47

She took another step.

'What should I do, John?' I called out, half hoping that Eloise would hear.

But John didn't answer and Eloise moved another step toward the darkness.

The horizon seemed much closer now. Eloise was no more than a dozen paces from her death.

'Miss Eloise,' I said softly.

She made no sign that she heard.

She took another step.

'Miss Eloise,' I said boldly.

But still she didn't hear.

'Miss Eloise!'

She took two steps, moving faster now.

She was beginning to run toward the night.

I knew then that there was nothing else I could do. I ran after her and grabbed her by her pale shoulders. She struggled against me but I used all of the strength in my young limbs to drag her back toward the sunlit field of yellow flowers.

'Let me aloose,' she cried.

But I didn't stop until we were in the light again, until there was no darkness or crescent moon anywhere to be seen.

Still she gazed toward the place where the skull-face of

Death had loomed, but I stood in front of her, blocking her line of vision.

She noticed me and then looked down at the flowers around her feet.

When her gaze came back to me she asked, 'You're one of pap's niggers ain't you, boy?' she asked me. 'The one that was spyin' on me from the barn.'

She didn't seem concerned about our lack of clothes. Actually she didn't even seem to notice.

'Neither master nor nigger be,' I said fearfully. I had to say it but I felt that even though the sky was clear I'd be struck down by a bolt from the white man's God.

'Where are we?' Eloise asked.

'You sick, miss,' I said. 'Me'n my friend Number Twelve is tryin' to make you bettah. You was walkin' in a deathly direction but I grabbed you an' dragged you back.'

'Are you usin' slave magic?' she asked.

'I reckon we is,' I said. 'It sho seem like it.'

'I hear Nola cryin',' Eloise said, cocking her ear.

I could hear it too. The soft sobs were coming from nowhere it seemed.

'Back in yo bedroom ma'am,' I said. 'She's back there worried that you about to expire.'

'But I won't die?'

'I don't think so. Not today anyway.'

'So you saved my life,' she said, staring into my eyes.

'I s'pose so. You were strayin' toward Death an' we brung you back home.'

'What's your name?' she asked.

'Forty-seven.'

'Thank you, Forty-seven. Thank you for savin' my life.'

I appreciated her gratitude but there was something else that was even more important to me. I really had saved her life. I had used my mind and my courage to brave Death and Master Tobias to do what I thought was right. These actions made me a man, and a real man, I knew, could never be a slave.

From that moment on I never thought of myself as a slave again.

Suddenly I was back in Eloise's bedroom. She was awake and staring into my eyes. She smiled and I knew that she was going to live.

'Is she gonna live, Number Twelve?' Tobias asked in a loud voice.

'Yes, sir, I believe she is.'

'All right then. Mr. Stewart?'

'Yes, boss?'

'Take these two filthy niggers and throw them in the Tomb.'

I felt rough hands grab me by the shoulders. Two white men ran in and knocked John to the floor.