“Also by Richard Wright 1 RICHARD WRIGHT Gale Dom's Chile, FIVE LONG STORIES 6 THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANYeit tre what they sy abot Dini? Does the rum relly shine all he tne? Do sweet magnolia lotion ateverybody'tdocr? ‘Dooly ecpening'portum.sillheycan'text no more? leit true what hey sty about Swonee? Lea dream by tht stream s0 cable? Dothey leugh,do they lve, like they sayin ery song? its tue that's where | Belong. Big By Leaves fom YO MAMA don wear no drawers Geary, the woie core out ofthe woods, and died away. Like an ‘sho ancther voice caught up: ‘Ah acena when the paled em off ‘Anosber sil, cacking, sdolessen: WN she mashed ‘em in alcohol ‘Then aquaretof voices, bending in harmony, ated high above thetce op 1 she hung "em out the ball Laughing easly, four black boys came out af the weods into cleared pasture, They walked olingly in bare fc, beating angled vines and bushes with long sks, “Als withed Ab knowed sane mo ines tha song” “Me too." "Yeak, when yuh itt where she hangs em out inthe hall yuh fas top : Shek, whue goes wid hall” ‘They threw themseles om the grat, Ighing. 56 UNCLE Tom's CHILDREN “Big Boy?" “Hoh? Yc know one thing? “Wht?” "Yuh sh eazy" Crazy?” “Yeah yu crazys a bed bugl” “Crazy bout whut?” "Man, whocver beards all?” “Yuh sid yuh wanted something t go wid Fal didat yuh?" “Yea but whe a gual? “Nigger, 3 quale gull” ‘They laughed easly, catching and palling long green blades of grass with thei toes "Waal,ef2 gulls 2 qual, whut IS a qual?” “Ob, Ab know.” whut?” “Ta ol song goes something Hike thie: Yo mama dow weer no drawer, dh scons when she pled em of Nhe washed em in alata, she hung em out inthe hall, IN then she put em back on her QUALI “They laughed agra, Their shoulders were fatto the eet thei nes propped up nd thei faces square othe sun, “Big Boy, yubs CRAZY “Don ax me nothin ee” “Nigger, yuhs CRAZY” ‘They fell silent, smiling, drooping the Hid oftheir eyes softly againe the svligh. “Man, don the groun feel warm?" “us ka bed” “Jess, A could stay here frees IG BOY LEAVES HOME ” "Me to.” “Ah kin feel hao sun goin all ha me” “Feels ike mah bones is warm.” Inthe distance a ain whisded mourfaly, "There goes number fol” “Hittin all se!" “Hlighballin i down the lise!” “Boun fr up Noth, Laid, bound fer up Nothl™ ‘They began to chant, pounding bare hela the gras, Dis rain boun fo Glory Disteain, Oh Halleljah Dis tain bound fo Glory Dis tain, Oh Hallelujah Dic train Bound fo Glory Ef yuh ride no need for fete worry Dis rain, Oh Hellelajeh Dis train» Dis train don carry no gambler Dis ruin, Oh Holleljah Diz train don carry no gambler Dis sin, Ob Hellelush Dis train don cary no gambler [No fo day erecper er midnight rambler Dir trie, Ob Holleljah Dis tain « ‘When the song ended they burst out laughing, thinking of a teain bound for Glory. "Ges tha good a ong!” "Huvouummsmmmmaman “whut?” *Gecee whit8 UNeLE ToM’s CHILDREN “whut?” “Somebody don let wial Dat whut!” Buck, Bobo and Lester jumped up. Dig Boy stayed onthe ground, feigning sleep. “Jeesu, tha sho stink!” “Big Boy!” Big Boy feigned to snore. “Big Boy!” ig Boy sire as though in deep. ar “Hanh? “Yuh rsten inside” “Rote “Lad, cant yu smelt? ‘Smell wht?” “Nigger, yuh mae gota bed col” “Smell whut?” “NIGGER, YUH BROKE WINI" Big Boy laughed and el back om the grass closing his eyes “The hen whut eckles isthe hen wht lad the egg.” “We sn na hens.” Yuh cacked, didnt yuh?” ‘The cree moved off with ness turned up. “Crmonl” “Where yu goin?” OT the creck fer swim” Yea es swim.” “Nawbuddy naw!” sid Big Bo, slaping the ar with aseornful palm, “Aa, mon! Don bea heel” °N git lynched? Hell naw!” “He ain gonna see us” “How yuh know?” "Caute he ain." Bio ROY LEAVES HOME 2» “Yuh goon. Ama say sight her," id Big Boy. “Hel let ea stay Cron, ler gs” said Buck ‘The three walked of, swishing at gras and bashes with sticks. Big Boy looked aly t tei backs ab Walking on, they glanced ovr thee shoulders "Hey, niggers!" “Con!” ig Boy granted, picked up his stick, pulled to his fr, and umbled of. “Wail” “C mon!” [He ran, caught up with them, lesped upon thir backs, bearing them tthe ground. “Quit, Big Boy!” “Gaveddam, nigger Git hel ofa mel” Big Boy sprawled in che grass beside them, laughing and pouad: ing his beele in the ground, "Nigger, whut yub think we is ose?” “How come yuh awways hoppin on us?” “Lisen, wes gonna doubtteamn on yu one of these days a eat ye ol ass good.” Big Boy smiled "Sho nough?™ “Yeah don yuh Tike it?” We gonna best yuh oe yuh can walt” oN dare yuh do nothin ebout i” ig Hoy bared his tet. ‘C mon! Tey icnow!™ “The thee circled around bir. Buck, yuh grab is ets!” ‘yh gi is head, Lete!™ Bobo, yuh git bern n grab hie rmal™~ ONCLE TOM's CHILDREN Keeping more than arm's length they cele round and ound Big Boy “Cont” sd ig Hoy, ening toe and then the ce. Round and round they Geld but could not sem to gt any closet Big Boy sped and braced is ands on biships “iva href yuball creda me?" “Legit some thr times Bao, eianing. “Yah we in Lech yoh whe yo in thinkin” id Leste, “We kin ick yy” a Bucks “They bughed and walked together. Big Boy beched. “Ahm hong” he sid "Me too” “Al wihed Ab hada big hot gota belly-baserl™ “Cosked wi some god ol sy ks “some god el egg cornbread «« Naame beri” “N some Bot peach cbr svimmi in juice Nga, hs “They brgen to chant, emphasising the shythm by eating a gre wih ck, Byenbye AB wana pice of pie Pies too sweet Ah wanna pice of mest Mee toored ‘Abwanna pec of breed Breads t00 brown Ad wanna go town Towns t00 for Ab wannaherch acer Carrtoo far Ab fll break mah ake “AR understan it beter Byem bye =. ie pov LEaves Hose Pa ‘They climbed over a barbed-wire fence and entered a sretch of thick woods. Big Boy was whistling eof hie eye half closed “LES GIT IM! "Buck, Luster, and Bobo whiced, grabbed Big Boy about the ‘eck, arms, and legs, bearing him to the ground, He gruated and [icked wildly s be went back into weeds, “Holi ight!" this arm! Git hi arma” "Set on hit lege vo he cant Kick! Big Boy pofed heavily, ying to get aoe. “WE GOT YUH NOW, GAWDDAMMIT, WE GOT YUH. Now!” “Thas a Gawddam lie!” sid Big Boy, He Kicked, twisted, and clutched fora hold on ene and then the other. "Say, yuball hep me ho hie art” id Bobo, “Av, we got this basard now" sid Leer. "Thas a Gaweddam lel” ssid Big Bay agin, “Say, yuball hep me hal his arma” called Bobo. Big Boy managed to encircle the neck of Bobo with his eft arm. He tightened his elbow scisorsike and hised through his teeth "Yuh got me ia yuh? “Folin “Les beat this hard’ sel” "Say, hep me hol his arr Hes go abolda ma neck” ered Bote, ‘Big Boy squeezed Bobo neck and twisted bit hed tothe ground, “Yuh got me sin yuh?” “Quit, Big Boy, yuh chokin mes yu hurtin mah nec eicd Bobe. “Turn me Jose sl Big Boy. “Ah aia go yuh le the hers wht got yu” pended Bobo. “Tell ther oters¢ git hell ef me oe Aha bres yo neck,” ssid Big Boy.= vpwene rou's enminnen sony, yyyuball git ozcofla Bhig Hoy. Hes gt me" ut- sel Bob Cane yb len “Noa, Bhs gor mmab neck ig Boy squared te, Ae kere inet y elem git hel of mel” anu meee Tens” pated Bebe, rs gshing “Canty ol i Bobo?” asked Buk Ry yal arn Dos; hes go ah ede “Grabs nk, Bako “Al cats yoga « “Fotave Bobs Laer and Buc got up and rant asf ditance Jig Boy wlened bo, who ogy ois fet, seri and ‘ing sec a ek out of his neck vce niger yuh los broke rah eck” whimpered Hobo. “alm gonnabresk yous nex tie” id Big Boy El Babe could al yoh we woulda bad yh” yled Lester “Ah wun gonna let im dota” si Big Boy “They walle together agai, swing ss. Feed ce begat ig Boy “when gang guys ump on yall sods pots do tos pt te bet on te of thera m mak im ell Teeter let up" ee tas 2 god Meth chs a god idee! “utp ln broke mab eck, a,” id Bobo “Annes niger sid Big oy, thruring out his ches. “They came to the swimming hole “Ab ain goin i,” sid Bobo “Done got seed?” aed Big Boy. "Nave, Ab sa scared “Flow come yu ain goin in?” “Yoh know of man Harvey don elow no agers swim in bole" "TN jus las year he tok a shot at Bab fer swinmin in ere" sid Leses. "Shucks, ol man Harvey ain studyin bout us niggers” said Big, Boy. “Hs at home thiking about his jello nid Buck, ‘They laughed. “Bock, yo mins lower a snakes belly” aid Leer “OL man Harveys too doggone o think erbou ell-olh” sid Big Boy "He deied ups all the aps dane lf im" sid Bobo, C'mon es gol” sud Big Boy. ‘Bebo pointed. "See tha sign over yonder?" “Yeah? “Whur ie say? “NO TRESPASSIN,” read Lester, “Know whut tha mean?” ‘Mean ain no dogs n niggers erllowed,” sid Buck. “Waal, wes here now,” sd Big Boy. "EF he keched ws even ‘ike this there be rouble 0 we jus as waal goon in « «2 “Ab wid the nex one!” "Abll go ef anybody ele goe Big Boy looked carefully in all diections. Seting nobody, he began jerking off is overall, “LAS ONE INS A OL DEAD DOG” “THAS YOU MAI" “THAS YO PAI" “THAS BOTH YO MA N YO PAI “They jerked off theie other and threw them ina pile under a tre, Tiny seconds ater they stood, black and naked, on the edge ‘of thehole under oping embankment. Gingerly Big Boy touched the water wit is foot. ee4 loeLE roM's camepnen "Ma, this waters col” he sid Alkm gonna put mah eloes back on,” said Bobo, withdrawing bis foo. Big Boy grabbed him abou the wait "Like bell yuh is!” “Git outa the way, nigger!” Bobo yelled. “Tho im inl” sid Lener, “Duck im!” Bobo crouched, spead his leg, and braced hitmen against Big Boy's body. Locked in each other's arms, they tussle on the edge ‘ofthe hole neither ble eo throw the cbr. "mex, les yuh push em in” “OK. Laughing, Lener and Bue gave the two locked bodies waning push Big Boy and Bobo slated, sending up slvr spriy in the ‘ualght. When Big Boys head came up be yell: “Yuh basard™ “Tha wus yo ma yuh pushed!” said Bobo, shaking his head co clear dhe water from his eyes They did a surface dives came up and struck ot acrosthe creek “The muddy water foamed. They swam back, waded into shallow vcr, breathing heal and Blinking ys. min!” fan, the waters ie” Lester and Buck estate, “Les wet en” Big Boy whispered to Bobo. Before Lear and Bick could back away, they were dipping ‘et from bandsful of sooped wate. “Hey, quit!” “Gawedar, nigger; ‘Tha waters coll” “C men in!” called Big Boy. “We us a8 waal go on in nowy" id Boe, “Leen see ef anybody com.” Keeling, they squited among theses, Bio poy Lzavis HOME 35 “Ain nobody *C men les go." ‘They waded in slowly, pausing each few sepe to eatch their ih. A desperate water bate began, Closing eyes and backing sexy, they shunted water into ome another's faces with the fat pals of hands "Hey, ca it ot” "Yeth, Ahm bot drownia!” ‘They came together in wate up to thee navel blowing and linking. Big Boy ducked, peeing Ucbo “Look out nigger!” “Don holler lod!” "ea, they kin eae yo ol big mouth a mile erway.” “This waters too eal fe me: “"Thas cause it aed yn.” ‘They sam across and back again, "Ah wish we hada bigger place tewim ia.” The white folks got plenty srimaia pools n we an got none" "Ab usta swim in theol Mssipp when we lived in Viksbarg” Big Boy pu his head under she wate and Lew his breath A sound came lke that ofa hippopotamus *C men, ex be hippo.” ach went 1 other of the creck and put hit mouth jus below the surface and blew lke a hippopotams Tiring, they etme and satunder the embankment. “Look lke Ah gout ehill”™ "Me to." "Les say bere md “Jeers, Akin coll ‘They kee sil in the sun, suppressing shivers. After some ofthe wae ha ded of thr ety Boge 1 al hgh lt tering teeth, ee wold yuh doef al min aed ce eng gh eee| ( 6 ‘UNL TOM's CHILDREN sn ike ll” “Man, Abd run so fas hed thinka black sreake Lightnin shot pas ie’ “But spose he hada gun?” Aw, nigger, shor upl” ‘They were lent. They ran their ands over wet, trembling lees, brushing water aviay. Then ther eyes watched che sun sparkling on the reste creek Faraway tain whisled. “There goes number seven!” “Headin fer up Noth! “Blazin it down the Hie!” awed, Ahm goin Noth some day." Me too, man.” They say colored folks up Noth is got ekual rights” “They grew eave. A black winged buterly hovered atthe water's edge A bee droned, From somewhere cme the swet vent ‘OE honeysekles. Dimly they could hear marrows twiteing inthe ‘woods. They rolled frm side to side letting sunshine dry their skins and warm thir blood. They plucked blades of grass and chewed them. ‘Oat™ ‘They looked up ther lips parting, “ont” ‘A white woman, poised onthe edge ofthe eppasite embankment, stood directly in font of them, he hatin her hand and her bai it bythe sun ies a woman! whispered Big Boy in an underbeeath. “A white woman!” "They stared, their hands insinctivly covering tel grains. "Then they srambled to thee fet. The white woman backed slowly out (of sight. They stood for a moment, looking at one another. “Legit cuts her!” Big Boy whispece “Wai il dhe goes era.” lo BOY LEAVES HOME 7 “Les can, theyll ketch us here naked like this!” "Mabe theresa man wid hex.” "C mon, le git our eloes” sd Big Boy. ‘They waited a momert longer, Uiteaing. “Whut hell! Ahma git mah clos” sid Big Boy Gabhing st shor afte of gras he dimbed the esbaakment, “Don run out there now!” "C mon back, fol!” Bobo hesitated. He looked at Big Boy, and then at Buck and Lester “Ahn goin wid Big Boy n git mah clos” he sd “Don run ove there naked lke tha, fool” ssid Buck. "Yuh don Know whos out there!” Big Boy was climbing over the edge ofthe embankment, "C mom” he whispered, Bobo climbed afer. Twenty Sve feet sway the woman sced. She hadone hand over her mouth, Hanging by fingers Back and Leer pecped over the edge. "Cmon backs that womans waredy” said Leer. [ig Boy stopped, puzzled. He looked atthe wera, He loked atthe bundle of cathe. Then be looked at Buck and Laster, C mon, es gt our oes!” He made a step. “gt” the woman sreamed. Big Boy sopped and looked around. His hands hung lctely axis sides. The woman, her eyes wide her band over her mouth, bucked away tothe tee where their clothes layin a heap, “Big Boy, come back bere wait el shes gone!” Bobo ran to Big Boys ide “Les go home! They! ketch usher" hewiged. Big Boy's throat fle sight. “Lady, we wanna gitour cles"be sid. ‘Buck and Lester climbed the embunkment and stood indeci- sively Big Boy ran toward the tre,3 ‘UNcte Tom's centonen, “imal” the woman screamed. “ial Jim!" Black and aaked, Big Boy stopped hice fer from her. "We wanna git our clos” he sid again, his words coming “You go away! You go away! Tell you, you go sway!” Big Boy sopped agcn, fai Bobo ran and snatched the clothes, ‘Bek and Lester tried to grab theirs ou of his hands “You go amayl You go awayl You go away!” the woman screamed, "Les go sid Bobo running toward the woods. CRACK! Lester grunted,siffened, and pitched forward. His forehead struc ste ofthe womans shoe. ‘Bobo stopped, latching the clothes. Buck whirled, Big Bay stared st Lever, bis lipe moving. “Fles gota gun; hes gota gun!” yeled Buck, running wily. CRACK! ‘Buck wopped atthe edge ofthe embankment, bi hea jerked backward, hishody ached stifly to one side he toppled headlong, sending up a shower of bright spray tothe sunlight. The erek bubbled, Dig Boy and Bobo backed away, their ees fastened fearfully on white man who was running toward them. He had a rife and ‘wore an aemy ofa’ Uniform. He ran tothe womans side and srabbed ber had, “You hure Bertha, you hurt?™ ‘She stared arhim and didnot answer ‘he man turned quickly. His fice was red. He raised the ride and pointed it at Bobo, Bobo ran back, holding the clothes in ont ot hischest, “Don shoot me, Mista, don shoot me « ‘Big Boy lunge forthe sf, grabbing the bare. You back soefabitch Bio nox LEAVES HOME » Big Boy clung desperately. "Let go, you back bastard” ‘The bactel pointed skyward, CRACK! ‘The white man, alle and heavier, fang Big Boy tothe ground, ‘Bobo dropped the clothes, ran up, and jumped onothe white mas back, “You black sonsobithesl™ ‘The white man released the rife, jerked Bobo tothe ground nd began wo batter the naked boy with hie Bits. Then Big Boy swung, seiking the man in the mouth with the barcl, His eth caved in, and be fl, dazed, Bobo was on his feet. *C mon, Big Boy, les gol” Breathing hard the white man got up and faced Big Boy. Hit lips were werabling, his neck and chin wet with Blood. He spoke guiely. "Give me thar gun, boy!" Big Boy leveled the rife and backed away. ‘The white man advanced. "Boy, Tsay give me that gunt!™ ‘Babo had the clothes in is arms. “Rus, Big Boy ru!” "The man ere a Big Boy. “AI Kil yoy ABIL yubl” sad Big Boy. is fingers fumbled fr the tigger. ‘The man stopped, blinked, spa blood. His eyes were bewildered His face whitened. Suddenly, he lunged for the ride hi hands stretched, CRACK! Ho fll forwardonhisfsce, “Fmt” [Big Boy and Bobo turned in suptite to lock atthe woman. “Tm” shevereamed again, and fll weal atthe foo ofthe tree.”e UNoLE Tom's CHILDREN Big Boy dropped the rifle, his eyes wide. He looked around Bobo wa eying and eluching the lathes. “Big Boy, Big Boy « ig Boy loked at ce rie, started to pick it up, but ida. He scemed at alos. He looked at Lester then tthe white man; his ‘yes followed a thin stream of bod that seeped to che ground. “Yh done killed im,” mumbled Bobo. “Les go home!” Naked, they turned and’ ran toward the wood, When they seach the barbed vie fence they stopped. “Les git our cloes on” sai Big Boy. ‘They sipped quickly into overalls. Bobo held Lee's and Buck’ caches, “Wht we gonna do wid these?" [Big Boy sared. His hands ewitched. “Leave em.” ‘They climbed the fence and ran through the woods, Vines and leaves witched thei faces. Once Bobo tripped and el. “C mon!” aid Big Boy. ‘abo sated eryng, blood steaming fom his sratches, “Ahm seared!” “Cron! Donery We wanna gthome fo they keches us!” “Ahm scared!” said Bobo agsa, his eyes full of eas. ‘Big Boy grabbed his hand and dragged hie along. "C mon!” ‘They topped when they gett the end ofthe woods. They could sce the open road leading home, home to a and pa. But they Ihung back, afraid. The thick shadows ext fom the trees were friendly and sheleriag. Bu the wide glare of son eretching out ‘over the fields wat pitiless, They erouched behind an ld log. io box Leaves sone * “We gata gic hoe,” sd Big Boy. ‘theys gonna Iach us" aid Bebo bal quenonigly, Big Boy didnot answer “Theys gon yeh ud Bobo agin. Big Boy shuddered. “Hlshl” he si. He didnot want to think af it He could not Bik of i dere was but one thought and be lng o tat one blindly He had wo ge home ome to ma and pa “Theis heads jerked wp. Tir ers bad caught the skye jingle of «wagon. They fell othe ground and clang Bt to the fide ofa lg. Over the ect of the bl came the top of «hat. A white. Then shoulders ina blue shirt A wagon dawn by vo tore plied into fll view. = Big oy and Bobo Beld tee bret, wating. Tele eyes fol lowed che wagon tilt was lot in dt around a bend af the ead. "We gua gihome,” sid Big Boy. ‘Alu care" id Bobo. *C moa! Les keep tthe fel” ‘They ran tl they came to the corel, Then they weat owe, fo at year’ cor sles bruised hi fo. “They came in sight ofa bickyard. ‘Wait a mine” pepe Big Boy. They sopped “Alum goin on tah bome a yuh beter go0n you? Bobs ees grew round. Ahm tel” ‘Yah beer goon!” “Lemme go wid yah they Lech me». “EL yu kn gic ome mabe ofl in hep yu git erway Big Boy sated of obo grabbed hi. Lemene go wid yb Big oy shook re. “EE yu say here they gonna Ich yb he yelled, ring.e UNeLE Tom’s CHILDREN ‘Aer he had gone about eweatyfveyardshe turned and looked; obo was fying through the woods like the wind. Big Hoy lowed when he came to the railroad. He wondered if bbe ought to go through the suens or dowa the tack. He decided on the tracks, He ould dodge a train beter than a mob. He woted slong the te, looking ahead and back. His cheek fitch, ad be fli, His hand came away smeared with blood. He wiped it nervouly of hie overall ‘When he eae to hie back fence be heaved himself ever. He Janded among a Aock of stared chickens. A bantam roower tied so spur Bim, He slipped and fell in font of the kitchen steps, ‘grunting heavily. The ground was slick with greasy dishwater. Pnting, he sturabled through the doorway “Law Big Boy, whuts rong wid yuh?™ His mesher stood gaping in the middle ofthe for. Big Boy Hopped wordlesy onto a tol, almor toppling over Pos sim ‘mered oa the ove. The Iichen smelled of fod cooking. “Whaat the matter, Big Boy?” Mel, he laced at er. Thea he burt eto tas She ce and Fel he eratches on bis bce, “Whur bapgened ¢ yub, Big Boy? Somebody beca botherin war" “They after me Mal They after me “Whol” wah. Ab. We eet “Big Boy, whuts wrong wid yuh?” ‘He killed Lester o Buck,” he mucered simply. “Killed” Yessum:” “Lester 9 Buckl™ *Yessum, Mal” “How killed? “He thot em, Mal” Bio por LEavas HOME 8 “Lewd Gawd in Heaven, hare mesey on us alll This is mo ‘rouble, mo trouble" she meaned, wringing her hands. “NAb killed im, Ma She saved, uying w undertand, "Whur happened, Big Boy “We ted 1 git ou eloes from the tree Whut ee?” “We wuz swimmin, Ma.N the white woman « “White woman? “"Yesnum, She wuz atthe swim hole “Lawd have merey! Ah knowed yuh boye wuz gonna keep on ‘il yuh gt into somethin like hil” ‘Shera into the all “Lug!” “Mam?” “Cmerel" “Mami” ‘C mere, A soy!” “Whutcha wan, Ma? Alm swi.” “Chile, will yeh e mere lke Ab art yuh?” Lacy cameto the dooe holding an unfinished apron inher hands ‘When she sw Big Boy's fae se looked wildly at her mother. "Whats the mater?” “Wheres Pa?” “He's out font, Ab reckon." *Git im, quick! “Whus the mater, Ma “Go gi yo a, Ab sy . Lucy om out The mether sank nto ache, holding a dh rag. Suddenly she tp. “Big Bey, Ah thought yo wars school?” ig Boy loked atthe foo. “Flow come yuh didar go tschool?™ "We went tthe woods.”“4 UNcLE Tom's CHILDREN She sighed. “Al done done all Ah kin fer yub, Big Boy. Only Gawd kia help yeh now." "Ma, don let em git mes don letem git me - «” His father came iato the doorway, He stared at Big Boy, thea at his wife. “-Whuns Big Boy inter now" he asked sterly “Saul Big Boys done gone o got inter trouble wid the white folks" "The old man's mouth dropped, and he loked from one to the other. “Saul, we gotta git fm erway fom here.” “Open yo mouth tlk! Whut yuh been dein?” The old maa sipped Big Boys shoulders and peered at the sraches on his face. Me n Later n Buck m Bobo wuz out on ol man Haveys plee ewimmin “Saute a white woman!” Big Boy winced. The old man compressed his lips and stared st his wife, Lucy gaped at her brother as though she had acer seen im before, ""Whut happened? Cane yulbll elk?” the old maa thundered, with a erin helplessness in his oie, “We wuz swimmin," Big Hoy began, “a then a white woman comes up tthe bole, We got up right erway git our does sos we could git ervay, n she started screamin. Our Coes wuz sight by the tre where she wuz standin, n when we sarted ¢ git em she jus screamed, We told er we wanted our cles ««« Yuh sey Pa, she wuz sandin eight By our cles; when we went git em a jus sreamed « . «Bobo got the cloes then be shot Lester “Who shot Lesee?™ “The white man.” What whiteman?” “Ah dunno, Pa. He wuz a sler,m he had aie” “Aslje?™ bio or LEAVES HOME “6 “Yesuh” “colin?” “Yes, Pa. sljer “The old man frowned. "N then whet yuhall do?” "Waal, Buck said "Hes gota gual? N we sared runnin. N then he shot Boek, ne fllin the simi bole, We did'tse im po mo... He swuz core on ut then. He locked at the white woman a then he started ¢ shoot Bobo. Ah grabbed the gua, we started fghtia. Bobo jumped on his bak. He stated beatin Bobo. Then Ab hit en wid the gua. Then he sarted at me n Ab shot im. Then we run “Who seea?™ “Nobody. “Wheres Bobo?” “He went hme.” “Anybody run afer yall?” “Newnh” “Yuh see anybody?” “Nawsuh. Nebody but a white man, But be didn se us” “Flow long fo yuh lef the swim hole?” Linde wile ergo.” “The old man nervously brushed his hand across his eyes and walked tothe doo. His lige moved, but ao words came. “Saul, whut we gonna do?” “Ly began the ld man, “got Brother Sanders ntl im Ab said cmeresn go t Brother Jenkins tell im Ah sid mere; no go {Elder Peters a tll im Ab said mere. N don say notin aabody ‘bot whut Ab tel yuh. N when yuh git thu come svaight beck. ‘Now gol" Lucy dropped her apron across the back ofa chair and ran down the tps. The mes Bent ove eying and prying. The od man walked slowly aver wo Big Boy. “Big Boy?”6 unctr rons ciupnex Big Boy swallowed. “Ahm talkin yuh” “Yess” “How come yuh dit go¢ schoo! this mawaia?™ We wet the woods.” “Didatyo ma send yeh techool?™ Yeah” “How come yuh did't go?” “We went he woods?” “Don yuh know thse wrong?” wYeesh" How come yuh go?” ig Hoy looked t hie finger, knoed them, and squimed in bis est. “AHM TALKIN'T YUH! His wife straightened up and sid reprovingly: *Ssull™ ‘The old man desised, yanking nervously a the shoulder sxeps ot his overalls "iow long wuz the woman there?” “Not long.” “Wor she young?" “Yeas, Lika gs” “Die yuh say anycin cher “Newsuh, We us sid we wanted our eoes™ oN what she sy?" thio, Pa. She jus bcked erway tthe ween screamed" ‘The old man sare hi lips eying wo form a question. “Big Boy, did yuhall bother her?” “Naw Pa. We didnt souch he” "Flow log fo the white man come up "Right erway.” “Whur he any? "Nothin, He jus cused us” sig nov LEAVES HOME ” Abroptly the old man let the hitches. Ma cant. Algo fo they ketches me?™ "Sauls doin whucbekin” “Ma, Ma, Ab don wan em the me...” “Souls doin whut he kin. Nobody but the good Lawd kin hep "The old man cameback with ashorgun an leaned it in acorns. ‘ascintely, Big Boy looked att ‘There war a knock a the font dooe. "Liza, se whos there She went. They were alent, listening. They could hear her “Me Brother Senders” *C mea in, Souls wan ey Sanders pase nthe door, sing “ah seat fer me, rotber Morison?” “Brother Sanders, wef dep vole Sanders came al the way into the chen “yesh?” “Big Bay donegone ile white man. Sanders Hopped short, then ve forward, his face thea ot, stout open Hislips rove sera mesa cold peak ‘A white aa?” "They gonza ll mes they gonna Kill mel” Big Boy eid um ng oto ma, “Srl cant we gt im ery somewhere?” “Herc now, aki enya ey,” id Sander boding Big Boy's wins. “hey gona kil me; dey gonna ach mel” Big Boy slipped to the foo. They lied him to sol. His smother bel him closely, preig his bead er bo“a ‘Net Tom's CHILDREN “-Whut we gonna do?” aiked Sanders. “Ah done et fer Brother Jenkins n Eller Petre Sanders leaned hs shoulders aginst the wall. Then, athe fal meaning fal came to him be excited: "They gona git mob!» ».” Hs voice beck of and his ees felon the shotgun. ect came pounding onthe eps, They turned roward the doo. ‘Lr ani crying, Jenkins followed. The oldman met hr inthe mile ofthe som, aking his and. “"Wesin bad troxble here, Brethe Jenkins Big Boy's doe goe alld a white mn. Yale gota ep me = Jenkins looked hard at Big Boy. "Elder Per seyshes coi,” sid Ley: “When all his happen?” asked Jenkins “Nearbouta hou eg now" sid thee man, “What we gonna do?” esked Jenkins “Ale wanna wait ill Elder Peers come” sid the old ran apes. “Bat we gota work ft ef we gonna do nythia” eid Sanders, “Well gic woubl jus standin ee like his” Big Boy pulled away from his meth. lemme go now! Lemae go now “Beal Big Boy!” “Where kn oh go?” “Alco ketch eight!” “Tha ho death!” sid Jenkin. “Theyl be watchin em all!” “Kin yall ep me wid me money?” the oldman asked. “They shook the heads ‘Saul, whut kin we do? Big Boy can tay here” “There was anther kook che done “The old man backed seakly the shotgun, “Ley, gol” Lay looked chim, besiaing, "Al beter go” sad Jenkin aio nor Leaves one © Teas ler Peers, ecm in rid. “Good vein even" “How yo der?” “Got renin” “How yn cody?” Peers lke round the comedic, “Whar the mater?” “Elder, es in deep tsb” Began the old man “Big Boy 0 some bose” ws Lester a Bk n Bobo 1 wurover onl nan Hareeepicwimmin “Nie don like ws niges none” sid Per empty. He rice hit grand puts humbein the ales his we. sie tne hte woman “Veoh? id Pers coming coer comes erlang othe bye its gt thier whee they done lef em under tes, Wash she sared wearin mall, =? Recon he hough the bye wu after her Then white man in sales uc shot too ean se Lecer a Buck <-> “Hivos Peer "Tha wus man Harveeson” “Hangs en” “Yeh mean the one dha wu inthe Army?” ah mean fi?” ; “Yeah Pers. “The papers sie wu here fer avon from bic regiment Ntha wean the boys a wus it wit. “hey are at Peers Now ha the knew what whit prion tad been kl thi fears boame dei ihre hogpened?™ ig Boy serie “Harveyevon?™ “He ha Edt He wor gonna soot i fie iat «2 “Law” sd Peers: He loked around ad pts a bck on.3 UuNcLE Tom’s cwiLDREN “How Tong ergo wus this?” "Mighty near an hour, ow, Ah reckon.” ‘Dothewhitfolks know ye?" “Doo kaow, Elder.” *Yuball beter git this boy outs here right now" sid Peer, "Cause f yuh des theres gonna bea yachin “Wherein Ah go, Elder?” Big Boy 28 up to him. ‘They crowded around Peters. He sod with is legs wide apa, Iboking up tthe cling. “Mable we kn ide im inthe church le kn git erway” id king Pair ips eed. "Naw, Brother tl never dol Thy git i there sho, any- tow ef they ketch im thre ll rin sal We gota gi he boy Sanders went up tothe cld man “Lien he si in a whip, “Mah son, Wil the one whut dives the Magolia Expres Cran, taking track o goods {Chiao in the mani, IF we kin Bie Big Dey somewhere {then we kin prim on he rk = Ps, plea, lee go wid Wil when he goes inthe maw,” Big Boy beged “The ld man stared 2 Sanders, “Yad eckon thas af?” he ony thing yh kind” sid Peters “But where we goa hide evel hen?” “Wht ie yo boy leva ot the mab?” “asa” “They were qui, inking. The water kee onthe stove sng. Ps, AN knows where Wil pases cong wid the ck too Dulas Read. Akin ide in oe of them lla « ewer ato nov Leaves Kom st Lane them kilas websilt - “But cheyl git yuh thers” wailed the mother. “But there ain no place elie fer im * go." “Theces some hole big ecnough fer me t git iam stay ill Will, come elon,” sid Big Boy. "lease, Pa, lemme go fo hey Kercher “Letimn go!” "Please Pa 2 “The ald man breathed heavily. "Lucy git histhiags” “Saul they git im out there! wailed the mother, grabbing Big Peers pled bee aay. "Sister Morrison ef yuh don let im gon git erway fromm here hes gonna be caughe shor theres Gawd ia Heaven” Lazy eme runing with Big Boy's ches and pulled them on hit fect. The old man thrust 2 batered hat on his head. The mather went to the stove and'dumped the shill of cors pone into her apron. She wrapped it, and unbuttoing Big Boys overalls, pushed ‘tint his bosom. "Flees somethin fer yu eats m pray, Big Boy cue tha ll anybody kin do now « ‘ig Boy pulled tothe door, his mothe cing to hie. "Letim go, Sister Morrison!” “Roa fs, Big Boy ig Boy raced acroethe yard catering the chickens. He paused atthe fesce and hollered back "Tell Bobo where Ahm hidin 9 llim te moa!” He mate forthe railroad, runing saght toward the sunset, He be his left hand tightly ver his bear, boing the ot pone of= wets zoM's euiiasy ‘corm bread there. At times he stumbled over the tis fr hie shoes ‘were tight aad hurt his fee. His throat burned from tir he had Ina no water since noon. He vered ofthe trace and trced over the crest of abil follow ing Bullard’ Road, His feet dipped and ald inthe dut. He kept bis eyes saighe ahead, fearing every clump of shrubbery, every twee, He withed ic were night Ife could oaly get o the Kil ‘without meeting anyone. Suddenly a thought came to bimn like 2 blow. He recalled hearing the old folks tll tals of blood hounds, and fear rade him run slower. None of them had thought ofthat. ‘Spee blood houns wuz puton his wal? Lawl Sposa whole pork ‘of em, foamin a howlin, tore im t pices? He went limp and his fect dragged. Yeh, thas whet they wuz gonna end ster im, blood. hhouns! N then thered be no way fer im ¢dedgel Why hada Pa let im take tha shotgun? He stopped, He oughta go back m git tha shotgun. Aad then when the cb came be would take some with im. Tn the distance be heard the approach ofa tra. It jarred him back toa sharp sense of danger. He an agai, is big shoes opping ‘pan down inthe dust. He was tired and his hinge were bursting ‘rom ruonig. He wet bis lips, wanting water. Ashe turned from the road acroe a plowed field he heard the train roaring at his heel. He ran fate, ripped i err. “He was nearly there now. He could se the black cay on the loping billie, Once inside a kiln he would be sie. For a litle ‘hil at lea, Hl thought of the shogun agin. IE he only had something! Someone 10 talk (0... That right! Bobol Bobod be widen. Hed almost frgot Bobo. Bobed bringa guns he knowed the would. N ergetherchey could Kil the whole mob. Then i the smawning theyd git ier Wills ruck m go far erway, t Chicago «| He slowed to 2 walk, looking back and ahead. A ight wind shipped over the grass. A beede lt on his check and he brushed iv ofl. Behind the dark pines hung a red sun, Two bats flapped BiG BOY LEAVES HOME 3 agains that sun, He shivered or he was growing cold the sweat ‘en hisbody was dying. "He stopped a the foo f the hl, trying to choose between two patches of black kilns high above him. He weat to the let, for there lay the ones he, Bobo, Lerer, and Buck had dug ony lat wwetk, He lcoked around again; the landscape was bare. He climbed the embsakmeat and stod before a row of black pite finking four and five (ce deep iato the eath. He went to the largest and pered i. He siffeed when his ears caught the sound of whie. Heras back a few tepsand poised on his toes Six foot of snake sid ou ofthe pit and went int coil. Big Boy looked around wildly fora sick. Heran down the lope, peering int the grass, He ‘tumbled over ate limb. He picked it up and teed icby striking ie again the ground, ‘Wary, he crepe back up the lope, his suck poied. When about seven feet from the sake he stopped and waved the stick. The cil ‘grew tighter the whir ounded louder anda Bat bead reared to strike, He wet to the right and the fat bead fllowed hin the Dlueblack tongue darting forth; he went tothe let and the Bat had followed him there too. "He sopped,teth clenched, He had to kill his snake. Ju had t alin hie woe the safest pt on the hillside, He waved the sic, 240, ooking at che sake befor, sinking of meb behind. The fathead reared higher. With sick ove shoulder, he jumped in, singing. The sick sang through the air catching the snake on the fide of dhe head, sweeping him out of cil. There was a brown ‘writhing mass Then Big Boy wat upon him, pounding blows Ihome, one on top ofthe ether. He fought viciously, his eyes red, Is teeth bared in a anal, He bea il the snake lay al thea he stoped it with his heel, grinding its head ito the dit He sepped, limp, wet. The comers of his ips were white with side, He spat and shuddered, ‘Causioudy, he went to the hole and peered. He longed for match, He imagined whele nts of them in there waiting. He puta UNCLE Tom's CHILDREN the sk im the lead waved it around Stopig, he pered sypin. I mus be awrigh. He lcked overthehill, hi et coming back othe desd spake. Then orthiskneesand backed Slowly it the ole ‘When inside eek there mst be sake all abut hi, edt see. scmed be ould ce ad feel thera there, wating tnadly {neil In che dark be imagined long white fangs ready to nk nto Wis neck isd, is gs He wanted wo come ut, but het il Shuck be tld himself there wuz ny sakes in hee they sho ‘woul: done itm by ow. Soe of is fr ley and he ela ‘With elbows on grosnd and chin on pln, e sled. The clay vw colt is kes and highs but is bosom was kept wat the ot pone of coon bred. His thi rene and be longed for a drinks He was bangy to. But he didnot want eat he ora pene. Naw ot now Mabbe ater evil, ter Bobo came. Thea they bedh et he com pone. “The view from his hele was fringe bythe Jong tus of gras He could se lhe way to Bullard Read and even beyond. The wind wasblowingandin theca he rattouch of isk wasn. Every now and then a id sed pas amo of wheling Bac priwed agin ches. Big Boy sighed hited his weigh, and sewed at bladof grass A wap done, He beard number nine faraway and mourfu “The tein made him remember how they had dug there fla on Jong hot summer diy, how they had rade bers owt of big in cans filed them with water, 6zed supper for seam, cemented {heminhoes with wet clay and bullies under them. He recled how they had danced apd yelled when topper Hew out ofa Iie lening ot aig spout of seam and a ail while, There swe tines when they had the whole ile Basing end smoking. [es yu se Big Boy waz Cte Jones n wuz speedini down the glet min rls ofthe Southern Paife. Bobo had number two 00 the Santa Fe, Buck wuz onthe Uiney Cental Lester the Nickel Plate. Lawd, how they shelved the weed ial The boiling water bio noy Leaves som 5 ‘would almest jar the cans loose from the lay. More and mare pine- ‘knots and dey leaves would be pile under the eas. Flames would grow total hey would have tosheld their eyes Sweat would pour of thee faces, The, suddenly, a peg would shoot high ito the ‘icy and Prsececazasrenazzzzanaziz « Big Boy sighed aod srerched out his arm, quenching the aes and seatering the smoke, Why didnt Bobo mon? He loked over the fields; there was aching but dying sunlight. His mind deifed back tothe kiln. He remembered the day when Buck, jealous of his winning, had ered to smash hie kiln, Yeah, that ol sonofsbitchl [Nav Lawall He didnt go tsy thal Whur wu he thinkin ebout? Cussia the dead! Yeah, po ol Buck wus dead now. N Laster ton. ‘Yeah it wus aweight fr Buck tamath his kil, Sho. N he wished the hadnt sorked ol Buck so hard tha day. le wuz sory fer Buck ‘ow. N he sho withed he hadnt cussed po ol Bucks ma, neither. ‘Tha wuz snfull Mabbe Gawd would git im fer tha? But he ida got doit! Po Buck! Po Lester! Hed never rest anybody lke thaergin, never Dusk war slowly deepening. Somewhere, he could not tell ‘exazly whereacrckec ook up a fil song. The air was growing tolt and heavy, He looked ove the fel longing for Bab « ‘He shifted his body 1 eae the cold damp ofthe grousd, and thought back over the day. Yeah hed been dam right erbout not wantin go swimvmia. Nef hed followed his right min hed neverve ‘gone n got ive all this trouble. At first hed sid naw, Bu ducks, somehow hed jut went on wid theres, eth, be shoulda went on school tha maven, Hike Ma tel mm t do. But, bel who woulda’ ait deeda aways divin a guy schooll Tha wer the big trou awwaysdrivina guy school. He woulda’ be nal chistouble naw fit wuzat fer that Gawddam scheel! Impatialy, he tok the rie ut of his mouth and thew ie away, demolishing the ie {ed choo! house Yeahyef they had al hep sil n quiet when tha ol white woman6 UNCLE Tom's eHILDREN showed.up, mabbe shedve went on off, But yuh never kin tll ezbout these white folks. Mabe she wouldarve went. Mabbe tha ‘white man woulda killed all of ent All oof em! Yeah yuh never kia tell erbout white folks. Then, ergin, mabbe tha white woman ‘woulda went on off lfed. Yeah, mabbe tha white man woulda ‘sik: Yuh nigger bastards git hel outa here! Yuh Know Gawd- dam well yuh don beiong here!N then they woulda grabbed their oes n run like all hell... He blinked the white ran away. ‘Where wuz Bobo? Why didat he hurry up e men? Hr jerked another bade and chewed. Yesb ef pad only let {mhave tha shotgun! He could san off «whole mob wida shoegun, He looked a the ground ashe tuned a shotgun ove in his hands, "Then he leveled it at an advancing white man. Boooom! The man cared up. Another came. He reloaded quickly, and let him have what the other hed go. He too csled up. Then another came, He ‘got the same medicine, Then the whole mob swirled around him, and he blazed away, getting as many 25 he could. They closed in; ‘br, by Gawd, he had done his par hadnt he? the newspapersd say: NIGGER KILLS DOZEN OF MOB BEFO LYNCHED! [Er mabe theyd ssy: TRAPPED NIGGER SLAYS TWENTY BEFO KILLED! He amiled a lice. Tha woulda’ be so bad, ‘would it? Blinking the newspaper away, he looked over the fields, ‘Where war Bobo? Why didat he hurry up ne mon? He hited, tying to get rick out of is eg. Shocks, he wu. sitin dreda this. Nit wus alms datk now. Yes there wiz 2 Iie bite star way ver yonder in the eos. Mabbe tha white man ‘wuznt dead? Mabbe they woznt even lakin fr im? Mabbe be could go back home now? Naw, better wait erwhile. Thad be bes ‘Ba, Law fhe only bad some wate! He could hardly swallow, Ii throat was a dey, Gawddamn them white fos! ‘Tas all hey ‘wuz good fer, tran a nigger down ika rabbit! Yea, they git yuh ina comer s then they let yuh have it. A thoutan of exal He shivered, forthe cold ofthe cay was chilling hie bones Lawd, spore ie nox Leaves HOME 7 they found im here inthis hole? N wid acbody t hep im? ..« [But sin nose in think ezbou thas wai il rouble come fo yuh ‘tart fightin it But ef tha mob came one by ne hed wipe em all ‘out. Clean up the whole bunch, He caught one bythe neck and ‘choked him long and hard, choked him el his tongue and eyes popped out. Thea hejumped upon his chest and stomped im Uke Ihohad stomped that snake: When he had Gnished with one, anacher ‘came, He choked him to, Choke ll he snk slowly tothe ground, gasping “Halal” Big Bay satched his fingers from the white man's neck and looked over the feds. He saw nobody. Had someone shied him? He was sure shat sombody had hollered. His heat pounded. But, shucks, pobody coulda se ima herein this ole. - - But mabbe ‘theyd sen im when he war comin n had lid low n wu now dosn in on imal Props they war signaln fe the others? Yeah, they wus crepin up on il Mabbe he oughta git up a run « ‘Ohl Mabbe tha wuz Bobo! Yeuh, Bobo! He oughta dim out a see Bobo wuz lookin fer im... He sfened, “Hoult ” “Hoa! * Wheres yuh?” “Over hereon Bullards Rosdl™ "Cimon over!” “Awright! Hie heard focteps. Then voices came again, low and far away this time. “Ah dungo Ite bard tell” “Gaveddam them snofsbitchin niggers! "We ought Kil ever black basard in this eountry!™8 NeLE To's eHILDREN “Waal, Jim got so of em, anyhow.” “But Bertha said here wu fol” “Wherein hell hey hin?” "She sid one of em wuz axmed Big Boy or somethin like tha." “We went this shack lookin fer im.” Yeah? But we didat fin im” “These niggers atk ergetherythey don never tllon each ther.” We loked all hu the shack ncouldat fin hide ner hai of im. ‘Then we drovetheal womsa nmanautaset the shack on fire “Jenutl Ah wished Al coulda ben there!” ‘Big Boy exted wo the edge and peped, He saw a whive man with a gum ang over hit shoulder running down the slope. Wu they ‘gonna search the bill? Lad, thre waz no ay fer ih git exway ‘now; he wuz caught! He shoul knowed dheyd git im here. Nhe didnt hava thing, na thing t ght wid. Yea, soon as the Blood oun came they faim. Lave, have mere! Theyd lynch im right here om the bill... Theyd git im n tie im ¢ 2 sake burn im crlvel Lawdl Nobody but the good Lawd could hep im nom, obody “Heard more fet ning. He acd deeper. His chest ached Nbedy but the good Lawd could hep now. They waz rowdin all round im sehen they hads big erowd theyd clos in on im. ‘Then td beover «.« The good Lawd would havet ep im, cause nobody could bp ma now, body ‘And then he went num when he remembered Bobo. Spose BBobod come now? Hed be caught sho! Beth of em would be ‘aught! Theyd make Bobo tell where he sez! Bobo oughta not tty to come nove. Somebody oughta tell im. But there wuz abody; there wuz no way « “He card slowly bsc tothe opening. There was a large group ig nov Leaves Home » ‘of men. More were coming. Many bad guas, Some had exis of rope slung over shoulders, “Ab cll yuh they sl hee, somewhere . “Bu we looked allover!” What «hell Wouldat do tletem git erway!" “Naw. Ef they git erway noua woman ia this town would be tale “Say, hues ha yuh go?” “Br pillar” "Fer whut?” ‘Chris! This be hot ef we kia etch them nigger” OL Anderson soi he wuz goana brings barrel a” "Ah got same gtolinein mal ca ef yuh need ie ig Boy had no feelings now. He was waiting. He didnot wonder ‘they were coming afer him. He jus waited, He did noe wonder shout Bobo. He rested hit cheek again: the cold la, waiting. ‘A dog barked, He aifened, I barked agen. He balled hse Jitoa knot a the boom ofthe hoe, waiting. Then he heard the pater of dog feet. “Lack!” Wht he got sa snake” “Yeah che dogs foun a snake!” “Gee, its big one!" “Shucks, Ah wish he could fin one of them sonafbitchin rigger” ‘The vices sank to low murmurs. Then be beard number twelve, ‘tebe tolling and whistle rying at sid slong the rails He ate ‘ened himself spans the cay. Somenne was singing? “Well hang ever nigger our apple tree...” ‘When te song ended chee was hard laughter. Prom the other Side ofthe hil he heard the dog barking furiously. He litened,© ‘UNCLE TOM's CHILDREN ‘There war more than one dog now. There were many and they ‘were barking thee dhroate ot "Hus, Al her thems dogs!” “When they brkin lke tha theys foun somethin!” “Here they come overthehill” “WE.GOT IM! WE GOT IMI" “There came a on. Tha nus be Bobo; tha mus be Bobo «« «In sit of his fear, Big Boy looked. The read nd half of the hillside across the rad, were covered with men. A fw werestthetap ofthe Il stencled ogsinat the ey. He cook wee dark forms moving up the slopes They were ylling- "By Gaved, we got ie “C'mon!” “Whereishe?™ “Theyre bringin im overthehill” smh gota cope fei” “Say somebody gon gitbe others!” Where irbe? Cant we se im, Miser?” “They sy Berthas comin, oa” . “Jac Jack! Don leave me! Ah wana sei!” “Theyre bringin im over the bill sweetheart!” “AH WANNA BE THE FIRS T PUT A ROPE ON THA ‘BLACK BASTARDS NECKI* "Les start the fel” “Het the tar!” "Ah got some chains chai en “Beingimover thie way!” “Claris, Ab wished Ab hada dink « 2” Lig Boy sw men moving over the hl. Among them wat Tong ark spor. Tha mus be Bobo; tha mus be Bobo theye cary «« ‘Theyll git im here. He oughta git up n run, He camped his teh and ran hic hand across hie forchead, bring it away wet. Hetried tossallo, butenuld not his rent wat dey. ai aoy LEaves HOME 6 “They had started the song again: “Well hang ever nigger ta wour apple ree ‘There were women singing now. Thee voices made the toog ound and full Song waves rolled over the top of pine tees. The sky sagged low, bevy with clouds. Wind wat tsing, Sometimes, cricket eis eu surprisingly zeros the ob song. A dog had gone to the utmost top of the hil At each full of the song his howl floated fal into the nigh Big Boy shrank when he sar the fetal fame light the hillside, ‘Would they sein ere? Then he remembered you could not see inna the dark if you were sanding in the ight. Ax Sames leaped higher he sae evo men lings bare up the ope. “Say, gimme a han here, will yuh?” “Awright, heave!” “Crmon! Straight upl Gitethe ober end!" "Ah got the feathers here inthis pl!” “BRING SOME Mo WOODI” Big Boy could se th barel surrounded by amet. The mob fell bak, forming a dark cel. They fn im bere! He bad a wild innpule wo climb ou and fy sos the ills, But his legs wood not move. He stared hard eying to find Bobo, His eyes played over a lng datk spot ner the re. Fanned by wind, anes leaped higher. He jumped. Tha dark spot had moved. Lawd, thas Bobo; this Bobo. Resale the scent of tar faint a fs, then stronger."The wind ‘rough itl int his fac, hen blew it away. His eyes burned and hae rubbed them with is knuckles He sneezed “LES GIT SOURVINEERS!” ‘Hes the mab cose in around the fre. Thlt faces were ard and sharp in the igh of the lames. More men and women were ‘coming overthehill The long dark por was smudged out, “Brerbodygitback!” ‘Look Hes gota Finger!”@ Nets Tom's CHILDREN “CMON! GIT THE GALS BACK FROM THE FIRE!” “Hes gotonecf seas se?” Whutsthe mater!” “A woman fell out} Fained, Ah reckon ‘The seach of tar permeated the hill The sky was black and the wind wa blowing hard “HURRY UP N BURN THE NIGGER FO TT RAINS!” ‘Big Boy sav the mob fll back, leaving a small knot of men bout the fre. Then, forthe fst tne, he a a fll glimpse of Bobo. A blac body Sashed in the light. Bobo wae srugeling, ‘wisn; they were biading his arms and legs, "When esa ther tit the bartl he stiffened. A scream quired. Hc knew the tar was on Bobo, The mob fel bac He stw a tat- reached body gliening and turning. “THE BASTARDS GOT IT!" "There was sudden quiet. Then he shrank violently asthe wind carid, likes ary of so, a widening spiral d& white feathers {nun the aight" flame eaped tall asthe tes. The ream came frst. Big Boy trembled and looked, Te mob was running down the slopes, leaving the Bre clear. Then he saw 2 writhing white frase cradled in yellow flame, and heard screams, one on tp of fhe cake, each siler and shor chan the last. The rob was [Guet now, sanding still, Joking up the slopes at ehe writhing ye mse graduly growing black, growing black in a rade of yellow fame “PO ON MO GAS" ““Gizame ali wl yo!” “Two mea were sugaing carrying been them a heavy can. “they sce own, ited leaving its that the gs would wickle down tothe hollowed earth around the fire ‘Bg Doy tld back into the bole, his face buried in eay. He had no ectings nom, no fers, He was numb, erpty, as though all blood fd been drawn from him. Then his muscles flexed taut when be Tard afnint patter A tiny steam ofcold water seped to hiskaees, aig oy Leaves nome 6 making him push back toa drier spot. He loked mis iinmat spot. He looked up; rain was ‘caer Con gta ony ence fe ith wid in elle oe “ide Chae Do enemetsiipeiee 2 “Alleicuneotpade bt ate pts ied dp tang ds de Rasing fet be pa Gal wet eh hele Heol ie arcs Nowa dg wo buna mouth fe baking eaisning prem seal ies ks hog tw btu his hes st be in wer The tte eter feted pane tepid ee dog caon lis Crono genel sod ew sora thing mate’ ye doa eh he top hang lhe preed pe el Hs beh ped othe hs age le Sg Javed lear cng uk ing esd Be Brothel ein Tint waar apne close ranging eer sog radi ioniphaa toeeah Treteece teeter Tago dog ine Big Soy cl acco oe is es teclippaptndsppogis ics cine hl ay The oc eur nc how cee hacer ch Inne ert ty he lng nae pee ang he nur Thepeentyewee brat beng es ihe Heel na nih dg: ps wet ey gu nly he fabled tear ek edngeg beeen ce ‘Reig ingroloe os taheiety meng 8 Boys hdswnllevily ov the dg ack : og tack, groping forse thon, He ek dogs gan tad rw ren oe bt bt ap bad fund the do. He choked, eng hs Hage sky be6 UNCLE Tom's CHILDREN choked, throwing back his head and sifening his arms. He fl. the dog's body heave, fk dogeils digging into his loins. With strength fling from far, he closed his fingers pushing his fll swe on the dogs throat. The dog hesved agnn, and lay sill, Big oy beard the sound of his owa breathing filling the bole, ‘aad heat shouts and fotseps above him going past. "Fora lng, long time he held de dog, held it lng after the Lat footstep had ded ox, long after the ain had topped, ering ud im il on is aes ef ate, ee bly adopt a bigheed became SER iv tec oltre ngs angh aig 2am rough wing omen Teiayoateock cme ovethe le wind tocol ke cpt stacy econ snd eee pis on Se em ofthe cert Cilines made Ae RETA ped up and Tush te ah BESO Nii lt midge wee prt ‘engine runsing. Will stood on the renningboard, loking over the Re yuo ling wey inthe wee gas Heid ca bry thet weld eo ind Heed oe rite Walter answering: “ig oy, onl” “Heid ryan Wilco meeting al gs Con Wl ct ism. They seugled wie rice ; rey pt ald Wil ping bi oo the rnsngbond. ‘Wil psd bak ashe enpewch eng beth beak of i drive ss Big oy pled tog, nog wih» big oy LEAVES tome 6 ‘thud on the bottom. On hands and Kes he loked around in the semicdarkness, “Wheres Bobo?” Las ight” “The mobi" Big Boy pointed in he destin of charred sapling on the slope ofthe opposite hill. Wil looked. "The trapdoor fell The engine pprced the gears whined, and the cack lurched forward over the ‘mudd rod, sending Big Boy on bis ide Fora while lay ashe had fallen om hie side, too weak to move, ‘Ashe felt dhe truck swing sroand 3 carve he stcsightened up and ‘ested his back agnnst a stack of wooden boxe. Slowly, he Began ‘ommake ou objects in the darkness. Through two log ercks fll thin blades of daylight. The Moor was of smooth sel end cold to his thighs. Splinters and bts of sawdust danced withthe rumble ofthe truck, Each time they swung around a curve be was pulled lover the for; he grabbed at comes of boxes to sendy hime (Once he heard the erw of roster. I made him think of home, o£ sma and pa. He thought he remembered hearing vomebere tht the howse had burned, but could not cemember where». «I all seemed uareal nor. He wat tired. He doved, swaying with the lurch, Then he jumped awake, The tuck was running smocthly, on geavel. Far sway he beard two shoe bass from the Buckeye Laser Mil Uncoasciouly, the ought sang through his mind: crock ‘The tapdoor swung in. Will spoke ehough a corner of hie mouth. "Flow yuh comin?” “amrig6 UNetE TOM'S CHILDREN How they git Bobo?” “He wuz comin overthehill” “whut they do? “They burnt im «-« Will AR wan some water; rah threats like ie ell gt sore when we pas fin sation.” Dig Boy leaned back and doved, He jerked awake when the track stopped. He heard Will get out He wanted 1 peep theough the trapdoor, bat was afraid, For a moment the wild fear he had ‘known ia the ole cme back. Spore theyd search n fin im? He auieted when he heard Wills fotep on the runningbosrd. The ttapdoer pated in, Will's hat carne through dripping. “Take it quick!” Big Boy grabbed, spilling water ito his face. The wuck lurched, He deank. Hard cold lumps of brick rlled to his hot stomach, ‘A doll psin made him bend over. Hie investines seemed to be drawing into a tight kaot. After a biti eaxed, and be sat up, ‘reahing soy ‘The wuck swerved. He blinked his eyes The blades of delight had turned brightly golden. The sun had ese. “The track sped over the apbal miles, sped northward, jalting bi, shaking out of bis bosom the crumbs of cor brea, making them dance with the epinrs and sada in the golden blades cof sunshine ‘He turned on hisideand slept a Down y He Feiverside EACH STEP he took made the old house creak as though the car beneath the foundations were soggy. He wondered how long, the logs which supprzed the house eauld stand agsingt the water But what really worried him were the steps: they might wash away at any rooment, and then they would be trapped. He had seat al that morning trying to make them secure wich frayed rope but he did not fave much faith, He walled tothe window tnd the halfroten planks sagged under his fet. He had never lized they were chat shaky. He pulled back a tered cura ‘withing the dall ache would leave hi head. Ab been feverish all day. Feels like Ah got the fu. Through a dingy pane be aw yellow water swirling around a corer ofthe bar. steady drone filled his ers In the morning the water was a deep brown. In the afternoon it was 2 cayey yellow. And at night ic was black, ikea restless ide of iuid ts. I wat about sx fet deep and sill ‘rings i had sen two fet that day. He squint st atny Bdge ‘of whit foun where the yellow eurrene suck aside ofthe barn and veered sharply. For three days he had been watching that tiny ridge of white form. When i shortened he had hopes of seeing the ground soon; but when i lenghened he new tha he current var loving strong again. All the seds for spring planing were wet now. They goana rot, he thoughe with despair. The morning