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Back The Darker Face of the Earth Save as PDF
Chapters (27)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Half-Title Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Dedication
  7. Cast
  8. Prologue
  9. Act One
  10. Scene 2
  11. Scene 3
  12. Scene 4
  13. Scene 5
  14. Scene 6
  15. Scene 7
  16. Scene 8
  17. Act Two
  18. Scene 2
  19. Scene 3
  20. Scene 4
  21. Scene 5
  22. Scene 6
  23. Scene 7
  24. Scene 8
  25. An Interview with Rita Dove
  26. Biographical Note
  27. Back Cover
AUGUSTUS

Compass and sextant. Ropes thick as my wrist, coiled like greased snakes. A cutlass.

The rough caress of the anchor line slithering between my boy palms. The hourglass tipped, surrendering sand in a thin stream of sighs.

Clouded belly of the oil lamp dangling from a chain. And everything rocking, rocking.

Hums a lullaby.

Dark green pillows, salve for my wounds.

“Who did this to you, boy?”

“It was the sun, Father; see its spokes?”

“Child of midnight, the sun can’t hurt you!”

Sings softly.

“Jesus Savior pilot me

over life’s tempestuous sea . . . ”

Speaks.

AUGUSTUS

And when she looks at me—

such a cool sweet look—

each scar weeps like an open wound.

Softer.

If fear eats out the heart,

what does love do?

HECTOR springs out of hiding; AUGUSTUS jumps up.

HECTOR You! I’ve seen you before.
AUGUSTUS (Relieved.)

That you have, my friend.

I’m from the Jennings Plantation, like you.
HECTOR (Stares at him suspiciously.)

Like me? Like me you say?

We’ll see about that.

Circles him, inspecting.

What are you doing in my swamp?
AUGUSTUS Taking a walk. Breathing the night air.
HECTOR

Wrong! You were with someone.

I saw you!
AUGUSTUS Just a friend, Hector. Don’t you have friends?
HECTOR

I saw you. I heard you!

How do you know my name?
AUGUSTUS

We met before, don’t you remember?

I’m the new slave on the Jennings Plantation.
HECTOR

You’re the one who came in leg irons,

along the road—

Circling him very closely, so that AUGUSTUS must back up.

I never heard of leg irons on this plantation before.

Crowds AUGUSTUS, who trips on a root and falls.