Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 9
"PoorPlatt,youareinabadstate,"wastheonlyexpressionthatescapedhislips.
"ThankGod!"saidI,"thankGod,MasterFord,thatyouhavecomeatlast."
Drawingaknifefromhispocket,heindignantlycutthecordfrommywrists,arms,andankles,andslippedthenoosefrommyneck. Iattemptedtowalk,butstaggeredlikeadrunkenman,andfellpartiallytotheground.
Fordreturnedimmediatelytothehouse,leavingmealoneagain. Ashereachedthepiazza,Tibeatsandhistwofriendsrodeup. Alongdialoguefollowed. Icouldhearthesoundoftheirvoices,themildtonesofFordminglingwiththeangryaccentsofTibeats,butwasunabletodistinguishwhatwassaid. Finallythethreedepartedagain,apparentlynotwellpleased.
Iendeavoredtoraisethehammer,thinkingtoshowFordhowwillingIwastowork,byproceedingwithmylaborsontheweavinghouse,butitfellfrommynervelesshand. AtdarkIcrawledintothecabin,andlaiddown. Iwasingreatmisery—allsoreandswollen—theslightestmovementproducingexcruciatingsuffering. Soonthehandscameinfromthefield. Rachel,whenshewentafterLawson,hadtoldthemwhathadhappened. ElizaandMarybroiledmeapieceofbacon,butmyappetitewasgone. Thentheyscorchedsomecornmealandmadecoffee. ItwasallthatIcouldtake. Elizaconsoledmeandwasverykind. Itwasnotlongbeforethecabinwasfullofslaves.