Heart of a slave

Me or Nothing

That morning, Dimitri went to the cell where Kee was kept imprisoned for several days. The place was filthy. The stench of urine and defecation filled the air. He pulled open the bars, "Are you able to walk?" he enquired. Kee was lying curled up on the rat-infested floor. Dimitri looked at him pitifully. He wondered why any man should be made to suffer such hardship and humiliation. Conscious that it was he who had inflicted this punishment on an innocent man, he was overcome by disgust.

He took a small container of water with a wooden spoon from the hand of his friend, Nathan, and approached Kee.

Dehydrated and hungry, Kee looked up, eyes glazed. He gazed at the container of water in Dimitri's hand in anticipation. Dimitri filled the spoon and lifted it to his lips. Kee drank, sighing with relief. The men assisted Kee to his feet and supported him out of the cell. They took him to the male slave quarters and lay him on one of the beds. Dimitri watched as a boy, no older than eight summers old, ran to the stricken man's side on the pallet and embraced him, weeping.

Sorrowfully, Dimitri looked away then instructed Nathan to order that food be brought for both father and son; that Kee be washed and fresh linen be supplied to him. "He is to remain in his quarters and rest until he fully recovers before he returns to work."

Grateful, Kee nodded, and overcome by weakness he closed his eyes and fell asleep. Dimitri watched as the boy sat nervously at his father's side, fidgeting his small legs.

"He is going to be ok," he reassured him. "He is just a little tired right now. There is drinking water in the container in case he needs it."

The boy nodded obediently.

Touched by the child's attachment to his father, Dimitri invited him to come to the manor anytime he wished. Excited by this grand offer, the child squealed in delight jumping to his feet. Dimitri grinned widely.

As he was already there, He took the opportunity to perform room inspections. He observed that in certain areas the smell was unbelievably revolting. He was hardly able to breathe. Slave patrollers were everywhere, he knew, and they would have been fully aware of the sickening state of the slave quarters and he couldn't understand why they did not do anything to improve the sanitation of the place. Impatiently, he demanded the attention of a slave patroller named George Williamson. "Why does this place smell like a dump?"

Surprised at his lordship's question, George failed to give a timely response.

"I demand an answer!" Dimitri snapped.

Officer George stammered, "Mi-mi l-lord, the animals urinate and defecate among themselves."

Annoyed at his response, Dimitri swore, "What do you think will be the result if men are shackled in the evening? I expect you officers to pay closer attention to their needs."

George did not reply.

Dimitri hissed, "Next time I perform a site inspection, I expect the place to be clean. A record must be kept of every slave going to the river at the end of the day." George shuffled his feet uncomfortably. Dimitri continued, "Tell Davidson that after slaves are sent on the plantation tomorrow, I shall return for a report on what has been done. There is a boy and his father in the quarters on the left. The man is unwell. He is to rest until he recovers fully. Is that clear?" The slave patroller nodded and waited for his lordship's departure.

Finally, alone, George was seething with resentment. He stalked into Davidson's office, neighboring the slave quarters, and informed his colleague of the new commands given to them by his lordship. He glowered at the four slaves who were lined up before Davidson then lifted his rifle, hands trembling with rage. He pointed randomly at the slaves, grinning. "Who wants to play?" he laughed dryly and continued laughing while he swept his rifle back and forth covering the slaves.