Spring Will Come (40 page)

             
Moses opened his mouth to protest, but Wally grasped his arm firmly. 

             
“Diedre has been a mid-wife for years.  Your sister couldn’t be in better hands.”

             
Moses allowed himself to be led away, but he felt sick inside.  He glanced back for one final look at June.  She was watching him.  She managed one quick smile before she doubled over in pain again.  He knew she was trying to make him feel better, but he also knew he was to blame for the fix they were in.

             
Wally had pulled the wagon deep into the woods.  A little boy about six years old was sitting on the driver’s bench.  “This here is Andrew.”

             
“How do, mister,” Andrew said shyly.

             
Moses nodded but couldn’t speak. 

             
Wally looked at him closely.  “You’re headed to Fort Monroe?”

             
Moses just nodded.

             
“Look, man, it ain’t gonna do you any good to stand around and torment yourself.  You said yourself the baby was early.  Well, it ain’t nobody but God can tell a baby when it’s time to be born.  Stop beatin’ yourself up.  You done the best you could.”

             
Moses stared at him, the truth of his words finally penetrating his guilt.  “I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to her,” he said roughly.  He found himself telling Wally the whole story - about their being separated, just finding her, and trying to spirit her away to freedom.  “I’ve got to get there soon!” he added with a note of desperation.

             
“You sound like you got somethin’ more on your mind than just makin’ it to freedom,” Wally observed perceptively.

             
Moses hesitated for a long minute then decided to be completely honest.   He took a deep breath.  “I ran away from slavery last fall.  Been living up in Philadelphia.  I’m working as a spy for the Union army.”

             
“Say what!”  Wally exclaimed, skepticism loading his voice. 

             
“It’s true,” Moses said.  “My commander knew about my sister and gave me the time to help her escape.  But I have to rejoin my unit in just two weeks.  I promised.”

             
Wally must have believed him.  “I reckon you can still make it,” he said calmly.  He looked at Moses more closely.  “You mean they’re lettin’ blacks serve in that Union army?”

             
“There’s only a few of us right now,” Moses said.  “We’re not allowed to carry guns.  But I believe that is going to change.  The North needs us.  This is the black man’s war, too!” 

             
Wally nodded.  “I heard they’re takin’ men on the ships.”  He paused then evidently decided Moses could be trusted.  “I’m headed for Fort Monroe to get on board one of those ships.  I’m goin’ to be in the United States Navy.”  There was no mistaking the pride in his voice. 

             
Moses’ heart quickened with hope.  They were headed to Fort Monroe! Wally must have read his mind.

             
“When my wife finishes helpin’ your little sister in there, I reckon we’ll all just keep goin’.  We’ll make it in time.”

             
Moses took a deep breath, searching for the words to express what he was feeling.  “Thank you,” he finally said, knowing the words were woefully inadequate. 

             
“We got to stick together, man,” Wally said with a quick grin. 

             
Suddenly a sharp cry sounded from the brush.

             
“June!”  Moses exclaimed, leaping up.

             
Wally grabbed his arm.  “That weren’t June, Moses.”

             
Moses was bewildered.  “Then who...?”

             
“I reckon the Lord done dropped another little baby in our world.  I guess he ain’t givin’ up on it just yet.”   A smile played across Wally’s lips. 

             
Moses stared at him for a moment and then spun back toward the woods.  Another wail broke through the brush, floating toward them with the promise of new life.  Moses gazed in the direction it had come from, torn with wonder and uncertainty.  Was June all right?  Would the baby make it?

             
After what seemed an eternity, Deidre appeared between the trees.  Her face was peaceful, her smile beautiful.  “Your sister and nephew would like to see you.”

             
Moses sprang forward instantly and dashed through the woods.  He slowed and stopped as he entered the clearing.  June was leaning against the tree, a tiny bundle in her arms and a look of awe on her face. 

             
She looked up and broke into a weary grin.  “It’s a boy,” she whispered.  “His name is Simon.  I named him for his daddy.”  Her eyes glistened with tears as she gazed down at his tiny face. 

             
Moses edged closer then knelt beside them.  “He’s beautiful,” he said quietly, his eyes never leaving his nephew’s puckered face crowned with black curls.  “Your husband will be very proud.”  Then he stared in June’s face.  “You okay?”

             
June nodded calmly.  “I’m fine,” she assured him.  “Just a little tired.” 

             
Wally and his family appeared in the clearing.  They watched for a minute then Wally cleared his throat.  “I pulled the wagon in a ways farther.  I reckon we’ll stay here through the night then move on in the morning.  June needs to get some rest, and that baby needs at least one night of not rolling in a wagon.  He’s already had a pretty rude introduction to the world.”

             
June looked up, gratitude radiating from her eyes.  “Thank you so much,” she said fervently.  Just then little Simon opened his mouth and began to cry.  June smiled tenderly and shifted him into position to feed him. 

             
Moses watched for a moment and then began to gather armloads of fresh grass.  The mother and new baby would at least have a soft place to rest.   Wally appeared soon with another blanket to place on the makeshift bed.   June lay down gratefully.  Within minutes mother and newborn were sound asleep. 

             
Confident he would hear anything that could cause her danger, Moses moved to where Wally had stashed his wagon several yards away.  “Are you running away, too?” he asked curiously. 

             
“Tryin’ to figure out how a slave got a wagon?” Wally grinned.  “No, we ain’t slaves.  We are free,” he said proudly.  “My daddy was given his freedom after saving his owner.  We been working a little farm not too far from here.”

             
Moses was puzzled.  “Why was Deidre scared someone might be coming after you?”

             
Wally scowled.  “Bunch of Union soldiers rode through a few nights back.  I reckon they were some stragglers of McClellan’s.  Ruined our crops then set fire to our house.  They rode off laughing before it caught good.  I was able to put it out.”

             
“It can be tough to be black,” Moses observed sourly. 

             
“Didn’t have nothing to do with being black,” Wally said firmly.  “Them soldiers was just out looking for trouble.  They never saw us.  Had no idea what color we are.”  He chuckled.  “Course, it’s funny when you’re mulatto.  The half of you that’s black is a heck of a lot more important than the half of you that’s white.”

             
“I’m glad you can laugh about it,” Moses said in amazement.

             
“You got to laugh, man.  There’s way too much in this life to make you cry.”  He paused, looking into the distance.  “I reckon lots of people are goin’ to think them soldiers are just after black people.  Ain’t so.  They’re just after trouble.  I heard them talking.  Trashed as many white people’s places as they did blacks.  I guess war just does that to people.  Sets loose the devil in them.  Know what I mean? ”

             
“Yeah,” Moses responded.  “I know what you mean.” 

             
Wally leaned forward in excitement.  “When I saw my house burnin’, I decided I was gonna join the Navy.  I figure you’re right.  This ain’t just a white man’s war.  Just cause I’m free don’t mean I don’t want it for the rest of my people.  And being free in the South ain’t so much different from being a slave.  White people still treat you like trash,” he said with contempt.  “I want the day to come when all of us be free.  If we’re all working for the same thing, I figure we’ll have a lot more power.”

             
“The day is coming,” Moses said solemnly.  “I met some of the folks up North who are fighting to make it happen.  Even saw Frederick Douglas speak one night.”

             
Wally’s eyes popped open.  “You saw Frederick Douglas?” he breathed.  “That man’s really something.  I’ve even read some of what he done wrote.  He has a way with words that one does.  I bet hearing him speak must’ve been something.”

             
“He’s a fine man,” Moses agreed.  “Wants nothing more than what we want.  To see all his people free.  It’s coming, I tell you.  It’s coming.”  He paused, deep in thought.  “The way I see it, the end is inevitable.  The very fact the Union army is fighting in the South means the doom of slavery.”’                           

             
“How you figure?”  Wally asked doubtfully.

             
“You should be with the Union troops.  They don’t think twice about taking a Southerner’s property.  That includes his people.  The Union doesn’t necessarily want anything to do with us, but if letting us go will hurt the Southerner then they’re all for it.  Slaves are escaping in hordes.  I reckon that contraband camp we’re heading to is going to be pretty crowded.”  He paused again.  “I tell you.  The more slaves go free, the more are going to follow.  The power of fear that’s been holding them in slavery for so long is being broken.  Even if the South were to win the war, I think slavery is dying!”

             
“Hallelujah!”  Deidre cried with a loud laugh.

Moses stood ramrod straight in front of the laughing officers.  He showed no emotion.  He had known proving he was a Union spy was going to be difficult after destroying his papers. 

              “This boy look like any Union soldier you know?” one officer laughed.  “He looks like something dragged in from one of the swamps around here.”

             
Moses continued to stare straight ahead.  He had told the men his story.  It was up to them whether they chose to believe him or not. 

             
“I think it more likely this boy has been sent down here to spy on the Union!” another soldier laughed.  “Of course, he doesn’t appear to be too good at it.”  The laughter grew louder. 

             
Moses continued to hide his frustration.  He knew his time with the Union army could be over.  At least until he could figure out a way to get in contact with Captain Jones.  He would stay here in the camps until he could devise a plan.  He had been appalled by the conditions of the camps, but the superintendent assured him they were improving, and that June and the baby would receive good care.  She would even be able to start going to school.  He promised to find work for her.  Moses had still been hesitant to leave her, but June had made him promise to leave.
“You got me to freedom,”
she’d said sternly. 
“Now you have a job to do.”  
It was looking more and more like he wouldn’t be able to do that job.

             
One officer broke into the laughter.  “What if he’s telling the truth?”

             
Moses inspected the man who spoke.  Not much older than Moses himself, he was sunburned and had massive muscles in his arms.

             
“You can’t be serious, Captain Jenkins,” one man protested.

             
Captain Jenkins shrugged.  “Why not?  There are a few other blacks serving as spies.  I have fifty blacks serving on my ship right now.  They’ve done a fine job.”