ir a cy d ev ote d to th eft o f p ro perty , a nd R id gew ay s u ffe re d th eir b ra ze nness a s a p ers o nal
slu r.
One D ela w are m erc hant p arti c ula rly g alle d h im : A ugust C arte r. R obust i n th e A nglo -S axo n tr a d iti o n,
with c o ol b lu e e yes th at m ad e th e le sse r s o rt p ay a tte nti o n to h is m ealy a rg um ents . T hat
w ors t s o rt, a n
ab oliti o nis t w ith a p rin ti n g p re ss. “ A M ass M eeti n g o f th e F rie nd s o f F re ed om W ill B e H eld a t M ille r’s
Hall a t 2 p .m . to T esti fy A gain st th e In iq uito us S la v e P ow er T hat C ontr o ls th e N ati o n.” E very o ne k new
th e C arte r h o m e w as a s ta ti o n— only a h und re d y ard s s e p ara te d i t f r o m th e r iv er— ev en w hen r a id s c am e
up e m pty . R unaw ays tu rn ed a cti v is ts sa lu te d h is g enero sity in th eir B osto n sp eeches.
T he a b oliti o nis t
win g o f th e M eth o dis ts c ir c ula te d h is p am phle ts o n S und ay m orn in g a nd L ond on p erio dic als p ub lis h ed h is
arg um ents w ith o ut re b utta l. A p rin ti n g p re ss, a nd fr ie nd s a m ong th e ju d ges, w ho fo rc ed R id gew ay to
re lin q uis h h is c harg es o n n o l e ss th an th re e o ccasio ns. P assin g R id gew ay o uts id e th e j a il, h e’d ti p h is h at.
The s la v e c atc her h ad littl e c ho ic e b ut to c all u p on th e m an a fte r
m id nig ht. H e d ain ti ly s e w ed th eir ho ods fr o m w hite s a cks o f flo ur b ut c o uld b are ly m ove h is fin gers a fte r th eir v is it— his fis ts s w elle d fo r
tw o d ays fr o m b eati n g th e m an’s fa ce in . H e p erm itte d h is m en to d is h o no r th e m an’s w ife in w ays h e
nev er le t th em u se a n ig ger g al. F or y ears a fte r w henev er R id gew ay s a w a b onfir e , th e s m ell r e m in d ed
him o f th e s w eet s m oke o f C arte r’s h o use g o in g u p a nd a f ig m ent
o f a s m ile s e ttl e d o n h is m outh . H e l a te r
heard th e m an m oved to W orc este r a nd b ecam e a c o bble r.
The s la v e m oth ers s a id , M in d y o urs e lf o r M is te r R id gew ay w ill c o m e f o r y o u.
The s la v e m aste rs s a id , S end f o r R id gew ay.
When f ir s t s u m moned to th e R and all p la nta ti o n, h e w as d ue f o r a c halle nge. S la v es e lu d ed h im f r o m
ti m e to ti m e. H e w as e xtr a o rd in ary , n o t s u p ern atu ra l. H e f a ile d , a nd M ab el’s d is a p peara nce
n agged a t h im
lo nger th an i t s h o uld h av e, b uzzin g i n th e s tr o ngho ld o f h is m in d .
On r e tu rn in g, n o w c harg ed to f in d th at w om an’s d aughte r, h e k new w hy th e p re v io us a ssig nm ent h ad
vexed h im s o . I m possib le a s i t s e em ed , th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad h ad a s p ur i n G eo rg ia . H e w ould f in d i t.
He w ould d estr o y i t. Sou th C aro lin a 30 D O LLA RS R EW ARD
will b e g iv en t o a n y p ers o n w ho w ill d eliv er t o m e, o r c o nfin e in a n y g ao l in t h e s ta te s o t h at I g et h er a g ain , a lik ely y e llo w
NEG RO G IR L
1 8 y e ars o f a g e w ho r a n a w ay n in e m onth s p ast. S he is a n a rtfu lly liv ely g ir l, a n d w ill, n o d oubt, a tte m pt to
pass a s a fr e e p ers o n, h as a n otic e ab le s car o n h er e lb ow , o ccasio ned b y a b urn . I h av e b een in fo rm ed s h e is lu rk in g in a n d
ab out
E dento n.
BEN J
.
P .
WELLS
M URFREESB O RO ,
J AN . 5 , 1 812
T H E
And ers o ns l iv ed i n a l o vely c la p board h o use a t th e c o rn er o f W ash in gto n a nd M ain , a f e w b lo cks p ast
t h e h ub bub o f s to re s a nd b usin esse s, w here th e to w n s e ttl e d in to p riv ate re sid ences fo r th e w ell- to -d o.
B eyo nd th e w id e f r o nt p orc h, w here M r. a nd M rs . A nd ers o n l ik ed to s it i n th e e v enin gs, th e m an s c o opin g
i n to h is s ilk to bacco p ouch a nd th e w om an s q uin ti n g a t h er n eed le w ork , w ere th e p arlo r,
d in in g r o om , a nd
k itc hen. B essie s p ent m ost o f h er ti m e o n th at fir s t flo or, c hasin g a fte r th e c hild re n, p re p arin g m eals , a nd
t i d yin g u p . A t th e to p o f th e s ta ir c ase w ere th e b ed ro om s— Mais ie a nd l ittl e R aym ond s h are d th eir s — and
t h e s e co nd w ash ro om . R aym ond to ok a lo ng n ap in th e a fte rn o on a nd B essie lik ed to s it in th e w in d ow
s e at a s h e s e ttl e d i n to h is d re am s. S he c o uld j u st m ake o ut th e to p
tw o f lo ors o f th e G riffin B uild in g, w ith
i ts w hite c o rn ic es th at b la ze d i n th e s u nlig ht.
This d ay s h e p acked a lu nch o f b re ad a nd ja m fo r M ais ie , to ok th e b oy fo r a w alk , a nd c le aned th e
s ilv er a nd g la ssw are . A fte r B essie c hanged th e b ed din g, s h e a nd R aym ond p ic ked u p M ais ie f r o m s c ho ol
a nd th ey w ent to th e p ark . A fid dle r p la yed th e la te st m elo die s b y th e fo unta in a s th e c hild re n a nd th eir
f r ie nd s
d iv erte d th em se lv es w ith h id e-a nd -s e ek a nd h unt th e r in g. S he h ad to s te er R aym ond a w ay f r o m a
b ully , c are fu l n o t to u p se t th e r a sc al’s m oth er, w ho m s h e c o uld n o t p ic k o ut. It w as F rid ay, w hic h m eant
t h at s h e e nd ed th e d ay w ith th e s h o ppin g. T he c lo ud s h ad m oved i n , a nyw ay. B essie p ut th e s a lt b eef a nd
m ilk a nd th e r e st o f th e s u p per m akin gs o n th e f a m ily ’s a cco unt. S he s ig ned w ith a n X .
Mrs .
A nd ers o n c am e h o m e a t s ix o ’c lo ck. T he f a m ily d octo r h ad a d vis e d h er to s p end m ore ti m e o ut
o f th e h o use . H er w ork ra is in g fu nd s fo r th e n ew h o sp ita l a ssis te d in th is re gard , in a d diti o n to h er
a fte rn o on lu nches w ith th e o th er la d ie s o f th e n eig hb orh o od. S he w as in g o od s p ir its , ro und in g u p h er
c hild re n fo r kis se s and hugs and p ro m is in g a tr e at afte r d in ner. M ais ie ho pped and sq ueale d . M rs .
A nd ers o n
th anked B essie f o r h er h elp a nd b id h er g o od n ig ht.
The w alk to th e d orm ito rie s o n th e o th er s id e o f to w n w as n o t f a r. T here w ere s h o rtc uts , b ut B essie
l ik ed to ta ke in th e liv ely a cti v ity o f M ain S tr e et in th e e v enin g, m in glin g w ith th e to w nsfo lk , w hite a nd
c o lo re d . S he s tr o lle d d ow n th e lin e o f e sta b lis h m ents , n ev er fa ilin g to lin ger b y th e b ig g la ss w in d ow s.
T he d re ssm aker w ith h er f r illy ,
c o lo rfu l c re ati o ns d ra p ed o n h o oped w ir e , th e o vers tu ffe d e m poriu m s a nd
t h eir w ond erla nd o f g o ods, th e riv al g enera l s to re s o n e ith er s id e o f M ain S tr e et. S he m ad e a g am e o f
p ic kin g o ut th e l a te st a d diti o ns to th e d is p la ys. T he p le nty s ti ll a sto und ed h er. M ost i m pre ssiv e o f a ll w as
t h e G riffin B uild in g.
At tw elv e s to rie s, it w as o ne o f th e ta lle st b uild in gs in th e n ati o n, c erta in ly it to w ere d
o ver a ny
s tr u ctu re in th e s o uth . T he p rid e o f th e to w n. T he b ank d om in ate d th e fir s t flo or, w ith its v aulte d c eilin g
a nd T ennesse e m arb le . B essie h ad n o b usin ess th ere b ut w as n o t a str a nger to th e flo ors a b ove. T he
p re v io us w eek s h e to ok th e c hild re n to s e e th eir f a th er o n h is b ir th d ay a nd g o t to h ear th e c lo ppin g o f h er
f o ots te p s in th e b eauti fu l lo bby. T he e le v ato r, th e o nly o ne fo r h und re d s o f
m ile s, c o nv eyed th em to th e
e ig hth flo or. M ais ie a nd R aym ond w ere n o t im pre sse d w ith th e m achin e, h av in g v is ite d m any ti m es, b ut
B essie n ev er f a ile d to b e b oth d elig hte d a nd f r ig hte ned b y i ts m agic , b ra cin g h ers e lf w ith th e b ra ss r a il i n
c ase o f d is a ste r.
They p asse d th e flo ors o f in su ra nce a gents , g o vern m ent o ffic es, a nd e xp ort fir m s. V acancie s w ere
r a re ; a G riffin a d dre ss w as a g re at b oon to
a b usin ess’s r e p uta ti o n. M r. A nd ers o n’s f lo or w as a w arre n o f
l a w yer’s o ffic es, w ith r ic h c arp ets , w alls o f d ark b ro w n w ood, a nd d oors in la id w ith fr o ste d g la ss. M r.
A nd ers o n h im se lf w ork ed o n c o ntr a cts , p rim arily in th e c o tto n tr a d e. H e w as q uite s u rp ris e d to s e e h is
f a m ily . H e r e ceiv ed th e s m all c ake f r o m th e c hild re n w ith g o od c heer, b ut m ad e i t c le ar h e w as a nxio us to get b ack to h is p ap ers .
F or a m om ent B essie w ond ere d i f s h e w as i n f o r a s c o ld in g, b ut n o ne c am e. M rs .
And ers o n h ad in sis te d o n th e tr ip . M r. A nd ers o n’s s e cre ta ry h eld o pen th e d oor a nd B essie h ustl e d th e
child re n o ut to th e c o nfe cti o ner.
This e v enin g B essie p asse d th e s h in y b ra ss d oors o f th e b ank a nd c o nti n ued h o m e. E very d ay th e
re m ark ab le e d ific e s e rv ed a s a m onum ent to h er p ro fo und c hange i n c ir c um sta nces. S he
w alk ed d ow n th e
sid ew alk a s a fr e e w om an. N o o ne c hase d h er o r a b use d h er. S om e o f M rs . A nd ers o n’s c ir c le , w ho
re co gniz e d B essie a s h er g ir l, s o m eti m es e v en s m ile d .
Bessie c ro sse d th e s tr e et to a v oid th e j u m ble o f s a lo ons a nd th eir d is re p uta b le c lie nte le . S he s to pped
hers e lf b efo re s h e s e arc hed f o r S am ’s f a ce a m ong th e d ru nkard s. A ro und th e c o rn er c am e th e m ore m odest
ho m es o f th e le ss p ro sp ero us
w hite re sid ents . S he p ic ked u p h er p ace. T here w as a g ra y h o use o n th e
co rn er w ho se o w ners w ere i n d iffe re nt to th eir d og’s f e ra l d is p la ys, a nd a l in e o f c o tta ges w here th e w iv es
sta re d o ut o f th e w in d ow s w ith f lin ty e xp re ssio ns. M any o f th e w hite m en i n th is p art o f to w n w ork ed a s
fo re m en o r la b ore rs in th e la rg er fa cto rie s. T hey te nd ed n o t to e m plo y c o lo re d h elp s o B essie h ad littl e
in fo rm ati o n
a b out th eir d ay to d ay.
Pre se ntl y s h e a rriv ed a t th e d orm ito rie s. T he tw o-s to ry r e d b ric k b uild in gs h ad b een c o m ple te d o nly
a sh o rt ti m e b efo re B essie ’s a rriv al. In ti m e th e sa p lin gs a nd h ed ges o n th e p erim ete r w ould p ro vid e
sh ad e a nd c hara cte r; n o w th ey s p oke o f f in e i n te nti o ns. T he b ric k w as a p ure , u nsu llie d c o lo r, w ith o ut s o
much a s a d ot o f m ud s p la sh ed f r o m th e r a in . N ot e v en a c ate rp illa r
c ra w lin g i n a n o ok. I n sid e, th e w hite
pain t s ti ll s m elle d f r e sh i n th e c o m mon s p aces, d in in g r o om s, a nd b unk r o om s. B essie w asn ’t th e o nly g ir l
afr a id to to uch a nyth in g a p art f r o m th e d oork no bs. T o e v en l e av e a s p eck o r s c ra tc h m ark .
Bessie g re ete d th e o th er r e sid ents a s th ey c ro sse d e ach o th er o n th e s id ew alk . M ost w ere r e tu rn in g
fr o m w ork . O th ers d ep arte d to w atc h o ver c hild re n s o th eir p are nts
c o uld p arta ke o f th e p le asa nt e v enin g.
Only h alf o f th e c o lo re d r e sid ents w ork ed o n S atu rd ays, s o F rid ay n ig ht w as b usy.
She r e ached n um ber 1 8. S he s a id h ello to th e g ir ls b ra id in g th eir h air i n th e c o m mon r o om a nd d arte d
up sta ir s to c hange b efo re d in ner. W hen B essie a rriv ed in to w n, m ost o f th e e ig hty b ed s in th e b unk r o om
had b een c la im ed . A d ay e arlie r a nd s h e m ig ht h av e b een s le ep in g i n a
b ed b eneath o ne o f th e w in d ow s. I t
would b e s o m e ti m e b efo re s o m eo ne m oved a w ay a nd s h e c o uld s w itc h to a b ette r p ositi o n. B essie l ik ed
th e b re eze a ffo rd ed b y th e w in d ow s. I f s h e tu rn ed h er b ody th e o th er w ay s h e m ig ht s e e s ta rs s o m e n ig hts .
Bessie o pened th e tr u nk a t th e fo ot o f h er b ed a nd re m oved th e b lu e d re ss s h e b ought h er s e co nd
week in S outh C aro lin a. S he sm ooth ed it o ver h er le gs. T he
so ft c o tto n o n h er sk in sti ll th rille d h er.
Bessie b unched h er w ork c lo th es a nd p ut th em in th e s a ck u nd er th e b ed . L ate ly s h e d id h er w ash in g o n
Satu rd ay a fte rn o ons f o llo w in g h er s c ho ol l e sso ns. T he c ho re w as h er w ay o f m akin g u p f o r s le ep in g i n , a n
in d ulg ence s h e a llo w ed h ers e lf th o se m orn in gs.
Sup per w as r o ast c hic ken w ith c arro ts a nd p ota to es. M arg are t th e c o ok l iv ed o ver i n n um ber 8 . T he
pro cto rs f e lt i t p ru d ent th at th e p eo ple w ho c le aned a nd c o oked i n th e d orm s d id s o i n b uild in gs o th er th an
th eir o w n. I t w as a s m all b ut w orth y i d ea. M arg are t h ad a h eav y h and w ith th e s a lt, a lth o ugh h er m eat a nd
poultr y w ere a lw ays e xq uis ite ly te nd er. B essie m opped u p th e f a t w ith a c ru st o f b re ad a s s h e l is te ned to
th e ta lk o f e v enin g p la ns. M ost o f th e g ir ls s ta yed in th e n ig ht b efo re th e s o cia l,
b ut s o m e o f th e y o unger
ones w ere g o in g o ut to th e c o lo re d s a lo on th at h ad r e centl y o pened . A lth o ugh it w asn ’t s u p pose d to , th e
sa lo on a ccep te d s c rip . A no th er r e aso n to a v oid th e p la ce, B essie th o ught. S he b ro ught h er d is h es to th e
kitc hen a nd h ead ed b ack u p sta ir s .
“B essie ?”
“G ood e v enin g, M is s L ucy,” B essie s a id . It w as r a re M is s L ucy s ta yed th is l a te o n a F rid ay. M ost p ro cto rs d is a p peare d
a t s ix o ’c lo ck. T o h ear
th e g ir ls f r o m th e o th er d orm ito rie s te ll i t, M is s L ucy’s d ilig ence p ut h er c o lle agues to s h am e. T o b e s u re ,
Bessie h ad b enefite d f r o m h er a d vic e m any ti m es. S he a d m ir e d th e w ay h er c lo th es w ere a lw ays s o c ris p
and fit ju st s o . M is s L ucy w ore h er h air in a b un a nd th e th in m eta l o f h er e yegla sse s le nt h er a s e v ere
asp ect, b ut h er q uic k s m ile to ld th e s to ry o f th e w om an b eneath .
“H ow a re th in gs? ” M is s L ucy a sk ed .
“T hin k I ’ m g o nna s p end a q uie t n ig ht i n th e q uarte r, M is s L ucy,” B essie s a id .
“ Dorm ito ry
, B essie . N ot
quarte r
.”
“Y es, M is s L ucy.”
“ Goin g t o
, n o t
gonna
.”
“I a m w ork in g o n i t.”
“A nd m akin g s p le nd id p ro gre ss!” M is s L ucy p atte d B essie ’s a rm . “ I w ant to ta lk to y o u M ond ay
morn in g b efo re y o u h ead o ut f o r w ork .”
“A nyth in g w ro ng, M is s L ucy?”
“N oth in g a t a ll,
B essie . W e’ll ta lk th en.” S he g av e a l ittl e b ow a nd w alk ed to th e o ffic e.
Bow in g to a c o lo re d g ir l.
—
BESSIE
Carp ente r w as th e n am e o n th e p ap ers S am g av e h er a t th e s ta ti o n. M onth s la te r, C ora s ti ll
did n’t k no w h o w s h e h ad s u rv iv ed th e tr ip fr o m G eo rg ia . T he d ark ness o f th e tu nnel q uic kly tu rn ed th e
boxcar in to a g ra v e. T he o nly lig ht c am e fr o m th e e ngin eer’s c ab in , th ro ugh th e s la ts in th e
fr o nt o f th e
ric kety c ar. A t o ne p oin t i t s h o ok s o m uch th at C ora p ut h er a rm s a ro und C aesa r a nd th ey s ta yed l ik e th at
fo r a g o od w hile , s q ueezin g e ach o th er a t th e m ore u rg ent tr e m ors , p re sse d a gain st th e h ay. I t f e lt g o od to
gra b h im , to a nti c ip ate th e w arm p re ssu re o f h is r is in g a nd f a llin g c hest.
Then th e lo co m oti v e d ecele ra te d . C aesa r ju m ped u p . T hey c o uld s c arc ely b elie v e it, a lth o ugh th e
ru naw ays’ excite m ent w as te m pere d . E ach ti m e th ey co m ple te d one le g of th eir jo urn ey, th e next
unexp ecte d s e gm ent c o m menced . T he b arn o f s h ackle s, th e h o le in th e e arth , th is b ro ken-d ow n b oxcar—
th e h ead in g o f th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad w as l a id i n th e d ir e cti o n o f th e b iz a rre . C ora to ld C aesa r th at o n
se ein g th e c hain s, s h e fe are d F le tc her h ad c o nsp ir e d w ith T erra nce fr o m th e v ery b egin nin g a nd th at
th ey
had b een c o nv eyed to a c ham ber o f h o rro rs . T heir p lo t, e sc ap e, a nd a rriv al w ere th e e le m ents o f a n
ela b ora te l iv in g p la y.
The s ta ti o n w as s im ila r to th eir p oin t o f d ep artu re . I n ste ad o f a b ench, th ere w as a ta b le a nd c hair s .
Tw o l a nte rn s h ung o n th e w all, a nd a s m all b ask et s a t n ext to th e s ta ir s .
The e ngin eer s e t th em lo ose fr o m th e b oxcar. H e w as a ta ll m an w ith a h o rs e sh o e o f w hite h air
aro und h is p ate a nd th e s to op th at c am e fr o m y ears o f fie ld w ork . H e m opped s w eat a nd s o ot fr o m h is
fa ce a nd w as a b out to s p eak w hen a fe ro cio us c o ughin g w ra cked h is p ers o n. A fte r a fe w p ulls fr o m h is
fla sk th e e ngin eer r e gain ed h is c o m posu re .
He c ut o ff th eir th anks. “ T his i s m y j o b,” h e s a id . “ F eed th e b oile r, m ake s u re s h e k eep s r u nnin g. G et
th e p asse ngers w here th ey g o t to b e.” H e m ad e fo r
h is c ab in . “ Y ou w ait h ere u nti l th ey c o m e a nd fe tc h
yo u.” I n m om ents th e tr a in h ad d is a p peare d , l e av in g a s w ir lin g w ake o f s te am a nd n o is e .
The b ask et c o nta in ed v ic tu als : b re ad , h alf a c hic ken, w ate r, a nd a b ottl e o f b eer. T hey w ere so
hungry th ey sh o ok o ut th e c ru m bs fr o m th e b ask et to d iv vy. C ora e v en to ok a sip o f th e b eer. A t th e fo ots te p s o n th e s ta ir s , th ey s te ele d th em se lv es f o r th e l a te st
r e p re se nta ti v e o f th e u nd erg ro und r a ilr o ad .
Sam w as a w hite m an o f tw enty -fiv e y ears a nd e xhib ite d n o ne o f th e e ccentr ic m anneris m s o f h is c o -
work ers . S tu rd y i n f r a m e a nd j o lly , h e w ore ta n tr o use rs w ith b ra ces a nd a th ic k r e d s h ir t th at h ad s u ffe re d
ro ughly a t th e w ash b oard . H is m usta che c urle d a t th e e nd s, b obbin g w ith h is e nth usia sm . T he s ta ti o n a gent
sh o ok th eir h and s a nd a p pra is e d th em ,
u nb elie v in g. “ Y ou m ad e i t,” S am s a id . “ Y ou’re r e ally h ere .”
He had b ro ught m ore fo od. T hey sa t at th e w obbly ta b le and S am d esc rib ed th e w orld ab ove.
“Y ou’re a lo ng w ay fr o m G eo rg ia ,” S am sa id . “ S outh C aro lin a h as a m uch m ore e nlig hte ned a tti tu d e
to w ard c o lo re d a d vancem ent th an th e r e st o f th e s o uth . Y ou’ll b e s a fe h ere u nti l w e c an a rra nge th e n ext
le g o f y o ur tr ip . I t m ig ht ta ke ti m e.”
“H ow
l o ng?” C aesa r a sk ed .
“N o te llin g. T here a re s o m any p eo ple b ein g m oved a ro und , o ne s ta ti o n a t a ti m e. It’ s h ard to g et
messa ges th ro ugh. T he r a ilr o ad is G od’s w ork , b ut m ad denin g to m anage.” H e w atc hed th em d ev our th e
fo od w ith e v id ent p le asu re . “ W ho k no w s? ” h e sa id . “ P erh ap s y o u’ll d ecid e to sta y. A s I sa id , S outh
Caro lin a i s l ik e n o th in g y o u’v e e v er s e en.”
Sam w ent u p sta ir s a nd r e tu rn ed w ith
c lo th es a nd a s m all b arre l o f w ate r. “ Y ou n eed to w ash u p ,” h e
sa id . “ I i n te nd th at i n th e k in d est w ay.” H e s a t o n th e s ta ir s to g iv e th em p riv acy. C aesa r b id C ora to w ash
up f ir s t, a nd j o in ed S am . H er n aked ness w as n o n o velty , b ut s h e a p pre cia te d th e g estu re . C ora s ta rte d w ith
her fa ce. S he w as d ir ty , s h e s m elle d , a nd w hen s h e w ru ng th e c lo th , d ark w ate r s p ille d o ut. T he n ew
clo th es w ere n o t s ti ff
n egro c lo th b ut a c o tto n s o s u p ple i t m ad e h er b ody f e el c le an, a s i f s h e h ad a ctu ally
sc ru b bed w ith s o ap . T he d re ss w as s im ple , l ig ht b lu e w ith p la in l in es, l ik e n o th in g s h e h ad w orn b efo re .
Cotto n w ent i n o ne w ay, c am e o ut a no th er.
When C aesa r f in is h ed w ash in g u p , S am g av e th em th eir p ap ers .
“T he n am es a re w ro ng,” C aesa r s a id .
“Y ou’re ru naw ays,” S am s a id . “ T his is w ho y o u a re n o w . Y ou n eed
to c o m mit th e n am es a nd th e
sto ry to m em ory .”
More th an ru naw ays— murd ere rs , m ayb e. C ora had n’t th o ught of th e boy sin ce th ey ste p ped
und erg ro und . C aesa r’s e yes n arro w ed a s h e m ad e th e s a m e c alc ula ti o n. S he d ecid ed to te ll S am a b out th e
fig ht i n th e w oods.
The s ta ti o n a gent m ad e n o ju d gm ents a nd lo oked g enuin ely a ggrie v ed b y L ovey’s fa te . H e to ld th em
he w as s o rry a b out th eir fr ie nd . “ H ad n’t
h eard a b out th a t. N ew s lik e th at d oesn ’t tr a v el h ere lik e it d oes
so m e p la ces. T he b oy m ay h av e r e co vere d f o r a ll w e k no w , b ut th at d oes n o t c hange y o ur p ositi o n. A ll th e
bette r th at y o u h av e n ew n am es.”
“It s a ys h ere w e’re th e p ro perty o f th e U nite d S ta te s G overn m ent,” C aesa r p oin te d o ut.
“T hat’ s a te chnic ality ,” S am sa id . W hite fa m ilie s p acked up and flo cked to S outh C aro lin a fo r
opportu niti e s,
fr o m a s fa r a s N ew Y ork a cco rd in g to th e g aze tte s. S o d id fr e e m en a nd w om en, in a
mig ra ti o n th e c o untr y h ad n ev er w itn esse d b efo re . A p orti o n o f th e c o lo re d w ere r u naw ays, a lth o ugh th ere
was n o te llin g h o w m any, f o r o bvio us r e aso ns. M ost o f th e c o lo re d f o lk i n th e s ta te h ad b een b ought u p b y
th e g o vern m ent. S av ed fr o m th e b lo ck in s o m e c ase s o r p urc hase d a t e sta te s a le s. A gents s c o ute d th e
b ig
aucti o ns. T he m ajo rity w ere a cq uir e d f r o m w hite s w ho h ad tu rn ed th eir b ack o n f a rm in g. C ountr y l ife w as
no t f o r th em , e v en i f p la nti n g w as h o w th ey h ad b een r a is e d a nd th eir f a m ily h erita ge. T his w as a n ew e ra .
The g o vern m ent o ffe re d v ery g enero us te rm s a nd in centi v es to r e lo cate to th e b ig to w ns, m ortg ages a nd
ta x r e lie f.
“A nd th e s la v es? ” C ora a sk ed . S he d id n o t u nd ers ta nd th e m oney ta lk ,
b ut s h e k new p eo ple b ein g so ld a s p ro perty w hen s h e h eard i t.
“T hey g et f o od, j o bs, a nd h o usin g. C om e a nd g o a s th ey p le ase , m arry w ho th ey w is h , r a is e c hild re n
who w ill n ev er b e ta ken a w ay. G ood j o bs, to o, n o t s la v e w ork . B ut y o u’ll s e e s o on e no ugh.” T here w as a
bill o f s a le i n a f ile i n a b ox s o m ew here , f r o m w hat h e u nd ers to od, b ut th at w as i t. N oth in g th at w ould b e
held o ver th em . A c o nfid ante
i n th e G riffin B uild in g h ad f o rg ed th ese p ap ers f o r th em .
“A re y o u r e ad y?” S am a sk ed .
Caesa r a nd C ora l o oked a t e ach o th er. T hen h e e xte nd ed h is h and l ik e a g entl e m an. “ M y l a d y?”
She c o uld n o t p re v ent h ers e lf f r o m s m ilin g, a nd th ey s te p ped i n to th e d aylig ht to geth er.
The g o vern m ent h ad p urc hase d B essie C arp ente r a nd C hris ti a n M ark so n fr o m a b ankru p tc y h earin g
in N orth C aro lin a. S am h elp ed
th em r e hears e a s th ey w alk ed to to w n. H e liv ed tw o m ile s o uts id e, in a
co tta ge h is g ra nd fa th er h ad b uilt. H is p are nts h ad o pera te d th e c o pper s h o p o n M ain S tr e et, b ut S am c ho se
a d iffe re nt p ath a fte r th ey d ie d . H e s o ld th e b usin ess to o ne o f th e m any tr a nsp la nts w ho ’d c o m e to S outh
Caro lin a fo r a fr e sh s ta rt a nd S am n o w w ork ed a t o ne o f th e s a lo ons, th e D rift. H is fr ie nd o w ned th e
pla ce, a nd th e a tm osp here
s u ite d h is p ers o nality . S am l ik ed th e s p ecta cle o f th e h um an a nim al u p c lo se , a s
well a s h is a ccess to th e w ork in gs o f th e to w n, o nce th e d rin k l o ose ned to ngues. H e m ad e h is o w n h o urs ,
whic h w as a n a sse t i n h is o th er e nte rp ris e . T he s ta ti o n w as b urie d b eneath h is b arn , a s w ith L um bly .
At th e o uts k ir ts S am g av e th em d eta ile d d ir e cti o ns to th e P la cem ent O ffic e. “ A nd i f y o u g et l o st, j u st
head f o r
th at” — he p oin te d a t th e s k ysc ra p in g w ond er— “and m ake a r ig ht w hen y o u h it M ain S tr e et.” H e
would c o nta ct th em w hen h e h ad m ore i n fo rm ati o n.
Caesa r a nd C ora m ad e th eir w ay u p th e d usty r o ad i n to to w n, u nb elie v in g. A b uggy r o und ed th e tu rn
and th e p air n early d ove in to th e w oods. T he d riv er w as a c o lo re d b oy w ho ti p ped h is c ap in a ja unty
fa sh io n. N onchala nt, a s if it w ere n o th in g. T o h av e s u ch
b earin g a t h is y o ung a ge! W hen h e w as o ut o f
sig ht th ey la ughed a t th eir r id ic ulo us b ehav io r. C ora s tr a ig hte ned h er b ack a nd h eld h er h ead le v el. T hey
would h av e to l e arn h o w to w alk l ik e f r e em en.
In th e fo llo w in g m onth s, C ora m aste re d p ostu re . H er le tte rs a nd sp eech re q uir e d m ore a tte nti o n.
Afte r h er ta lk w ith M is s L ucy, s h e r e m oved h er p rim er f r o m h er tr u nk. W hile th e o th er g ir ls g o ssip ed a nd
sa id g o od n ig ht o ne b y o ne, C ora p ra cti c ed h er le tte rs . T he n ext ti m e sh e sig ned fo r th e A nd ers o ns’
gro cerie s, s h e w ould w rite
Bessie
i n c are fu l p rin t. S he b le w o ut th e c and le w hen h er h and c ra m ped .
It w as th e s o fte st b ed s h e h ad e v er l a in i n . B ut th en, i t w as th e o nly b ed s h e h ad e v er l a in i n . Mis s H and le r m ust h av e b een ra is e d in th e b oso m o f s a in ts . E ven th o ugh th e o ld m an w as u tte rly
i n co m pete nt w ith r e gard s to th e r u d im ents o f w riti n g a nd s p eakin g, th e te acher w as n ev er l e ss th an p olite
a nd in d ulg ent. T he e nti r e c la ss— th e s c ho olh o use w as fu ll o n S atu rd ay m orn in gs— sh ifte d a t th eir d esk s
w hile th e o ld m an s p utte re d a nd c ho ked o n th e d ay’s l e sso ns. T he tw o g ir ls i n f r o nt o f C ora m ad e
c ro ss-
e yes a t e ach o th er a nd g ig gle d a t h is b otc hed s o und s.
Cora jo in ed th e c la ss in e xasp era ti o n. It w as n ig h im possib le to u nd ers ta nd H ow ard ’s s p eech u nd er
n o rm al c ir c um sta nces. H e fa v ore d a p id gin o f h is lo st A fr ic an to ngue a nd s la v e ta lk . In th e o ld d ays, h er
m oth er h ad to ld h er, th at h alf l a nguage w as th e v oic e o f th e p la nta ti o n. T hey h ad b een s to le n f r o m v illa ges
a ll o ver A fr ic a a nd s p oke
a m ulti tu d e o f to ngues. T he w ord s fr o m a cro ss th e o cean w ere b eate n o ut o f
t h em o ver ti m e. F or s im plic ity , to e ra se th eir i d enti ti e s, to s m oth er u p ris in gs. A ll th e w ord s e xcep t f o r th e
o nes lo cked a w ay b y th o se w ho s ti ll re m em bere d w ho th ey h ad b een b efo re . “ T hey k eep ’e m h id lik e
p re cio us g o ld ,” M ab el s a id .
These w ere no t her m oth er’s and gra nd m oth er’s ti m es. H ow ard ’s atte m pts at “I am ” co nsu m ed
p re cio us l e sso n ti m e, a lr e ad y to o s h o rt a fte r th e w ork w eek. S he h ad c o m e h ere to l e arn .
A g ust se nt th e sh utte rs w heezin g o n th eir h in ges. M is s H and le r p ut d ow n h er c halk . “ In N orth
C aro lin a,” s h e s a id , “ w hat w e a re d oin g is a c rim e. I w ould b e fin ed a h und re d d olla rs a nd y o u w ould
r e ceiv e th ir ty -n in e la sh es. That’ s fr o m th e la w . Your m aste r w ould lik ely hav e a m ore se v ere
p unis h m ent.” T he w om an
m et C ora ’s e yes. T he te acher w as o nly a f e w y ears o ld er th an h er b ut s h e m ad e
C ora f e el l ik e a n i g no ra nt p ic kanin ny. “ It’ s h ard to s ta rt f r o m n o th in g. A f e w w eeks a go , s o m e o f y o u w ere
w here H ow ard i s n o w . I t ta kes ti m e. A nd p ati e nce.”
She d is m is se d th em . C haste ned , C ora s n atc hed u p h er th in gs, w is h in g to b e th e f ir s t o ne o ut th e d oor.
H ow ard w ip ed h is te ars w ith h is s le ev e.
The s c ho olh o use
l a y s o uth o f th e r o w s o f g ir ls ’ d orm ito rie s. T he b uild in g w as a ls o u se d f o r m eeti n gs
i n need of a m ore se rio us atm osp here th an th at of th e co m mon ro om s, C ora no ti c ed , su ch as th e
a sse m blie s o n h ygie ne a nd fe m in in e m atte rs . It lo oked o ut o n th e g re en, th e c o lo re d p opula ti o n’s p ark .
T onig ht o ne o f th e b and s f r o m th e m en’s d orm ito ry w as p la yin g i n th e g aze b o f o r th e s o cia l.
They d ese rv ed M is s H and le r’s
sc o ld in g. S outh C aro lin a m ain ta in ed a d iffe re nt atti tu d e to w ard
c o lo re d p ro gre ss, a s S am h ad to ld C ora o n th e p la tf o rm . C ora h ad s a v ore d th is f a ct i n a m ulti tu d e o f w ays
o ver th e m onth s, b ut th e p ro vis io n fo r c o lo re d e d ucati o n w as a m ong th e m ost n o uris h in g. C onnelly o nce
p ut o ut a s la v e’s e yes f o r l o okin g a t w ord s. H e l o st J a co b’s l a b or, th o ugh i f th e m an h ad b een ta le nte d th e
o vers e er w ould
h av e s u b je cte d h im to a l e ss d ra sti c p unis h m ent. I n r e tu rn h e g ain ed th e e te rn al f e ar o f a ny
s la v e w ith a n o ti o n to l e arn h is l e tte rs .
Don’t n eed e yes to sh uck c o rn , C onnelly to ld th em . O r to sta rv e y o urs e lf to d eath , a s Ja co b d id
p re se ntl y .
She p ut th e p la nta ti o n b ehin d h er. S he d id n o t l iv e th ere a nym ore .
A p age s lip ped o ut o f h er p rim er a nd s h e c hase d i t o nto th e g ra ss. T he b ook w as f a llin g
a p art, fr o m
h er u se a nd th at o f th e p re v io us o w ners . C ora h ad s e en littl e c hild re n, o nes y o unger th an M ais ie , u se th e
s a m e p rim er fo r th eir le sso ns. N ew c o pie s w ith fr e sh s p in es. T he o nes fr o m th e c o lo re d s c ho olh o use
w ere w ell- th um bed a nd s h e h ad to s q ueeze h er le tte rs a b ove a nd in b etw een o th er p eo ple ’s s c rib blin gs,
b ut th ere w as n o w hip pin g a tta ched j u st f o r l o okin g a t i t. Her m oth er w ould
b e p ro ud o f h er. A s L ovey’s m oth er w as lik ely p ro ud o f h er d aughte r fo r r u nnin g
aw ay, f o r a d ay a nd a h alf. C ora r e p la ced th e p age i n h er b ook. S he p ush ed th e p la nta ti o n f r o m h er a gain .
She w as g etti n g b ette r a t i t. H er m in d w as w ily th o ugh, tw is ty . T ho ughts s h e d id n o t l ik e w orm ed i n f r o m
th e s id es, f r o m b eneath , th ro ugh th e c ra cks, f r o m p la ces s h e h ad b atte ned d ow n.
Of h er m oth er, f o r e xam ple .
H er th ir d w eek i n th e d orm ito ry , s h e k no cked o n th e d oor o f M is s L ucy’s
offic e. I f th e g o vern m ent k ep t r e co rd s o f a ll th e c o lo re d a rriv als , p erh ap s a m ong th e m any n am es w as th at
of h er m oth er. M ab el’s life a fte r h er e sc ap e w as a n e nig m a. It