With exaggerated care, Denmark picked up the buckets without turning his back to the foreman. And he made a show of stopping and looking behind him a couple of times to make sure no one had snuck up to kick him again. His clowning kept the White man laughing even after he was gone.

Through it all, the newly arrived slaves didn’t take their eyes off him.

“He is showing them how to survive here,” said Honoré.

“You mean get a White man mad? That’s smart.”

“He is not a stupid man,” said Honoré. “He is a clever man. He shows the others that they must act stupid and make the White man laugh. They must make the White man feel amusement and contempt, for this will keep Whites from feeling fear and anger.”

“Probably,” said Calvin. “Or maybe he just gets his butt kicked now and then.”

“No,” said Honoré. “I tell you I am the authority on human nature. He does this on purpose. After all, he is the one who gathers up their souls.”

“I thought you said these weren’t their souls at all.”

“I changed my mind,” said Honoré. “Look at them. The soul is missing now.”

They looked at the Blacks in their chains and ropes, while the customs inspectors prodded them, stripped them, checked their body orifices, as if they were animals. They bore it easily. The looks of fear that they had worn as they emerged into sunlight were gone now. Gone also was the intensity with which they had gazed after Denmark as he carried away their tokens, or whatever they were. They really did seem like animals now.

“They been emptied, all right,” said Calvin. “They all had heartfires getting off the boat, strong ones, but now they’re all slacked back like a fire settled down to coals.”

“They knew,” said Honoré. “The were ready before they got off the boat. How did they know?”

“Maybe that’s one of the things Margaret can tell us later,” said Calvin.

“If she ever speaks to us again,” said Honoré.

“She’ll speak to us,” said Calvin. “She’s a nice person. So she’ll start feeling guilty about sticking us for the price of the meal last night.”

“They knew,” said Honoré. “And they all consented. They gave away their souls into his hands.”

“What I want to know,” said Calvin, “is where he keeps them and what he does with them.”

“Then we must go to your sister-in-law and ask her, since you are certain she will speak to us.”

Calvin glared at him. “I’m already following him. He can’t see my bug.”

“Or he does not show you that he sees,” said Honoré.

“I been doing this longer than you have. I know.”

“Then why are you trembling?” said Honoré.

Calvin whirled on him, backing him against the crates. “Because I’m barely stopping myself from making your heart... stop... beating.”

Honoré looked surprised. “Did you lose your sense of humor under the hedge?”

Calvin backed away, only slightly mollified. “One thing you ain’t is funny,” said Calvin.