Dark Chaos (# 4 in the Bregdan Chronicles Historical Fiction Romance Series) (32 page)

             
Dr. Benson shrugged.  “Oh, they’ll bring it under control sooner or later.  The government won’t allow New York to be destroyed by a riot.  The question is - how many people’s lives will be destroyed before it does anything?”  He turned back to the window.  “My son is out there.”

             
“Your wife told me.  I’m so sorry.”

             
“If Stephen realizes there is trouble, he may hide out.”  Then he scowled.  “There is also the chance he will try to make it home to help protect us here.  That’s what I’m afraid of.” 

             
“It’s a good thing I’m sneaky,” a strong, young voice announced from behind them.

             
Abby spun around just in time to see Dr. Benson embrace his oldest son, a good-looking lad already a head taller than his father. 

             
“Stephen!”  Dr. Benson made no effort to cover his fear and worry.  “How did you get home?”

             
“Over the rooftops,” Stephen said cheerfully, his eyes wise beyond his years.  “You and Mother used to fuss at me for playing up there, but at least I know my way around.”  He grabbed his father’s hand.  “We’ll have to take the family out that way.”

             
“That mob is not running me from my house,” Dr. Benson said angrily.  “I have worked too hard for what we have.”  Then he paused.  “Did you see much of what’s going on?”

             
“Too much,” Stephen replied, all the cheer gone from his voice.  He sounded old and tired.  “They’re attacking every black man they see.  I barely got away from a group coming after me.”  His voice choked.  “They destroyed the Orphan Asylum.”

             
Abby gasped.  “The Colored Orphan Asylum?”  Her voice shook with anger.  She had contributed toward that home for black children.

             
“Yes, ma’am.”  For the first time, Stephen seemed to notice her presence.  “You must be Mrs. Stratton.  I was sent out to bring home some groceries for your lunch.  I’m sorry.  I’m afraid I wasn’t able to complete my errand.” 

             
Dr. Benson shook his head impatiently.  “What did they do to the Asylum?”

             
Stephen’s face tightened.  “A whole mob gathered around there.  I watched from a nearby rooftop.  They got all the children out, though.”

             
Abby breathed a sigh of relief.  Over two hundred children, all under the age of twelve, lived in that building.

             
“The rioters were yelling things like
‘Burn the niggers’ nest’
and
‘Down with the niggers’
,” Stephen continued bitterly.     “Anyway, I think officials took the kids down to one of the police precincts.”   He shook his head.  “They barely had the last kid out the back when the mob broke down the front door.  Men were smashing pianos and carrying off everything they could get their hands on.  And I mean everything.  Carpets, chairs, dishes – why, they even took away all the beds.”

             
Dr. Benson clinched his fists angrily.  “It took years to set that place up,” he cried.

             
Stephen wasn’t finished.  “Once they had everything out, they set fire to the place.”  He brushed away his tears.  “There were some firemen who tried to stop it, but the mob beat them away.    I could hear one of the firemen telling the crowd they didn’t want to hurt humanity by destroying a benevolent institution.”

             
“And no one listened?” Abby asked angrily.

             
Stephen shrugged.  “Some more firemen tried to put it out.  The mob cut their hoses and broke up the hydrants.  They finally had to give it up.  The whole place was in flames when I finally left.”

             
He walked closer to his father.  “I know how you feel about leaving here, but we’ve got to get out.”  He hesitated, glancing at Abby.  “It’s bad out there.  They’re attacking anyone they can find.  It won’t be long before they get here.  Those crowds out there now are just people trying to get in on the excitement.  Once the real mob gets here they’re going to follow their example.”  His voice tightened in anger.

             
Dr. Benson shook his head stubbornly.  “If I ran away every time a white person tried to hurt me, I’d never have gotten where I am today.”  He glanced at Abby.  “I also realize I owe much of where I am to white people who have helped me.”

             
Abby stared at him compassionately, understanding the battle in his heart.  Then a clear vision of his family huddled in the upstairs room rose in her mind.  “I learned a difficult lesson today,” she said.  “I thought insisting on coming down here in spite of Paxton’s warnings was courage.  A friend told me once that courage was a mixture of bravery and wisdom.  I’m afraid I threw all wisdom out the window.  What I showed today was plain obstinacy.  And now I’m paying the price.”

             
Dr. Benson was not persuaded.  “I’m afraid I will have to learn my own lessons.  I am not leaving my home.”

             
“Learning your lesson may put your family at risk,” Abby said firmly.  She realized she had no right to try to convince this man of anything, but she couldn’t simply sit and watch his family be harmed.  Shelby’s trusting eyes upstairs prodded her to push on.

             
Dr. Benson’s face tightened with anger. 

             
Stephen stepped forward.  “Listen to her, Dad.  She’s right.  You haven’t seen it out there.”  Suddenly his voice was scared and young. 

             
Dr. Benson stared at his son and then slowly nodded.  “We’ll scope out your escape route.   We’ll get your mother and the other children to safety.”  Then his voice firmed.  “But I’m not leaving this house until I have to.  I’m not simply walking away from everything I’ve worked so hard for.”

             
Abby sagged with relief.    Her nervousness was growing as the sounds of the crowd increased. 

             
Stephen nodded eagerly.  “Come on.  I’ll show you.”  He flashed Abby a relieved smile; then he dashed up the stairway. 

             
Dr. Benson looked around once, gave a heavy sigh, and followed them. 

             
Abby’s heart ached for him and his attractive wife.  They had done nothing more then be born black.  She knew only a little of Dr. Benson’s history, but she was aware he was one of a handful of black doctors in the country.  Nancy had told her he had faced incredible prejudice and persecution but had pressed through until he had his medical degree.  He was highly respected in the black community and was gaining grudging respect in the white. 

             
Elsie met them at the top of the stairs, her face pinched and worried.  “Stephen!  I was so worried about you.  Are you all right?”

             
“I’m fine, Mom.  I’ll tell you about everything later.  Right now we have to get you and the rest of the kids out of here.”

             
“How do you propose to do that?”  Elsie’s voice was calm, but Abby could see the tension on her face.

             
“I’ve got a plan, Mom,” Stephen insisted, then hesitated.

             
“The roof?”  Elsie asked incredulously.  “It
was
you I heard a few minutes ago.”

             
“It’s the only way,” Stephen told her with confidence.  But Abby thought she saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

             
Abby watched him carefully, aware of the heavy burden he had taken upon himself.  “What can I do to help?” she asked, stepping forward.

             
Stephen smiled at her gratefully.  “The adults will need to carry the little ones.”

             
“How do you plan to get us down from that roof once you get us up there?”  Elsie demanded. 

             
“I don’t know yet,” Stephen admitted reluctantly.  “But I’ll figure it out,” he added determinedly. 

             
“We’ll find a way,” Dr. Benson added reassuringly, laying his hand on his wife’s shoulder.  “We won’t let anything happen to you or the children,” he promised. 

             
A banging at the door downstairs made up Elsie’s mind.  She spun toward the back bedroom.  “I’ll take the baby.  You three get Mabel, Sandra, and Bo.  I’m not waiting for that mob to harm my children!”

             
Minutes later they were handing the youngest children out onto the roof.  Just as Stephen appeared at the window, holding Shelby securely in his arms, they heard glass crashing as the windows on the lower level shattered. 

             
Dr. Benson looked back once, tightened his lips, and then gathered Shelby gently into his arms.  “Come on, baby.  We’re going to have an adventure.”

             
“Oh, I’m fine, Daddy,” Shelby said cheerfully.  “Don’t look so sad.  We still have each other.”

             
Abby was struck again by the child’s maturity.  In spite of Shelby’s youth, she inspired courage in Abby.  Taking a deep breath, she stepped out onto the roof but then gasped as she looked down.  The steep roof sloped away quickly, with nothing to break their fall if any one of them should slip. 

             
Sounds of yelling erupted from the open window behind them.  More sounds of breaking glass filtered up to them, followed by a crash as the heavy front door was forced open.  Dr. Benson turned around and shut the window with a violent jerk. 

             
“Daddy, why are those people breaking into our house?”  Reuben asked fearfully.             

             
Elsie hugged him close.  “Some people in this world are hungry for power, little one.  They’ll take it any way they can get it.”

             
“But it’s our
things
they’re taking,” Reuben said in a confused voice.  “They aren’t taking power.” 

             
“They think they are,” Dr. Benson said grimly.  Then he forced his voice to become cheerful.  “All right.  The trick to this adventure is to hang on tight and stay close to each other.”

             
“Where are we going?”  Elsie asked quietly, looking down at the maelstrom on the streets. 

             
Abby moved closer and took one of her hands.  “We’re going to get out of this.”

             
Elsie smiled then turned to Stephen.  “What is the rest of your plan?”

             
For the first time, Stephen looked worried.  “I wasn’t thinking about the gap between the buildings.  I just jump over it.  We won’t be able to with the children.”  He clinched his fists.  “I’m sorry.”

             
Abby gazed around.  Her eyes locked on a large, empty lot three houses over.  “Is there a rope in the house?” she asked suddenly.

             
“No.  Why?”  Dr. Benson asked.

             
Abby shook her head in frustrated disappointment.  “If we could get to the next house, we could slide down to that empty lot.  Maybe there would be a way around the mob.  They don’t seem to know it’s there.”  She sighed.  “I thought we could use the rope to lower the children to the next house.”  She shook her head.  “I’m sorry.  Obviously it won’t work.” 

             
“Dr. Benson?”

             
A soft voice arrested their attention.  Abby looked over to see a gray-haired, heavyset woman leaning from the house next door.  “Over there,” she said, pointing. 

             
“Dr. Benson,” the woman repeated.  “Maybe I can help your family.”

             
“That’s Mrs. Goldberg,” Stephen whispered.  “We’ve been next door neighbors for ten years now.”

             
Dr. Benson edged over to the drop-off between the two houses.  “You’ll endanger yourself if you help us,” he said regretfully.  “You’re a dear friend.  I can’t let you do that.” 

             
“Nonsense!”  Mrs. Goldberg snapped.  “That’s what friends are for.  Besides, you think I don’t know how you feel?  The fear and helplessness?  The Jews have felt it for hundreds of years.  It’s nothing new to my people.  So many of us still live because people were willing to help us.  Now I help you,” she said stoutly.

             
Dr. Benson smiled for the first time.  “What do you have in mind?” he asked hopefully.

             
Smiling triumphantly, Mrs. Goldberg thrust a long loop of rope through her window.  “You can use this to lower your family to the lower porch on my house.  There is a window there you can climb into.”

             
“We can’t stay in your house,” Dr. Benson protested.  “It won’t be safe for any of us.”

             
“Of course not,” Mrs. Goldberg agreed calmly, eyeing the crowd jostling below.  “Once you’re in the house I’ll take you to my basement.  There is a window you can crawl out of.  Once it’s dark you can make your way to one of the police precincts.  You’ll be safe there.”