Chapter Fourteen

Joe was bone tired when the soldier told them to put their tools down.  His back was aching, his wrists were aching…his soul was aching.  He stood in line waiting to climb down the ladder that had been moved back to the entrance of the mine.  Looking around him, he could see no way to get out without the ladder.  Escape from the mine was impossible.

When he got to the mouth of the mine, he had expected to see fading light, but it was already dark.  Climbing down, he followed the men who had been there before him, watching them walk like ghosts back to the compound.  That’s when he finally understood.  These people probably had no one to worry about them and no hope to ever leave this place.  Joe knew in his heart that his family would come.  But now he had a new fear that he had thought about all day.  What would they be able to do when they got here?  If the captain was as ruthless as he had been led to believe, would he be released?  Pa, Adam and Hoss wouldn’t be able to fight a small regiment.  What if they denied he was there at all?  He realized it might be quite a while before they were able to get him out.  What if the army decided to make him disappear to avoid the discovery of slaves?  Some of these men were prisoners, and there was nothing anyone could do for them.  But Joe was sure that some of them were like him…grabbed off the road or their farms or ranches to disappear into the desert…maybe someone who had drifted through Aurora.

He stood in line at the privy, then went into the compound and sat by the next chain in line, waiting for it to be attached to his shackles.  Dinner was mine rations, and while he was eating the soldier who had tended his wounds before came back.

“It looks better today,” he said as he cleaned and rebandaged the wounds.  “Even your hands look better.”

Joe didn’t say anything.  There really wasn’t anything to say.  The soldier was following orders, and besides that, Joe knew the only reason his wounds were being treated was to keep an able body working.  Looking around him, he finished his rations, and lay down on his stomach.  In a few hours, it would start all over again.

***

Joe had just delivered an armload of rocks to the bucket, when he heard yelling coming from one of the other shafts.  All the men were herded quickly into the room where they took their meals.  Only one guard was left outside the entrance to the short shaft that led to the room.  All of the slaves squatted down, except Joe, who stood looking across the cavern.

He felt a hand on his leg, pulling at him.  Looking down, he saw the Indian to whom he had given half of his meal the day before.  “Sit low or soldiers will beat,” said the Indian.

Joe stooped next to him.  “What’s your name?”  The man looked at him seeming unable to comprehend.  “What are you called?” asked Joe, and then putting his hand on his chest, he said, “Joe.”

The Indian did the same.  “Mutheel munagh.”

Joe started to stand again when he heard a blood-curdling scream, and then…nothing, but Mutheel munagh put a hand on his shoulder, keeping him down.  In another minute, three soldiers came into the room and looked around.

One laughed and said, “Trained dogs.  Since they’re here, let ‘em eat, then get ‘em back to work.”

When the rations were passed out, the same man who had taken Mutheel munagh’s meat came back wanting more, but this time Joe stood up in front of him, giving the man a fiercely cold look.  “If you want to take something, you’ll take it from me.”  The man stood up against Joe, chest to chest, but when he saw that Joe wasn’t going to back down, he looked over his shoulder at the guards, who were watching in amusement, then went back to his place and squatted.

“You, come ‘ere,” said the guard, nodding at Joe.

Joe looked around him, and then walked up to the guard.  “You’re new here, ain’t you?”

Looking the soldier square in the eye, Joe said, “Yes.”

The soldier backhanded him.  “That’s yes sir to you.”

Joe stood his ground, giving the soldier the same glare.  “In this mine, a man stands up for himself.  And we don’t cotton to no Indian lovers.”  The guard feigned that he was turning away, but before Joe had moved, a rifle butt slammed into his stomach. When he doubled over, the rifle came up, smashing into his chin, sending him backwards to the floor.  He lay still for a minute, trying to catch his breath when the guard kicked him.  “Get up and get back to your place.”

Joe crawled back, and then Mutheel munagh took his arm and helped him up to a squatting position.  He looked sternly at Joe and shook his head.  It was easy for Joe to understand what Mutheel munagh was telling him.  Do not cause trouble.