Jamestown, VA (July 17, 1784 a.d.)

The Queen Anne slowly angled its way into the mouth of the Jamestown harbor. It would be another few hours before the ship would be allowed into port to dock. As they waited for clearance to dock, the crewmembers stood all of the remaining slaves on the top deck of the boat to airate the stench of stale flesh and feces. The took barrells of fresh water and doused the cargo with it, splashing it into their faces to make them cometo. The proceeded to scrub each and every one of the remaining 400 cargo that they had, sanding off all the blemishes and dirt from their charcoal bodies. They had lost many of the cargo to famine and some mystery disease causing them to dump the bodies overboard for the sharks to eat. The only other thing to do was for Lord John to change the ship's log recording that they only possessed 400 live cargo from Afrikka, a load of arms for sale, and 1,000 linens from the coast of Afrikka as well.

"Daniel. We must make the most of what we have. We will sell our cargo to Merchants in groups of 20. Each group will sell for 3 pounds of gold or 12 pounds of silver. We stand to make 60 pounds of gold off of this venture and that would buy us another ship or two" Lord John said without looking at the first mate as he changed the ships log

"I want you to run down to Tom Watsons place and have him come check out our Nigers. I dont know how it happened but we only lost 3 of the Nigers and hundreds of the others. Tell them we only accept top dollar for them, scratch that, make it 5 pounds gold and 20 pounds of silver. I want to walk away with no less then 100 pounds of gold you hear me?"

When the ship docked, Daniel rushed his way over to Tom Watsons place, careening through the cobblestone streets. He walked into the Pub and found the merchant he was looking for. Watson owned the Pub-n-Pub for many years but always seemed to spend too much time on the wrongside of the bar. Tom Watson didnt really need the pub anyhow because he had made a fortune selling slaves to tobacco plantations up and down the coast from Georgia to Virginia. Daniel told him of the loss of cargo but that he had to come see the Nigers that had almost all survived. Surely they would be an asset to any businessman.

"Niggers? How did they survive? something in that river water make em immune to disease or sumthin?" The fat merchant chuckled aloud.

"Dont really know, but that would be the best way to put it. Hell you could prolly double your profits if you sold them that way" Daniel said as he sipped an English Ale.

"Ya know I reckon your right about that." He said staggering into a standing position.

"My boy, lets go see what you got for the world of America. Hell you may be English but I like how you and Lord John operate."

They worked their way back to the ship docks where Tom Watson looked over the goods. Happily he paid for everyone of the remaining Nigers and a few of the other Mandingos.

"Where'd you say these savages were from again?" He asked Lord John

"We got them from the Oracle on the River Niger."

"Niger huh?"

"Yes."

He plopped down 30 pounds of gold for Lord John and the crew of Queen Anne. Then he escorted his new cargo into the mezzanine of the city, shuffling chains and low fearful mumbles eminating from the broken souls that were simply happy to be back on dry land. He lined them up in his regular spot and began calling to the passersby

"NIGGERS FOR SALE! OUTLASTED FAMINE AND DISEASE. HARDEST WORKING SLAVES EVER DISCOVERED!"

"NIGGERS FOR SALE"


"How much for a nigger?" an interested man asked.




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"With peace and love in my lungs,
I hold my breath until the Poet returns."

--Boxcarboys