Дванадцять років рабства

           Hespokeofhimselfinasomewhatmournfultone,asalonelyman,awandererabouttheworld—thathewasgrowingold,andmustsoonreachtheendofhisearthlyjourney, andliedowntohisfinalrestwithoutkithorkintomournforhim,ortorememberhim —thathislifewasoflittlevaluetohimself,andhenceforthshouldbedevotedtotheaccomplishmentofmyliberty,andtoanunceasingwarfareagainsttheaccursedshameofSlavery. 

           Afterthistimeweseldomspoketo,orrecognizedeachother. Hewas,moreover,lessfreeinhisconversationwithEppsonthesubjectofSlavery. Theremotestsuspicionthattherewasanyunusualintimacy—anysecretunderstandingbetweenus—neveronceenteredthemindofEpps,oranyotherperson,whiteorblack,ontheplantation. 

           Iamoftenasked,withanairofincredulity,howIsucceededsomanyyearsinkeepingfrommydailyandconstantcompanionstheknowledgeofmytruenameandhistory. TheterriblelessonBurchtaughtme,impressedindeliblyuponmymindthedangeranduselessnessofassertingIwasafreeman. Therewasnopossibilityofanyslavebeingabletoassistme,while,ontheotherhand,therewasapossibilityofhisexposingme. Whenitisrecollectedthewholecurrentofmythoughts,fortwelveyears,turnedtothecontemplationofescape,itwillnotbewonderedat,thatIwasalwayscautiousandonmyguard.