The Lock-Keeper's Heart by Neil S. Plakcy

Author:Neil S. Plakcy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay, romance, mm, historical, pennsylvania, 19th century, hurt/comfort, quaker, slavery, canals, railroad
Publisher: Samwise Books
Published: 2021-05-07T00:00:00+00:00

20: Protection: Lenert

While Isaac was in Stewart’s Crossing, Lenert sat on the canal bank, alternately reading a passage from Isaac’s book by Mr. Thoreau, and searching for words in the big hard-bound dictionary. He looked up when he heard the clop-clop of mules along the towpath.

He saw Karl-Heinz approaching from the north with Captain Richards’ barge. And on the bow was Isaac, in conversation with the captain.

It had been over a week since his confrontation with Karl-Heinz. Plenty of time for Captain Richards’ barge to have made its way to Bristol, unloaded its cargo and then taken on a new load, and returned north.

Lenert hung back, unsure what to do. He assumed that Captain Richards had met up with Isaac returning from Stewart’s Crossing and offered him a ride home. But what had they talked about? Had Karl-Heinz told his boss how Lenert had earned his passage to the United States? Would Captain Richards then be obliged to warn Isaac that he housed a prostitute?

Isaac jumped off the prow of the barge as it approached the lower lock and grabbed the rope that Captain Richards tossed him. Lenert woke from his stupor then and walked up to help Isaac with the lock.

“I’ll open this one. You wait at the upper gate.” When Lenert didn’t move, Isaac said sharply, “Now, Lenert.”

Lenert was surprised at Isaac’s tone. Surely he must have heard something that made him angry.

He hurried down to the far gate. He could still hear as the barge pulled up and Karl-Heinz told Isaac that his mules would need water.

“There’s a bucket by the pump over there,” Isaac said.

“Your boy can’t do it?” Karl-Heinz asked.

“He’s not my boy,” Isaac said, and Lenert heard the acid in his voice. “He’s the assistant lock-keeper and it’s not his job to water your mules.”

Karl-Heinz grumbled but he walked over to the pump and pulled a bucket of water. Isaac spoke to the captain, though Lenert couldn’t hear what they said.

Lenert watched how sloppy Karl-Heinz was with the mules, not caring if the female got her share of the water, and he wanted to say something, but he kept his mouth shut. Reden ist silber, schweigen ist gold, his father had said many times. Speech is silver, but silence is gold.

Karl-Heinz returned the bucket to the pump and began to walk toward Lenert.

Isaac intercepted him. “What do you want?”

“I want to speak to my countryman,” Karl-Heinz said.

“He is working. No time for idle conversation.”

“Working?” Karl-Heinz barked. “He stands there like the dumbest mule.”

“Come on, man, don’t annoy people,” Captain Richards said, and Karl-Heinz sulked by the mules until the water had rushed into the lock and the barge had floated up to the higher level.

Isaac walked up to Lenert then and said, “I will handle the rest of the work. Go check the level of the water in the big tub behind the privy.”

Lenert was about to ask why, but realized that Isaac was trying to keep him away from speaking with Karl-Heinz, and he was filled with gratitude.

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