THE SOUL OF BLACK LAND
Season One:
Episode Four: The Other Side of Nothing
Prologue:
(The heartbeat. It is the first time I can feel it beating for a purpose solely of my choosing. The heart is what makes us strong Ahuudo. ‘Share it with the ones you love’. Mother Ja’Nee would be in his ear the moment he was born. Ja’Nee would be held to her traditions. Ja’Nee still feels a sense of thereness to all that came before her. She understands why. More than anything in the face of such a cruel land. All the violations she suffered would not make her forget her homeland. In Africa, she still hears the whispers of voices. The energy of love connects her and she would not cut it off. Traditions of togetherness.
Ahuudo has allowed his thoughts to keep him human. He has seen it often. The slave master has many White Devils to hold his ‘kingdom’ in place. Ahuudo is aware of what he must do. ‘I will give to the White Devil what he has given me when the time comes’. Dashurai is building up his response to what he sees in these freed slaves. Will it be enough to contain when he needs these men to follow the predictable outcomes that only planning provides. ‘Hatred is reckless’, he says to himself. Hatred will get us all killed. I must convince my brothers to focus on what’s at stake. The love that Ahuudo shares with his ‘woman’.
Dashurai says it over and over again. What his plan must do in order for everyone to see another day dawn. ‘Believe in it as I do’, he says. I know and I can feel the ‘possible’ rising in you all. That’s not what we should focus on. Focus, ah focus, what is it? Dashurai reminds the men that focus is like what you just did when you protected the wagon train. Remember that ability to do something that had benefit in it for you. This is about us now.
All will be alright as we trust in what we have already proven to each other. We have already proven we can work together. Now we work for us.).
Dashurai: Ahuudo! Call her out! Now! (This is the signal that begins the retrieval of his woman Syghi. Let’s go back to the start and see how everything got to that point.).
————————————-The Establishment Cause————————————–
Cleavur: Dashurai, gather everybody together. We need to go over everybody’s role like our lives depend on it. (Cleavur sees the look on Dashurai’s face and tells him he’s not gonna make it too complicated. Just making sure.).
Ahuudo: I have to yell for Syghi to run to the shacks when all hell breaks loose. I know when the other slaves women see her run, it will make them run or scatter, as you say, to throw off the overseers attention if only for a few moments.
Dashurai: These moments will matter. By scattering it will give us a chance to advance the ground to overtake the overseers. The overseers will live or they will die according to their response to us. Don’t hesitate to kill them if that is what it takes.
Ahuudo: (Ahuudo, looks at Scatt, Brunde, Rackar, Ted, Maar, Jewan, Zunei, Methune and see the expression in each face that tells him these brothers are ready to do whatever needs to be done.). We are all to drop down to the ground when we get the signal. Undo our chains that won’t be really around our ankles, and engage in what you say, hand to hand, with the overseers?
Cleavur: That is right. It is important for you to yell for Syghi when we stop to fight. This will put into the minds of the overseers that the slave women are getting away which they need to stop them from escaping.
Ahuudo: So, when we’re all chained in a straight line. Just look defeated?
Cleavur: (Cleavur is learning just what he knew he needed to learn. Sitting up in his father’s house without a worry, care or matter-of-fact a reason to jump out from bed every morning really was a bore. This is thinking for myself. This is risking life and limb.). I’m just sure of it Ahuudo. If you holler to Syghi to scream and run, let’s hope the other slave women will do the same. We could use all the commotion we can get.
Ahuudo: I can’t put her in danger, is it right?
Dashurai: (Watching Cleavur interaction respectfully with Ahuudo and seeing all the brothers listen closely to Cleavur is good. Dashurai is hoping it goes both ways as all of us will be required to get our hands dirty.). Right now it can’t be helped Ahuudo. We have a plan now. Everybody needs to do their part. Listen to me all of you.
———————————-Getting closer to the other side of nothing—————————
(Cleavur and Dashurai ride into Stakeville to make contact with the plantation in Stakeville that holds Ahuudo’s woman. They stop at the center of town and inquire about the local scene. All the ‘yawls’ and ‘pardners’ and slapping backs for good measure are done well into the afternoon. Finally they acquire the information they need. Joseph Sceaturnds is the slave master for sure now.
Cleavur and Dashurai ride out to do a meet with the owner and just see what they are facing. The plantation is owned by Sam Brownship. Master Brownship invites Cleavur in to show him around the main house and hear him complement the fine furnishings. Cleavur sees the usual bright skin colored females adorning the house in the attire of servants. All in all, Cleavur kind of feels sorry about what he has to do, but it will not stop him from doing it though.
They have what they needed now. The Highhorse plantation is the destination. There are about 20 slave-drivers they’re called working to keep all the slaves in line. Now it’s time to bed down for the night. Dashurai and Cleavur will ride back out of town to where the 8 brothers are to get set for the next day. They figured that the plantation is about 11 miles outside of town due south. They figured they should start everybody walking around dawn. They should be at the plantation by 4 o’clock that early evening.
Remember brothers, Dashurai says, wait for the signal that Syghi is there. You must be close to the slave-drivers. Like right in their pants with them if need be. You got to put them down because they’re not going to just let you collect whatever you want and throw money on the ground for them. Be ready just like you were on that wagon train to shoot Indians that shoot at you.
Alright then let’s get some rest. Big job tomorrow.).
————————————-The Offer is Refused———————————————–
Cleavur: Mr. Brownship, sorry to be calling on you so late and all. We had to make sure the slaves made it all the way here by nightfall. I was wondering if I could inquire about a trade. You know, barter with you for some company with my slaves your slave women.
Sam Brownship: What did you have in mind?
Cleavur: Well my stock here is we equipped. You know what I mean and I just like to you know, get them a little bit of a woman before they break their backs in service of your fields. What do you say?
Sam Brownship: For all of them?
Cleavur: Well let’s take a look at them first. You can have your slave drivers present while we just look them over.
Sam Brownship: That will cost me more from this trade. Will you knock something off the price of each slave say 8 bits?
Cleavur: You want a dollar off each head. That’s steep. I mean that’s going to cut into my profit more than I expected. I don’t want to drive a hard bargain with you seeing that you gave me a tour of your exquisite mansion the other day. How about 4 bits off each head?
Sam Brownship: Six, 6 bits and that’s as low as I can go. Take it or leave here with your mangy stock of no good hides.
Cleavur: (Now we’re getting somewhere. For a moment I thought this was actually a nice place to be a slave and raise a family.). No insult is needed. If your bargain is 6 bits I can settle for 3 dollars a head as it is what minus 6 bits would be? A price of 2 dollars and 2 bits a head.
Sam Brownship: Two dollars and 1 bit, for my trouble to speak more than I had to, to purchase your mangy slaves.
Cleavur: (Good, I hope I don’t have to hate another slave master because I really need to send your outhouse smelling ass to Hell.). Alright sir, that’s enough. I agree to your offer. Now can I see the slave girls you have for my mangy stock to enjoy.
Sam Brownship: Yeah ,wait on it. I may let you look at maybe two, but I will take you up on your offer to have my ‘boys’ out here to watch these mangy niggers.
Cleavur: Niggers? (I will be knocking his outhouse ass out; he thinks to himself). Very well then. Dash, get the pack ready. I want to get this over as quickly as possible. Getting out of this town can’t come soon enough. (Cleavur sees the slave drivers bring some of the slave women out, and he gives the signal to fight.).
Dashurai: Chains!
Ahuudo: (Ahuudo is in front and he has heard the signal to get ready.). Yes, sir boss. (Ahuudo responds to Dashurai’s key word). Now men. Fight!
—————————————–Nothing will not greet me at the end——————————
(Ahuudo, breaks right. Brunde, breaks left. Rack, breaks right. Ted, breaks left. Maar, breaks right. Jewan, breaks left. Zune, breaks right. Methune, breaks left. Scatt, breaks right. Everybody is off the line now. Ahuudo does his part and yells for Syghi to run. Syghi screams for the other women to run away. Somehow she knew she would behold the sight her eyes secretly expected to see. The slave women join the fight and Syghi directs them to help the colored men encountering the most trouble.
All Hell has broken out on the Highhorse Plantation. Some of the slave drivers were watching from a distance and began firing when Ahuudo and the others took down the slave drivers close to them. The distraction is working just like Lissqui said it would. Lissqui said, ‘You’ve got to get the women screaming and hollering like they’re being whipped for dropping eggs. One thing men of all kind don’t like. They don’t like screaming and hollering women. Use it.’
Cleavur tries to manage the carnage and death going on, but he, either through fate or being in tune with Dashurai, sees Dash’s stern furious look admonish him to just go with the plan. That little look from Dashurai meant more to him than he will ever seek to know if he ever sits down in a rocker someday. Dash told him you will see things done to White men that White men did to Colored men except they thought killing us was no different than flicking boogers from their noses.
Kill them all Dash yells! Only he yells it knowingly as the tide of the fight is squarely with him and the colored men now. Yeah, Mr. Brownship! He screams at him as he attempts to ride away on a donkey. Of all the beasts of burden he disdained, this man? Dash thinks. The donkey somehow knows this cruel man needs him now and by instinct he stops. Even the donkey seems to know his masters’ day has come.).
Cleavur: (Cleavur launches himself into the first huddle of ‘slave taskers’ or overseers or whatever and breaks their attention. Then he whips out his ‘bowie knife’ and slashes widely at these White men. The looks on their faces Cleavur thinks to himself he needs to remember. That look like no man ever would come here and challenge our supremacy. Cleavur thinks mockingly to himself, ‘You were wrong boys’.). Ahuudo, move! Fight hard men! Now is your chance to free yourselves. Fight for what you want!
Ahuudo: Scatt, Methune look to your right! More whipper snappers are coming at you!
Dashurai: (This is their first time Ahuudo and the men are fighting for themselves Dashurai thinks. They are moving like the end of the world is near.). They will kill you if you show them mercy! No mercy! Kill them!
Ahuudo: Jewan, Maar, hit and move! (This is the outcome of rehearsing a fight. Ahuudo now knows it works. He will never doubt it again.).
Dashurai: Syghi! Are there any more women in the shacks? Get them out. We are setting them on fire now!
Ahuudo: Syghi! Move! Just go! This place can no more be. (Syghi moves to get the other women out of the shacks without hesitation as her man said.).
Dashurai: (Dashurai thinks again to himself in the midst of all the death and destruction going on around him. Lissqui was right about Syghi. Lissqui said that if Syghi is anything like Ahuudo said she is. Shout to her instructions and she will do it. The chance to end suffering boils a lot of the soul to the surface. Use her and she will help increase your chances of success in getting everyone out of there.). Cleavur. I see you took care of Brownship. Are you alright?
Cleavur: Dashurai! Yeah. I think it’s over now. We did it.
Dashurai: Cleavur, get the men ready to move. If anybody needs patching up let’s get it done quickly. Tell them to take only money and whatever they can trade or barter. Leave the rest of that tacky shit there.
Cleavur: Right. My heart is beating like a drum. How are you so calm?
Dashurai: Because I’ve done a little ‘stress testing’ on that dusty trail we took getting here. I’ve gone over this event, this dustup constantly in my mind and it has made the difference.
Cleavur: Well share it brother. Do the Greek thing you do.
Dashurai: Oh, yeah. Kind of puzzled me there for a minute. The blood pumping rapidly from your heart is because you didn’t expect the worst possible things to happen. When you do that you can start to train you mind to react in the moment faster with all your intelligence working for you. This pushes all the prepping to the front of your thoughts. It helps greatly when you’re in a fight.
Cleavur: That’s why you brought me back to the moment with you yelling, ‘work the plan!’
Dashurai: Good. Let’s pick this up later. The nearest plantation is 10 miles away. We don’t need to be here if they decide to send some good ole boys to help their shit kicking cousins.
Cleavur: Right. Ten minutes we be gone.
——————————————–Back Pay——————————————–
(Syghi and Ahuudo did get a little dusted up in the melee. Something happened though with the colored men no one expected. Maar, Jewan, Zune, Methune and Scatt overheard Syghi say something to Ahuudo that made their day. Hope was alive! Ahuudo was wanting to inflict some retribution on Syghi’ tormentor, but Syghi said to him, ‘What you want? Bring him back to life? Kill him again?’ ‘That fight is done. Which one is our horse? I’m going to get on that horse and get out of here. You coming?’
The colored men saw Syghi and the ‘sassiness’ at Ahuudo and they knew they wanted that too. You could hear the murmurings amongst them. Asking if anymore back there was like her. To this Syghi couldn’t stand hearing anymore and said. ‘I was there you see. You know me you know them. We all got to get out of here. Better do some fast courting and decide right away fellas cause everybody alive is coming’.
So, this is what the other side of nothing looks like.)
Ahuudo: Dashurai, I must say this is a new feeling for me. Being on a horse going somewhere I choose to go. Going somewhere I can say the way things are gonna go.
Syghi: Uh-huh? You know that huh? That back there was like cutting the ‘birth cord’ of a hollering baby that’s mad he’s out of the tummy. Ask me, I think a better way to see it is. We got a whole lot of work to do. That work can be hard on two people, or that work can be easier if we had more hands to make it work.
Ahuudo: You think we need each other now don’t you?
Syghi: I suggest you make that talk happen while we are on this long ride. It is a long ride out of these outhouse smelling parts of these lands right?
Ahuudo: I get the feeling it is already happening. Look at everybody. Shouldn’t be too hard to convince them we need to stay together for a while.
Epilogue:
(It seems some of the slave women have come from different plantations. This isn’t unusual as the sadistic business of slavery knows no limit of cruelty. Two of the women came from New Orleans where a peculiar form of medicine is practiced. Voodoo medicine has some good things about it the colored men and women are finding out. In a country where plants, fruit, vegetables and trees are abundant; it has enabled Wichibi and Messie to heal the wounds of the group.
Seems like things are forming like a village before we even find a place to settle thinks Syghi. This is something now. Syghi’ mind turns to herself and Ahuudo. Ahuudo told her what he has been doing since he escaped the Highhorse Plantation. Some name to give a plantation? Ahuudo is now satisfied. What was torture is now a dead memory along with the plantation he helped to destroy. Out West we go now. Now I truly have something. Something that belongs to me free and clear now, Ahuudo thinks.
My life, and my woman.).
The Other Side of Nothing: The End