‘Nobody can help me, Willy. Me know it now.’

Stella say nothing more after that, but her word them make me afraid. I know the power of the snake Stella have inside her. When it strike, it going do plenty damage. For now though, is best to let it be. Just sit quietly beside her, knowing she gathering her strength for whatever coming down the path to meet her.

I wake early to a dark hut. The clouds moving a sheet of grey over the sky, over the sun. Hanging low, heavy, them seem so close. It feel like it going rain. By the time the clouds blow over, it turn into a day I never will forget.

It start like normal. Is water barrel day. It going take me a whole day by the time I scrub and clean and fill them, but is a job I don’t much mind. Getting ready to head out to the pasture to find that mule to ride him down to the river, I hear me name called out. Look out the hut, see Eliza running up the path through the slave village.

‘William, come quick! Come quick! Something happen to Massa!’

I use the shortcut past the bamboo grove. Move quick down to the Great House, sweating all the way. Run round the back, enter through the kitchen. Then I hear it. Lord what a lot of commotion, weeping and wailing coming from the parlour. What a shock when I enter. Everything in a terrible state. Massa laying on the couch, blood everywhere. Sydney winding her apron round him neck trying to stop the flow. Mistress Margaret slumped in a chair wringing her hands and moaning. One of the young house slaves on hands and knees mopping up the floor and weeping. Mary holding onto Melon, eyes wide, shaking her head from side to side.

‘What happen? What happen?’

‘Winston see Massa horse running, dragging Massa. Him foot catch up in the stirrup. Blood all over him clothes,’ Melon tell me in between the mopping and moaning and hand wringing. ‘Busha Davis gone fetch Doctor Watson.’

Sammy come in bringing a big glass of rum for Mistress Margaret. I can see him eyes turn red from weeping. She grab the glass, gulp it down in one go.

‘Brandy!’ she shout. ‘Get some brandy for my son.’

I look round for Stella. No sign of her. Eliza go get the brandy bottle from the cupboard. Mistress Margaret pour it into a spoon, try get Massa to drink. Make no difference. Massa just lay there, still, hardly breathing.

Busha Davis show up bringing Doctor Watson. Tell Sydney to take Mistress Margaret to her room. Tell us all to get out. Go bout our business.

‘Back to work,’ him shout when nobody make a move.