Now, for the first time, Annie showed interest in something.
150 ALEX HALEY'S QUEEN
She traced her fingers along the wooden frame of the loom, and sat in front
of it, and tested its span with her arms. It was an excellent piece of
equipment, the finest that could be had, for James was not stinting on
anything for The Forks of Cypress.
Annie began setting up the lines for the warps, and seemed to have
forgotten Cap'n Jack was there.
"I , s need yam," she said after a while.
"Tell me what yo' want, I get it for yo'," Cap'n Jack replied.
She asked what cloth she was to make first, and then gave him her list and
he went to organize it. When he came back, she was sitting at her empty
loom, as if it was her natural home.
The yam came, and she started weaving. Cap'n Jack loved to watch her. She
worked gracefully, elegantly, shuttling the bobbin to and fro with a
natural rhythm, patient in her labors, and as she worked, she hummed odd
and lilting melodies that seemed to be from another place and time, and
lovely cloth began to reveal itself, out of the complexity of wood and
string and bundles of yam.
Mostly, she worked during the day, but Cap'n Jack could come to her only in
the evenings, and she took to weaving when he was there. She seldom spoke,
but listened to everything he had to say, while she chanted and made cloth.
After a while he would fall silent and just watch her, enchanted by her
easy grace, and lulled by the sweet songs she sang. Cap'n Jack was happy in
her company, and slowly it dawned on him that she was as happy with him. In
the winter he got sick and she nursed him, with herbs and strange potions.
He got better. He began bringing his food from the kitchen, to cat with
her, and always had enough for both of them. When the weaving house was
ready, he supervised the moving of the loom, and found her some simple
furniture, a bed and a table and a couple of old rocking chairs that the
builders had used and didn't need anymore.
He helped furnish the big house, too. At last it was ready, six months late,
and they unpacked the crates and for the first time he saw what James and
Sally had bought. The drapes were
BLOODLINES 151
velvet and the rugs were intricately patterned and came from a place called
Persia. The chandeliers were crystal, and some held over a hundred candles.
The furniture was beautiful, mahogany and teak and cedar, hand-carved in
Europe. The new cutlery was silver, and the crockery was of fine china from
England, with a pattern especially designed for James Jackson. The beds were
magnificent four-posters, heavy and solid, with flowers and birds and small
animals carved on the wooden posts, and canopies of brocade and damask.
The floors were polished until they shone like mirrors, and the rugs looked
even more beautiful against them. Parson Dick, who knew a very great deal
about a lot of things, told him that the weavers deliberately made a flaw
in every carpet, because only the God they believed in could create
something perfect. The dining table was long and gleamed with beeswax, and
could accommodate twenty people without seeming crowded. The dining chairs
were high-backed, and had tapestry covers. The paintings that adorned the
walls were old and in heavy gilt frames, but then James commissioned a
traveling artist to make portraits of all his family.
When the house was finished, relations and visitors came from all over the
South to see the wonder of it. James was a state senator now, and
politicians and businessmen and their wives, and the governor of the state,
and even some politicians from Washington, the capital, all came to see the
wonder that was The Forks of Cypress.
Shortly afterward they had a party, a housewarming and a christening,
because Sally had given birth to another son, and he was called James
Jackson III in honor of his father. Everyone agreed that the name was right
and proper, but laughed at the confusion it would cause. If they called the
father's name, would the boy come running, or if they spoke to the boy,
would the father respond?
James and Sally toyed with nicknames for him. Sara and Eleanor were keen on
Jamie, which had been James's pet name in Ireland, but the parents thought
he should have his own identity. For a few days they tried Jimmy, because
of Sara's late husband, but it didn't suit him.
The registrar of births solved the problem. He was a punctilious clerk from
England, neat and fastidious, and trained in
152 ALEX HALEY'S QUEEN
the old ways. When he wrote the new boy's name in the book, in the most
elegant copper plate hand, he 'did not write "James," but rather the formal
English abbreviation, "Jas."
It amused James, and he began calling his son "Jas." After a while everyone
adopted it, but because it looked a little odd when it was written down,
they added another letter to it, and so James Jackson, the son of James
Jackson who was the son of James Jackson, became known simply as Jass.
The christening was a splendid affair, held on the new lawn in front of the
house, near the magnolia tree, which had grown several feet since James and
Andrew first planted it. Nearby there was a wigwam, which James had
provided for an Indian family, but none wanted to live there, and so the
children used it for play. A.J. pretended he was a great chief, and
tormented his older sisters, and the slave children.
Eleanor and Thomas Kirkman from Nashville came with their son Tom, who was
a young man now, and was engaged to Sally's first daughter, Elizabeth. Sara
came with her boys, and John Coffee, who had a fine plantation near
Florence, with his family.
Politicians and influential men were there in abundance, and while they
enjoyed the celebration, their conversations, which they kept from the
women, were all about the recent sensational case of Denmark Vesey.
A free black who lived in Charleston, Vesey had plotted with other blacks,
slaves, to rebel against the whites, and had somehow amassed guns for the
purpose. A nervous maid had discovered the guns, and the plot was revealed.
Vesey and thirty-seven of his followers were executed.
It was not the first example of insurrection by blacks. Many of the men
present could remember the bloody revolution on the Caribbean island of
Santo Domingo, when the armies of the black general Toussaint L'Ouverture
massacred the French and took control of the island. Or the Gabriel
rebellion, much closer to home, in Richmond, Virginia. In each instance,
the rebellions had eventually been bloodily suppressed, and new and even
more stringent laws were introduced against the blacks.
It was happening now, in Charleston. A law had been
BLOODLINES 153
passed that any free blacks arriving as crew on ships were not permitted
to land, but had to be kept on board as long as the ship was in harbor,
at the captain's expense. The law was taking its toll of sea traffic into
Charleston, but the Southerners considered this a small price to pay for
their security. Throughout the slaveholding states discipline had
increased and punishment for any infringement been made more severe. Armed
patrols to discourage runaways had been introduced, in addition to the
regular slave catchers.
James had his own problems with this matter. Many of his new field hands
were troublesome, and there had been a few instances of slaves running
away. It angered James. He thought he was a benevolent Massa, and
regarded the slaves as ungrateful, and their actions threatening to his
wealth and position. It was clear to him that Evans, the foreman, could
not control such large numbers, and, regretfully, had to be replaced.
He spoke with John Coffee, who was pleased. Coffee had always regarded
James as overly lenient with his slaves, and thought that perhaps with
his new wealth and position to protect, and his outstanding plantation,
James had found some backbone.
"Someone with a strong sense of discipline?" John Coffee asked.
"Whatever is necessary," James agreed.
Coffee thought he knew just the man. Egbert Harris had served under him
against the Creek, and at New Orleans. He was working as an overseer on
a small plantation in Georgia, but was anxious to find a situation closer
to his home, in Nashville. John Coffee promised to investigate the matter
for James.
By tacit agreement among the men, there was no discussion of slaves,
slavery, or the Vesey plot with the women, and James spent a pleasant
afternoon circulating among the guests and receiving their congratulations
for his new son and his new house, and his new political career.
He was introduced to William Perkins, who was looking to buy land in the
district. William Perkins was small, studious, and almost permanently
worried. He was married to an am-
154 ALEX HALEY'S QUEEN
bitious woman whose given name was Pocahontas, but who preferred to be
called Becky. It was the Perkinses' personal tragedy that neither of their
two babies had lived, and they blamed the fierce coastal humidity of South
Carolina. Becky was pregnant again, and William, having caught the
Florence fever, hoped that the move inland would benefit his wife and
coming child.
James was flattered by his attention and amused by his constant anxiety.
He had recently bought two more small plantations, in Florida and
Mississippi, and gave William some basic advice. William hung on every
word, jotted down notes, and would not leave his side. James spied his
nephew, Tom Kirkman, who was moving to Florence when he married Eliz-
abeth, to work for James. He introduced the two men, and told Tom to look
after William.
That evening there was a fine family dinner. James, at the head of the
table, and Sally, opposite to him, were surrounded by loving relatives.
They started to tell tales of the old days in Ireland, and then sang
songs and toasted the martyrs, Oliver Bond and Lord Edward, the Sheares
brothers and Wolfe Tone.
"Erin go bragh!" they shouted, although they were a long way from Erin.
"And Sean," James said, raising his glass. He was already a little drunk.
No one else knew whom he meant, but toasted Sean anyway, and drank the
health of the new baby, Jass, and welcomed A.J., who was attending his
first formal dinner, to the clan.
It was midnight when they went to bed. Cap'n Jack, who had been on his
feet since dawn, was dozing in his Massa's dressing room when James came
in. He woke with a start, helped James undress, and was genially
dismissed for the evening.
Cap'n Jack didn't go to his own hut, for that was not his routine. He went
to the weaving house, as he did every evening, to be with Annie for a few
minutes. Her candle was still burning, and she was sitting at the loom,
weaving and humming one of her strange songs. She didn't speak or acknowl-
edge his presence, but he knew she was pleased he was there, and that she
had been waiting for him.
BLOODLINES 155
He sat in a rocking chair and did not speak.
"What's wrong?" she said softly.
He didn't reply, and when she turned around to look at him, she saw he
was dozing. She woke him gently and told him to lie on the bed. He was
too tired to argue, and did as he was bidden. Annie went back to the
loom, to her cloth and her humming, and Cap'n Jack drifted to sleep
listening to the lovely lullaby.
When he awoke a few hours later he was puzzled, because he wasn't sure
where he was, and knew he was not alone. He realized that Annie had
crawled onto the bed beside him, fully clothed, and was curled in the
crook of his arm, fast asleep.
It felt right and natural to him that she was there, and wonderful, and
his heart was golden. He didn't stir, but turned his head gently so he
could see her better.
The moonlight traced in through the window, and a wayward moonbeam
shimmered over Annie's face. She slept peacefully, with no hint on her
face of the pain that she would not discuss with Cap'n Jack.
The soft light of dawn replaced the moon, and Cap'n Jack lay motionless
beside Annie, wide awake, staring at his love, and caressed by her gentle
breathing.
19
When Cap'n Jack and Annie got married, James gave them a splendid wedding
party, because Andrew was running for president.
Annie had been reluctant to accept Cap'n Jack's proposal. After his first
night with her, when nothing had happened between them, Cap'n Jack slept
in the weaving house regularly, with Annie. As they got to know each
other better, and felt secure with each other, a physical relationship
developed. It was something that they both wanted and needed, just as
they wanted each other in all aspects of their lives. They made no
156 ALEX HALEY'S QUEEN
plans for a future, but accepted what they had now, and it was precious
to them. For the first time in her life, Annie started to trust a man and
she even stopped taking her special herbs and grasses to prevent a child,
because she began to want a baby by Cap'n Jack. She still doubted the
future, but lived, as she had always done, for the day.
She became pregnant. For a while she thought of doing something to
herself to change her condition, but then she realized that the innocent
thing inside her had become all of her hope. If it was a boy child, he
could be raised in his father's image, as a man who was caring to women.
If it was a girl child, she would have the life that Annie had never had,
a life without fear of men, secure in the love of both her parents. Even
if anything were to happen to Annie, and she fully expected her happiness
not to last, Cap'n Jack would love and nurture the child.
She told Cap'n Jack of her condition, and he immediately prop
osed
marriage, as she had known she would. She was puzzled that she had told
him of the pregnancy, because she had no ready answer for his question.
Marriage seemed very permanent to her, and Annie did not believe in
permanence. Cap'n Jack wooed her beautifully, and did not press her, but
presented all his arguments patiently. He courted her, and made her feel
as if he were asking her to give herself, unlike other men, who simply
took her.
Eventually, because she could think of no good argument against him, and
because in her heart she wanted to be married to him, she accepted him,
and the look on his face, of simple, unalloyed joy, made her glad.
Cap'n Jack told James, who immediately gave his consent. The slave then
asked his Massa for a privilege. He wanted a proper wedding, and he
wanted his old friend Alfred to be his best man. James said that he would
write to Andrew and request permission for Alfred to come. Cap'n Jack
asked him one more favor.
"Annie ain't got no pappy," he said. "You her Massa, you her pappy. Will
you give her away?"
James was moved. The whole question of slavery had been exercising his
mind recently. The South was still quivering with righteous indignation
and latent fear from the Vesey plot,
BLOODLINES 157
and several states had sharpened their laws against blacks. Many in the
North were complaining of the treatment of the slaves, and the South was
closing ranks against their outrage. At the same time, James was having
continuing problems with his own field hands. They were truculent and
troublesome; three more had run away, and one had never been found. Evans
was worse than useless, and had indicated his readiness to step down, but
John Coffee had not yet heard from Egbert Harris.
Cap'n Jack's request began to put the whole issue into perspective for
him. He was father to his black children. They were an extension of his
family, and he treated them well, if sternly, as he would his own family.
There could be no better example of his relationship with the best of his
slaves, in these troubled times, than the public admission of his role.
He would be delighted to give Annie away.
He wrote to Andrew requesting that Alfred be Cap'n Jack's best man, and
to his surprise, Andrew replied in person, rather than by letter.
He came to The Forks, unannounced, to see James. He brought Alfred with
him, and immediately gave his consent to Alfred's role in the coming
wedding. Andrew greeted Sally warmly, and the children, and insisted they
call him Uncle Andrew. He brought greetings from Rachel, who was ailing
and not able to travel, and told them the news of his sons. He met Jass
for the first time, and played happily with the infant for a while, and
then told A.J. war stories, and acted out the battle of New Orleans for
the wide-eyed boy.
James and Sally watched from the veranda, as General Andrew chased around
the garden after A.J., who had been cast as the British Army.
"I wonder what he wants," Sally said softly, and James laughed.
"I'm sure you can guess," he said.
Andrew had a pleasant dinner with James and Sally, and was at his most
charming. He described the new house he was building for Rachel to
replace the older, smaller Hermitage. He told them all the gossip of the
political world, and some of the intrigues that had caused him to resign
as governor of Florida.
158 ALEX HALEY'S QUEEN
"It was for the best," he said. "Rachel found the climate abominable. "
He kept his temper under control and joked about his political opponents.
"Shook them all when I retired," he laughed. "No one believed me."
"I'm not surprised," Sally said with a charming smile. "You're much too
young to retire."
"I fully intended it," Andrew said. "I was tired. I was sick. I was not
fit to be president.
There was a soft silence.