New Gods of North America.

Chapter 569 Fugitive Slave
Isaiah today yearns for freedom.

As a dark-skinned slave who had lived on a plantation since childhood, his name, like that of his companions, came from his master's "gift".
The Beaton family was relatively particular, and the names they gave their slaves often had sources. For example, the name "Isaiah" comes from the Bible and means "salvation".

Compared to many plantations where names are chosen based on the day of the week, month, tool name, or simply something the owner decides based on a glance at the newspaper,

Isaiah was at least quite satisfied with his name.

So if he manages to escape tonight, he doesn't plan to change his name; he just needs to choose a suitable surname for himself and Alicia.

In fact, the Underground Railroad had officially contacted Isaiah more than a year ago, and the initial contact went back even further.
No one would assign teachers to slaves, but enlightened slave owners didn't mind the slaves learning on their own—as long as it didn't interfere with their work. The person who contacted Isaiah was a gardener's apprentice on the plantation who was happy to teach the slaves simple writing in his spare time.

Escaping was a serious crime. Recaptured slaves often faced flogging, imprisonment, starvation, and even heavier labor. They were more likely to be branded with red-hot irons or even executed.
But more seriously, it can also implicate family members and companions. Some plantations that have had runaway slaves will make all slaves wear iron collars and chains to work and live indefinitely. The Beaton family is quite lenient in this regard and has not yet gone to that extent.

Isaiah did not originally want to take such a risk.
But he had no choice.

His lover, Alicia, was a fair-skinned mixed-race woman with striking beauty among the slaves. As her figure matured, her treatment on the plantation began to differ from that of the other slaves. She was no longer required to participate in collective labor, nor did she have to worry about being easily punished by the overseers or being taken to strange corners.

The Beaton family members were not interested in mixed-race female slaves, but slave owners who were interested were not uncommon. So they would send such slaves to auctions, exchanging them for the most valuable returns at their most suitable age and in their best condition.

The slaves did not have the right to decide their own marriages, and even the plantation foremen had no say in when Alicia would be sent away.

However, it is obvious that, given Alicia's current situation, that day is getting closer and closer.

So tonight,
This might be their only chance.

Isaiah, in the dim light of his hut, gazed at the moonlight and recalled his companion's instructions:
"A few days later, the church will hold a funeral for His Excellency the Bishop. During this time, the entire upper class of Richmond will be busy socializing, and many police and slave patrol officers will also be attending. No one will be paying attention to the slaves."

“We will arrange a pick-up the night before the funeral. Take this ‘ticket’ and arrive at the ‘station’ on time, and our people will take you away from Virginia.”

The slaves had little personal privacy; after sunset, they would gather together according to their different huts.
Some people seemed to have noticed Isaiah's unusual behavior that evening, but no one spoke up to ask. His lame father simply gave Isaiah a larger portion of his own food during dinner and told him to "eat his fill."

It was a porridge made from bits of pig offal and crushed corn, with a fair amount of minced meat—a rather decent meal. The slaves on the plantation had rations of food; if that wasn't enough, they had to supplement their diet by growing their own crops and hunting fish.

Since many plantations were adjacent to each other, and there were a certain number of stewards and overseers living on the plantations, the slaves on the plantations could occasionally take turns getting some unwanted offal or scraps of meat while they were arranging the slaughter of pigs and cattle. Meat was not "scarce," especially after the masters held a ball, which was often the time when the slaves had the most meat.

Isaiah had intended to leave a simple letter for his father, but unfortunately, he didn't know many words, and his father and mother probably wouldn't understand it. So, he secretly put all the things he had saved under his father's bed, planning to say goodbye to him in person before he left.
As for the mother, she was as disabled as the father... Moreover, male and female slaves were not necessarily able to live in "families"; sometimes it was only based on "gender." They could only convey their wishes through Alicia, hoping that her actions would also go smoothly.

The crescent moon climbed to the treetops, and snoring began to rise from the shack.

Isaiah quietly approached his father's bedside and gently patted him, "Papa..."

"Hush!" Isaiah's wrist was gripped tightly, then released, and finally a sheathed, homemade dagger was shoved into his hand.

His father held his hand tightly, patted it lightly twice, then pushed his hand away, and turned his back to him, using the wheat stalk as a pillow.

He couldn't bring himself to say goodbye. Isaiah hugged his father's shoulder before turning and leaving.

The moonlight outside the shack was not very bright. Before stepping on it, he couldn't help but look back, and unexpectedly his eyes met his father's again.

His calloused hands were slightly thin and wiry, and they swayed silently in mid-air.

……

“We’ve found the detective agency. One of their carriages set off in the evening and ended up at a plantation owned by the Beaton family. They seem to have stayed there for half the night.”

On the open plain beside the steam train route, several horse-drawn carriages and riders gathered together.
After hearing his subordinate's report, the leader felt a little relieved, but also somewhat puzzled.

The Beaton family?

Wayne, who possessed a charter signed by Bishop Corleone, could barely be considered half a "member of the church," yet the Beaton family shouldn't have been involved in this matter.
They do have connections in political circles, but if they want to be hostile to all the pastors in the South and interfere in the internal affairs of the church, then they will face pressure from more than just the church.

This is not reasonable.

Unless the pastors' judgment was wrong from the beginning, Wayne's departure from Richmond with his men at this time had nothing to do with church affairs.

As I was pondering this, another person on horseback approached from a distance.
The horses quickly approached, bringing the latest news: "Because the detective agency is full of extraordinary individuals, I didn't dare get too close. However, I just heard fighting and shouting. And I saw their carriage parked to the side move again, so it seems they have another operation tonight."

The leader reacted quickly, "What's the exact direction and location? Let's split up and surround them. We absolutely can't lose them again this time."

Everyone present was a local and familiar with the area around Richmond.

A simple diagram was quickly drawn on the ground. Just as the leader was about to arrange the personnel, one of his subordinates turned to look at the other side.

Two dark-skinned slaves, a man and a woman, were approaching quickly. The man seemed a little uneasy. "Are you here to meet us?"

After saying that, he stretched out a hand, holding a piece of paper that looked like a train ticket.

The leader frowned.
Runaway slaves?!
(End of this chapter)