‘Objection,’ the defence shout out. ‘You were left unharmed, were you not?’

‘Yes,’ Annand say.

After that, the legal man call other slaves come be a witness against me. Slaves that don’t take part in the rebellion, don’t do nothing, don’t risk them lives. Let backra use them against them own kind. The last slave that get called is Francis Williams, a Negro slave belong to YS estate, one of the estates close to Ginger Hill. I know Francis. Surprised to see him in court, but when you a slave, you take the side of the hand that going feed you.

‘Me was there when William set fire to the estate. First him throw rum on the roof of the Great House and then throw on fire coals. Get the other slaves to fan the flames. Make the house start to burn up quick.’

‘Was there anyone else there, anyone else in charge?’ the prosecutor ask, and I come to understand this is the information they really want. I is just bait.

‘After that me see Sam Sharpe come riding up the path on a white horse, followed by plenty rebels. And when him arrive at the burning him make the horse wheel and turn, fire off him gun in the air.’

‘Anything else?’ the prosecutor ask.

‘Yes, sir,’ Francis say. ‘Sam Sharpe jump off him horse, go up to William, shake hands. Hold dem up in the air. Tell the rebels to fire off dem guns in celebration, blow on the conch shells. After that him gather everybody round him, kneel down to pray. Me was too far away to hear, but me can see by dem faces him speaking words of wisdom. Then him get back on him horse. As him ride away him call out to dem to remember that they all warriors for freedom.’

I look at Francis as they lead him out of the courtroom, see a man that could be me. Is then I come to truly know what Sam Sharpe done for me. How him turn me mind, so I no longer think I is nothing, nothing but chattel, nothing but a slave. And a strange peace settles in me heart. And the fear drop away, and I just sit quiet gathering strength for what I have to face.

So many of us dead. Broken, hanged, given the lash. The slaves that gave up find out how stupid them was. They believed backra when him said if slaves returned peaceful like and went back to work, them going ‘receive His Majesty’s gracious pardon’. As soon as them slaves walked out of the hills, some owners so angry, them shot them on sight. Others got put in chains, put on trial, condemned to death. Hanged in twos and threes outside the courthouse.