Recluse Island

Chapter 14

August 1845

Alix was the first to notice the men.

It was an unfortunate side effect of spending the first eleven years of his life waking before dawn. Born in San Antonio, Texas on a plantation called Bluebell Hill, Alix spent the early years of his life performing grueling manual labor, struggling to fill the void in his stomach and plotting ways to escape. After many failed attempts and too many whippings to count he'd succeeded in 1833. Ultimately, he found his way to Taylor's Landing where he met his savior in the form of Theodore Spinosum.

Yet, Alix was not happy. To an extent he was free, even though everyone thought he was an indentured servant first to Ted and now to Robert. That didn't bother him, what did was to know his brother Elijah was dead. It wasn't for certain, but Alix knew after being caught escaping his punishment would be death.

The two brothers had planned and planned for months to make a break for freedom but what they hadn't counted on was the heavy rains that summer leaving the fields flooded and their way sluggish. They were being chased when Elijah suddenly fell twisting his ankle. Alix had stopped as soon as he realized Elijah was no longer by his side. But Elijah had yelled for Alix to keep going. Don't stop until you're free, were Elijah's exact words. And so, Alix kept running. Twelve years later he was still tormented with nightmares from that moment. The guilt was like acid festering in his stomach. Alix knew he should have stayed and helped his brother. So, what if they had died? Then at least they would have died together.

Now leaving the sleeping men he creeped away from their camp keeping to the tree line. Slowly he traversed the dense forest prominent with flora and fauna. Knowing he needed to make as little noise as possible he gently pushed aside the giant elephant ear plants and tree ferns in his way. Alix walked until he had gone approximately two miles. There he saw what had awoken him.

As he had lain staring at the stars, he had begun to wonder what his remaining brothers and sisters were doing. Were they picking cotton? Or had his sisters Dion and Aliyah finally made it into the big house and was Master Blackburn still alive? It was then he heard the distant sounds of thumps and grunts and men's voices. Now wide awake he followed the sound until he saw the cause.

A magnificent ship stood before him. Crisp white sails flapped in the early dawn revealing a sleek vessel constructed of gleaming burnished wood. The words Morendo Rosa were painted in black on the side and flying proudly, above it all was a striped, green, white and red flag.

Alix didn't know who they were or what they wanted but he did know one thing. They were trouble.

"Robert, wake up." Alix shook his friends' shoulders first gently and then roughly when he still did not open his eyes from where he lay sleeping a short distance away from the cold bonfire.

"What is it, Alix?" Robert mumbled sleepily rolling over onto his back. At Eugenia's request she remained at the treehouse until they arrived in Taylor's Landing when Eugenia would move into his house, and they would formally begin acting as husband and wife.

"We have visitors." Alix informed him bleakly.

"Where?" Robert sat upright and instantly alert, his hair a disheveled mess.

"About two miles down the beach." Alix quickly relayed.

"Show me." Robert demanded.

Careful not to wake the others, Alix led the way. When they reached the spot Alix had found earlier, he pointed the men out to Robert.

"It's unusual." Robert pondered, "Genia said we are the only ones to come across this way since they've been here."