Osmund James, Contributor
JUBILATION ruled Jamaica.
Slavery had ended days ago. The ex-slaves were ecstatic, feasting, dancing to incredibly sweet rhythms of their African-styled drums and various makeshift instruments.
Of course, most of the island's European minority were unhappy that slavery was over and "done with". But these evil-minded ones could not change the "freedom reality".
On the sunny morning of the fourth day of freedom, three young male ex-slaves from the largest plantation in St. Mary were joining the steady trickle of ex-slaves who were leaving the plantation life to go live and farm 'Crown lands' in the wooded hills, an assertion of their new freedom (this was happening all over the island).
These three young male ex-slaves didn't have much possessions carrying to the hills - like most ex-slaves, slavery had left them owning "next to nothing" - but they were strong and proud intelligent ones who'd for years been doing any and everything they could to undermine the wealth of their former master - wasting as much sugar, rum, etc, as they could; destroying tools and machinery; poisoning prized animals and drunk euro-males and afro-lackeys; helping runaway slaves.
They were now walking towards the not-too-distant hills where they'd already selected a nice wooded valley and three hillocks to farm and live on.
They even had a little cave there nicely stocked with tools, sugar, molasses, flour and saltfish stolen from their former master. Their girlfriends would stay on the plantation until dwellings were built in the hills.
Confrontation
Just as these three happy self-assured ex-slaves were about to leave the cultivated fields of their former master, they came upon the overseer and one of the euro tradesmen inspecting a hoof of one of their horses.
It was obvious that the two riders and their horses were returning from a long morning ride. They were on one of the estate's dusty dirt roads, this one flanked by canefields and pasture.
"Oh, three of the troublemakers I never catch out," growled the overseer, his ugly, ruddy face glowing hatred.
The three ex-slaves slowed and gave glare for glare. The euro tradesman growled.
"They feel freedom mean free to capture Crown land. Or that they are now human."
"Will still whip them anytime," snarled the overseer.
The oldest of the three ex-slaves surprised everyone by calmly saying: "Why not try it now? I challenge the two a yu to a fair fight, no weapons."
He was tall and muscular.
The overseer and the tradesman grinned and instantly advanced with fists ready - both were of medium height, thickly built and in the mid-thirties.
Well, well, well - it wasn't long before they regretted their hasty acceptance of the challenge. Oh, they got in some punches at the ex-slaves, but it was like punching a brick wall, while the punches they took rattled their bones.
Finally, one vast right uppercut laid out the overseer in a groaning near-unconscious state. The tradesman fled. The bright morning grew yet brighter.
Power surge
The three ex-slaves went on their way laughing, the oldest saying: "Brothers, if a dead now a will be goin' as the happiest man. Nothin' sweeter than hittin' pale flesh."
"But we gonna have to lay low a while; we free but the dogs still have the power and guns," the youngest said. "A still envy yu them freedom punches, anyway."
The third ex-slave said: "We won't have to worry 'bout no soldier comin' after us, no militia with dogs. Only trouble will be the overseer quietly lookin' revenge. We can handle him. Easy now to kill the dog if that have to be done. They power goin' down, ours risin' and will go sky high someday."
