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    Shade of the Sun
    Shade of the Sun
    Shade of the Sun
    Ebook107 pages1 hour

    Shade of the Sun

    By Ron Houston

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    About this ebook

    It’s not Roots, Twelves Years a Slave, or even Django Unchained. Shade of the Sun is not the traditional telling of the events of slavery. Then how should Shade of the Sun be described? In a word, Brilliant.
    By now, it seems that stories about slavery solely focus on the physical brutality of man’s inhumanity to others. Shade of the Sun, indeed has the brutality aspect, but the focus is on the psychological torture that haunts everyone on the plantation.
    The outward manifestations of the torment that these poor souls, both black and white, endure are displayed in a wide variety of ways. From being haunted by the sins of their past, to the treatment of others because of it. As well as, by the torment they inflict upon themselves because of having no other options. Everyone suffers, because these humans exist in a system void of humanity.
    Yet this tale is so well written, that out of the tragic ashes, inspiration soars. Shade of the Sun leaves the reader drenched in tears, from both sorrow and joy. This story will stick with you long after the final word is read.
    This intimate tale is set in Savannah, Georgia, on the Trotter Plantation. This story begins while the plantation is under the control of Caleb Trotter, the spoiled greedy son of Sturgill Trotter. Sturgill, the no-nonsense patriarch, established the Trotter plantation as a very profitable business. As the tale is told in a masterful blend of flashbacks, the reader realizes that the sins of the father have far reaching consequences for everyone involved. Miss Mary is the bored neglected wife of Caleb. Her pain also proves to be a curse to the plantation. Then there is the neighbor across the river. The Mirabeau Plantation is owned by the darkest and most sinister character of the book, if not recent literature as well. He is the Frenchman Percival Mirabeau.
    The central character of the book is Abel. A male adult slave who was born into the Trotter Plantation, on the wings of misery itself. Abel was born blind. It is the relationships he has with his mother and a small slave boy named Petey, that will swell the readers with tears. Shade of the Sun will re-open and change the conversation about a terrible time in American history. Buy this e-book today and see for yourself how far America has come. It is not your typical story about the events of slavery. In a word, Shade of the Sun, is brilliant.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRon Houston
    Release dateJul 8, 2016
    ISBN9781311044099
    Shade of the Sun
    Author

    Ron Houston

    Ron Houston lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and has been a mixologist for over 20 years and has worked in some of Cincinnati’s most popular night clubs. Ron says, “The diverse group of characters who have occupied stools at my bar were amazing. Their personalities and secrets were captivating.”As an experienced radio talk show guest Ron Houston has been heard frequently on 1230 WDBZ, 1480 WCIN and 1230 KCOH in Houston, Texas. He’s an articulate, humorous personality and is known locally as, “ The Mixologist.”Mr. Houston is the author of the bestseller Tales from The Satellite, The Devastation of Mr. Drake and two-part novel Rogue Prophet series. His latest release is entitled, Shade of the Sun.Ron's Email contact:houstonronald@hotmail.com

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      Book preview

      Shade of the Sun - Ron Houston

      Shade of the Sun

      Ron Houston

      GorillaWorks Publishing

      Cincinnati, Ohio

      Shade of the Sun

      This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, incidents, and dialogue, except for incidental references to public figures, products, or services, are imaginary and are not intended to refer to any living persons or to disparage any company’s products or services.

      RON HOUSTON

      Shade of the Sun

      This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

      This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people

      If you would like to share this book with another person,

      please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

      If you're reading this book and did not purchase it,

      please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

      Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

      Shade of the Sun

      GorillaWorks Publishing

      E-book Edition

      Copyright 2016 Ron Houston

      Edited by Elizabeth Lippmann

      Cover design by:

      Anna D Russell

      For my mother Joan, and all mothers who have and will raise good sons.

      Slavery – noun. The state or condition of being a slave; a civil relationship whereby one person has absolute power over another and controls his life, liberty, and fortune – Collins English Dictionary

      Sometimes freedom for yourself is not enough

      Ain’t nobody wants to be a slave. We don't and them that own us don't. Lawd why? Tis like we fall out the sky just to come alive in Hell but we’s ain't knowin’ what our sins be. Cain't cipher the notion of ownin' sumptin' you hate. We's hated and workin' hard for folks you cain't please. We's tired of watchin’ folks we love git sold or worse. Lawd, we’s told that you out there, I hope so. The Good Book s'pose to tell folks what to believe. Them that can read believe they do right by us. Them that cain't is told to have faith. They is told that times gon git better. Cain't reckon what better is. Folks been runnin’ to freedom, but what freedom be? I hope this here hell turns us loose. I hear chilren screamin’ cross the water at night. I hope them screams stop. Don't got no faith that them chilren be fairin’ well, but I sho hope so. On what stone need I place my foot? Which will bear the weight of my burdens? Tis faith? Tis hope? Tis both?

      Shade of the Sun

      Under the Savannah moon, the old barn down by the creek gave way to sounds of many unlikely beasts under one roof. The moans of a wounded hen kept cadence with the heavy panting of an old hound, which was quickly overpowered by the grunts of a boar hog. Hissing squeals of an entrapped possum filled the barn before silence fell. The moonlight pierced the slats of the old barn and spilled onto the silhouette of a buxom female as she rose from the hay. She was as black as the night air. She stepped into her cotton gown and pulled it up over her full figure. She stood silently and waited. An exhausted voice came from the hay.

      You can go.

      The woman wasted no time as she scurried out of the barn, past a wood pile. She never acknowledged the dark figure that sat amongst the wood. She simply bolted down the trail and disappeared into the dark. The night silence was eventually disturbed by the creak of the barn door as it opened. The moon’s glow only hinted at the ruddy tones of the otherwise pale figure that stood in the doorway. The woman he just enjoyed was his property. They were all his property. He was Caleb Trotter.

      Abel, that you out there? yelled Caleb.

      Yes sa, replied the voice from amongst the wood pile.

      Caleb walked slowly toward the wood pile as he popped a cigar in his mouth. He fingered his pockets for a match before he sat on a stump next to the broad figure.

      Suga, sho pick'n up speed as of late.

      Was she that loud? ask Caleb.

      Naw sa.

      Caleb struck his match against a log and held it close to Abel's face, to reveal a man with one of his eyes frosted white.

      Now how is an old blind fool gonna know it’s Suga, if he ain't heard her?

      That be the beauty of bein’ a blind fool, sa. I ain't got no eyes to use. It be my nose. Suga likes to break up pine cones in her clothes-washin' water. I caught hold of her scent. Did use my ears tho, to count the slaps of her feet fore she hit them bushes. She pick'n up speed.

      Caleb laughed hard, coughed and laughed again. Abel, you beat all, you know that?

      Naw sa, but we all can't be shiftless and no-count. I ain't got no eyes, but I reckon I don't need none, not wit all God gimme. I just wish it were so for Petey.

      Suga's boy? Don't you be gettin' no soft spot for him, I was supposed to sell him a long time ago.

      Yes sa, I knows. It's just a little too late, bout that soft spot. He the only one ever look up to ol' Abel. Ain't never know the feelin' of havin' a little tike to teach fishin' to. He kinda makes me happy.

      I always use to wonder why my daddy kept a sizable buck like you around. With eyes, you would've fetched top dollar, but blind you ain't worth warm shit on a hot morning. Now, over the years, I know that I was wrong. You better than a whole pact of hounds, Abel. I'm glad he didn't get rid of you. You know all the goings on around here with no eyes at all. And what you know, I know.

      Caleb reached in his top pocket and pulled out another cigar. He lit it off of the one he was smoking and gave it to Abel.

      Here you go. Remember, you know, I know and Mrs. Trotter must never know.

      Thank you, sa. Ain't ne'er a finer lady than Miss Mary.

      You are exactly right Abel. Caleb stood and stretched. There's just times when you just got to have the sweet juice from a plump blackberry to take the edge off.

      Yes sa. Oh sa, want for me to tote some wood along for the night’s chill?

      Caleb looked around. You still cuttin' wood? It's already dark.

      Abel laughed. Don't matter if it be the chill of the Moon or the heat of the Sun. It all be shade to me.

      Caleb laughed hard and slapped Abel on the shoulder. You just sit out here and enjoy your cigar.

      Satisfied and in good spirit, Caleb laughed as he disappeared into the woods.

      Chapter 2

      The Conductor

      The moon that hung amid the black velvet night was full. It cast reflections of silver flecks atop the rolling black water of the Savannah River. The water’s surface was gently broken by a wooden paddle as three figures floated by. They had traveled far and thankfully unnoticed. The figure in the front of the

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