Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

Author:Patti Callahan [Callahan, Patti]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-03-09T00:00:00+00:00

28

AUGUSTA

Friday, June 15, 1838

Augusta felt thirst like a wild beast inside, an animal’s need that could cause harm. Her stomach, as well as those of the others, cramped with hunger. The sun burned through the clouds with oppressive intensity and seemed to bring her closer to the center of Dante’s fabled inferno. She glanced about her for what remained of their life raft—another piece of the decking had broken off and they were now crowded on a wooden section of about twenty feet by ten feet. Their bodies had collapsed in various states of exhaustion. They’d lost four souls during the day; nineteen remained. Seawater flowed over their wrinkled and bleeding feet. Some huddled together and others kept apart, curled into protective postures.

The immense and never-ending sea brought them to silence; there wasn’t energy enough for talk without food or water. The prayers were plentiful. The cries to the heavens reached out in both song and wails. Those who had never prayed before found themselves in a bargain with God—if you will save me, I promise to . . .

Augusta focused on Thomas; his whimpers were fading and his body trembling. He needed what she could not give him—water, food, shelter. She shook with the agony of it, appalled by her helplessness. She could close her eyes and see and hear the market on Ellis Square—men and women selling eggs and fresh vegetables, milk and cheese, fresh fish and rice. Such a simple routine—going to the market—that she would give all she owned to experience now. The slaves and the freed Negroes with their baskets and the fresh food. Her mouth watered at the memory and a groan escaped her lips.

Remnants of the ship floated around them, jagged broken pieces that appeared and disappeared from view, revealed and obscured by the ever rising and falling waves.

Far off it seemed there was a shape—could it be a larger piece of the ship? It was too hazy to know. Coming into view, only a porch distance away, a man lay flung across one wooden log, his arms draped over it, the top half of his body facing the water while the rest floated below. His dark hair was all she could see. Was he unconscious or dead? “Brother, look!” she said to Lamar.

Lamar leaned toward the edge of the decking. “You!” he called at the inert form. “Are you awake?”

The man lifted his head only slightly, but enough to show Augusta that the man lived. Lamar uncoiled a salvaged rope. He held it up. “Catch this,” he called out. “Try to catch this and I’ll pull you in.” A few others rose slowly to help, and Augusta knew that each of them silently prayed as she did that it was someone they knew and loved.

Lamar tossed the rope and the man’s hand lifted slowly, as if it were weighted with something unseen. He missed the rope and it sank, but Lamar pulled it back and tossed it again. Four times Lamar tried until Augusta was sure the stranger would give up and sink into the sea.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.