Apalachee

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

chapter thirty-four Lucia sat up suddenly, pushing back the blanket that covered her where she lay on the mat outside the door of Charity’s chamber. The house was dark, the shuttered windows closing out the moonlight. Her heart pounded with fright. Her dream had been so vivid that she could still see it—flames shooting up, a sphere of fire with Moon and Basey enclosed in it, silent as they looked at her, surprise on their faces. She rubbed her hand over her face, trying to shake off the dream. Then she lay down again, pulling the blanket back up, and closed her eyes, seeking sleep. But the sphere of fire was still there, Moon and Basey in it. It was more than a dream. She sat up again and then got up from the mat, pulling the blanket with her and wrapping it about herself against the winter cold. Silently she made her way to the stairs and down, through the lower hallway , past Cajoe and Tickey asleep on the floor, and out the front door to stand in the moonlight and look toward the quarters. What was she expecting to see? Firelight against the sky, a cabin burning? There was nothing. Her gaze moved out to the river, to the landing where a sloop was moored, loaded with barrels of salted beef and tar, its crew asleep below the deck. Tomorrow it was to ride out with the tide, bound for Jamaica—the same sugar island where Ana had been taken. Lucia looked again toward the quarters. All was quiet. But still she lingered in the cold night air, the dream with her, unease in her heart. More than unease. Fear. She walked out across the yard, the ground cold through her thin slippers . The path to the quarters showed plainly in the moonlight and she hurried along it, shivering in her blanket, her breath white. The water in the horse trough by the blacksmith shop was frozen on the surface. Above the quarters a haze of smoke hung in the air, the fires in the cabins burning through the night against the cold. She walked quickly down the row to the cabin that Moon shared with Daphne and Timboe and stopped before the door, hesitating, then pushed it open a little way and slipped inside. A fire burned low in the hearth and by its light she could see the dark shapes inside. But where people should have been sleeping there was only empty floor, except in Daphne’s corner. Lucia went to the hearth and added more wood to the fire. The sound awakened Daphne, who rolled over and, upon seeing Lucia, sat up. ‘‘What be wrong?’’ Daphne asked. ‘‘Timboe?’’ Lucia shook her head. ‘‘It is nothing. I am looking for Moon.’’ ‘‘It be morning?’’ ‘‘No,’’ said Lucia. ‘‘Where is Moon?’’ ‘‘With Timboe.’’ Daphne got up with her blanket around her and came to stand shivering by the fire. She was taller even than Lucia, her limbs long and lean. ‘‘Where is Timboe, then?’’ ‘‘At the tar kiln,’’ said Daphne. Lucia looked at her, startled. ‘‘They are firing tonight?’’ Daphne nodded. ‘‘For the ship. Massa Henry, he want more tar loaded on. He say, fire another kiln. Timboe, he say, let it rain first, air too dry. Massa Henry say, ship pulling out, fire another kiln.’’ ‘‘Who else is there?’’ asked Lucia. ‘‘Besides Timboe and Moon?’’ ‘‘Basey. He say he better go. Timboe angry, don’t want to fire. Dudley Price, Colley, they go make ’em fire it big. Basey, he go hold Timboe down, keep trouble away.’’ Lucia’s hands were gripping her blanket. ‘‘Which tar kiln?’’ she asked quietly. ‘‘By the cooper’s shed.’’ Daphne looked at her. ‘‘You going out there? Why you want Moon? It be night. Dark-dark.’’ Lucia looked into the fire, uncertain how to answer. ‘‘I had a dream. Probably it is nothing.’’ ‘‘Timboe be in danger?’’ Lucia shook her head. ‘‘He was not in the dream.’’ Daphne was silent, looking into the fire. Then she said, ‘‘Timboe always be in danger.’’ ‘‘You go back to bed,’’ said Lucia. ‘‘I’m sorry I had to wake you.’’ ‘‘Can’t sleep now,’’ said Daphne. She pulled a low stool close to the hearth and sat down, wrapping her arms about her knees beneath the blanket . ‘‘You going out there for true?’’ ‘‘Yes,’’ said Lucia. ‘‘Tell Timboe . . .’’ Daphne stared at the flames, searching for words. ‘‘Tell him I be...