Molly of Tortuga
Chapter Three
The Gardener Henry's Story, Told in His Own Words:
I was born of black parents, slaves to a plantation owner on Jamaica. I was almost useless as a field slave, for my skin burned the minute I went into the sun. Still, I was (and am) an oddity, and, in hopes of selling me, my owner spread news of my existence. When I was living my tenth year, soldiers came to the hut where I lived with my parents behind the Big House of the owner.
"You have been purchased by his excellency, the Governor of Jamaica," said their commander, pointing at me. I understood nothing of what he meant. "Come now," he said, as the other soldiers stepped between me and my hysterical parents. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me after him to a carriage. As soon as we were under way, he began to treat me more kindly -- to treat me, indeed, as if I were a prized cockatoo. He coaxed me to eat and drink as best he could, and made reassurances that no harm would befall me or my parents who I was now leaving behind forever.
In two days the carriage came to another Big House, one that dwarfed the one I knew from the plantation. Soldiers were everywhere, and fine people, dressed in great swaths of bright colors that I had never seen covering anything except small berries. The soldiers who had me spoke with other soldiers at the gate, and then they took me into the house and pushed me down a long hall that was lined with people who were whiter than I am -- but they were frozen, and no life was in their eyes -- zombi! I feared that I would be changed into one of these wraiths by a sorcerer, and I began to whimper. Presently, I was dragged before a magnificently dressed lord, whom I supposed to be Baron Samedhi -- guardian of cemeteries, big gede, you know, voodoo spirit, you savvy? Who else would it be that could change people into stone? My terror was so complete that I could keep my eyes open only with the strongest act of will.
The great lord looked down at me -- the soldiers were supporting me, for my legs had failed -- and he started to laugh; then I heard laughter from all around me. I ventured a peek to one side, and the wall was lined with great lords and ladies, all laughing -- at me.
The great lord said, "Why do you cringe, boy? You're the luckiest slave on Jamaica!"
