Chapter 28

Friday August 22,1862

The next morning,we wake up to a dazzling sun.I stretch and grab my reticule,ready to start walking right away.But Fred stops me.

“When we reach the town today,I don’t think all of us should go in.But you definitely have to go.We can’t have three Negroes going into town without a pass,and we don’t have any papers.You’ll need to clean yourself up a bit and change clothes before you go in.And we’ll have to discuss who will accompany you.”

“I hope this town isn’t too small.We’ll stand out much more than we would if it were larger,”says Sam.

“Like Memphis,”Anna says.“We’ll surely go unnoticed there.”

“Memphis is going to be the largest town any of us has ever seen,”says Sam.“I think we will pass through just fine.”

I look at the three of them.“It will be dangerous for any of you to accompany me,won’t it?”

“It will be worse if we all go in,”Anna says.“I’ll do it.”

“No,I will,”says Fred.“Two ladies can’t go it alone.”