Двенадцать лет рабства

           AtlastIbecamesilenttohisrepeatedquestions. Iwouldmakenoreply. Infact,Iwasbecomingalmostunabletospeak. Stillhepliedthelashwithoutstintuponmypoorbody,untilitseemedthatthelaceratedfleshwasstrippedfrommybonesateverystroke. Amanwithaparticleofmercyinhissoulwouldnothavebeatenevenadogsocruelly. AtlengthRadburnsaidthatitwasuselesstowhipmeanymore—thatIwouldbesoreenough. Thereupon,Burchdesisted,saying,withanadmonitoryshakeofhisfistinmyface,andhissingthewordsthroughhisfirm-setteeth,thatifeverIdaredtoutteragainthatIwasentitledtomyfreedom,thatIhadbeenkidnapped,oranythingwhateverofthekind,thecastigationIhadjustreceivedwasnothingincomparisonwithwhatwouldfollow. Hesworethathewouldeitherconquerorkillme. Withtheseconsolatorywords,thefettersweretakenfrommywrists,myfeetstillremainingfastenedtothering; theshutterofthelittlebarredwindow,whichhadbeenopened,wasagainclosed,andgoingout,lockingthegreatdoorbehindthem,Iwasleftindarknessasbefore. 

           Inanhour,perhapstwo,myheartleapedtomythroat,asthekeyrattledinthedooragain. I,whohadbeensolonely,andwhohadlongedsoardentlytoseesomeone,Icarednotwho,nowshudderedatthethoughtofman’sapproach. Ahumanfacewasfearfultome,especiallyawhiteone. Radburnentered,bringingwithhim,onatinplate,apieceofshriveledfriedpork,asliceofbreadandacupofwater. HeaskedmehowIfelt,andremarkedthatIhadreceivedaprettysevereflogging. Heremonstratedwithmeagainsttheproprietyofassertingmyfreedom. Inratherapatronizingandconfidentialmanner,hegaveittomeashisadvice,thatthelessIsaidonthatsubjectthebetteritwouldbeforme. Themanevidentlyendeavoredtoappearkind—whethertouchedatthesightofmysadcondition,orwiththeviewofsilencing,onmypart,anyfurtherexpressionofmyrights,itisnotnecessarynowtoconjecture.