Little Black Girl Lost 4 by Keith Lee Johnson Page B

Torvells?”
    â€œYes, I most certainly would. As I said, the Maroons are savages. They have to be stopped. They’ll kill good people like Monsieur Torvell and his wife. If it came down to it, I would protect the Torvells before I’d protect Marcia.”
    They finally reached the barn where they kept the newly acquired slaves. They had to be broken before they could be trusted enough to take off their chains. He slid the door to the left and they walked in. The barn was dark, but she could see many figures moving; she heard chains clanging.
    â€œAmir, I’m here,” Ibo called out to him in Yoruba, their native tongue. “Where are you, my love? I have wonderful news.”
    â€œI am here . . . in the darkness,” he said. “Come to me, my love.”
    She practically ran to his voice.
    They embraced and held each other for a while. It felt so good to be together after all they had been through. They wished the moment would go on forever, that reality would fade away and only their world of fantasy would remain.
    As she held on to him, it became clear that he had lost a lot of weight. She was almost glad that it was dark in the barn. She didn’t want to see what had become of him. She felt guilty for eating good, healthy food, even though that’s what he had told her to do while he languished in the belly of hell.
    Amir held her by the shoulders and said, “The man with you . . . is he a friend or an enemy?”
    She shook her head and said, “Unfortunately, he is an enemy, he and his wife, but he does not know it.”
    â€œThen it’s not safe to talk in front of him,” Amir said, lowering his voice.
    â€œHe was born here. He doesn’t understand. Now, listen quickly. We don’t have much time. There’s a group of men who can help you escape from here. They’re called the Maroons. Find out from those who live here how you can join them. I’m sure they can use a man who was the captain of the Dahomey Imperial Army. I will be going to a place called New Orleans. When you free yourself, keep your promise and find me. If I get free first, I will come to this place and find you.”

Chapter 29
    â€œYou mean the way you thanked me for saving yours ?”
    H erman, Marcia, and Ibo were in the kitchen eating the delicious apple pie Marcia had prepared for the Torvells when several members of the Maroons kicked in the back door, machetes in hand. Stunned by what had happened so incredibly quickly, Ibo stood up. Her eyes bulged. Her mouth fell open.
    Marcia was about to scream when one of the Maroons sliced her vocal cords. Blood pumped out of her neck. Gagging, she grabbed her throat and squeezed. Blood leaked out of the corners of her mouth and slid down her chin. Her eyes rolled back into her head. Then she fell dead onto the floor.
    Herman had grabbed the other man and wrestled the machete away from him. Then he plunged it into his stomach. Almost as soon as he stuck the machete in, another man grabbed him from behind and sliced through his throat.
    That’s when Ibo came to her senses and ran out of the kitchen. She ran right into Captain Rutgers, who had heard the commotion. The man came at Rutgers with the machete, but Rutgers was ready for him. When the man tried to slash his throat, he stepped in and wrapped his arm around the man’s arm and back-fisted him. The machete clanged to the floor.
    Rutgers tried to grab the machete, but the man stuck out his hand and tripped him. He fell hard to the floor. The man climbed on top of him and pounded his face. But when he went for the machete, somehow Rutgers found the strength to grab his arm when it was only an inch or two away from the bloodied weapon. Each man struggled to break free of the other.
    Rutgers arched his back, lifting the man up and to the left, away from the machete. Once the man was off balance, Rutgers was able to flip him over and gain the advantage. He pummeled the