December 22, 1858
Savannah, Georgia
Their train arrived in Savannah in the early evening. Eli hurried from the compartment to the platform to signal to Will to stay out of sight. Mrs. Henderson would not know him, but Mr. Cray might well recognize him.
Eli quickly spotted William with their trunk, and he made a small but frantic motion with his left hand waving Will away. William immediately stiffened and turned his back to Eli, understanding something was amiss, and disappeared into the crowd.
It was just in time. Mr. Cray and Mrs. Henderson disembarked from the train, making their way to his side.
Never having seen a town as big as Savannah, Eli felt overwhelmed by the crowds and hubbub in the train station. On the other hand, he realized it would also be easier to move unnoticed in such a place.
“Can we give you a ride anywhere?” said Mrs. Henderson above the noise of the train and the crowd.
The last thing in the world he wanted was to continue to travel in the presence of Mr. Cray and Mrs. Henderson. “You’re most kind,” he answered, “but I must decline. I’m still waiting for my boy to come with our luggage, and besides, I will be going to the docks straight away to see if I can book passage on a steamer tonight. I imagine that you’ll stop for the evening at a hotel.”
“What?” said Cray. “Your boy isn’t yet here?” He nodded to his two slaves who already had his luggage. “You can see that my niggers hop to it. I hope yours hasn’t run off.”
“I’m sure not,” answered Eli. He felt anxious again when he noticed Mrs. Henderson scrutinizing him intently.
“Well, I hope you’re right,” said Cray. “If he does appear you should give him a good thrashing, though. It’s the best tonic in the world for a lazy nigger.
“In any event,” he continued to Mrs. Henderson, “we’re ready. I’ll escort you to your hotel and then I must be off. I’ll be staying with a nephew here in town.”
“You’re very kind to have seen me this far,” she answered. She turned to Eli. “Mr. Johnson, I hope our paths cross again one day. It was a pleasure making your acquaintance.” She smiled in a way that made Eli uneasy, but he steeled himself to remain calm.
“It was indeed a pleasure,” Eli answered, bowing politely.
When Cray and Mrs. Henderson were out of sight, Eli walked to where he last saw Will and found him waiting behind a pillar.
“Is everything all right, Mister Johnson?” he asked. “There’s no trouble?” He looked worried, his forehead beaded in sweat.
“It’s fine, Billy,” he answered. Eli glanced around. There were too many people on the platform to speak freely. “I had to share the compartment with a very talkative gentleman from Macon, a Mr. Cray, but the trip was no trouble.”
Will’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Cray’s name. “And all is well?”
Eli nodded. “The trip was tiring, but no trouble at all. Now, if you will please bring my trunk, Billy, we need to find a carriage to take us to the docks. I’d like to book passage tonight if possible.”
Will nodded solemnly. Picking up the trunk, he followed Eli out of the station.