Двенадцать лет рабства

           "PoorPlatt,youareinabadstate,"wastheonlyexpressionthatescapedhislips. 

           "ThankGod!"saidI,"thankGod,MasterFord,thatyouhavecomeatlast." 

           Drawingaknifefromhispocket,heindignantlycutthecordfrommywrists,arms,andankles,andslippedthenoosefrommyneck. Iattemptedtowalk,butstaggeredlikeadrunkenman,andfellpartiallytotheground. 

           Fordreturnedimmediatelytothehouse,leavingmealoneagain. Ashereachedthepiazza,Tibeatsandhistwofriendsrodeup. Alongdialoguefollowed. Icouldhearthesoundoftheirvoices,themildtonesofFordminglingwiththeangryaccentsofTibeats,butwasunabletodistinguishwhatwassaid. Finallythethreedepartedagain,apparentlynotwellpleased. 

           Iendeavoredtoraisethehammer,thinkingtoshowFordhowwillingIwastowork,byproceedingwithmylaborsontheweavinghouse,butitfellfrommynervelesshand. AtdarkIcrawledintothecabin,andlaiddown. Iwasingreatmisery—allsoreandswollen—theslightestmovementproducingexcruciatingsuffering. Soonthehandscameinfromthefield. Rachel,whenshewentafterLawson,hadtoldthemwhathadhappened. ElizaandMarybroiledmeapieceofbacon,butmyappetitewasgone. Thentheyscorchedsomecornmealandmadecoffee. ItwasallthatIcouldtake. Elizaconsoledmeandwasverykind. Itwasnotlongbeforethecabinwasfullofslaves.