May the Road Rise Up to Meet You: A Novel (10 page)

So Micah walked back with him. His Daddy’s great arm draped
over his shoulders. And then it was Micah’s tears he was tryin’ to talk away through his own. Tellin’ him it was gonna be okay, Son. Tellin’ him maybe it weren’t the Lawd’s plan for him to see his son be free. That maybe that’s gonna be Micah’s thing to do. That someday he’d have a son. And maybe get to make him free. Give him that kinda inheritance sweeter than all
Les Roseraies
and all the plantations in Carolina put together. And when they got home Momma and Isabelle were there. Made a fire. Cooked some biscuits. And the four of them ate ’em with some of the harvest butter on top. Isabelle askin’ Daddy to tell some stories from way back. Something about them old mules that usedta graze in that top field.
His
field, the way Micah saw it. The one that was about to become useless. Again.

The auction is held three days later.
Les Roseraies
buzzing even more than it did the day of Massa Leroux’s funeral. This time with visitors not dressed so well, some lookin’ downright common. All morning long they walk through the Big House and the stables. Even down to the rice paddies and slave quarters, just openin’ any door they please and walking in. The slaves are told to stay in their quarters that day. And it’s the first time Micah can remember hearing complaints that they
won’t
be workin’ that day.

Don’t take long to understand why. Once Mista Erlison, the overseer, comes ’round. Tells ’em all to come on out an’ stand in a line. And they walk up toward the Big House. Momma’s explainin’ to some of the others what’s likely to happen. Says she seen this sorta
controlled
auction before, back in Nawlins at the Massa’s old place.

Callin’ us in from the quarters mean’s they either sold the whole place and the new Massa wants to talk to us all
. She says.
Or it means the auctioneer didn’t get the price the Misses wants and now they gonna sell parts off one by one
.

Whachu mean “parts”?
Someone asks.

Furniture. Massa’s piano. The silver an’ the good china. Summa the horses maybe
. She says, pausing for a moment.
And us
.

When Mista Erlison asks the auctioneer, man named Mista Tilton, how he should divvy up the slaves, it don’t take much to figure that there ain’t no new Massa wantin’ to talk to them.

Bring ’em out seven at a time
. Mista Tilton says.
Nine groups of seven, perfect
.

You wan’ the best ones up front?
Mista Erlison asks.
The strong bucks or the ones with special skills’ll draw the best price
. Mista Tilton says.

Mr. Erlison starts lookin’ down at his sheet and shouting out names. Daddy gets called out in the first group, even though he’s more’n fifty years old. And Micah feels proud of him, standin’ there with men half his age. Then, when Micah gets called at the end of the second group, he feels even better. Standin’ there with the cook and the liveryman and four other field hands that got ten years on him mostly.

Whatta shame
. Mista Erlison mumbles, lookin’ at Daddy. Knowin’ the man that’s done most of the real overseeing of this plantation might go up on the block soon. Momma gets put in the fourth group, and Bellie’s way back in the last one. And it doesn’t seem real to Micah until they get set in their groups ’round side of the Big House. And he can hear the auction goin’ on up front.

Mista Tilton said the Misses wanted eighty thousand for the place. No one offered more than sixty-eight. So now comes the
real
auction. And by the time Micah can hear what’s goin’ on, the price is down to seventy-four thousand. Piano and a whole buncha fancy furniture got sold. And all it did was cut six thousand off. Which means it’s time to sell off more
parts
. China set and silver service and more furniture only gonna do so much. An’ that’s all it does.

Seventy thousand
. Auctioneer says.

But sixty-five’s the highest bid now. So more parts. Meanin’ the first batch of slaves. Meanin’ Daddy. Micah can hear the auctioneer tell how he’s the best levee operator in the state, probably. Great carpenter too. Loyal. And so forth. And Micah feels proud of him again. Especially when the bidding hits a thousand dollars. Folks start talkin’ about how even the biggest field hand didn’t go for a thousand. But Daddy does. Eleven hundred dollars, to be exact. And when he’s gone, the piece-by-piece auctionin’ comes to a stop again. And the auctioneer starts askin’ for his new price of sixty-four thousand.

It takes a little while for Micah to let the pride go. ’Til he realizes what really just happened. What it means for Daddy. And the rest of them.

The auctioneer seems to hope that the man who bid sixty-five last go-’round will have at it again. But sixty’s all he’s willing to go now. With Micah’s Daddy and the six best field hands gone. So it’s more parts. Meanin’ Micah this time.

A young field hand with much potential
. Is how the auctioneer describes Micah.
Look at those shoulders, gentlemen. This boy’s gonna make a fine strong hand in a few years
.

And Micah’s got an angry look on his face. Not just from the idea of bein’ sold. Or even from his Daddy bein’ sold. But from having the auctioneer say he’s
gonna
make a fine strong hand. Like he didn’t already do a man’s work, and then some. Then the overseer whispers something in the auctioneer’s ear and his eyes open wide.

I’m told this young buck is the son of Samuel, sold not long ago. So that’s a boy who knows about hard work and knows a thing or two about operating levees and locks … carpenterin’ too. A fine investment this one is. Now do I hear four hunnerd?

After a few seconds a man near the front calls out four hundred.

Do I hear four twenty-five?

Four twenty-five
. Another man says.

Very good, now I want four fifty. Do I have four fifty?

And on it goes for a minute or two. The man who bought Daddy and another man, bidding back and forth. Past five hundred. Six hundred, even. Then the man who bought Daddy starts shakin’ his head when the other man bids seven hundred.

Couldn’t get that much for’m in Mississip’
. The man who bought Daddy says. And that’s that.

Sold at seven hunnerd to Mister …
Auctioneer says.

Dunmore
.

Sold at seven hunnerd to Mr. Dunmore of …?

Virginia. Charlottesville
.

Mr. Dunmore of Charlottesville in the great state of Virginia
. Auctioneer says with flair. And Micah gets taken over with the rest of the slaves who already got sold.

Did the man in the blue suit git ya?
His Daddy asks him.
The dealer from down Mississip’, did he git ya?

It was a man named Dunmore
. Micah says, shaking his head.
From Virginia
.

His Daddy takes the news like a punch to the belly. And Micah can see him half-breaking right before him. Cryin’ again now. So that’s twice in sixteen years, all inside the same month. And that’s when this all becomes real to Micah. It ain’t about the pride of his Daddy bein’ put in the first group. Or him bein’ in the second. Not anymore. Now it’s about realizin’ that Daddy’s goin’ to Mississipp’. And he’s goin’ to Virginia.

It’s gon’ be awright
. Daddy says, putting his arm around Micah’s shoulders. The same broad shoulders that put him in the second group to start with.
The Lawd’s gonna watch over yo’ Momma an’ Bellie … leastways
.

They look back up at the porch where the auction continues, ’til Micah’s lot gets all sold off. Then there’s some more furniture and four of the best horses from the stables. And Mista Tilton consults with the man keepin’ the books at the table next to him.

Fifty-six thousand
. He shouts, and the crowd seems more interested than before.

Fifty-four
. Someone says, and the auctioneer shakes his head.

Fifty-five
. Another says. But no.

Finally,
Fifty-six
. The man from before says, and the crowd cheers a little.

Your Momma an’ Bellie’re safe
. Daddy says, squeezing Micah to him.
They gon’ stay right ’ere. The Lawd kept them togetha, at least
.

How ’bout the indigo fiel’, Daddy?
Micah asks. Like he’s still holdin’ out hope. Like maybe if he and Daddy can harvest what’s there, plus what they been doin’ all these years. That maybe it’ll be enough to buy the two of ’em back. And it can be the four of ’em all together again.

At’s done now, Son
. His Daddy says.
When Massa Leroux pass, ’at deal die wit’ him. We done speculated like a coupla white gennlemen o’ business. Like dem men jus’ bought you an’ me. Only we lost. We lost dis here speculation, Son
.

Micah stands still, not entirely sure what his Daddy means.

Fifty-six thousand, five hunnerd!
Another man from the crowd shouts.

Fifty-seven!
Another says.

Fifty-seven!
The auctioneer says, smiling bigger than ever.

Fifty-seven, five hunnerd!

Fifty-eight!

Fifty-eight!
The auctioneer repeats, giddy now.
Where were you gentlemen earlier?

And the crowd laughs.

’At’s right
. Micah’s Daddy mumbles.
Where was dey befo’?
He looks down at Micah and shakes his head.
Dey’s speculatin’ a little too late fo’ us
.

And inside Micah there are no tears. Just an icy, far-off stare. Looking at nothing in particular. Not even wondering what his new world will be like. Not much caring. Just cold and dark. Deep inside.

MICAH HADN’T SPENT MUCH OF
his sixteen years engaged in conversation. Not with Daddy and Bellie around to do all the talkin’. And Micah preferred to listen anyway. Still, it was one thing to hear the playful chatter of his family. And another altogether to hear the stories of such a man as Clarence Dunmore. With him chained to the bench of the livery coach. First time Micah ever rode in a covered carriage. And it was sittin’ across the width of it from his new Massa. Watchin’ him sip from a flask. Left to hear the man’s life story. While all he could think about was how this man took him away from his Daddy and Momma and Bellie. And this man not knowin’ anything about the number. ’Bout the almost thousand pounds of indigo that was supposed to be his inheritance.

Massa Dunmore was a man to be feared. Which he kept sayin’ to Micah over and over.
Tough as any soul in Albemarle County—even th’entire state of Virginia
. He said. Over and over. Especially after he took a swig from that flask.

He stood five foot eight or so. Two inches less than Micah right now. And Micah with one last bit of growin’ still to come. Or so his Daddy used to say. But Dunmore was powerfully built, with thick arms and shoulders. Wide in the hips and chest. Unlike Micah. And Dunmore had meaty fists and a scowl fixed on his face, too. The kind that’d make few men want to mess with him even if it was Dunmore that started it.

They pulled into the train station in Charleston and the bustle of it all was unlike anything Micah had ever seen. For a moment or two, he
stopped thinking about his mother and sister back home. Or his father on his own way to Mississipp’. Just stood there mesmerized by all that he saw before him. Then Dunmore got angry at the train attendant. Began yanking on the chains that bound Micah’s wrists.

Now dis here is my investment—an’ I ain’t gonna risk him jumpin’ off when the train slows down
. Dunmore shouted at the man, standing a little straighter and pausin’ for a second when he said the word
investment
.

Sir, the rules say he hasta ride in the livestock car with th’other slaves
. The attendant said, looking like he didn’t want to get Dunmore any more upset than he already was.
We have leg irons installed there, so there’s no need to worry
. He added, sweet as pie.

Well I wanna look at whachu got set up, ’fore I let you take ’im
. Dunmore growled.

And they walked to the rear cars. Dunmore jabbering to the attendant about how he had outbid a fancy slave-dealer from Charleston. How he spent seven hundred dollars on Micah.

That’s a lot for a field hand
. The attendant said. And Micah shot the man a dirty look at the back of his head.

Well I ain’t gonna USE him as a field hand
. Dunmore snapped.
This boy got special skills he learnt from his father. This boy gonna be my carpenter’s apprentice and he’s gonna make me a lotta money
.

You a carpenter?
The attendant asked.

’At’s right
. Dunmore responded, glaring at the attendant as if the question was meant as an insult.
What of it?

My Pa was a carpenter
. He answered.
Tried to make me one, but I wadn’t any good at it, so I joined the railroad instead
.

And Dunmore smiled. Nodded his head.

Well, it takes a certain kinda man t’be a carpenter
. He said. And took the metal flask from his inside pocket.
You wanna nip?

The attendant looked behind them up the length of the platform and turned back to Dunmore.

Don’t mind if I do
.

He took a long swig from it and handed it back to Dunmore. Who took a swig too.

You know, Mister …

Dunmore
.

You know Mr. Dunmore, between yer two second-class passenger tickets, you could cash ’em in an’ get one first-class cabin for just a half dollar more
.

But then I’d still hafta pay cargo charges for ’im
. Dunmore replied, nodding toward Micah.

Well, see—I’m th’attendant in the first-class cars. Cain’t take him up there, ’course, but I could probably sneak you both into one of the compartments once we get rollin’. This way you can watch’m the whole time
.