The days were shortening now and the sun was beginning to fade. Nat Turner was tired, tired of answering questions, tired of the game. But he knew it would not be over until Trezvant felt he had won. Not until Nat Turner hanged.
From the corner of his eye, Nat Turner noticed a movement. He lifted his head to see through his swollen eyes. It was a small slave boy with sad eyes hiding behind a corner drape. He endured for the boy, for other boys like him, and for Riddick.
He touched a hand to his swollen jaw. He had come to Peter Edwards’s to deliver a warning to the captors. But he endured to give hope to his son, to his sons and daughters. Nat Turner did not want the others to notice the boy. But Riddick and the nameless boy were worth whatever he might suffer.
It was clear Trezvant thought himself a fox. His smile broadened. “God cursed the black man for eternity. Haven’t you read the story? The words are right there in your Bible. God said it, ‘Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.’ Niggers are cursed forever.” Trezvant’s smile curled into smugness.
There was no doubt that Trezvant thought himself superior. He thought all power was in his hands. Nat Turner fought to hold the anger he felt.
“It was not God who uttered those words, but Noah,” Nat Turner corrected. “God blessed the whole family of man. Instead of offering thanks, Noah drank and cursed.” What kind of father would want to believe that his drunken, angry words would curse his grandson and descendants for all time? How could a righteous man want to doom billions of people for one son’s foolish act? “You describe a monster, not a loving father.
“You white slavery men write race into the story. You twist Noah’s story. You say he is white and Ham black—it justifies your wickedness.
“And is God a genie, granting every drunken curse or wish without consideration of right or wrong? Would you make the Almighty a slave?” Nat Turner spit the words at Trezvant. “You are a liar, sir.
“Emmanuel walked among us, teaching the truth to untwist men’s lies. He loved all mankind. He taught that none of us are masters; all of us are servants of God and one another. He taught that we should love God first, and love one another as brothers—even the least among us.”
Trezvant fingered the knife again, threatening. But it was too late. Nat Turner was free and he would speak the truth. He owed it to Cherry, he owed it to Riddick, to his mother, and to all the captives. He owed it to God.
“What Jesus taught does not suit you in your thirst for property and power. So you twist what He taught and scurry like rats to the Old Testament. You gnaw at it and tear away chunks to suit you.
“You lie on God, Emmanuel. You hang your greed and your hate on Him and lead others to hate the gospel.”
If he died, he would die with the truth pouring from him. “God did not grant Noah’s wish. Each one of us is loved and blessed by God to multiply and prosper on this earth. It is still a covenant between God and all people. The rainbow is proof.
“Jesus came to walk the earth and remind us that we are all brothers—we are all welcomed in the kingdom—all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues.
“The evil you preach is in your heart and mind, not God’s. Why force your wickedness on God?”
Trezvant bolted to his feet.