Princess Ces'alena (Webster Fields)

by Mercedes Keyes

  “Mikey…its mama baby…its mama…please wake up - pleeeease!!” She screamed at him, trying to shake him to.

  “I said take your hands off him!!” Chester yelled jumping down from the wagon, running up to her, snatching her away. He couldn’t believe his eyes, but he’d heard her…this was the boy’s mother. Lena drew back from him, her eyes flooding as she swiped them to look Chester Sands in the face. She had to make him understand what a mistake he was making.

  “Please - please listen to me! You don’t understand…this is a mistake! This is my son…he is not for sale! His father would never sell him!! He is not for sale! Please believe me – wait for him – stay here and wait for his father, he will tell you!!!” She cried desperately, sobs choking her, exhaustion made her dizzy but she would stay on her feet, to assure it, she grabbed hold of him, pleading with him.

  “Get yo’hands off me – you crazy?!”

  “I’m sorry, I’m sorry – give me my son! He’s not for sale!”

  “The hell he ain’t, I got a paper here in my pocket that says different!”

  “No! Not signed by my master you don’t! He never sales his slaves! He would not sale his son!! My son is free!” She screamed hysterically.

  “Then you better take that up with the master and his wife, the boy is mine. I own him, he my property…now if you don’t mind, I’d like to be on my way.” He informed her; growing angry at the whole scene. He turned grabbed hold of his wagon bench and went to lever himself up.

  “No no no no! Please listen!! Maynard Ramsey Webster is master here! Wait for him to return before you do this!! Wa-a-ai-it for hi-i-i-im!” She screamed, her arms and fist shaking as the horror unfolded. “I beg you, I beg you listen to me, he cannot be sold – he is free!!!”

  He wasn’t listening - growing more desperate, Lena grabbed his shirt and suspenders with both hands, pulling him back with all of her might, part growl, part scream, “Nooooo – nooooo!”

  He stumbled back to the ground on his feet and spun shoving her from him. “Nigger get your hands off me!!” He shouted indignantly.

  “Just give me - my son!” She begged panting and breathless. “Please give’em to me — he’s my son!!” She went on…turning once again to the back of the wagon. “Mike-e-e-ey!! Wa-a-a-ke up!!! You must wake - up!!”

  “Goddamn you…move away from that boy!!!”

  “Mikey…Mike-e-e-e-y!!”

  He grabbed her shoulders and roughly slung her away from the wagon. Lena stumbled back and ran forward to get back to the wagon.

  “You don’t give me – my son – his father will – kill you – he will kill you – now give him to me!!!” She hissed.

  Mikey lay in a darkened state that he had no control over. It was as if he were in a dream drifting…he could hear faint cries of his name now and then, but there was pain too. A dull throb, he moaned; hearing his name being called urgently.

  Again Chester, shaking his head boarded his wagon deciding to ride off as fast as he could. Lena was not letting that wagon leave that road with her son in it, once again, she ran up to Chester, “Noooo – you’re not taking my son – from me!!” She yanked and tugged to bring him down.

  “Why you crazy-…” He bit into his bottom lip from anger, too mad to finish the sentence he turned to kick Lena away when she grabbed his leg, held onto it and bit down into the fleshy part of it with all of her might.

  “Aaaaaaaaaaaaah – oh God – let goooo!”

  She reached up, grabbing the neck part of his shirt and pulled using her body weight to bring him down, he tumbled from the wagon. “I’ah kill you wency – I’ah kill you!!” He lunged to his feet attacking her.

  “Mikeeeeey, Mikeeeey, Mikeeeey.” She screamed over and over; clawing blindly at Chester Sands, digging into his flesh refusing to let go.

  He tried grabbing her hands after she clawed him, but Lena in a whirl began fighting madly, swinging and pounding him out of control. She was beyond seeing her target, but she felt him there…she felt his flesh as she gouged into it, seeking his eyes, tearing at his flesh, his hair, his ears and lip – her nails like razors peeling his skin raw.

  “Goddamn you… goddamn you - aaaaaaaahhh!! Chester yelled as she shredded his face, he began slapping and punching her face and head; Lena started screaming for help.

  “Eeeeeeeeee – heeeeelp – pleeeeease!!” Her strength was quickly coming to its end now, her entire body felt like lead. All during her fight, the chained men and boys stood and watched, some crying for this mother, her struggle reminding them of very similar scenes. But chained as they were, there was nothing they could do. For Lena, as hard as she fought, it wasn’t enough, her arms felt too heavy to lift, she could no longer see, blurred or otherwise. One eye was swollen shut, the other catching up to it. The strength to even scream any more was gone. A numbness was taking over her; she let out a low grunt as she lay on the ground, following the second kick to her back followed by blessed blackness.

  Chester slowly straightened, gasping to breathe, he was dizzy, his skin bleeding and burning as salt from sweat ran over the raw flesh making them feel as if he’d been set on fire. He had been bitten on the leg, and his hand as well. One of the punches to her mouth offered his fingers to her teeth, and bite she did, unwilling to let go until she’d passed out. His fingers were throbbing, swelling and bleeding – he could barely bend his fingers they were swelling so quickly. He backed away from her sagging with exhaustion; one of his own eyes closing with the swelling. He was worn out and tired, feeling heavy and weighted down. He turned figuring it was finally over, only to see running down the road towards him a sizeable group of slaves, all men and a few boys…all angry.

  His heart, which was strained enough, lurched in his chest.

  “Jesus Christ…God Almighty…what in the hell have I gotten myself into!?” With fear driving him on, he ran for his wagon, pulling out his rifle and cocked it just as they were at the end of the wagon.

  “Hold it right there boys…take another step and I’ll blow the black hides from you!!” He bit out in deadly warning. Jordan stood up front with Henry, they had their arms raised but their attention was on Lena’s still form. The others froze behind motionless, but Leon barreled pass them all straight to her, heedless of Chester Sands rifle.

  “Look what he did to Ms Lena!! Look what he done to her!!” He cried rocking in torment as he fell to the ground beside her. Chester was now nervous with so many in front of him, and Leon behind him. He jerked his rifle back and forth between them. “Boy! Make another move like that, I blow ya’yella ass away!!”

  Leon looked up at him from the ground, his eyes pink and filled with tears of hatred. “I just wanna see she okay…please!”

  “I’on give a damn if she dead! Demon bitch!” He spat, looking back to the men before him.

  “Calm down sa’…we don’ mean no harm, sa.” Jordan started, holding his hands before him to ward off any idea that he might try to rush him.

  “Well you can beg my fucking pardon, my bruises, bites and eye tell me another story. Never in my whole life have I had as much trouble as with you niggers! I fought a bear cub, and its angry mama, but I be damn if I fight the whole bear clan. I just as soon blow the first to hell!!”

  “Now ain’t no cause for that sa’. We mean no harm…this here just some kind of mix up. See…that boy you got…he belong to the masta’-…”

  “Not now he don’t…that white dipped nigger mine now! If there be a mix up, it ain’t no concern of mine. Further more, I ain’t about to stand in the middle of the road arguin’ with a group of ignit negras…and that’s that.”

  There was a moan from the wagon, followed by the clinking of chains, Mike was moving around and coming to. Jordan hoped that would distract Chester long enough for them to attack. But Chester had been through enough, he wasn’t going for it.

  Mike rose to his elbows, his head hung as he tried to steady the swaying of the surface beneath him. His head throbbed and stung from the sa
lty sweat running into it. He could hear voices, it was Jordan’s voice. But he couldn’t figure what was wrong with him; where he was; what was wrong with him. He wanted to answer Jordan, but his tongue felt thick; he could hear what Jordan was saying, but didn’t understand why he was saying it.

  “Sa’ just let us get to her - please sa’…she not moving. Please, just let us - see ‘bout her?” He pleaded gently.

  ‘Her? Who - her?’ Mike thought groggily; wishing the swimming would stop as he sat up, leaning with his hands to the buckboard. “Jordan?” He called out. His vision was blurred, but he noticed he was outside in a wagon. There were others in it with him. He tried to look over the side, and could see a vague silhouette rocking on the ground over another figure. “Leon? That you? What’s - what’s wrong Leon? What’s wrong?”

  “Mikey boy…just – be still now.” Jordan encouraged keeping his eyes on Chester who was growing more and more nervous.

  There were too many of them. He might be able to shoot one, but the others would be on him before he could re-load and fire off another shot.

  “My head hurt Jordan…my head hurt.”

  Tears came to Jordan’s eyes. “You be alright…I’mo get’ya.”

  “Oh no you ain’t! You sit down boy…you shut yo’ goddamn mouth!! I’m telling you – one of you niggers gonna die you don’t get back away!!” Chester commanded harshly. The new voice spoken so harshly confused and scared Mikey, he began moving his head trying to see clearly, blinking to clarify his vision. “Jordan?” This call was a frightened one.

  “Jus’ be quiet son…jus’ hold tight.”

  Mike was trying to figure out who was this man at the end of the wagon. He was talking mean, holding a rifle…slowly…his focus returned, not far behind, came his awareness as to what was going on. The minute his eyes locked on Jordan’s, then to the back of Chester Sands head…he knew. And Jordan knew too that he had to get him.

  Because Jordan was the closest thing to a father beside his own, Mike did not hesitate, “Jordan!! Get me out’ah here Jordan, Jordan, get me out’ah here!!” He remembered everything. Katherine being nice; the important papers; and this man telling him he was his now - his - “So come along now boy!” He began thrashing around in the wagon trying to pull his hands from the chains, and with the reflex response to fright…he wanted his mother.

  “Listen to me sa’… you gotta listen. Master Maynard Webster don’t sell his Negroes. He sho’ won’be sellin’ that boy right there – he love that boy sa’ – he love that boy! You got’ta believe me what I say now! Tell’im yah’ll – tell’im Manny won’t sell that boy!!” He ordered those behind him.

  All the others spoke in unison, “No sa’ he won’t!!” They called out.

  “Mama!!” Mike began looking for her and turned to the side and realized it was Leon there rocking and looking up at him. Then his eyes moved to the figure on the ground.

  The moment he realized that the still figure was his mother, he lost control, screaming and shouting, yanking and pulling on the chains to break free, “Mamaaaaa!! Jorda-a-an my mamaaaa – Jordan my mamaaaa – Jordan! What he do’ta my mama!!”

  “Shet yo’mouth boy!!”

  “Sa’ we don’t mean you no harm…but I can’t let you take that boy. I can’t… I can’t sa’…you got to believe me…Msta’ Manny come back here…find that boy gone, he gone find you sa’…an’ he gone kill ya!” Jordan warned. “Now please, set that rifle down-…”

  “Jordan my mamaaaa – get my mamaaa!” He sobbed rattling and yanking his wrist until they bled.

  “Goddamn you boy! I tol’ shet up now! You hear me! Now stop it!!”

  Chester yelled angrily turning to Mike, raising his rifle butt in a threatening manner. It was just enough; Jordan and Henry were on him in an instant. Leon lifted Lena up into a sitting position. “Ms Lena… Ms Lena…oh God…oh God...” He sobbed. Lena could hear, but was too weak to move…she couldn’t see, but was fully aware of her surroundings. She could hear her son screaming for her. She wanted to get up, but her body was caught in a convulsion of pain.

  Jordan and Henry scuffled with Chester until Jordan had possession of the rifle. “I need the keys to them chains sa’.” Jordan demanded.

  “You niggers gone be sorry for this. That boy mine fair and square! You be sorry for this…you be sorry.”

  “No sa’, you be the one if my masta’ get a hold of you, this ain’t nothin’.” Lena heard Jordan, knowing she was in labor, as a wave of gripping pain sent her reeling, she didn’t care…she wanted her child. “Jordan – stop – stop talking – get my son! Get my – my son!!”

  Amos came over and helped Leon pick her up, he then settled under the weight of her, bringing her close to his chest to carry her, with Leon running to the wagon for Mikey. It was all activity to free him when the horses rode up into the midst of them.

  “Just what in the hell is goin’ on here?!” Kevin shouted as he pulled back on the reigns of his horse, the momentum making it dance to the side attempting to harness his energy to stretch full out. James was on the other side of the road, and all froze at the sight of them.

  “Well if I was to guess, I’d say these niggas is up to no good. Good thang Ms Katherine track us down when she did. Why, I do believe they was on the verge of doing harm to this here white man!” James spoke as though astounded at their audacity.

  Chester snatched his arms from Henry, then his rifle from Jordan.

  “Well you’re late! Do you see what the hell been done to me?! This the worse lot of darkies I ever seen…treatin’ a white man the way they done me. Handlin’ me!”

  James sat his horse looking down at Lena in Amos arms. Her face swollen and beaten beyond recognition…he felt a chill. He swallowed, then look to Kevin; who saw and turned back to the others before he ordered Amos. “Get her back to her cabin…now!! For she die here!” Amos did so, afraid she would, Lena had passed out again. “Mama…mamaaaa!!” Mikey panicked and began fighting again. Jordan stood stunned, waiting for them to back what they knew was true. “Kevin sa’, you gots’t’tell this man the truth of it. Tell’em unchain Manny’s boy.”

  “Listen here nigga…don’t forget who I am? Sick of all you uppity niggas. Parading ‘round like you as good as the rest of us. Get back to the plantation… now!!”

  “Afta’ we get Manny’s boy!” Jordan demanded.

  “That boy…last I heard…was sold! Now let’s go!”

  “I got the papers right here to prove it!” Chester volunteered.

  “Lemme see’em.” Asked Kevin.

  Chester approached him quickly showing the papers to him. Kevin made a big show of reading them over, when in fact, he’d never been able to read. He re-folded the paper and handed it back to Chester.

  “You have a nice day sir!”

  “Noooooo!! I can’t let you do this! That boy can’t be sol’!! Please now – don’t do this!!” Jordan pleaded growing desperate and angry. Chester squared his shoulders, and ordered the three on the ground up into the wagon. “Hurry up…we getting out of here!”

  “Jordan! - No!” Mikey cried out. “Jordan … Get me out’ah here - Jordan!”

  “This ain’t right!! It ain’t right – you know it ain’t right!!” Jordan bellowed in the center of the road…Henry stood with tears streaming and couldn’t believe what was happening.

  “Mr. Dobbs…come on sa’…please — you can’t let this man take Manny’s boy from here. You can’t…please!”

  “Ain’t my job to stop’em. Now – let’s - go!”

  “That boy not for sale!!”

  “Jordan please don’t let him take me. Don’t let him’em take me… please — please Jordan…you gotta stop’im Jordan … you gotta!” Mikey was sobbing now, his wrist chafed raw and bleeding from his struggle with the shackles, his face red and wet from sweat, blood and tears. His nose was running from his heavy crying, his mouth spraying saliva…with his hands chained, he was unable to wipe his face. James swallowed,
and looked to Kevin.

  “I can’t stand by…I can’t stand by!” Jordan raged as he ran for the wagon that was now on the move; some ran for it, as the others ran to grab Kevin. Rifles cocked and trained from three directions. James knew what had to be done, but he didn’t care for doing it. “Off my wagon, or I blow the boys head off!” Chester threatened with the end of his rifle at Mike’s head. Kevin had one trained on Jordan, and James had his on Leon.

  “Who prepared to die now!? Who prepared to die?!” Kevin demanded. “It’s over. Head back to the plantation…or I start to shoot! Everybody move this way, or me and James’ll take turns blowing you away!”

  Mikey sobbed as the wagon pulled away; Jordan staring at him as the distance grew. “Nooooo Jordan – Jordaa-a-an – Jordan get my - Dadieee – get my daddy Jordan! Get Manny!” He screamed.

  * * *

  Katherine stood on the front porch watching as Kevin and James re-entered the yard, the small group of slaves in front of them. She’d been there to see Amos bring Lena back…passed out, beaten. The sight of her made even Katherine flinch and quickly look away. She ignored the outcries and screaming of the women who saw her as he met up with those waiting to see the outcome.

  “Well, you was right. They practically lynch the po’ fella’. We got there just in time.”

  “Good…thank you.” She responded stonily; looking off into the distance with cool indifference. “What you want us to do about Jordan, Henry and Leon. They the main ones that led the rest. Them boys need to learn they place. We on the verge of a riot I tell you. Manny allow them too much freedom, they got no respect for authority… for white folk. Somethin’ need to be done.” She looked down at them and shrugged. “You’re the overseer, do your job.” Kevin nodded a thank you, turned his horse and rode towards the slaves quarters, James reluctantly behind.