All But One

by Sandra LaVaughn

  Jethro had seen Faye looking at the woman, then left. He followed her and asked, “was that yo’ mama?”

  Faye answered, “Yes.”

  “How’s come you’s say nothin’ to her?”

  “Did you see her? Did you smell her? She used to tell me when I git’s ten I’s be a professional streetwalker just like her. So, I was on da’ pantation.”

  “How old you be when dey’ take you,” Jethro asked.

  Faye said, “I was not taken, I was sold at the age of six. I saw Massa gib my mama money, she said ta’ me. “go on wid’ da’ man. Dat be pert’ near forty years ago.”

  From June through mid-September were busy months for everyone in New York. Some news stations ran the news all day long, too many reporters from across America, Canada, and other countries traveled to Ogville, MacCall, and Titleburk. In Ogville Chief Gideon had a meeting with the city’s officials and news reporters, he told them all about the Brown family lies and the arrest of Chief Stevens and his precinct.

  It took Ogville’s residents two weeks to tear down Harry’s gigantic statue. In its place, they planted a beautiful flower garden and set decorative benches in the midst of the garden.

  Unfortunately, Donovan and Theenda the towns favorite couple were despised by the three towns residents. The couple had wiped out a whole family. They blamed Jeff murder on Donovan, the Chief assured the FBI that he had nothing to do with Jeff, he explained, “Jeff returned after the slaves had escaped. He told them that Donovan saved the slaves and was taking them far away.

  *******

  While in New York, the Bright’s met up at Donovan’s parents’ home to read in the two books and open the wood box that Glaidous had given to Donovan. The family was astonished, Donovan said, “we returned where our family Paula was a slave, and Moses, our grandpa, designed H.B. Metropolis.” He looked at John and said, “that’s where you get your gift to build.”

  John said, “little bro’ yes, it is, I often wondered where it came from.”

  James said, “I want to go back before they completely destroy H.B.”

  “They may have already dad,” Donovan replied.

  “No, they haven’t, it’s too early right now they are researching the place, looking for dead bodies, they will want to talk with some of the slaves. No, not yet son, they are still working out how could such a thing happen right under their noses.”

  Sara said, “you’re right honey.”

  John said, “that’s why I like drawing buildings and communities, I am good at it. Mom, dad, I have a confession.”

  “We already know that you teach architect and design,” Sara said.

  John asked surprised, “how’d you know.”

  James said, “we’re your parents.”

  Paul was alarmed, he asked, “he’s been lying to the family all these years?”

  John claimed, “I’m not that old.”

  Donovan said, “that’s the reason you gave me the wallet, you knew John was not teaching history.”

  Ignoring Donovan, James said, “the beginning of the Bright’s…”

  Sara said, “was in the children’s cabin at H.B. Metropolis.”

  Theenda said looking at Donovan, “I called you Moses, Sweetie. Little did I know; you really are Moses Berhanu. Wow!”

  Paul, John, and Donovan said together as though rehearsed, “yeah, we’re not using that last name.”

  They laughed.

  *******

  October 2017, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Office Of The Inspection General insisted that Donovan with his modern-day abolitionist and a few of the slaves return to the H.B. Metropolis Plantation. The Government Officials had questions about the illegal twenty-first-century slaves. Having no other choice, Donovan, his[RL118] wife Theenda, Timpkin, and KayKay Linwood, and his sidekick Haze Day, that was divorced from his ex-wife, Tess returned. Including Mrs. Paddleton, who financed the escape, and her twin great-grandchildren, Phillip and Phillipa assisted with the flight to freedom. The freedmen and women that returned were Lee, his uncle Glaidous, Ben, Rita, Helen, Jethro, and Saul.

  January 2017, Donovan learned that there were actual slaves hidden by a massive forest and locked within giant gates. His adrenaline catapulted in hyper-overdrive to end slavery in America for good. June 17, 2017, Donovan with his wife, parents, and four friends stole the slaves making them free men and women.

  Unfortunately, upon their return home to Ogville, the folk in their hometown were not hospitable. They turned their backs, rolled their eyes, and hissed foul words at the band of modern-day abolitions. Donovan and Theenda went from being the towns favorite young couple to being shunned. They found that their homes and belongings had been destroyed. Donovan and Theenda ran through their home trying to salvage what was not wrecked by the townspeople. Donovan said, “I am going to be so happy to get out of this town.”

  Theenda replied, “thank God the FBI is near. The town folk is angry with us.”

  Donovan said, “you’d think they would be happy; the Brown secret is over, and the last member of that family is dead.”

  Donovan and his wife packed the rental car with things that would be allowed on the airplane. They drove to MacCall, thus forever leaving behind the first house they purchased together. [RL119]

  The day Donovan and his people arrived on the plantation, there were already several FBI agents, people from the Office Of Inspector General, historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, a construction crew with several backhoes, and a host of other people helping to clear the rubble and assist wherever needed. Lastly, Chief Gideon did nothing to stop the townspeople, from looting the Abolitionist homes.

  Donovan organized everyone into groups of seven or ten, each group received a slave. Donovan put himself and his people with Lee. The ex-slave were the tour guides, they explained the plantation operations. Though the gates were gone, the freedmen and women knew exactly where everything was once located within the slave compound. Using army jeeps with radios, Donovan with his buddies, and the slaves were driven all over the plantation starting in front of the Brown family mansion. As they drove past, Theenda flinched and lowered her head when she saw the front door. Donovan put his arm around her shoulder, and whispered, “it’s all over.”

  They drove around to the back of the mansion, through where the outer gate once stood, on to the children area, the cabin was still standing. Donovan’s father told them about the area, he had helped the children and trainer out the children cabin, through the children gate, past the outer gate, beyond the mansion onto the school bus.

  Helen was the children caregiver. She explained how the children system ran and how she took over when the nurse and teacher were escorted out the children’s area, by Mr. Brown. She ended her explanation when she said, “Massa Brown sista’ worked wid’ da’ chil’ren, one day she be gone and neva’ come back.”

  Donovan said, “he killed her.”

  Helen showed them inside the cabin.

  They left the children area and drove through where the divider gate stood, and past the overseers’ [RL120]cabins, “Lee said, “I thank that’s whar’s the overseer lived.”

  They got out of the car and entered both overseers cabins.

  Everyone on the plantation met where the church once stood, when all was quiet, Glaidous said, “dis’ be town. We’s escaped from da’ church.”

  The freedmen and women took turns telling Donovan and the government workers about digging their way out the backroom of the church. Lee said, “the last night of the revival I was nervous and happy.”

  Saul said, “hum-um, I be scared and happy.”

  The crowd followed the freedmen and women as they talked about the cabins, who lived where, the tobacco field, the whipping tree, and their beatings, they told the crowd about the cruelty they endured.

  An agent said, “the gates stood twenty-two feet on top of the land and six feet under.”

  Another person explained; the gates divided areas.”


  Theenda asked, “why didn’t they climb out?”

  Mrs. Paddleton said, “the Browns had the gates greased twice a year by six men. When their work was finished, they were killed.”

  Donovan said, “can you imagine, over one hundred years of killing twelve men every year.”

  Mrs. Paddleton said, “when the overseer’s, nurses, and teachers turned fifty they were killed.”

  Timpkin said, “the trees grew away from the gates and not in the slave living quarters, they couldn’t climb out.”

  A construction worker explained, “we dug up thousands of steel plates that directed roots in the opposite direction of the gate.”

  “Wow,” Donovan began then continued, “Harry V. Brown thought of everything.”

  “His plan was to keep slaves on his property forever.” Mrs. Paddleton commented.

  Lee said, “had it not been for Mr. Bright, we still be slaves.”

  A man from The Office Of Inspection General said, “everyone follow me,” he took them where Stevens shot the two overseers and Bo died, he said, “three bodies were found right here, two white men shot, the other looked like something had hit him in the head.”

  Glaidous spoke up and said, “that was the two overseers and Bo.”

  Donovan asked, “why didn’t they leave with you?”

  “Bo was Massa snitch, and da overseers worked for Massa,” Ben answered.

  Lee said, “they were locked on the plantation with us, and like us could not leave.”

  An agent pulled Donovan aside and asked, “Mr. Bright, how did you find this place.”

  Donovan began his explanation when one of the historians went into the area where a construction worker was digging.

  Donovan said to the agent, “excuse me.” He ran to where the man was digging, he yelled, “Sir! three to four hundred people were buried in that hole!”

  Everyone stopped talking and followed Donovan, Jethro said, “Mr. Bright, dat be whar’s our vegetables grow.”

  A historian stood in front of the backhoe to stop the man from digging. Mrs. Paddleton said, “mister stop digging, if Mr. Bright is wrong you can continue, if he’s right, the bones will have to be identified and pieced together.”

  Rita said, “cain’t be no dead people in there, our food be planted on dis’ here ground.”

  Donovan asked, “were the plants big, bright, well grown, and healthy every year?”

  The seven freedmen and women said in unison, “yaw’ Sir.”

  Helen asked, “whad’ dat’ got’s ta do wid’ anything?”

  One of the archaeologists said, “oh, I see. The bodies were the fertilizer.”

  Donovan replied, “exactly, for over one hundred thirty-two years, this has been a burial ground.”

  The anthropologist said, “dig slow and easy.” He said to Donovan, “so far we’ve found three hundred bodies, some of my men are defining the bones as to age and sex.”

  The archaeologist said, “yeah, my group and the anthropologist are working together.”

  An FBI Agent said, “my men are drawing what they could look like.” He paused for a moment as though it was hard for him to say, “we found over two hundred children bodies, several were newborn.” He looked at Donovan and said, “on top the partial burned second porch a body, the autopsy showed it was a woman, a bullet went through her lungs, and lodge in her ribs. We believe her husband shot her, ablaze from the fire came on the porch and spooked the man, he jumped to his death.”

  Donovan asked, “where is he?”

  The agent said, “in the morgue, his autopsy showed, one side of his face was busted opened, we believe he fell on his chest, four ribs penetrated his lungs. He died instantly.”

  “Had to,” Donovan said.

  The man operating the backhoe slowly with caution scooped up dirt, when he got deeper and released the dirt, bones fell out. He was asked to stop digging, the archeologist and anthropologist took over the excavation with their tools.

  Ben ran and puked, Rita and Helen, fainted. Lee, Jethro, Glaidous, and Saul were disgusted. The man that began the dig asked, as he pointed to the freedmen and women, “what’s wrong with them?”

  Haze said, “they ate food grown on top of these bodies.”

  The group hovered together as they gazed on the grave where thousands of bones laid on top of each other.

  Another FBI agent drove to the group, he got out the jeep and said to the other agent, “more bodies in a well not far from the big house was found.”

  Donovan asked, “did you get the bodies in the woods by that huge building?”

  Mrs. Paddleton asked confused, “in the woods?”

  Timpkin answered, “yes, I forgot about that. The night we delivered digging tools; we saw truck lights.”

  Haze said, “yes, four men got out the truck and unpacked it, they put the things in that building.”

  Donovan said, “we were deep in the woods, so only saw figures, one man shot the three and left.”

  The FBI Agent standing next to Donovan said in a demanding tone, “Mr. Bright.”

  Donovan was being constantly distracted; he had not answered the Agent, who was getting on his nerve, question. Mrs. Paddleton looking on said, “the family that harbored free labor from one generation to the next was the Brown family. Harry Brown masterminded and began building this plantation in 1865.”

  The Agent looked at Mrs. Paddleton and asked, “how do you know that?”

  “There were two brothers, Charles and Drew.” Mrs. Paddleton began, she continued, “in the late 1800s Drew tried to kill his brother Charles, but he got away and changed his last name from Brown to Paddleton. I know this because in 1930, I married Charles Paddleton great-grandson, Conley.” Mrs. Paddleton looked at her two great-grandchildren and finished by stating, “Drew remained on this plantation and taught the next generation how to run it and keep its secret.”

  Donovan said, “I learned of the plantation through a student of mine, he found a map in his basement and a message written on a piece of paper. His dad went to MacCall and spoke with the Chief about a plantation that still had slaves, the next day the entire family was killed, the family before they were also killed.”

  Haze said, “while we planned the slaves escape my best friend was killed, due to his knowledge.”

  Timpkin said, “from that point on we kept quiet and planned in silence.”

  Theenda said, “God kept it quiet, and sent us help through Mrs. Paddleton.” Theenda went to Donovan and put her arm around his waist.

  He looked at her and smiled then said, “I followed the student’s map to here, only there were miles and miles of forest to walk through, on the other side of the bushes and trees were miles of the tallest gates I’d ever seen. Using my binoculars, I saw people walking around inside another huge gate.”

  Theenda said, “he came home and said, “I think I saw slaves today. At first, I didn’t believe him.” She looked up at Donovan and said, “I’m sorry.”

  Donovan gave her a little squeeze, then said, “I want to see the castle that Harry V. Brown built.”

  Mrs. Paddleton said, “in the 1800s going to the castle was a half days journey, in a car we’ll get there within a few minutes.”

  An FBI Agent said, “we’ve been here two months, we’ve never seen a castle. Did he have slaves there?”

  “No,” Mrs. Paddleton said, then completed saying, “the castle was supposed to be Harry’s get away, he had planned to move in there after killing his hired hands.”

  The agent looked at Donovan and asked again, “my last time asking, how did you learn all this, the man barely wrote anything down.”

  Donovan looked a Mrs. Paddleton and smiled, he said, “I’m a historian, we search until we find what we’re looking for, sometimes we find it in a book, other time a friend with a manual.” Donovan looked in the agent’s eyes for the first time and asked, “would you like to read the manual?”

  Mrs. Paddleton said, “Harry’s son Charles,
wrote everything in his manual, he wrote it after escaping his brother.”

  The FBI agent answered, “yes, I’d like to read the manual and see the castle,” he asked, “when and how did this all start?”

  Donovan responded, “in 1825, by a hostile little ten-year-old slave boy named, Moe.”

  The agent said, “hold up,” then he asked, “the man who had slaves was black?”

  “No,” Donovan began as he looked on the agent’s confused face, he continued, “he was a white slave. Most people like to call the whites, indentured servant. Moe’s whole family was owned by the slave master, Jeb. Moe ran from slavery and his drunken mom.”

  The agent asked, “how old was he when he ran?”

  Donovan answered, “he was ten years old.”

  Two agents and an archeologist Outside the outer gate by the building where Charles kept the furniture and tobacco when they arrived there were three bodies. An agent got into the jeep and drove to the crowd, he said to the head agent, “three bodies Sir, with bullet holes.”

  Donovan said, “it was Charles Brown that killed them, I remember his face from the Juneteenth celebration.”

  The agent said, “I thought you said it was dark.”

  Haze said, “it was, he stood in front of the car lights, his face was clear.”

  Timpkin said, “we saw him through bushes, still his face was visible.”

  *******

  In New York, after the investigation and all the questioning and the officials were satisfied, Donovan’s mother and father, with his brothers and Paul’s wife and children, sold their homes. They left the Big Apple.

  The American Government reimbursed the money that Donovan used to pay for the trailers and the property. And assured Donovan that if he and his team lived on the property, the tax would be exempted. Donovan asked, “the plan is to get rid of the trailers and build houses, will the taxes still be exempted?”

  The answer was a resounding yes.