Rain Upon the Blinding Dust

Chapter One

Therefore they did set over him taskmasters to afflict him with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities,

Pithom and Raamses.

Exodus 1:11

June 5, 1857

You can’t go in there, stated Reuben flatly.

I has to. The massa says. Moses shuffled his bare feet in the south Arkansas dust.

Well, I’ll wait out here and run fo’ de massa if’n you gets into trouble, commented Reuben without expression.

Slowly, deliberately, Moses stepped up onto the wooden walk in front of the dry goods store. He stamped some of the summer Arkansas dirt from his bare feet then entered the store.

Good morning, son, greeted Mr. Ed Bennett.

Mornin’, suh. Answered Moses with lowered head.

What you lookin’ for?

Massa McMahan sent me fo’ some salt and some tobacco.

You wait right there, boy, Mr. Bennett busied himself getting the requested groceries. He gathered them and placed them on the counter. He then turned back to Moses. What else you need, boy?

Mistress Sarah, she want some gingham. Two yards, suh.

Blue plaid?

Yes, suh.

Mr. Bennett got the material and wrapped the goods in white butcher paper. He handed the bundle to Moses. Now boy, you take these straight back to Mr. McMahan. And don’t dawdle.

Yes, suh. Moses turned to leave then stopped cold. Raymond McMahan was standing in the middle of the doorway.

Raymond was the son of Jessie McMahan, the owner of the plantation. Raymond was almost ten years old and big for his age. His shocking red hair stuck out from under his hat.

What you doing here, darkie? questioned Raymond sharply.

Moses looked down at his bare feet. I getting some things fo’ yo’ father.

Mr. Bennett walked around from behind the counter. Raymond, don’t start no trouble here in my store.

Raymond gave Mr. Bennett a sharp look. I ain’t startin’ no trouble. This here darkie should be back at the plantation.

Well, he here getting things for your father. He waved his hand toward Moses, who slipped out the door past Raymond. Now, what can I do for you?

Raymond watched Moses walk out the door then turned back toward Mr. Bennett and spit some tobacco spittle onto the floor. I need a new bandana. He pulled a torn and dirty blue bandana from his pocket.

Moses ran to where Reuben was hiding behind the horse water trough. Moses slowed down just long enough to signal to Reuben. Then the two started off at a run down the hot dirt road.

Moses and Reuben reached the edge of the plantation before slowing down. Moses waved at the slaves in the cotton field who were weeding and cleaning the rows.

When they got to the slave quarters Reuben put a hand on Moses’ arm stopping him. I gonna go see can I find some crawdads at the creek.

OK, said Moses. I gotta take this up to the big house, I’ll see you there.

Thirty minutes later Moses found Reuben by the small creek that flowed near the slave quarters. He carried a small, white piece of cloth in his hand. He laid it down carefully on the bank of the creek and untied the edges. He opened the cloth and exposed a small piece of bacon.

Reuben looked at him open mouthed. Where did you get that bacon?

Mammy slipped it to me. He looked around carefully. Don’t say a word.

The two each had a piece of string tied loosely around their necks like necklaces. They untied the strings then tied some of the bacon to one end. They walked to the creek and slightly separated. Throwing the bacon tied to the string into the creek they waited expectantly. They watched the shallow muddy water. The July heat was abated only slightly by the shade of a large pin-oak tree beside the creek. Moses held his breath as he watched a large blue and black crawfish approach the bacon. The crawfish grabbed the bacon with its heavy claw and began backing up. Moses let out a brief ‘whoop’ and began pulling the crustacean in. The crawfish held on for dear life and was pulled out of the water.

Moses grabbed it by the carapace and turned to show it to Reuben. He a real big one.

Moses whirled around as he heard the loud hoofbeats of a horse galloping down the trail. Raymond pulled the large gray gelding to a sliding halt just inches from Moses.

Boy! shouted Raymond. Get out of the way!

Moses scampered to his left. Raymond put spurs to the gray Arabian horse and it began forward, its eyes wide open and glassy with frothy slobber flying as it threw its head. The horse sidled to its left and then jumped forward. It stopped suddenly at the edge of the creek, throwing its front legs high into the air. Raymond pulled the left rein, swinging the horse to the left, swiveling it on its back legs. He turned the horse in a full three hundred sixty degrees, ending facing the creek again. He kicked it hard and the horse pranced two steps forward, then suddenly shifted its weight backwards onto its haunches and jumped the creek, landing a good six feet on the other bank.

When the horse jumped the creek Raymond was surprised with the sudden leap and he slid off the back of the horse. He landed on his shoulders in the mud on the other bank. Unfortunately, his left foot did not clear the stirrup and the foot hung. The horse ran a short distance. Feeling the pull from the dragging body the horse turned and sidled two steps to its right then stopped, snorting loudly.

The two slave boys stared at the confused scene. The dust began to settle over the fallen boy. The two blacks stared at each other.

I watch the horse and try to calm him. You gotta run get the massa, ordered Moses.

Reuben was short and overweight. His main job was slopping the hogs. He smelled like pigs as well as the usual body odor of unwashed slaves who were overworked and unable to bathe often. But, there was an extra odor which permeated the space he occupied. Most of the slaves shunned him saying that he smelled of hog slop. They insinuated that he kept his weight up by sharing the scraps from the main kitchen that was intended for the hogs.

Reuben stared at Moses, wide-eyed. I cain’t get the massa. He a mean man.

No, he ain’t. He need to get here and help this boy. Now, get!

Reuben turned and ran off as fast as his short legs would carry him.

Moses slowly walked to the horse. He approached the panting animal gently talking softly to him. He took the bridle gently in his left hand standing on the left side of the horse. Raymond was moaning loudly on the ground, flat on his back.

Moses slowly rubbed the side of the horse’s neck and slid his hand slowly down to the saddle. Raymond’s leg still hung from the stirrup.

Raymond raised his head, saw Moses’ hand and screamed. Don’t touch it! Leave the horse alone, nigger! My leg is busted! He laid his head back down and moaned again.

Moses slowly moved to the other side of the horse, switching hands holding the bridle. He crooned softly to the horse. He slowly stroked the right side of the horse’s neck and again slid his hand down to the saddle, this time hidden from Raymond’s view. He slowly reached under the right stirrup which was empty now and unbuckled the girth. The saddle slid a little, but Moses held on to it so it did not move much. Raymond let out a loud scream as his leg lowered slightly.

Moses continued to talk to the horse in a sing-song voice as he let go of the bridle. He slowly lifted the saddle slightly. Raymond moaned loudly. Moses lifted the saddle a little more and Raymond let out a loud scream. When he did the horse ran out from under the saddle and continued running. Moses gently lowered the saddle to the ground amidst Raymond’s screams.

Moses sat his lanky frame down beside Raymond and waited for help to arrive. Moses was almost six feet tall but very thin. His eyelids habitually drooped over his dark eyes giving him a constant half asleep look. But his looks were deceiving. He was very observant and rarely missed anything going on around him.

You need to stay quiet, Massa Raymond. Talkin’ jes’ makes yo’ leg move some which hurts it mo’.

Moses looked at Raymond. The white boy was lying on his back. He was a year older