This time, when I return from the last job I finish, everything seem more quiet than usual. I search out Stella, but she sullen, do what she have to do, move on, do the next, but all the while say nothing, pay nobody no mind. When I ask after Eliza, Stella tell me she sick, must leave her alone. Then I start notice nobody seem able to look at me straight, them look at me sideways, have a funny look in them eyes. Finally, Calla tell me. Sit me down late one night, give me the news. At first she find it hard to speak, till finally she tell me.

‘Massa get drunk.’

Nothing new bout that, me thinking. But then she go on.

‘Massa …’ Calla stop, collect herself. ‘Is a terrible thing, little Will. Him try to have him way with Eliza.’

‘Eliza?’

Calla nod. ‘Only problem is Eliza start to holler. Cry and struggle, call out for Stella. When Stella hear, she come running up. Pulled Massa off her. She so angry, she stand there screaming, calling Massa names. Stella scream so loud, so long, could hear it all round the slave village,’ Calla say, shaking her head. ‘Massa get plenty mad. Want to hurt Stella, hurt her bad. Him order Winston to whip Eliza. Make Stella watch dem daughter get ten lashes. Ignore Stella when she get down on her hands and knees beg Massa to stop. Beg Massa to whip her instead. Was no use. Eliza get that whipping good and proper. Mark her back for life.’

All these years I know what Massa been up to. But sweet Eliza, him own daughter? Made vomit rise up in me throat. Had to breathe deep to stop it. If I had been there, seen it, heard Eliza cry out, when Massa try to have him way with her. When the lash cut her back. What me going do? Turn that whip on Massa, give him the whipping him deserve? But when it come right down to it, like everybody else, me going do nothing. Nothing except hold down the vomit, hold it down good. Go bout me business like nothing happen.

The other slave them, they glad. I can see it in them eyes. Specially Sydney. She think we act like we special, now Massa show that our little family is not. And the power Stella had over them, starting to fade.

When I ask Sammy bout it, I can’t believe what him say.

‘Eliza should’a just stay quiet. Let Massa do him business. Use it to her advantage.’

I go visit Stella and Eliza one night, bring wood I chop special just for them. Sit beside Eliza, hold her hand. Stella make bush tea and we drink it together. When Eliza fall into sleep, I ask Stella if she want me to stay with them in the hut. Stella shake her head, look up at me. I never see such deep sadness.