Американские боги

           Thebitebecameinfectedandthefleshonthebackofhishandwasnecrotic:soonenoughhiswholearmwasswollenandpurple,andthehandstank.Itthrobbedanditburned.

           Theygavehimcruderumtodrink,andtheyheatedthebladeofamacheteinthefireuntilitglowedredandwhite.Theycuthisarmoffattheshoulderwithasaw,andtheycauterizeditwiththeburningblade.Helayinafeverforaweek.Thenhereturnedtowork.

           Theone-armedslavecalledHyacinthtookpartintheslaverevoltof1791.ElegbahimselftookpossessionofHyacinthinthegrove,ridinghimasawhitemanrodeahorse,andspokethroughhim.Herememberedlittleofwhatwassaid,buttheotherswhowerewithhimtoldhimthathehadpromisedthemfreedomfromtheircaptivity.Herememberedonlyhiserection,rod-likeandpainful;andraisingbothhands—theonehehad,andtheonehenolongerpossessed—tothemoon.

           Apigwaskilled,andthemenandthewomenofthatplantationdrankthehotbloodofthepig,pledgingthemselvesandbindingthemselvesintoabrotherhood.Theysworethattheywereanarmyoffreedom,pledgedthemselvesoncemoretothegodsofallthelandsfromwhichtheyhadbeendraggedasplunder.

           "Ifwedieinbattlewiththewhites,"theytoldeachother,"wewillbereborninAfrica,inourhomes,inourowntribes."

           TherewasanotherHyacinthintheuprising,sotheynowcalledAgasubythenameofBigOne-Arm.