Alick and Gloria are caught
An uneasy truce was called while the apprentice searched the shed loudly. This attracted the rest of the Freemans, who watched in shock from the backdoor of their home.
“Good sir, I find nothing amiss,” Patrick reported.
“Marian, can you bring me that basket of apples we have in haste,” Archibald asked his wife.
Marian offered the basket to the shaking couple, “Here, relax.”
“I will give you as much food as you desire but in return I want you to tell me your real story. Your fresh shackle bruises tell me your possessions were not taken by road agents. You two are runaways or I am a fool,” Archibald offered.
“My name be Alick, sir, and dis be da wife Gloria. It true. We be on da run from Charles Town,” the black man stopped to bite into an apple.
Heather and Marian took seats as the tension relaxed. “Tell us more, Alick,” Heather prodded.
"We from da Kingdom of Kongo and our friends and family be forced inta service. Many of us from dar. One of Cato’s slaves, Mr. Jemmy, stirred up da lot of us. We was treated much worse den all da utta slaves we know. Da beatin’s be very bad. Twenty of us slaves rise up and go running from da Ashley River, it be north of da Stono River. A few men used ta be soldiers and started making weapons from whatever we found on da way.” Alick boasted, “We kept goin’ south and da news spread. We liberated about sixty slaves from der harsh masters.”
Archibald looked dismayed, “How many white masters did you kill?”
“We took revenge on twenty of da white devils and took der things and weapons,” he said with dismay. “Da militia from da Carolinas caught up wit us at Edisto River and a great battle took place. Dey killed forty-four of da slaves. We killed twenty of da white devils. Da survivors went running and da militia hunt dem down. We be da only ones left I tink. Please good, sir, I never killed any whites in those battles. I don’t have it in me ta kill anyone. Dat is why we have no weapons and we run fast. Those were evil men and deserved ta meet da devil." The fugitive slave pleaded, "Please just let us go on our way and forget we be here.”
The Freemans looked at each other with concern as Archibald spoke sternly, “We need to discuss this. Do not think about running.” The patriarch then handed his sword to Patrick and told him, “If he starts to move, stick him.”
The young smith watched the slave couple cry and shake as the Freemans were judging their fates. After a passionate and lengthy discussion, Archibald returned.
“The Scottish have been terrorized and enslaved in sorts by the British for as long as I can remember. I sympathize with your plea for freedom," Archibald grimaced, "but you put my family in grave peril by staying here. What are your plans for flight?”
“We have no's ideas. Maybe run as far in da swamp is we can so nobody can ever find us.” Gloria replied.
“What if I told you there is a place you can be safe and free?” Archibald questioned.
“No such a place I be know of,” Gloria stammered.
“There is such a place where you can be free. It is called Fort Mose. It is a settlement the Spanish set up to anger the lobsterbacks. The Spanish made it as a haven for escaped slaves to encourage British slaves to run and then raise arms against the British as free men,” Archibald explained in hushed tones.
The black couple stared at the wigged smith in disbelief.
“It’s true. The fort was founded last year. It is a little north of St. Augustine in the Floridas. A Creole man runs the fort. I once did some unmentionable business with him. He is named Francisco Menendez. I am telling you this because I have no love for the English or any government ruling over people with force. It is with great risk to my life and family. I would be branded a traitor to the English and hung from the gallows,” Archibald warned.
“We bless you for dis knowledge. If you draw us a map, we leave at nightfall. We owe your family our lives and would never speak of you ta anyone,” the colored couple sincerely promised.
Alick and Gloria spent the rest of the day quietly eating and drinking upstairs in the small house. Late into the night, Archibald saw them off. “Here, take these apples and this skin to hold water. Here is a dirk for Gloria and an axe for you. Keep these hidden until you have made your way past Darien. Those in Darien would most likely kill you on site for having Scottish weapons. If you do get caught in Darien, beg for your life and tell them to give this note to William McIntosh. The note might keep you from losing your heads.”
The two fugitive slaves' eyes were wide.
“After Darien the real danger falls on you. You have to pass through English, Spanish and Indian deer hunting territory. It is a large zone where hatred is set aside to make silver. You two would be a good bounty to the wrong kind of person, so stay silent in the marshes. You need be invisible and only travel by moonlight. Pray no savages or British find you or that will be the end of your lives. Keep steady south and you will find Fort Mose. Good luck and may the wind be at your backs.”
Gloria and Alick were taken with tears at this generosity and said their goodbyes. They quickly disappeared into the night, quiet as mice.
Pirates of Savannah Trilogy: Book One, Sold in Savannah - Young Adult Action Adventure Historical Fiction Page 29