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turning to page one
Down in the hold the slaves eat, pray. SOME ARE SEA SICK AND THEY THROW UP. Among all this, Arthur sits and talks with Solomon. They are removed from the others, as much as they can be, and they are conspiratorial as Arthur tells the tale of how he came to be a captive.
ARTHUR
They was a gang of 'em. A true
gang. My mistake: shortenin' my
way home on an unfamiliar street.
Well, they set right upon me. For
whatever reason, they seen me and
think I was low fruit. No, suh.
Was no such a thing. I commence
to swingin'. The resonance of
every blow again' 'em a reminder
of the family I would never again
see if'n they prevailed. I fought
'em. Fought those damned
kidnappers until all my strength
left me. Fought 'em right to they
beat me senseless. And here I was
drug, and here I was dumped. They
got no right to me. I'm free.
Free as them.
SOLOMON
Do you think we can make ourselves
free again? Do you think we can
escape?
Arthur says nothing. He just gives a look to Solomon as if he's interested in listening to whatever Solomon has to say.
SOLOMON (CONT'D)
The crew is fairly small. They
don't seem particularly game. Do
you think we can commandeer the
ship?
ARTHUR
I know we git where we travelin',
we'll wish we'd died tryin'. If
we did take her, where'd we sail?
SOLOMON
New York harbor.
ARTHUR
can you get us there?
SOLOMON
Arthur considers things for a moment.
ARTHUR
There's the Captain, the Mate...
I count six sailors. If we tried
for them one by one...
SOLOMON
What would we do? Once we've
seized the crew; what would we do
with them?
Very plainly:
ARTHUR
We kill 'em.
This sinks in for a moment, but clearly it is the only way.
SOLOMON
How would we take them?
ARTHUR
First in the mornin'. We'd be on
them before they knew what; quick
and merciless. Captain and mate
first. Waylay 'em, the others
won't be given ta fight.
SOLOMON
They will if they know death waits
for them.
ARTHUR
They won't know. The ones we
don't kill right off, we tell 'em
they can have their lives if they
submit. Question of when.
SOLOMON
As soon as we can. As soon as
tomorrow.
ARTHUR
Their guard is high. Oughta wait
for when they're not suspecting.
It's two weeks sail to New
Orleans. In five days, six
days...
SOLOMON
All that much farther south.
ARTHUR
And they be all the more tired and
incautious. Make the chore
easier.
Solomon considers this. It makes some sense. There remains, however, an issue in his mind:
SOLOMON
We need a third. Even with luck
on our side, two can't stand
against eight. We have to bring
another into the conspiracy.
Arthur looks around at the other slaves. He is unimpressed by their nature.
ARTHUR
They's niggers. Born and bred
slaves. Cringe at so much as a
white man's look. Not one's got
stomach enough fo the fight. Not
a damn one.
SOLOMON
We need another. Two alone will
not succeed. With three we are
nearly guaranteed.
Solomon looks among the salves. There must be at least one more who's capable of mutiny. Clemens Ray...? John...? Doesn't seem that way.