The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia by Balogun Ojetade

Author:Balogun Ojetade [Ojetade, Balogun]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781481183505
Google: o6X6jgEACAAJ
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2015-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER thirteen

Harriet combed the docks for hours, searching for a steamship pilot, or even a sailing ship pilot, who could transport her to this strange place called Freedonia.

“No ship from Freedonia has been here in over a year,” the Dock Captain grunted, waving his cigar about with pudgy fingers. “The SS Savannah left about two hours ago. It was headed to the United States, that’s close enough, but I doubt he would have given you passage on his ship.”

“Yeah, yeah…because I’m a negro,” Harriet said with a smirk. “I know.”

“Mayhaps,” the Dock Captain said. “But more likely because the United States and Freedonia ain’t friends. Your people have gotten awfully toffee-nosed since Freedonia took the egg in your little war and the white world don’t like it.”

“Good thing the white world is getting’ smaller day-by-day, then,” Harriet replied.

The Dock Captain grunted, rammed his cigar between his thin lips and then walked away.

“We aren’t all barbarians.”

The voice came from Harriet’s left flank. She whirled toward it, her hand instinctively creeping toward her waist, where the Bello Mule would have been. Standing before her was a young man in his early 20s. He was heavily built and massive. On his corpulent shoulders was perched a head with a pronounced brow, alert, steel-grey, deep-set eyes and firm lips, all forming a face that at once expressed brilliance, a hint of arrogance and maybe more than a little laziness.

“Hello, Ms. Tubman,” he said. “My name is Holmes; Mycroft Holmes. Dr. George Washington Carver – Director of Freedonia’s Department for Science, Innovation, Technology and Engineering – has enlisted my services on your behalf.”

“Is that so?” Harriet said.

“It is, ma’am,” Mycroft replied. “Follow me, please.”

Harriet did not move. “What does this Dr. Carver have to do with Baas Bello?”

“I have never heard of this Baas Bello, so I cannot say.” Mycroft said.

“Take a wild guess,” Harriet said.

“I never guess,” Mycroft replied. “It is a shocking habit, destructive to the logical faculty.”

“I’m gon’ be destructive to yo’ logical faculty if you don’t give me some proof this ain’t a trap,” Harriet said, taking a step toward Mycroft.

Mycroft took a step backward, his soft flesh danced upon his frame. “What I do know is you come from…elsewhere, evident by the fact that Harriet Tubman is the Vice President of Freedonia, which you are clearly not.”

“How you know I ain’t?” Harriet asked.

Mycroft’s eyes scanned Harriet’s pink skirt and burlesque coat.

“Oh,” Harriet croaked.

“I also know that Dr. Carver is well aware of your presence,” Mycroft said. “Yesterday, your transportation to Freedonia arrived and awaits you farther up the docks.”

“Alright, then,” Harriet said with a nod. “Let’s go.”

Harriet followed Mycroft to a huge sailing ship. Emancipation was painted, in red letters, on both sides of its aft end.

Harriet shook her head. “It’s gon’ take two months to get there in this thing. Freedonia must be seein’ hard times.”

Mycroft snickered. “This ship merely serves as the landing pad for Freedonia’s Dragonflies or Grasshoppers on the rare occasion a Freedonian diplomat pays a visit to the Queen.

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