by Donnie Light
Audra came to the sink.
They both looked at Galen’s hand.
The wound nearly covered the palm of his hand. The flesh and skin hung in ragged flaps around the edges of the wound.
“Damn,” Galen said. “Looks like the thing just ground its way into it.” He stared at the wound for another moment, grimacing as he examined it more closely. “Looks pretty nasty, too,” he said as he turned off the water.
“We better get you to the ER and have it looked at,” Audra suggested.
“Yeah,” Galen said as he piled gauze pads onto the wound. He walked a few feet to the utility room. He opened the clothes dryer and retrieved another t-shirt.
“What are we going to tell the doc,” Audra asked, “that you were attacked by a spinning ball and it chewed up your hand?”
“Good question,” Galen responded. “We’ll have to think of something.”
Galen pulled a chair away from the kitchen table and sat down. He was thankful he had done up the dishes the last time he was off. He glanced around the apartment, thinking it really did not look that bad for a bachelor’s pad. He had never kept his place neat, but at least it was clean. His sole attempt at decorating was Miss August, held neatly to the refrigerator door with a magnet. She displayed her wares on a white-sand beach somewhere. He snatched a quick peek at Audra, hoping she had not noticed it. He decided to keep his hand as the topic of discussion.
“I can’t think of anything that would make a wound like this,” he said.
“Well, we can try to think of something on the way to…”
Galen lifted his good hand in a motion of silence and they both heard a loud grinding noise on the west side of the house.
“Shit!” Galen proclaimed as the orb began digging through the kitchen wall. “Back outside!” he yelled, grabbing the first-aid kit and the t-shirt. The object came through the west wall of the kitchen cutting them off from the kitchen door. Galen grabbed Audra by the arm and shuffled her into the living room. They exited the front door, just as the ball was boring its way through the living room wall. They ran to the car.
Tires smoking, Audra took the first turn so fast that Galen had to struggle to keep his head from banging into the doorframe.
“What the Hell!” Galen screamed. Beads of sweat had appeared almost instantly over his brow.
“Where to now?” Audra asked, a tremble returning to her voice.
“I don’t know,” Galen said. “Just drive. Keep driving.”
– Chapter 6 –
The pouch vibrated wildly at Tobias’ side as the snarling dog left the ground, leaping directly at his face. Tobias lifted his left arm to ward off the attack and caught the dog by the throat. The momentum of the dog’s weight carried them both backward, knocking them to the ground.
Tobias held tight, gasping for the breath that had been knocked from him. He was amazed he still had the grip on the dog after they landed. Tobias sensed that the strength he now possessed came from a supernatural source. Whatever was in that pouch was feeding his body with energy from the gods. He squeezed with all of his might, having a firm grasp on the dogs windpipe. The dog thrashed wildly, snarling and growling, trying to shake his opponent’s grip. Tobias felt the animal’s warm blood spill over his fingers as they tore into the dogs flesh. His grip now completely encircled the windpipe and Tobias squeezed with a newfound strength. The animal, its windpipe crushed, could not move enough air to whimper.
Tobias was lying on his side and felt relief when the dog finally stopped struggling. He lay there for a moment longer; staring at the animal, wanting to make sure the dog was dead.
Tobias slowly released his grip on the dog. He pulled his fingers out of the bloody mess of its throat and stared in amazement. The pouch at his side began to cool and Tobias could feel the sudden burst of energy ebbing away.
“Hey! Duke!” the foreman shouted from nearby. He had rode into this field, in hopes the dog may flush out a deer. Having not heard any barking for a moment or two, he now called for the dog to return. “C’mon boy, Duke!” The foreman stopped his horse and listened for a sound from the dog.
Tobias lay perfectly still.
The foreman turned around to look and listened in the other direction.
Tobias slowly and quietly pulled the limp beast’s body behind a tree. He then turned, crawling on his stomach, and made his way to a shallow ravine. He lay still, listening for a sound that would indicate the position of the foreman. He hoped he would not spot the dog’s body from the field.
“Duke!” the foreman shouted, followed by a loud whistle.
Tobias was slightly relieved to hear the foreman mutter something about that damned dog. He then heard the sound of the horse and rider making their way back toward the road.
Tobias took this opportunity to put as much distance between him and the foreman as possible. The small stretch of woods carried a ways to the east and Tobias made his way in that direction. After going about a mile, a narrow span of trees turned to the north along the backside of a tobacco field.
Tobias stopped in this corner for a while to catch his breath. He sat down and leaned back against a tree. The scent of wildflowers hung in the still air and Tobias sucked deeply to fill his lungs. The pouch hung quietly at his side.
The foreman and the slaves were still too close to satisfy Tobias. He would go as far as luck and good sense would permit, and then hold up for a while.
After resting for a few minutes, Tobias began to move again. Now traveling north, he hoped he could find a safe place to hide out until nightfall. His left hand was still covered with the dog’s blood and hair. Bits of leaves, grass and dirt also stuck to the viscous gore.
Tobias traveled slowly north for about twenty minutes until he came upon a small stream that crossed his path. He sat on the bank and looked both up and down stream.
The banks of the creek were steep, and the surface of the water was about six feet below the level of the surrounding fields. He slipped over the rim of the creek bank and shambled down to the water. If he traveled upstream, it would take him east, away from the foreman. The high banks would also offer him ample cover for a while.
He dropped to his knees allowing the cool water to swirl between his legs as he washed off the blood. He thought about having done this two days in a row and hoped this would be the last time. At least this time it was not his blood.
Tobias walked in the water, slightly hunched over to keep his head low. He wondered if this had been such a good idea. The stream offered sufficient cover, but also blocked his view of the surrounding area. He could possibly walk within yards of a cabin or house and not even know it was there.
The stream offered him safe travel for a couple of hours until the banks began to lose their height. Tobias noticed the gradual change, but could spot no cover to hide him. He hunched further over and maintained slow progress. The stream had made dozens of turns but continued to meander toward the east.
Tobias stopped after a sharp turn in the creek and peeked over the bank. The fields around him were covered with tall, dry grass and wildflowers. They went on for as far as he could see. There was a hill to the north and a cluster of dense trees and brush lay in that direction.
He could see no signs of civilization—no buildings or grazing animals. He decided to head for the trees and hide there until nightfall.
He cautiously approached the trees, trying to avoid another encounter with a briar bush. He walked the perimeter of the brush looking for an easy opening. Finding a spot void of the clutching greens, he walked into the thicket. The shade was welcome relief to his back and neck. He searched for anything edible, but found nothing. He then sat against the base of a tree. With a glance in all directions, Tobias felt it would be safe to sleep for a while. He nestled himself into the brush and made himself as comfortable as possible.
He went to sleep rather quickly, but dreams of the past few days haunted him, causing his sleep to be shallow and restless. He dreame
d about Gabriel and Titus.
How proud he had been at their birth. Twin sons, on his first try. The sons he loved with all his heart. The sons he would probably never see again.
Even when Master Richards had given them these names out of the good book, Tobias had still been proud. The white man’s names would not daunt the spirits of those two boys. They had grown up so big, so strong. Master Richards had even been proud. He would show them off to all of his gentleman visitors as if they were a pair of show horses. Fine couple of darkies you’ve got there, Richards, the visitors would say. A few of them had offered to buy the twins, but Master Richards had declined, stating he had special plans for those two. That had not only made Tobias thankful, but even more proud. They had special plans; maybe they would be field bosses some day.
Master Richards had two children of his own, a boy named Raymond and an older daughter, Mary.
Raymond, sixteen years old this summer, had taken over many duties at his father’s plantation. Raymond was the boss, directed by Master Richards. Four hired hands acted as field bosses and Raymond never let them forget who was in charge. They dared not cross him, for whoever did would have to answer to Richards himself.
Raymond was a scrawny kid with a sloped-back forehead and a big nose. He could often be found following his father and shouting orders like, “Get those slaves into the fields!” That had been one of his favorite commands since he was big enough to shout. It seemed to be the only order he could give without checking with his father first. He barked it often, always getting a nod of consent from the bosses. Raymond would strut away, like the biggest rooster in the barnyard after shouting out orders. Someday he would own the plantation and Tobias hoped the kid would change before then.
Mary, a lackluster girl of nineteen, had recently acquired a gentleman caller, Ralph Watson III, a handsome man of twenty-five. He had been seeing Mary for only a few weeks before they announced their wedding plans. Master Richards had been happy about the news, having taken an instant liking to the young man. An elaborate wedding was planned for late summer, on the front lawn of the plantation house.
People from all around the area came to the summer wedding and stuffed themselves on roast pork and all the trimmings.
Not all of the slaves worked in the field that day, for it took many of them to cater to the guests. There were wagons to park, horses to care for, and water to haul. Some of the women slaves helped prepare the food. They were under the direct supervision of Richards’ wife, Helen. They had spent many hours chopping vegetables, making butter, and preparing the pigs for roasting.
The wedding had gone well. The guests were happy. Food and drink had been plentiful.
The newlyweds began opening gifts from their guests. They thanked each one for their generosity. After the couple had opened their last gift, Ralph’s father made an announcement.
He had purchased a house and a parcel of land in the next county for the newlyweds. A cheer went up from the crowd. Ralph appeared to be surprised, but clearly, it was an act.
Master Richards had been surprised. Being one of the wealthiest men in the state, he wished he had offered such a gift. He had clearly been outdone.
He scrambled within his mind to think of a gift as suitable as that of Ralph’s father. “I think the father of the bride should fill the new house with the best of furniture!” Richards said.
Another cheer went up, along with a considerable amount of subdued chatter.
The look on Benjamin Richards’ face said he was still not satisfied. The senior Watson had outdone him with the gifts, but he would certainly show that his generosity was endless. He told the guests he would also supply the young couple with a fine team of horses. Richards was beginning to look smug. After all, he was getting in the last word but one more gift flashed across his mind. “What good will the team be with no one to work them?” he said, indicating that he had an answer. “I will also give the newlyweds their first two slaves. They are as strong as the horses themselves—Gabriel and Titus!”
Tobias’ wife, Martha, had been serving roast pork at a long table. She immediately fell to the ground upon hearing the news and began to crawl toward Master Richards.
“Ooh, no, no Masta Richards! Please, please, PLEASE!
Martha continued to crawl, the crowd falling silent.
“Masta Richards, please, don’t give my babies away! Please Masta Richards.”
Martha continued to grovel, and Richards tried to reason with her.
“Martha! You stop that! Those boys are nearing their thirteenth birthday! They don’t need to hang onto your apron strings anymore!”
He began to talk softer, as if in comforting her. He sounded sincere, but Martha could see a spark of hate in his eyes.
“Your babies are men now, Martha. It’s time for them to move along.”
The crowd listened intently, amazed at Richards’ compassion for the slave.
Martha bawled openly, still on her knees, hands clasped before her, begging for retraction of the last gift. Tears streamed down her face as she begged for her boys.
“They’re going to be with Miss Mary,” Richards continued, “and you know she’ll treat them well.”
This, Martha knew to be true, for Miss Mary had always been fond of the twins, calling them her “baby dolls”. Martha reached out for Richards’ hand, which he tried to pull away.
“Masta, please, them boys is all I got in this world! Please don’t be takin’ ’em away from me, please!”
Gabriel and Titus had been serving coffee and tea. They were placed at each end of the long main table, like matching bookends to balance the scene. Tears swelled in their eyes, but they maintained their posts. They had been specially dressed for the occasion.
Martha had never thought she would see her boys look so handsome.
Richards was getting fed up with trying to reason with her.
“Well then, you and Tobias need to make some more babies!” he said, smiling. The crowd chuckled quietly. “Go now! Go on!” He waved his hand, motioning her to leave. He nodded to the pair of field bosses who came to drag her away, kicking and screaming.
“Mamma!” Gabriel uttered, then stepped back into his position. He looked to Titus, his eyes brimming with tears. A quick glance from Master Richards assured them both that to make a scene would truly be a mistake.
“She’ll get over it,” Richards said to no one in particular. The crowd nodded in agreement and began the chatter again, as if nothing had happened.
Tobias had missed the ordeal. He had been ordered to the stables to care for the guest’s horses and carriages. He heard someone wailing as he went about his work, and then looked out the stable doors. He saw the bosses dragging Martha. She was putting up substantial resistance. One of the bosses, Frederick, stopped and slapped the wailing slave across the face.
Martha quieted for a moment, but soon began the wailing again. Tobias sprinted from the stable to intercept the slow-moving group. He still had no idea of what was going on, but knew something bad had happened. Martha, unlike Tobias, had always been a well behaved slave. She had been punished only a few times, usually when Master Richards was in a bad mood and looking for things to complain about.
“Martha!” Tobias yelled.
The bosses stopped and looked toward him.
“Get back to the stable!” Frederick shouted.
“But, what’s goin’ on?” Tobias asked.
“Nothing we can’t handle,” the other boss said.
“Master Richards gave away our babies!” Martha sobbed. She looked at him with pleading eyes, knowing there was nothing Tobias could do.
“What?” Tobias asked quietly, looking at the bosses.
“He gave ’em away, Tobias!” Martha cried again. “They’re goin’ to live with Miss Mary!”
Tobias reached down to comfort his wife, still not fully comprehending her claims.
Frederick, now worked up from dragging Martha from the front yard, struck Tobias a
cross the jaw. Tobias had not expected the blow and his head pivoted back, blood swelling immediately from his busted lips.
“I said, get back to the stable!” Frederick shouted. They began to drag Martha again, who now sobbed steadily but no longer had the strength to resist.
Tobias walked back to the stable, thinking there must be some mistake. Master Richards would never give away Titus or Gabriel, he thought. Richards, although capable of temporary fits, was generally good to the slaves. Richards did not tolerate misconduct from the slaves, and had stopped the bosses from dealing out unjust punishment.
Several of the previous bosses had severely beaten some of the slaves. Master Richards had been quick to discover these actions and handed out his own punishment to the offending bosses. More than once, Richards had discovered a slave had been beaten so severely that he or she had been unable to work. His intent was to keep the slaves working and able to work, as long as they were well behaved.
§ § §
Tobias paced nervously about the stables for the rest of the afternoon, contemplating what to do. He shoveled the stalls to keep busy. Slaves were bought and sold regularly on the Richards plantation, but Tobias had never considered the possibility of his boys being moved away. He heard no more on the subject until after all of the guests had gone home that evening.
Master Richards came into the stable with the last of the guests, Raymond at his side. Tobias was fetching carriages as Richards and his son said their farewells to the departing visitors. After the guests were out of hearing range, the smile that had adorned the master’s face melted into a look of rage.
“Tobias!” he shouted.
He walked toward the slave, pointing at him with his index finger. “You better talk with that woman of yours!” He began to tap the finger steadily on Tobias’ chest, a sudden rage building up inside of him. “She has embarrassed me in front of all of my guests!” He began to pace back and forth in front of Tobias, while rubbing his chin.
Raymond, seeing his father was angry, decided to fuel the fire. “Embarrassed the entire family!” he said, looking smugly at Tobias.
