Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 19
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.