The Cry of Liberty

Chapter Six: Caught

"An honor to meet you, Mr. Montrell. My husband sent me ahead to look over your selection of house slaves. He will join us shortly." Sasha held her hand up for the portly man to kiss.

"Please, madam, the honor is mine. Call me Lealon." She followed him down the dirt path, past fields of tobacco full of workers tending the valuable plant. A few mounted men circled the fields, keeping a watchful eye on the workers. "I look forward to hearing what your husband thinks of my stock. I not only offer the finest tobacco of the new world, but the healthiest workers along with it." He stopped in front of a wooden shack, barely held together or fit for living in.

"That's why my dear Cyrus wanted us to buy from you. You can never guarantee quality with the stock at the auctions."

"I couldn't agree more, Mrs. Tullis." Sasha smiled politely, internally sliding her sword through his heart at least a dozen times. One of the ploys she and her crew used to gain access to their targets was to pretend to be in the market for their product. Mr. and Mrs. Tullis were responsible for liberating more than two hundred and fifty slaves, indentured servants, and any soul who wanted to be free of the oppression of the greed of colonization. One day they'd change the names on her and Elias' wanted posters to their aliases.

After freeing the St. Agatha from her husband, Sasha decided she would continue fighting the injustice of the human trade Europe seemed so keen on continuing. They sailed from the American colonies down to the sugar plantations of the Caribbean, aiding in revolts and offering passage to those who wanted it. She slowly learned the workings of her ship, which she so properly renamed the Cry of Liberty, and became a proper captain.

"These are a few of our young women, perfect for your needs around the house." Lealon opened the door to the shack and Sasha was met with the weary stares of five slave women. "We have company." He said in a threateningly sweet tone.

"Might I look them over in private, womens business you see." Sasha hinted. He nodded in understanding.

"I'll be just outside then." The plantation owner stepped out and left her alone with the women. Once she was sure he was out of sight, she smiled kindly at the slave women.

"Do any of you have experience in the home?" She spoke loud enough for Lealon to hear, acting as if she was conducting an interview. Sasha reached into her bodice, pulling out a scrap of parchment. She handed it to one of the women and waited for her to read it. "I'm looking for a competent soul, capable of acting as my house maid. You would see to the meal prep, the cleaning, and anything else I see fit for you to do."

The slave woman read what the paper said, handing off to the next, nodding at Sasha in understanding. They conversed about skills and duties to keep Lealon unaware of the plot to spread the word, they would be free. Once they had all read it, Sasha took the paper back and tossed it in the cooking fire burning in the hearth. She offered one last hopeful smile and left.

"They are most excellent, I will need time to choose. I can have an answer for you first thing in the morning." She walked beside him as they made their way back to the main house. "Cyrus will be here as well so you two can talk field workers." The fat man laughed heartily, excited at the promise of profitable business.

"Allow me to offer you a room in my home for the night. It's getting late, and I'm sure your husband wouldn't want his lovely young wife wandering the streets of Norfolk alone." Lealon stopped on the steps of the porch. "My wife would love the company, keep her occupied for the evening, if you understand." He winked. Sasha looked up at him in surprise. This wasn't part of the plan. The plan was for her to return to the ship and come up with the plan now that the plantation had been scouted.

"I could not refuse such a generous gesture, Lealon. Thank you." She followed him inside the house, glancing back at the fields. A rough looking young man stared her down, speaking to one of the other hired hands all the while.

The door to her room in the Montrell house was ripped open. Sasha shot up from her slumber, mind foggy. She was dragged out of her bed and out of the house. The adrenaline cleared her sleep hazed mind and she realized she was being handled by the foreman she had seen that evening. Lealon followed them, along with a few of the hired hands. She could just make out the leather whip in Lealon's hand in the dim moonlight.

"Tie her up to the post, Burns." The plantation boss ordered. The man holding her grunted in response, jerking her up by her hair and ripping her nightgown from her body. He dragged her to the wooden post by the slave quarters and tied her wrists with the rope hanging from the top. Lealon knelt behind her and spoke into her ear. "Sasha Hartford, I almost let you get away with your little scheme. Luckily my head man gave me this." He held the wanted poster so she could see it.

"The authorities will be here tomorrow afternoon to collect you." Burns sneered as he finished the final knot.

"I'll be paid handsomely for capturing the famous Black Widow of the Seas. Wanted by the English, the Dutch, the Spanish, and even some countries in Africa." The man stood up and backed away. "Dead or alive, that's what this says, so I'll get my own punishment in before turning you over to the Company." He raised the whip and brought it down to meet her back.