Island of a Thousand Springs

by Sarah Lark

  “Just because she was a house slave,” Nora began, “I … I trusted her.”

  “Well, then at least you’ve learned something!” Elias sneered. “Never trust a nigger! However, it could have been cheaper — your lesson has cost me two hundred pounds!”

  “If she stays missing,” Doug tried calming the situation. “But we will certainly catch her again. And who knows, maybe she’ll even return on her own.”

  “Yes, I’m sure she will! Because she left to visit a sick aunt!” Elias laughed. “So, that’s how it’s going to be.”

  “Anyway, she was my slave,” Nora now said with more confidence. “She belonged to me, if she is gone, then it’s my loss. I—”

  “Oh, so you paid for her yourself?” Elias’s voice now sounded menacing. “Nora, my dear, it looks like you still have a lot to learn. Here, Nora, nothing belongs to you! Certainly not the livestock. And if you were in charge of them, then they would be spoiled and fed until they burst. That nigger trull belongs to me, only me, and now we will try to get her back. I’ll see about Keensley’s dogs. They can pick up the scent right away — in case she really was with that nigger witch.”

  He rushed out and left Nora there, who suddenly knew exactly how Doug must have felt fourteen years earlier when Akwasi was taken away from him. It must have been even worse for the boy. Máanu was finally free — and Elias could certainly be angry with his wife, but he could not punish her. Doug, however, had to witness Akwasi being imprisoned and beaten. Doug put a hand on Nora’s shoulder. They didn’t dare any greater shows of affection, as it would soon be swarming with slave hunters there.

  “Don’t worry, they won’t find her,” he said reassuringly. “As long as she hasn’t done anything stupid, like stay with a lover from another plantation or something. That’s usually the case when woman run away. But with Máanu, I don’t believe it.”

  Nora shook her head. “I don’t either. Akwasi is still here, is he not?”

  As far as she knew, Akwasi was the only one that Máanu had ever loved.

  “Of course,” Doug nodded. “If a field nigger goes missing, it’s noticed right away. They have no chance.”

  “But Máanu has one?” Nora wanted to make sure. “Where do you think she went?”

  Doug smiled. “Well, where indeed, Nora? Into the mountains, of course! If everything went well, then she’s already been with the Maroons for a while now.”

  “And what makes you think I should help you?”

  The woman’s voice sounded cool, but at least she had instructed Máanu to take a seat on one of the woven carpets beneath her “throne” as she listened. Granny Nanny, the queen, sat on an ornately carved stool. The stool stood on two column-like legs with symbols engraved on them. A sort of pedestal had been built for the rather small leader of the Maroons.

  This was where she held court — a thin, wiry person whose Western clothes offered a peculiar contrast to the African kraal that she had built here. She was dark, very small for an Ashanti woman, her face was stoic. Her eyes alone made her appearance striking. They were coal black, but there seemed to be a fire blazing behind them. And they seemed so piercing that Máanu felt naked under her gaze.

  “Because … she is my sister, Queen Nanny. She is a beautiful, sweet girl. And he will do the same to her as he did to the others. As he did to … me.” Máanu looked at the ground.

  “And you survived it,” Nanny said curtly.

  She spoke English well, although with a foreign accent. Máanu remembered that she had been brought to Jamaica as a girl, so learned the language there, but she wasn’t limited to the Pidgin of the slaves.

  “I also lost a child at the time,” Máanu choked back, “and nearly died. I wear the scars to this day.”

  “We all wear them,” Nanny said calmly. “You sister is not the first and will not be the last that a white man takes.”

  “But … but not like this!” Máanu burst out. “Not now!”

  She felt like she would burst into tears. She could hardly remember when she’d cried last.

  Nanny raised her eyebrows. “One way or another, today or tomorrow. I can’t change it and neither can you. Come to terms with it. Or give me a better reason to attack a plantation that is almost thirty miles away.”

  The queen indifferently reached for one of the fruits that were arranged in a basket beside her throne for her.

  “You constantly attack plantations!” Máanu cried. “And Cascarilla is rich. Your watchman knew about it. It is—”

  “Everyone knows the plantation,” Nanny said, and began peeling her fruit. “But it is too far away. It’s risky. We can’t send fifty warriors over so many miles and have them loot the plantation. They wouldn’t make it there without being seen. And they would never come back if Cascarilla Gardens burned. We would be hunted like rabbits. It won’t work, girl, I’m sorry.”

  Máanu held her tongue and leaned forward. “You don’t need fifty men, Queen Nanny. Just give me … give me just five!

  Of course, Keensley’s dogs didn’t pick up a scent, no matter how many times they were led through the slave quarters of the Keensley, and later also, the Hollister plantation. Christopher Keensley was extremely cooperative, and did everything to support Elias in his search for Máanu. He even had the baarm madda — whom the girl had allegedly visited on her way — whipped for answers. Naturally, the woman knew nothing and stuck by her statement even under torture.

  So, Elias tried it on his own plantation, but it had rained nearly every day since Máanu’s escape. No dog would be able to follow her

  “And if she is in the mountains, she would have long reached the Maroons by now anyway,” Elias angrily took stock after three days of searching. He had abandoned the chase and was back at dinner with his wife and son. “Well, we can give up on that bitch. Your fault, Nora. I hope you’re aware of that.”

  “Of course,” Nora said humbly, and didn’t look up from her plate. There was no way she would let Elias see the glimmer of triumph in her eyes. “I was careless, I’m very sorry. But at least you don’t have to buy me a new maid. I will train little Mansah.”

  Elias snorted, and angrily pushed back his plate. He had not touched his light appetizer, but smelled like rum. He had probably already drowned his sorrows over the unsuccessful hunt with Keensley.

  “Mandy? The sister? I don’t think so — she comes from the same breed, the same airs. I should have sent Kitty to the fields at the same time as—”

  “As when you sent Akwasi?” Doug finished his father’s sentence resentfully. He had only participated in the search for Máanu on the first day, or at least pretended to do it. And then he spent most of the last two days in Kingston.

  Elias gave him a dirty look. “Yes, when I sent your nigger friend to the fields — and with good reason. At least he is still there — they’re safest under your heel. And now I do not want to hear another word about it. Nora, I will look into a maid for you in Kingston. No back talk, you’ll be provided for as is befitting of your rank. And in the future, you will conduct yourself like a lady. A bit of nursing is all well and good, but no more visiting these black witches. And if you need help in the slave quarters, there’s surely a girl from the kitchen or from the field to be found. The maids stay in the house. I don’t even want to think about her falling in love with a field nigger and then we’ll have our next problem.”

  “But—” Nora wanted to object, but Elias stood up without waiting for the main course. “I’m going up,” he said angrily to Nora and Doug. Then he turned to the servant that had just entered with the food. “Tell Addy that she should send up another nightcap for me later.”

  Nora clenched her hands around her napkin. She had to stay calm. Whatever she said that evening, Elias would not calm down tonight. Hopefully he’d be better tomorrow, after a nightcap — he normally was. Nora wondered idly about what Adwea probably put into his rum punch. The servant looked a bit sheepish, but then composed herself, and began serving Nora and
Doug. Both took very little. Nora already wasn’t very hungry and the tension at the table weighed upon her further. She sullenly reached for her handkerchief and dabbed the sweat from her forehead before she halfheartedly picked up her spoon and stirred her soup. Doug smiled at her over their wine glasses from across the table.

  “So, that’s it for the slave hunt,” he said, encouragingly. “Looks good for Máanu. I hope she’s happy.”

  “Me too,” Nora choked out the words. “But I—”

  Up until then, she had restrained herself, but now she was fighting back tears. It was too much, Máanu, Elias’s lecture — and the knowledge that she would no longer be able to protect Mansah. Up until then, Nora had always avoided thinking too hard about her future in that house. She loved the island, she had come to terms with her husband — but Elias was becoming increasingly unbearable. She could not live another ten or twenty years here beside him — and certainly not beside Doug!

  Nora could no longer deny that she had more feelings for Doug than could be hidden in the long run: if she did not at least allow Doug to hold and kiss her from time to time, if she did not allow him — then she would wither away! And he also would not endure it if they never touched again. Eventually, he would go and she would not be able to bear it. Nora tried to guide her spoon into her mouth and to swallow, but her stomach seemed to already be rebelling. If Elias caught them …

  Doug seemed to read her thoughts. He very gently laid his hand on hers. “Don’t worry so much,” he said tenderly. “Just let it happen …”

  His voice was enticing and tender. Nora could hardly hold back her tears.

  “But I can’t!” she whispered. “If we’re seen …”

  Doug took her hand and kissed it. “Then we’ll just run away!” he smiled, “Like Máanu.”

  “But that won’t work … people will talk.”

  Nora knew that it was an excuse. In actuality, she wasn’t afraid of the gossip, but afraid of Elias. Even though he was gone, his presence could still be felt in the room. But Doug, affectionately playing with her fingers, seemed to drive out the spirits. Nora felt something inside her give in.

  “Are you not accustomed to scandals?” Doug asked tenderly. “Come with me, Nora. I will take care of you. Now and for ever …”

  Doug Fortnam led Nora up the stairs without lighting a candle. They left the candles out and Nora didn’t call a maid to help her undress — Doug took care of it himself, skillfully and attentively in the light of the full moon through the window.

  “The best option would be to have you as my lady’s maid,” she teased him as he let her hair down and gently brushed it. He kissed her neck again and again.

  “At your service,” he whispered and let his lips drift down to her shoulders and breasts.

  Then he carried her to the bed, stroked and caressed her, and whispered sweetly in her ear as he entered her. Nora had felt a twinge of what it would be like to be loved when she was with Simon. But now, the heat and tender longing that she felt back then rose to a whirlwind of emotions.

  “To the moon and back,” she murmured as she slowly drifted back to reality, as if cradled by angels.

  Doug laughed. “You were always fond of travel. And we can even try to reach Venus next … but first you must tell me about your previous scandals! No arguments, Nora Fortnam, née Reed. I want to know everything.”

  Nora blushed. She lay in his arms and felt comforted and safe. Should she really awaken Simon’s spirit now? Or was he already there and smiling … She felt for the pendant made of his signet ring that she almost always wore. It didn’t burn against her skin.

  “Very well then …” she murmured, trying not to think of spirits — neither Simon’s good nor Elias’s evil.

  She didn’t quite know how to begin. “There once was a man,” she finally said. Nora was almost whispering when she finally conjured the spirit of her beloved. With her voice sometimes singing, and then choked, she described Simon’s gentleness and tenderness, the dreams that they had shared — and finally, his death in her arms.

  “And that’s why you married my father,” Doug said quietly, when she had finished. “You wanted to come here. You found Simon’s island.”

  Nora nodded. “And I found you,” she whispered, “but I don’t know if … if …”

  Doug smiled. “If we have Simon’s blessing? Well, if it will make you feel better, we can bring a chicken to the Obeah man tomorrow. Or should we wait and see if we’re struck down by lightning the next time we love each other?”

  Of course, they were not struck down by lightning, although for both of them, their second union was more ecstatic, and even more fulfilling than the first. Nora was relieved after she had told her story — and it even seemed to take a burden off of Doug. Maybe he was stealing Nora away from Simon’s spirit, but certainly not from his father.

  Then the young woman lay in his arms and they both let their thoughts wander. “Will you stay with me tonight?” Nora asked.

  Doug nodded. “If you want me to. I just have to go before Adwea comes. Nothing stays hidden in this house. And I don’t trust Terry. He sometimes creeps around here at night. And I thought that my father didn’t actually let any blacks sleep in the house.”

  Nora was also surprised. She had let Máanu spend the night in the house a few times when their relationship had been better — Elias had always sternly reprimanded her for it.

  Doug then sat up and reached for the bottle of wine that he brought upstairs with him.

  “It’s still half-full,” he pointed out. “So, come on, darling. Let’s treat ourselves to a nightcap.”

  Nora watched him fill the glasses and a strange feeling rose inside of her. That night, everything felt right. The wine sparkled in the goblets under the light of the moon … But then Nora fought back a vague fear … Tell Addy she should send up another nightcap for me later …

  Was it really only Doug’s random mention of the words that she had so often heard from Elias’s mouth? Or was it something else? Was there something that she should have understood long ago that she had somehow overlooked?

  Tell Addy she should send up another nightcap for me later …

  Elias had said it again that very evening. And the servant nearly dropped the tray in reaction to those words. And hadn’t that sentence, or something similar, been said the night before Sally suffered her miscarriage? Máanu had insinuated it had been the result of another abuse. Nora thought about Adwea’s objection … Tonight, Backra? Nora had wondered about it at the time. And then Máanu’s heated argument with her mother … Máanu’s disappearance … and then Elias’s overstated reaction to Nora wanting Mansah as her maid.

  Nora’s suspicions solidified into an appalling certainty. She abruptly grabbed Doug’s arm, her fingernails dug into his flesh, speechless, and in need of support.

  “Doug, we have to intervene!” she said, and was surprised at how sure her voice sounded. “I can’t explain it, but if I’m not terribly mistaken, your father is doing something terrible to Mansah.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Nora threw on a dressing gown, not caring what Elias would say if she showed up scantily dressed alongside his son. If she were right, everything would be different from then on anyway.

  Doug slipped into his knee breeches. He didn’t understand a single word of it, but had grasped the urgency behind Nora’s strange behavior. “Come!” she cried, and pulled him to the door.

  As she ran, she realized the story fit together more and more. Of course, there were no bastards at Cascarilla Gardens, even though Elias showed no interest in his wife! The girls he went after were much too young to bear children themselves. And didn’t Elias’s interest in his young wife first wane when Nora took on a more womanly shape? And this marriage — the looks from the other planters and their wives that had irritated Nora when she had first arrived in Jamaica … The society of Kingston must have been whispering about how girls had been disappearing from Cascarilla Gardens again
and again. Elias was running from the rumors.

  “We should have seen it long ago!” she muttered. “We were blind, Doug. And now … I hope we’re not too late.”

  Doug followed her, barefoot and shirtless. He couldn’t imagine what would happen if his father caught them in the corridor like this. And Nora seemed to be headed straight to her husband’s rooms.

  Doug thought he heard soft weeping as they approached the rooms. Were he alone, he would have stopped to listen, but Nora could not be stopped. She ran down the corridor and threw open the door to Elias’s living areas. His suite was set up similarly to her own. A living room, the dressing room — and the bedroom. Nora stormed in, followed by Doug. Terry, Elias’s personal slave, was waiting in the dressing room.

  “Backra Doug, Missis—” The man stared at them in shock. “You cannot come in here—”

  He seemed ready to block them from the door to Elias’s bedroom. Nora pushed him aside.

  “Like hell we can’t!” she said, pushed the door open and stared in horror at the scene in front of them.

  Little Mansah was whimpering in a corner of the room. She held a pillow pressed up in front of her like a shield, and Elias threateningly stood in front of the girl with his waistband opened.

  “Get up and take off your clothes!”

  Mansah seemed petrified. The little girl’s eyes were wide as she stared in horror at the man who towered like a giant in front of her.

  Nora heard Doug gasp behind her. “No, Backra, no do with Mansah like with Sally!”

  Mansah pleaded with a thin, choked voice. Neither she nor her tormentor had noticed Nora and Doug. When Elias didn’t respond, the girl buried her face in the large pillow, probably so that it would suffocate her cries later.