“Da Whip”

I was near twelve year old when, “da whip” brought dat strange gal home to da plantation. Before dat thangs on our plantation was jes da way it was. We all knowed our place an mos’ time we stuck to it. It was what it was. Ole’ Mammy said we was born ta be what we was born ta be. Der was them what was evil an dem what was fair ta others. Here on dis plantation was some of each kins. I kept ta my place, most time cause my mammy, an ole’ mammy was always der ta keep me dat way. Even when sometime I might want ta speak up for ones dat done no wrong, or ta jest say no I don’ want ta do dat, Mammy is der. So I never spected da thing dat happen afta da day when she come. I never in my whole life thought thangs like dat could happen. Ole’ mammy and some da ole ones use ta tell us little ones, bout da things out in da dark, but we never believed, not really…

We was all called ta da big house lawn on dis day. Masa Stevens, called us as da wagon pull up. Da big bell rang out fa us ta stop working an come up ta da lawn dat warm September evening. I was wit my mammy Sara, n’ my Ole’ Mammy, she was Sara’s mammy. I had never seen nothing like this here gal before.

She was jes the smallest, little bit bigger’en me. She had thick black hair in tangles round her head an a scarf tied roun all dat. Her skin was the color of burnish wood. Masa Stevens, said she didn’t’ speak no English like we did. He said we was ta stir clear of dis gal til Mammy Sara (who he was givining her charge) had had time to teach her her duties. “Da whip”, ( da ovea see’ a) dats what we called him, cause he was quick ta whip anyone of us what got out o' line. His name was Mis'ta Preston Augustus; an he was an evil mean man. Mammy Sara, said there was some what like ta torment the lives of slaves an “Da whip, he be one of ‘dem.

Masa Stevens said dat Mis'ta Augustus, was goin’a be over dis gal jes like he was ovea us other niggas. In dat time when I was born an before couldn’t’ none of us speak back ta a white man, ner look one in da eye, even like. If we was ta do dat we was sho' punished. Mayhap even killed for sompin so bold.

We was all standing there listening to Masa Stevens talk, I was looking at this strange gal who was standing in da back of dat wagon. She was looking at all of us an when she see'd me she kinda stop an smile. Her eyes was bright and sparkled, dat autumn yellow of da leaves, dey was. Ole mammy said later, they was intelligent, and dangerous.

I didn’t understand how some’ body eyes could be dangerous, leas' not then I didn’t.

Jest as dat gal was looking at me she mumble sompin in a strange tongue. When she did “Da whip”, shout dat she wasn’t ta talk like dat no more. Dat gal turn her gaze to him, an her eyes turn hard and filled with hatred. Dat was when I knew what dangerous eyes was. She said something in dat funny tongue of hers and stared right in “da whip’s eyes. “C-r-a-c-k”, the air was split with the sound of his whip snapping out toward da gal.

Jest dat sound could make my heart stop, and some hearts of da big bucks here too, but dat strange gal jes stood der. Her eyes still fixed on him, as he snapped at her.” Don’t you look at me like that gal!” “Da whip” say, den he climbed down from his horse and stormed over ta da wagon side. My fear for da gal over run my sense and I whispered to her knowing she don’t understand me .” Don’t look in he’s eyes.” I say. “Don’t,” I say again.

Da gal turns again to smiling at me, an said softly but determin like, “yes.”

She then turned and lowered her gaze. Masa Stevens had been silent til then, he shouted jes as “Da whip” reached the side of da wagon and would have pulled dat gal down to da ground.

“That’s quite enough Mista Augustus,” he said. “Da whip”, stop short of what he planned ta do. With pure anger in his face he tried to gently chide da masa.

“Sir,” he started “I wasn’t going to hurt the gal.” “I was just going to teach her a lesson, in behavior.”

Masa Stevens, raised an eyebrow and replied,

“Yes, well none the lest, this gal cost me a considerable amount of money. “I will not see my investment damaged.” “not yet I will not.” Masa Stevens looked at dat gal I think he knowed she was intelligent too.

“Aye sir.” “Da whip” said. he was still full of anger what you could see in him.

Masa Stevens finished giving us all his orders an da gal jes stood there not moving ner saying nothing the rest of the time. Dat gal was jus looking at Masa Stevens. “Da whip’ stayed standing right where he was beside the wagon. His knuckles was white holding so tight ta his whip.

Mammy, and ole’ mammy later dat night, said dat no good was gonna come from this gal coming. Mammy said dat dat morning she had heard the noise of a hoot owl in da trees. Ole’ Mammy said she had had a bad feeling all the day before and this day too.

“There is something not right wit dat gal.” She say.,

“She looked at him, and it chilled my blood.”, Ole’ Mammy say and pulled her shawl close about her shoulders, tonight our cabin felt colder then it had in the nights before.

“Sompin’ bad between dem two.” Ole’ mammy sighed.

“Death is coming.” Ole’Mammy keep saying. Den jest like she did every night, before she smoked her cob pipe she rocked steady in her ole chair. I lay in my cot and listen ta Mammy Sara and Ole’ Mammy talk awhile fore I fell ta sleep. Dey talked about dat strange gal an da look “Da whip”, gave ta her when he thought none was looking.

“Da whip” was wanting dat gal. Ole Mammy said dis was gonna lead to no good and from da words dat gal said today, she was know’n some thang she shouldn’t be know’n.

Mammy said da gal was one of da ole ones. Dem dats practices da dark gifts.

I wondered all dat night what dat ment, and ta my very great disappoint’ment dey didn’t say nothing’ else I could understand.

In da days what followed da gal comin, Mammy Sara was gave da extra chore of teaching her, “Lily”,(dat was her name) to speak proper english. Lily was stayin in our cabin now, and though Ole’ Mammy was kind to her she didn’t trust her. Mammy Sara was jes the same way bout her. Me, I liked Lily, she was fond of me too. At times when Ole’Mammy wasn’t around Lily tried ta teach me her talk. I learn Lily knowed some of our words already.

She jes didn’t like to speak it. I found out too dat she comes from Africa, but dat she been New Orleans for ten years. Dat was da place(Africa), ole’ Mammy’s mammy come from. Ole’ Mammy said der was thangs in dat place dat was dark an better-left der. She say too dat some thangs in dat New Orleans was jes as bad.

Ole Mammy said dat Lily had better forget all dat stuff and leave off thinking bout it.

Lily would jes look at Ole’ Mammy an smile. Ole’ Mammy knowed Lily knowed what she was saying ta her. Ole’ Mammy knowed what dat “stuff”, was but she said it was best left unsaid. Lily had been with us for now on ta two weeks when da first time come for “Da whip’, ta see her a watching off in da distance. She was wanting ta look afar off sometime an jest look. I think at dos times Lily was a thinkin bout where she come from. “da whip” seed her and rides up on his horse and start in ta messin with her.

“You there gal,” he called to her, “What you a starin off at?” ‘You planning ta run, aint ya?” “Da whip took the tip of his whip and poked at Lily’s cheek, as he asked her dis.

Lily jest look at him and say nothing. She pickup her laundry and smile. Her eyes meeting his all da while, though she knowed we weren’t pose ta. “Da whip”, growed, cross as always and he starts ta cursing at Lily. He swung out the length of his whip and crack it through the air.

“Damn your black soul gal,” he hissed at her, “I’ll whip the skin right off your hide.”

Lily was still a smiling and speaking in her own tongue at him. She knowed she was only making “Da whip even mo’ angry as she did. “da whip, climbed down now in a storm of rage, crackin his whip throw the air again an again. The sound of the whip caught in the air as the way of it, for those what had been abused by it. They all stop to hear what always come next. Not her, Lily seemed ta be trying ta get him ta use dat horror on her. She kept speakin in her tongue her voice growin more and more definite with her evera words.

Her expression was one of pure hated. I was standing jes so close ta dem there in da yard pulling da rest of da cloth from da line when it all started. I was looking around for Ole’ Mammy, or Mammy Sara, but dey was not nowhere near us. It was da middle of da day an Mammy Sara, was up at da house with the masa’s little ‘en’s. It was left ta me to do something fast or Lily was gonna get herself killed.

“Lily”, I called ta her. “Please Lily don’ do dis, chil’ listen ta me.” I pleaded.

“Da whip was jes close enough now ta pick the tick off the side of a cats ear with that thang, when of a sudden Lily let go her bundle of wash an began chanting in a deep voice at him. The voice that was coming from that little gal sounded like nothing I had ever heard before. It was deep and graveled almost like, a coarse and hard something being drug across a clean windowpane. Her eyes seemed ta start a glowin and her face was dark wit some intent. I jus starts ta move now.

I was behin her an so couldn’t see her face when I reach her., but the reflection on :Da whips face was pure anger still. He was so angry, cause this gal would be before him speakin in her own tongue an lookin him straight in the eyes. Lily had been taught evera day by both the Mammies and knowed pretty well how to speak in the tongue of us. Lily knew to dat we was na ta look a white man in da eyes. Lily knew jes exactly what she was doin. This time when da whip split the air it found its mark in the soft flesh of Lily’s shoulder. Not a sound of pain came from her lips, as she stared at him.

Blood flicked off the end of the “cat” an flew in the air to land on my face. I knowed with certainty dat he hit her, but she din show no signs of it. This made “dawhip” madder. A smile of evil spread cross his face.

“You will scream, the next time gal.” He told her, den again he tell her, “I am gonna whip the flesh off your hide, right now!.”

Jest as I figured der wasn’t nothing ta be done but ta save dis fool gals life, I cut between them and began ta plead with him not ta whip her. “Please sir, please don beat dis gal. She don know what she done was wrong.” I lied. I know jes like he did dat Lily was knowing what she was doing. Still I lied on in her behalf, all the while Lily was still chanting.

“Da whip,” paid me no mine and shoved me ta da ground out of his way. It was all but over for us both now. I knowed dat when “Da whip”, got finish wit Lily it was gonna be my turn. He was gonna whip us both till da skin come clear off our bodies.

Me an Mammy had never been hit wit that ole”cat”.” I was still trying ta thank of what to do ta keep that from happening ta me now. I thank to myself How much I likes my flesh right were it was, on my back. Lily who had done got us inta dis here mess growed angrier when she seen him shove me to da ground. Now she lunged for “Da whip”, her hands claws as she reached for his throat.

“No!” I screamed, Der lord what was dis thankin? I scrambled to my feet, and put my self between them two again. I close my eye tight and hels for the frist blew. I cant tells ya why I done such a fool thang. I cants tell myself why yet at dis day. I jes know I DONE IT.

It was the sound of Masa Stevens voice what made me open my eyes. I had closed ‘em ta keep myself from seein the blow that was gonna kill me that day.

Masa Stevens was there, close behind him now wit Mammy Sara, an behind her in the length of the laundry yard was Ole’ Mammy. Masa Stevens was shouting now at “Da whip”. He was telling him once mo’e how much he had spent on dis one gal. Dis gal was special he say. “Da whip” was not ta whip her, he could punish her, certainly and he had the right ta do so. Masa Stevens said for him ta fine mo’ effective ways of getting respect an cooperation from dis little gal.

“Da whip” was hot with being restrained once more’ over dis gal. What was so special about dis gal? I wanted so much ta ask someone of dim. Both Mammy’s was there now and giving me dat look ta stay silent and ta stay where I was. Once Masa Stevens was

finish giving his orders, he told Mammy Sara dat to help keep Lily in line, Mammy Sara was gonna be held da one feet to da fire if anything else happen. Mammy Sara gave Lily da look she showed me when she was angry at me. Lily waited until Masa Stevens was out of ear shot and picking up her bundle she whispered ta “Da whip”, and said, “Touch me again I skin YOU… ALIVE!” dis was hissed thru clenched teeth and softly parted lips.

It weren’t no mor’in three month afore “Da whip”, see’d ole’ masa done give Lily new cloths. He been senning fa her up to the big house too.“Da whip”, he done’ like dat order cause jes’ like my mammy say he done fix’ his eye on dat one. Well sho nuff’, after dat “Da whip” start making life fa us hard as he can. He was mad like a hornet what gets caught in the noon wash.

Dat first night da”whip”, see’d Lily coming from da house, and masa, he was outside a drinking dat shine. Da “whip” calls Lily over ta him, dat gal was never gonna do what dat one wanted her ta. Lily kept right on a going, she jes swayed da way she did when she was a walking. She moved on down da path ta her cabin. All us what was outside dat night was feeling sompin in da air dat night.

Grand mammy Sara’s was sitting in her rocker an as she see “da whip”, a calling for dat girl she tells us ta got on inside. Mammy Sara looks up at dat ole’ moon an says, “sweet baby Jesus, dares blood on da moon dis night.” Mammy Sara got herself’ up an said a pray and push me in ta da cabin. I looks up an shon’ nuff dat moon had a ole’ red mist all around’ it. I din want ta go inside I won ta see what dat “whip” was about ta do. He don come down offing his own porch an star’ following dat gal.

Lily, she acts like she don’ know he was a behind her. She keep on walking, jes walking and humming now. “Da whip” start ta shoutin after her and he start walking fasa’.

“ Get on in dar’ Gal”, Mammy Sara said. I had ta run ta da only window we had in dat cabin. When I gets er’ I see’d “Da whip”, reach out an grab Lily by her should’ a. He spin dat gal round’ to face him and da look she give him dar’ in da dark was so full of hate, dat it chill dat white man ta da bone. “Da whip”, he takes a step back away from dat gal.

I don’ ta dis day, know what she say ta him, but he hauled off an slapped huh. Dat slap was so hard dat Lily stumbled an nearly fail’ ova’. When she straighten up, gaining her footing again, she commenced ta chanting’. My ole’ mammy at da same time commenced ta praying. “Da whip” starts ta shouting for two of a biggest bucks round here ta grab hold’ of Lily an hold’ her tight.

“Dear lord,” ole mammy whispered, “don’ let him do it.”

I turns ta ole’ mammy and ask,”What, what he bout ta do?”

Mammy’s eyes was wide with the most fear I’d don’ seen afore in my life.

“Dat fool bout ta kill he self.” She said, “Then God help us all.

My gaze turn ta da window again an I watched. Them bucks was a afraid take a hole’ of Lily while she was a chanting. D’ey seed her afore when she was chanting and dey was afraid.

D’ey was a inching toward ‘er and even in da dark I could see da fear, Lily gave ta some folks.

“Take a hole of her.” da whip,” shouted again an Lily was jes a standing der. She din’ try ta get away ner nothing, she jes kept ta chanting in da singing sort of way of hers. The words was in her very own tongue. I never did understand them words from dat day to this.

Dos bucks, Lester and Raymoun finally grabbed hole an held to her. Dey was pleading with da”whip” to let her go dis time.

“Please sir, da masa gon’ be mighty angry if we does dis.” Lesta said. “Da whip”, shout back angrier at da both of em.

“Shut up you afore you fin yo’sef next.” After dat the boy’s jes do what theys told ta.

“Da whip made 'em take Lily over ta the “wall” da piece of wall were he chain da one what he’s gone whip. Den he starts ta calling all da ones of us dat was in da cabins, to come out.

“Ya’ll come here, and learn dis here lesson. Dis nigga gal done got to mighty for her place.” He said. “Ya’ll watch here I’m gonna whip the skin from her bones dis night.” He continue’ to shout.

“Da whip”, was high angry ta night he was gonna whip Lily. Dis night was no stopping ‘em. Lily was pulled tight ta da wall like dose what got whipped was done. Her arms was pull up over her head and she was still a chanting’.

Her eyes was fixed on “da whip“. Her words was aringing in all our’ ears.

“Da whip” was a telling us gathered round what he was bout ta do. Den he tells dem boys ta turn round to face da wall, so he get started. He was shouting dat not one of us nigga was ta move from da spot were we stood. He said if we was ta move, a for he left, dis plantation, he would kill us all.

Torches was lit, an all us stood round in the firelight dark. We was afraid of what was bout ta happen dis night. Some of the women round’ me was starting ta pray. I heared my ole’ mammy prayin like she was, inside our cabin, jes a lil’ while ago.

“Da “whip”, raised his hand with da cat in his fist and like always he cracked the air roun’ us with a swift fling of the tip. Every one o’ us stop talking an prayin’ in the wake of dat sound. I start biting on my lip like I always do when some one o’ us is bout ta be whipped. Lily was one I liked an I was na’ afraid of her like some was. I believed Lily was in her other world’ when she starting a praying. I was praying too, I prayed dat when dat first touch of the cat hit her, dat she didn’t’ feel nothin. I prayed dat she was in dat world’ of hers were she didn’t’ even know no body was der’.

“Now gal,” shouted da “whip”, “I’ll show you what ya’ll get from me, when you gets uppity.” Dis time the cat flew throu da air, an in the dark of the night it foun it’s mark We heared it lay inta dat clear soft skin of Lily’s back. I closed my eye an held on my breath, I was waiting for the scream of pain dat comes from ‘em dats had it done. The sound’ what come to my ears, was not dat of Lily, it was a man’s scream. My eyes flew open an fell on were ever’ body in da crowd was looking. There in the dark was blood runnin down the back, of da one what was swingin da whip!

Da “whip” was stanin der with da spot of blood wetting his back and shirt. He musta hit his self with da cat in his blind anger to punish Lily cause he couldn’ have her. I look back at Lily an dre was nothin on her back. She was jes like she had been a few minutes before’.

Lily was still a chanting only now da words all sound da same, dey didn’ have no difference to ‘em. Dey was coming’ out of her in a hum now. Da words was like this sound’ of bees on a hot summer day. Bees, I know dat was impossible, it was nighttime an around’ midnight now. But it was da sound’ of bees in da humming way her words sounded.

Ole’ mammy touched me on my shoulder an whispered ta me ta pray.

“Pray child’,” she said, “there’s evil gonna be done here dis night.” She whispered again.

“What ya mean Ole’ mammy?” I axed, cause evera’ thang “da Whip” did was evil.

Ole Mammy jes repeated.

” Pray child’,” she said, “jes pray for all us what see’ dis thag.”

“Crack,” went da cat again thru da night air. Dis time we see it rip thru da calico blouse

Lily was a wearing. Dat thin piece of fluff jes ripped right open. Lily kept on chanting, an holding ta dem chains. We waited, but der was no blood running down her back again.

“Mammy?’ I said, I couldn’t see how dat cat of nine had ripped the blouse eon Lily’s back, but hadna cut inta her.

“Hush child.” Ole’ mammy whispered. All around us now I could hear the praying of da peoples all around us. Evera’body was praying. Dey was praying ta god at keep dis evil away from dem. I guess cause I was so young I din’ understand right away what’ was happening. Ole Mammy was beggin da good lard ta potaec’ us from evil. Praying dat it be over soon.

Da cat o’nine was ripping thru da air over and over again, it was now bout da eight or ninth strike afor’ I seed what my eyes couldn’t’ believe. Da “whip”, weren’t missing his mark from anger, he were hitting Lily square in da back. Her blouse was in rips all round’ her waist. All the skin was exposed in the white moonlight an light of our torches.

There weren’t a mark on Lily’s flawless skin. Lily was standing der with her hands pulled tight above her an, she was sure beinin whipped, we all could see dat. Cept’ what our eyes could see, could’ no ways be real truth. It was jes not possible. Da “whip” was astanin there with blood an flesh flying free, of his own back!

There was not a way, under heaven, dat what we was seeing was what we was seeing.

With every flick of dat “cat”, skin, an chunks of flesh split free of da”whip”s back.

Blood was flying ever’ where in dat crowd of us. People was a holding der hands up b’fore der face. Da lil’ chil’en was crying in horror of dis’ thang we was made to watch. “How, my mine was screaming.

“How was dis happening?’ Dat whip was sent flying thru, the air and biting into Lily’s flesh, only nothin was happening ta her flesh. Nothin, nothin at all was happening ta her flesh.

“Da “whip’, now dat was different’ his back was a bloody, bloody mass o’ chewed up meat. Da cat cut slices in his back jes like it do da bucks dat he beat when he be choosing to. Da strange thang was he kept on whipping Lily even seein she weren’t bleeding and her back didn’t look like he even touched her. Da ‘whip” was shouting and muttering dat he was gonna whip the flesh clear off Lily’s back. His eyes was crazed an shiny, blood poured from his wounds an he never made no sound like he felt dat stripes. We all see’d ever’ time da cat struck Lily, the cut showed on Da ‘whip’s” back.

Someways he didn’t’ see nor feel the truth of his evil. Lily’s chants was still being said only now they was a low mumbled sound’ they was still in the same rhythm as ‘a fore though. On an on he whipped dat gal. The crow of da cock, was neigh enough ta end da horror dat met our eyes as da sun come up. Standing der before us, blood caked bones with bits of flesh lay in a mound of chopped up meat.

Da mound of flesh seem ta steam with the rise of da sun. Der was no sign of da man dat was der afore us in da night. Da whip had whipped dat gal in such a hot fury, dat when his ownself fall to the ground, whip still in hand he jus fell der. His hand twitch a minute mo’ den nothing. Da ‘whip”, was jes dat, this mound of meat. Dat cat o’ nine was curled up in da dirt an meat of dat evil man. Ones of us what could still stan’was standing in shock and horror of what we done seen.

Ole’ mammy had stop praying when da bloody skeleton of dat man finally dropped in a still moving heap on top of his own flesh. Dat man was so possessed of his want of Lily dat he done kill heself with it. Lily had said if he ever did touch her with dat “cat”, she would rip da flesh clear off his bones. With da crow of da cock, Lily had stop chanting. Not a sound she make now, hanging from da ‘wall”. She jes hung der in da pink, blue morning light. Ole mammy spoke now, her voice was horse and deep as thou she had been sleeping. “Go cut he down now.” She told mammy and me. We was slow ta move, I never knowed jes what shock be till den. I think I must been in shock dat morning. I moved ta help Lily, n best I could I kept my eyes turned away from dat bubbling mass of “da whip”.

That gal was a smiling an a hummin. She put her hand in ha apron pocket and pull out a little doll. There in the mornin light could see dat da doll had a hat and cloth dat was like a mans. Lily was a rubbin dat doll in her hand as she walked by dat pile an show as you please, she spat on it saying as she did,” I tale you I would skin you, ta death.”

She dropped dat thing into dat pile of mess and walked wit me away.

Mammy tale Lesta and Raymun ta dig a hole and shovel Da”whip” in it. After all dat was cleaned up all us was tole by Ole’ Mammy to get on wit our work. She tale us never ta mention what we’d done seen. Ole mammy tale us none of dem whites would believe us no way, an come to it one of us would be ta blame. We best forget all dat we knew.

Ole mammy said masa’ would fig’er da “whip”, jes left cause he was angry wit him.

“Enjoy dis here freedom,” Mammy said “Dey’s gonna fin’ us a new ova’ seer soon enough.” So dats what we don’, we all went ta work jes like Ole’ Mammy tol’ us. Ta me she tol me ta neva’ axe’ Lily what she done, or how she don’ it. Mammy said some thangs was bes’ left ta those what posses ‘em. I never did know what happen dat night, or how, cause I kept’ my word made ta ole’ mammy. As for Lily she never talked about it. When she walk by the wall sometime I see he jus smile in dat knowing way of hers. Da masa did jes as Ole’ mammy said an believe da ovea seer jes runoff. O’ so I figured.

When he called for Lily later dat day Ole’ mammy said she was smiling. Nothing ‘ese was said as we all was bout our work like we should be. Lily was seen about the place always hummin and smiling. Sometime she was call to the house an, she went.

Some sayd later, ole’ masa, had brought Lily here for a purpose. Some say’d he knowd Lily was special. Dathe knowd what she could do.

All I knows is Lily gots her own cabin soon after da whip was gone. When she was seen with da masa, she, always looks him straight in the eyes. Masa was happy wit Lily and mos of da slaves was afraid of her. Da seed what she could do first hand.

Matter of fact it was near three month fore we had us another ovea’ seea.

Masa said it was almost’ a shame dat we had ta have a ovea’seer, but he didn’t want none of us thank’in we was above a whipping should we needs one…