Chapter 5
James led us to a brick wall, or at least, what looked like a brick wall. He brushed his hand over the cobwebs and stared at the wall.
Its around here somewhere, I know it is, they wouldnt have taken it out if they couldnt find it. James said and gave a sound that gave away the fact that he was frustrated. After a few more minutes a grin covered his face and he stepped back.
Hit the wall right there. He said and pointed to a specific spot, about 5 feet off the ground.
Here? I asked, and pointed to the same location. He nodded and I touched the wall in that spot. Nothing happened.
No
no.. no
you have to hit it. James said and wacked his hand through the wall, demonstrating.
But that will hurt. I exclaimed. Joey laughed at me. Stop laughing, if you think its so funny, you do it. I said and pouted. Joey stepped in front of me and pointed at the wall.
Right here? He asked James. James nodded, verifying what hed already said. Joey made a fist and cracked his knuckles. He brought his fist back slightly and rammed it into the spot that hed pointed out. His fist went through the brick. The brick crumbled and the wall shook. Guess I dont know my own strength. Joey stuck out his chest and acted manly. The wall gave way and we all jumped back as the wall fell down.
What was most surprising was that there was another wall behind the brick one. Once all the brick had fallen, shaking our eardrums, we saw through the dust a strong wood wall, with an oak door. We pushed the brick aside and stepped toward the door.
Chasez office I read of the wood. It was carved into the hard oak. My fingers grasp the glass doorknob and turned, pushing the door inward. Boxes upon boxes greeted us. Dates were written on all the boxes, times, years, and contents of the boxes. A large desk, like the one we found for the library, sat in the middle of the room, and behind it, you could see the image of Joshua, sitting in the chair.
Id almost forgotten about my office. Josh said with a sigh. He leaned back in the chair and placed his hands behind his head. I walked toward the desk and looked around.
What is all this stuff? I asked. I lifted papers off the desk and looked at them. They literally hadnt been touched since Joshua had died.
Slave trades mostly. Some bank receipts, some slave information. And pictures. Joshua stated, as if it were nothing important. I gasped, and looked through the papers. Dates, and times slaves and come and left into the house. For this specific date, February 21, 1841, ten slaves entered the house, all from traveling from Lousiana.
But
. I shook my head and closed my eyes, trying to comprehend what Josh had just told me. I tried again. How
I still couldnt put what I wanted to say into words. It was to much to believe. All sorts of documents like these had been burned years before, and none existed now. Or at least, thats what people thought.
What Chris is trying to say is, why didnt this stuff get taken when the confederates came? Joey said and slipped an arm around my waist from behind, steadying my unease position.
We had already built that brick wall. But now that that time period is over, and we dont have to worry about confederates, we can open the office once again. Joshua said with a smile. James had been leaning against a pile of boxes near the doorway. He stood up straight and walked toward us.
We dont have long, its almost nightfall, and if the people in town are anything like they used to be, then they will try to burn the house at nightfall. James said and crossed his arms. Lets pray that Justin can find some people.
Wait, your book! I exclaimed. We almost forgot about it. Josh hit his forehead with the palm of his hand and closed his eyes.
Yes, we did forget about it. Here. He opened the front middle drawer to the desk and produced a large key. He tossed it at me. I caught it with ease and looked at it.
This thing is heavy. I stated and weighed the key in my hand.
Well it should, its made of gold. Josh said and got up from the desk. Lets go, we have to get the book.
We left the office and returned to the big room, heading straight for the door. James walked through the door and then poked his head back through to the inside.
You can stand the sight of bones, right? James said grimly.
Bones? I questioned. I wasnt sure what he meant by that. Joey took the key and placed it in the lock that held the chain to the door.
Lets get this over with, whatever we see, we see. He said and turned the key. The heavy chains fell down, and we unlooped them from the barriers at the edges of the door.
Damn, these things must weigh a ton. I said, out of breath from the heavy chains. We put the chains down and then looked at the door. Ill go get a hammer. I said and ran to the steps to the pantry.
The door had been both boarded up and chained, and now that the chains were down we only had to get the boards down. I came back with two hammers, one for Joey, one for me. Giving Joey a hammer we stood in front of the double doors.
Well, heres to the past. I said softly and raised my hammer. 1
2
3
We both hit the boards, splitting them, and then we went after the nails, trying to loosen them from the encasement of the old wood. They were in a lot deeper than we had imagined. We stopped and looked at each other.
Damn. Joey said and put his hands on his waist. Its only four nails, how hard can it be? He rubbed his chin in thought. I stepped closer to the door and shivered.
I have an idea. I think the door is guarded. I placed my hand on the door, it was cold, even though it was summertime.
Guarded? By what? Joey said and stepped next to me. He felt the icy coldness of the door and stepped back again.
By slaves, I would think, they probably think, that since were white, that well kill them. I shrugged, and looked at Joey, who still rubbed his chin. He approached the door again and tried to pull the wood, it didnt budge, even though the wood had been separated and two of the nails had been taken off. James came through the door.
Whats taking so long? He asked and moved his head between us.
Tell youre friends to move, and we well be glad to join you on the other side.
Friends? James said and stood beside me, his face turned from confused to questioning in seconds. Oh
his voice trailed off and he called to Joshua.
Josh? Honey? James called through the door. A response was heard barely through the thick wood. We have a problem.
Joshua came through the wood and stood in front of James. What is it? Whats wrong? James turned him around by the shoulders and Joshuas face looked of one in shock. Wow. He said. I looked at Joey passed Josh and James.
Whats going on? Joey asked. Were running out of time. Joshua and James ignored us.
How do we accomplish moving by that? James said.
I dont know, you spent more time with them then I did. Joshua returned. His foot started tapping and he ranked his hands through his hair.
But not that much time. James returned and motioned to the door. I didnt see anything, but then again, I probably wouldnt. I went and sat at the table and hummed to myself, some old song that Id heard on the way home from church. James turned to me.
What song is that? James asked me. I shrugged, I didnt know, it was only a song Id heard on the way home from church.
I have no clue, I heard it on the way home from church last week, its been stuck in my head for some reason. I said and shrugged again.
Sing it. James demanded.
Why? I asked back. I was tired of all this, I wanted to go to sleep and not wake up for a while.
Just sing it, if Im wrong, Im sorry. But it may help to get the book. James said.
When the Sun comes back
And the first quail calls
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the Drinking Gourd.
I sang the first verse and stopped, looking at James for an explaination. His eyes were glued on the double doors, he moved his hand, telling me to continue.
Joey do you remember that song we heard coming home from church, the one that group of people were singing on the side of the road? I asked before continuing to sing.
Yeah, it was some old song. He joined me on singing the next verse.
The riverbank makes a very good road.
The dead trees will show you the way.
Left foot, peg foot, traveling on,
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
A crack was heard, I was understanding what James was getting at. I looked at Joey and nodded, singing a little bit louder than before.
The river ends between two hills
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
There's another river on the other side
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
A board fell from the door and Joshua started laughing. James joined in, his deep bass voice sounding right with Joeys and mine tenor voices.
When the great big river meets the little river
Follow the Drinking Gourd.
For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinking gourd.
The other boards fell from the door and Joey and I jumped up. James jumped up and down and hugged Joshua. It worked. He screamed and ran through the doors.
What was that all about? I asked Joshua who was standing there with his head resting on his hand.
Some slaves, that dont like white people, they thought you were one of those folks that tried to dig into the past and look for ghosts. Joshua explained. I didnt notice them until James said something. Because you know, you see a lot of things around this place that arent explained, and you learn to ignore them. But the whole reason that no one could get through that door was because they guarded it. One day Ill have to take you to the outside of that door.
I gave a hmmmm and reached with Joey for the brass handles to the double doors. We leaned back and pulled the doors inward, with much might and fell to the floor as the door burst open, and they would have probably bounced off the walls, but a slant in the floor stopped them from doing so.
I gasped at the sight. Bones, and cloth, just laying on the other side of the door. I rubbed my eyes and squinted, making sure that my prescription of contacts wasnt as bad as I believed.
Thats why I asked if you minded the site of bones. James said softly. We cant move them, its like a burial ground. Those are the slaves that were found when we were caught, and they just threw them on the other side of the door and locked it. Never to know what happened to the bodies. Joshua said, and wrapped an arm around James shoulder, pulling James to him. We found them when we woke up the next day, wondering why we hadnt gone to the next place, where ever that may be.
There was a silence, almost a silent prayer, and then James spoke up. The sun is setting, we need to get that book. We stepped over the bones, trying not to disturb them and came to the spot where Joshua stood.
Its in the wall, here, its only dirt. He pointed to a spot on the wall. I verified the place and dug into the wall, letting the dirt fall to the ground below the area. It was about the size of a small safe. I pulled the wood box out of the wall and handed it to Joey, turning so that we had the light of the room to look into the box.
Theres a lock on it. I stated and looked up at Josh.
His gave a small smile. Remember that box I had you pull out of the front step? I nodded. Its in there. We left the passageway and closed the doors, but not locking them. We went up into the kitchen and into the library from there, and on the desk sat the box I had pulled from the front step.
I opened the box, finding papers, and a key ring, with about 10 different keys on it. Joey held the box, and I turned to him and placed the first key in the hole, then the next, and kept going until I found the correct key.
Suddenly the candles in the room blew out, just as I had opened the safe. I looked up into the dark, trying to use what little day light was left to see.
Whats going on? I asked. I heard feet scraping against the floor, and noticed they were Joeys. Joey? I called out. A hand firmly placed itself over my mouth and I was suddenly frightened. I felt breath on my ear and my head turned at the force of his hand.
There here, Chris, we have to stay in here until its over. Joeys voice was soft and he released the pressure he had on my mouth.
Whats over? I asked. I held onto Joeys arm that came across my neck.
The people in town, theyre headed our way, Joshua sensed them and blew out the candles, James went to check on Justin, and if he found anybody to help. He told us to stay in here while they get this straightened out. Joey said softly.
I had a sudden urge to just forget about what was going on outside and drop Joey on the floor and ravish him. Biting my lip I tried to convince myself otherwise, that it wasnt such a good idea. Somehow he sensed my thoughts and his arm slipped from around my neck to around my waist and I leaned back into him. I felt his mouth against my ear as he breathed heavily and kissed the spot right below my ear lob. I bit my lip harder and tried to ignore him. His hands slipped over my body with knowing ease and I closed my eyes tightly.
Joey turned me around I looked into his eyes, with the little daylight left. I kissed him strongly and turned my head to the window. He followed my eyes and looked toward the window. Heading down the road were a bunch of people, probably most of the town, and most of them had torches.
I gulped, and sifted against Joey, wrapping my arms around him. It scared me to think about everything. What would happen to us if James and Josh couldnt help us? Would the house burn? What about everything in the basement? What about the bones outside the door? What about us?
I turned my head to look away from the window, just as the group of people started up the long, gravel driveway. I was about to close my eyes, when I saw movement just outside the window. I squinted and let go of Joey, slowly moving toward the window, out of the light, and looked out.
To everyone else, it was a peaceful night. But I saw differently. There were hundreds of people, that out numbered the group of protesters. My mouth dropped when I realized who they were.
Joey. I whispered, not taking my gaze away from the window. Justin came through. There are at least 2 hundred past slaves. Joey walked up behind me and looked out.
Are you sure? I dont see anything. Joey said and looked above my head out the window. I tilted my head to see if it would help me. It didnt, but suddenly a ghostly figure stood in front of the window, directly in front of me. I jumped back into Joey and stared at it.
It was a man, roughly 6 feet tall, strong build. He mouthed something about moving back away from the window and gave a small smile. He pointed to the other side of the room, and I complied, bringing Joey over to that side of the room with me. The man gave me a thumbs up and disappeared.
Joey looked at me and asked what that was about. I told him it was someone who didnt want us near the window. Seconds later I found out why. The window blew in with a lit torch, and it immediately went out. As if water had been dumped on it.
Joey, do you think we should go downstairs and help Josh and James? I turned to Joey and asked.
Josh told us to stay here, and were going to stay here, they havent steered us wrong yet. Joey said and wrapped his arms protectively around me. I leaned back into his embrace and sighed.
I just wish they would let us do something. I mean, it is our house too ya know. I said and tilted my head up. Joey laughed softly and then kissed the top of my head.
Well, it is, technically our house, since they are dead, but I wouldnt tell them that. Joey joked. I laughed and closed my eyes.