MERCY'S HART

NORTH STAR

Zepporah snatched the note after Mercy had finished reading it, and immediately tossed it into the open flame of the kitchen stove.  She smoothed her weathered hands down over her apron several times and rechecked the hidden nooks and crannies for any stray listening ears.

After several moments of nothing said, Mercy asked, "...What are we gonna do?"

"I don't know.  ...I don't know. I wouldn't even ponder it but for you.  -Can't fully trust it. Could be a trap or a test.  Most wouldn't.  ...But some might risk it."

Mercy knew at least one who likely would jump at the chance of running from this place.

Two years ago, Master Kent made them all come out to the whipping post to witness a disobedient slave being punished.  Solomon had been caught tending to his own secret patch of land in the woods; he was keeping a garden without permission.

Everyone was made to watch as Solomon was beaten to within an inch of losing his life.  For good measure, the overseer burned out one of his eyes with a hot poker.  Said, he didn't need it to be a good slave.

If they were going to do this, they knew they had to be careful who to tell.  Some would rather die and see all the other black folks killed before entertaining any suggestion of leaving.  

In the end, Zepporah decided to tell Minnie, the eldest enslaved person there.  No one knew how old, but she was white-haired, with lined skin and none could remember a time when she wasn't there.  Still, she was somehow able to labor on. Wise and true, she could easily parse who could be told without endangering everyone else.  

Zepporah and Mercy took some of the men's meal leavings out to the old woman's shack and told her everything.

»»-------------¤-------------««

Other than Zepporah and Mercy, only three of those Minnie chose to tell decided to go.  Solomon, his wife Henrietta, and his nine year old son Paul.   

Enslaved families either weathered out the storm with a stronger, harder bond than most could imagine these days, or they were ultimately driven to their ends by a life enslaved, emotionally and literally beating on one another like the overseer.

For Solomon's family, it was the former.  Henrietta was plain in looks, but sturdy of heart. Solomon was still a striking and strong  man despite his missing eye, and he loved his family with all of his heart.  He knew what he would be risking more than anyone else, but he wanted a "freed" future for his family.  For him... for them, it was all worth it, even now.

"You know, Kent's gonna hurt the rest of us here when you go." Minnie said.  "And that's not to make ya' reconsider...  It's to say, you best stay gone so's the rest of these nigras at least have the hope to pass along. 

-So's they knows i's possible to git away."

»»-------------¤-------------««

The night of-, Zepporah managed to unearth some ill-fitting men's clothes for Mercy and her hair was cut short for the second time in her life, this time gladly.

When it came time for Mercy to turn around and cut Zepporah's, she held up a hand.

"I'm not going," she said.

"What?! -But you must!" 

"-It's fine.  It's best I'm here to manage him. ...Keep him off ya' back." Zepporah said, not quite managing to look Mercy in the eye.

Mercy stared at this woman, whom she had admired for being so strong and realized a hard truth.  Some part of Zepporah didn't actually want to leave.   Even after all that he had done to her. 

Something inside this woman had molded to the cage to the point where freedom would never feel right to her, now.  That was the cruelest aspect of bondage.  Yes, she would continue  to manipulate this man and do her best to help keep him off their scent...but she would never leave.

"Take this." Zepporah said, giving her a bundled scrap of cloth with hardened tack and dried meat.  "You keep that there tied 'round ya waist. And you keep a bit of extra hid 'neath ya hat... Just in case."

"I will."

"If you hear the dogs comin' for ya, ditch some of it and find water.  An' remember what I told you! If they catch you, you fight like hell. 

 If it's one? Kill him an' run. 

If it's more than that? Kill yourself."

Mercy frowned and nodded.