by Al Lacy
Viewers were pressing close as Finn pushed his way up to the fence and waited while another plantation owner looked the muscular young man over. Charles and Evelyn Moore and Zack, Catherine, and Dan Johnson were right behind the Colvins.
Martha turned to them and said. “Isn’t this one something?”
“That he is,” said Zack, running his gaze over Benjamin.
As soon as the man ahead of him stepped away, Finn moved up, looked at Benjamin, and said, “What’s your name, boy?”
The use of the word “boy” made Benjamin’s blood heat up, but he did not show it. Barely moving his lips, he said, “My name is Benjamin, sir. And yours?”
Finn chuckled. “Did you hear that? The blackie wants to know my name!”
“Tell him,” Charles said flatly.
Grinning at Benjamin, Finn said, “My name is Master Finn to you. Master Finn Colvin.”
Benjamin had an immediate dislike for the man. Looking him square in the eye, he said, “I don’t believe you are Master Finn to me unless you hold my papers, sir.”
Finn’s smile vanished. “Well, let me tell you what, Benjamin. I am going to buy you. With your physique, you’ll put out enough work in a day to make up for two men. Then you will call me Master Finn, I guarantee you.”
Benjamin did not reply, but inside a hope was born that some other plantation owner would outbid him.
Finn said, “You alone, or do you have a wife?”
“I am alone. I do not have a wife.”
Finn looked back at Charles, Dan, and Zack. “Yep, I’m gonna buy this one.”
“And make him do the work of two men?” Zack said.
“Sure. Look at him. He can handle it.”
“Maybe for a while. But in time, you’ll kill him off.”
Finn laughed. “I doubt that. But even if I did, it wouldn’t be any of your business, would it?”
Zack only stared at him.
Chuckling, Finn said, “Come on, Martha. Let’s go sit down.”
Finn glanced over his shoulder as they walked away and gave Benjamin a sly smile.
Benjamin heard someone in the crowd collected at the pen say, “Yeah. Finn will buy him, all right. He’s the richest man in the county. What Finn Colvin wants, Finn Colvin gets.”
Another man said, “You’re right about that. And if he gets him, he’ll work him to death.”
“He sure will,” said another voice. “Colvin isn’t human. He’s a beast. His poor slaves have to endure beatings, overwork, bad housing, and poor food.”
Benjamin’s mouth went dry. Why would this horrible thing fall on him? Wasn’t life as someone else’s property bad enough? Why would he have to be owned by a man like Finn Colvin?
Catherine Johnson whispered to Zack, “I fear what they’re saying is right. If Finn buys this young man, he will work him to death.”
Zack nodded solemnly.
“You’re right, Mom,” Dan said. “I sure hope someone besides Finn gets him.”
Benjamin turned his gaze inward and stared into space.
Dan stepped up to him and said, “Hello, Benjamin. My name is Dan Johnson. I’ve studied much about Africa … especially South Africa. What part of South Africa are you from?”
Dan’s soft voice and friendly manner caused the dread to ease within Benjamin. He looked at Dan and said, “I was a slave on a cattle ranch in the mountain country of Great Karroo, sir.”
“Oh, sure. That’s some two hundred miles northeast of Cape Town.”
Benjamin was surprised at Dan Johnson’s knowledge of his country. He smiled and said, “Yes, sir. That is correct.”
Suddenly the voice of auctioneer Clem Samson called out, “All right, everybody, time to get started! Find your seats!”
Benjamin watched the Johnsons as they took their seats in the bleachers. He was sure the man and woman with Dan were his parents. He looked a little like both of them. Then his gaze fell on Finn Colvin, who was seated directly in front of the Johnsons. His blood ran cold at the thought of that man owning him.
Thomas Green mounted the platform and stood beside Clem Samson. “All right, folks,” he said, “I’m going to give you a brief background on the slaves as my assistant, Jim Lynch, sends them to the auction block.”
The auction began with the slaves who had children. With each family, Green read from information on a sheet of paper, pointing out their positive qualifications.
When the slaves with children had been auctioned off, the couples without children were brought to the block, two by two—the young ones first. Benjamin watched as his friend Jarod and his wife were sold, followed by Stamus and his wife. When all the young couples had been purchased, the older couples were brought to the block, some being so old they shuffled their way to the block and had to help each other climb up.
The younger male slaves had been sold for an average of 500 dollars apiece, and their wives for an average of 300 dollars. The older male slaves went for an average of 100 dollars, and their wives for 75 dollars.
Soon they were down to the younger individuals. The single women were put on the block first and sold quickly—two of them going to Finn Colvin.
At one point, Benjamin was looking at Dan Johnson when Dan happened to turn and set his eyes on him. Dan smiled, and Benjamin smiled in return.
Next were the single young men, who sold fast. One of them was an especially fine-looking man, and several plantation owners bid on him until Finn Colvin ran the price to 600 dollars and the others dropped out of the bidding. Benjamin watched the scene, knowing that the man was right who said what Finn Colvin wanted, Finn Colvin got.
The sun was at its zenith as the last man in front of Benjamin was taken from the pen by Jim Lynch and sent to the block while Thomas Green read his background and qualifications to the crowd.
Benjamin glanced Finn Colvin’s way and saw the man turn and look at him. Colvin grinned wickedly and Benjamin felt his pulse quicken. He turned his eyes away.
The man on the block was sold quickly for 450 dollars, then Jim Lynch opened the gate and said, “Okay, Benjamin. Your turn.”
Benjamin’s mouth was dry as a sand pit as he passed the gate and headed toward the block.
On the platform, Thomas Green said, “Now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the young man I have been holding till last. Take a good look at him and you’ll understand why. This is my choice slave.”
There was an approving murmur from the crowd.
Benjamin climbed to the top of the block as Green said, “His name is Benjamin, folks. He was a slave on a cattle ranch in the mountains of Great Karroo. His owner wrote that Benjamin is a hard worker, and I think you can tell by looking at him that he could handle a good day’s work.”
There was light laughter and some words of agreement.
“Benjamin,” Green said, “I want these folks to get a real good look at you. Remove your shirt.”
Benjamin’s backbone stiffened, but he knew he dare not disobey. As he was unbuttoning his shirt, Green said, “Something else about this choice young slave, folks—he speaks, reads, and writes English excellently. He was educated by the British owners of the cattle ranch where he was raised.”
Voices oohed and ahhed as Benjamin removed his shirt and held it in his hand. His upper body glistened in the sun. He changed the shirt from one hand to the other, and even that slight movement caused his muscles to ripple and cord beneath his skin.
Thomas Green smiled and gestured toward Benjamin. “What do you think, folks? Look at those bulging, rock-hard muscles! Feast your eyes on those broad shoulders, the deep chest, and the slender waist! Don’t you wish you had a plantation full of men like this? You wouldn’t need so many, would you?”
There was laughter and a rumble of comments.
Suddenly Finn Colvin’s voice called out, “Well, all you plantation owners might as well back off right now. I’m going to have this one!”
Thomas Green reveled in Finn Colvin’s determination to purc
hase Benjamin. He smiled at Finn from the platform and said, “Well, Mr. Colvin, we will see if you are willing to outbid all the men here today who would like to have Benjamin on their plantations!” He turned to the auctioneer. “All right, Clem. Let’s see how badly Mr. Colvin wants this young man.”
Before Clem Samson could speak up and ask what he was bid for Benjamin, Finn Colvin raised his hand and said, “I’ll bid 700 dollars!”
A surprised oooh! swept over the crowd.
Finn looked around and grinned triumphantly, knowing he had started the bidding a hundred dollars higher than any male slave had gone for that morning.
Suddenly another plantation owner raised his hand and offered 725 dollars. Another raised it to 750 dollars. Colvin went to 775 dollars.
Clem Samson held the gavel in his hand at the podium, looked around, and said, “Do I hear 800?”
Another man shouted, “Eight hundred!”
Another raised it 25 dollars.
“Eight hundred-twenty five is the bid! Do I hear 850?”
Finn Colvin gave the signal, and Clem said, “Mr. Colvin raises it to 850 dollars! Do I hear 875?”
As another man offered 875 dollars, Catherine Johnson said to her husband, “Zack, you haven’t bid. Wouldn’t that young man be an asset to our plantation?”
“That he would, sweetheart. Without a doubt.”
“I agree, Pa,” Dan said. “He’s a likable fellow, too.”
“You haven’t bought any other slaves, Zack,” said Catherine. “Certainly you could give Finn a tussle.”
“Yes, Papa,” spoke up Angeline. “Wouldn’t you like to have Benjamin? He’s well educated, Mr. Green said. He could help educate our slaves.”
Finn Colvin gave a signal that he would go to 900 dollars, then having heard the conversation going on behind him, he said, “C’mon, Zack. How about a tussle? Isn’t that boy worth bidding for?”
Zack did not reply.
Finn turned around when he heard Clem Samson say that another had raised his bid to 925 dollars. Finn raised to 950 dollars.
Lowering his voice so the Colvins couldn’t hear him, Zack huddled close to his family and said, “I’ve intended to bid on Benjamin all along. I’m just waiting till the plantation owners with less wealth drop out of the bidding.” Then with a stubborn set to his jaw, he added, “I’m not going to let Finn have that fine young man. He would work him to death. I’m going to outbid Finn no matter how high the price.”
Dan smiled and shook his fist in exultation, then whispered, “Good for you, Pa!”
Charles Moore leaned close and said, “Zack, you must be going to take Finn’s challenge.”
“You might say that, Charles.”
“Good!” said Charles, then turned to his family and nodded with a smile.
As the bids by the other plantation owners kept going up 25 dollars at a time, Finn Colvin laughed as he kept raising his bid.
By the time the bid for Benjamin was 1,025 dollars, the last of the plantation owners except for Finn Colvin had dropped out. Colvin jabbed his elbow into Martha’s ribs and said, “Well, I told ’em, didn’t I? That pile of muscles is going to work on my plantation!”
Auctioneer Clem Samson was saying, “Going … going … for one thousand and twenty-five dollars—!”
Zack Johnson shouted, “Mr. Samson, I bid eleven hundred dollars!”
Applause broke out in the crowd.
Finn’s smile died on his lips. He turned around and said, “Don’t get cute with me, Zack.”
“You want to pay more than eleven hundred, Finn? Raise the bid.”
Colvin’s cheeks flushed. Whipping his head around, he raised his hand and shouted, “Twelve hundred!”
“Mr. Colvin bids twelve hundred,” said Samson. “Going for one thousand two hundred dollars … going … going …”
“Thirteen hundred!” called Zack Johnson.
There was more applause, punctuated with cheers.
Colvin’s head whipped around. Fixing Zack with malevolent eyes, he said, “You won’t be able to do it.”
Zack gave him a bland look. “The bid is thirteen hundred. If you’re going to raise it, you’d better hurry.”
Clem Samson was already saying, “Going for thirteen hundred! Going … going …”
“Fourteen hundred!” shouted Colvin.
“Fifteen hundred!” Zack shouted.
Benjamin let a slight smile curve his lips when he saw Dan Johnson pat his father on the shoulder, then look toward him. When their eyes met, Benjamin’s smile broadened and Dan nodded, a look of confidence in his eyes.
“Sixteen hundred!” Finn yelled.
The disapproval of the crowd was loud and clear. Everyone waited with bated breath for Zack Johnson to top it.
Thomas Green could hardly believe the price for Benjamin. He put his gaze on Zack Johnson, as did everyone else.
Zack waited until Clem Samson said, “Going … going … for one thousand six hundred dollars …” then he raised his hand and shouted, “Seventeen hundred!”
Benjamin’s heart started to pound.
Finn Colvin turned around and set fierce eyes on Zack. His cheeks were aflame. “Have you lost your mind?” he said.
“Have you lost yours?” came the crisp reply.
George and Edward Colvin stared at Zack in utter disbelief. Their father had never paid more than nine hundred dollars for a slave. And Zack Johnson was not backing off. How high would their father go to own the muscular young slave on the block?
Dan Johnson took hold of his mother’s hand as both of them kept their eyes on Zack. Alexander took hold of his sister’s hand. Angeline looked at him as if he was the one who had lost his mind. Alexander had not held her hand since they were small children.
Looking into his eyes, she said, “Are you all right?”
Alexander looked down at their clasped hands and grinned. “Uh-huh. I’m just nervous. I thought you might be, too.”
Angeline grinned back. “You’re right. I am.”
Finn Colvin called loudly, “I bid seventeen hundred and fifty!”
Benjamin’s mouth felt like a sandpit again. Sweat beaded his brow. How long would this go on? Already he liked Dan Johnson very much, and he was liking Dan’s father better every minute.
WHILE FINN COLVIN’S ANTAGONISTS voiced their disapproval, Zack called out, “Clem, I bid eighteen hundred!”
The jeers and boos turned into cheers, whistles, and applause.
Finn Colvin turned around with teeth bared and eyes blazing. “What are you doin’, Zack?”
“Bidding for a slave I want to buy. What are you doing?”
“Don’t let him bother you, Pa!” George said.
“Yeah, Pa!” Edward piped up. “Go on and raise the bid!”
Finn held Zack’s gaze for a few seconds, then heard Clem’s voice calling out acceptance of the bid. He sighed once then shouted, “Eighteen-fifty!”
Zack stood up. “Clem, I bid twenty-five hundred!”
Gasps rippled throughout the crowd, followed by wordless sounds of approval that ended in more shouts, whistles, and applause.
“Twenty-five hundred is the bid!” Samson called above the noise. “Do I hear twenty-six?”
Thomas Green could not believe it. He had never known of a slave to sell for a price anywhere near that amount.
All eyes went to Finn Colvin, who had jumped to his feet. His sons stood beside him, watching his face.
Finn looked at Zack Johnson with hate-filled eyes and swore at him, saying, “No slave is worth that kind of money! You can have him!”
Clem Samson’s voice was heard above the clamor as he slammed his gavel down with a bang and shouted, “Sold for two thousand five hundred dollars to Mr. Zack Johnson!”
A wild roar erupted from the crowd as they leaped to their feet and applauded.
Benjamin’s knees were watery as he put his shirt on and began buttoning it up.
While the crowd’s enthusiastic roar ro
cked the arena, Finn Colvin took Martha by the arm and said, “Let’s go pay for the slaves we bought and take ’em home.”
As they started down the steps of the bleachers, Finn looked back at Zack, who was talking to the Moores, and set fierce eyes on him.
Charles noticed him and said, “Zack, I think Finn wants to say something to you.”
When Zack looked at him, Finn ejected a string of profanity, calling him several vile names, then turned and headed on down the stairs.
Zack bristled and started to move that way, but he felt Catherine’s hand grip his arm. He paused to look at her.
“Don’t do it, Zack,” she said.
“He swore in front of you and my daughter! He needs his mouth smacked!”
“Honey, it would only make you look bad after all this hassle over Benjamin. It’s all right. Angeline and I are fine.”
Dan moved up beside his mother. “How about I smack his mouth, Pa? It won’t make me look as bad.”
“Please, Dan,” said Catherine. “Just let it go.”
“How about if a lowly sixteen-year-old belted his chops for him, Mom?” Alexander said.
“No. It would just make things worse than they are. I appreciate the men in this family looking out for the honor of their ladies, but please … no violence.”
When the Colvins reached the ground, Martha paused and looked back at the Johnsons. Her face was crimson with emotion. Setting her eyes on Catherine, she mouthed the words, I’m sorry.
Catherine nodded and gave her a warm smile.
Just then, Zack took Catherine’s hand and said, “Let’s all go down and talk to Benjamin. It’ll be a few minutes before we can get to one of the cashier’s windows.”
“Oh, let’s do, Papa!” said Angeline. “I want to meet him!”
“Me too,” said Alexander.
Before they could descend the bleachers, the Moores stepped up to them.
“Zack,” Charles said, “we are so relieved that Finn didn’t get that fine young man. You outsmarted him is what you did.”
Dorena moved up close to Priscilla and whispered, “Would it be all right if I speak to Mr. Johnson?”
“Of course, honey.” Priscilla addressed Zack by saying, “Mr. Johnson, Dorena asked for permission to speak to you. I told her it would be all right.”
