บท 17: The Slave?

There were times in human history when humans oppressed other humans, often by those in positions of power. These are not tales for the faint of heart but for those ruthless enough to bear the weight of humanity's darkest chapters. Slavers would visit the shores of Africa or small islands, forcibly capturing the natives and dragging them halfway across the world in chains. This is the story of how a young native became the master of his master's household.

N'kuke was a boy with a sharp mind and an indomitable spirit. When slavers captured him, he did not show fear but instead impressed his captors with his intelligence. His master, a wealthy plantation owner, quickly noticed that N'kuke was not suited for the hard labor expected of slaves. He lacked the physical strength, but more importantly, his intellect shone through in ways that surprised and intrigued his master.

Recognizing N'kuke's potential, the master brought him into his home, making him the chief of his household. N'kuke was in charge whenever the master was away, a position that came with power and privileges unknown to other slaves. For a while, this arrangement worked smoothly. N'kuke managed the household with efficiency and a quiet authority that earned him respect.

However, the master's wife and young daughter soon took a particular interest in N'kuke. The master's wife was captivated by his intelligence and composure, qualities that stood in stark contrast to the brutishness of her husband. The daughter, on the other hand, was drawn to N'kuke's quiet strength and mystery. When the master was away, mother and daughter would vie for N'kuke's attention and favor, leading to frequent and heated arguments. N'kuke, with a stoic demeanor, would watch these scenes unfold, understanding the power dynamics at play.

In the absence of the master, N'kuke became a god among the other slaves. They looked up to him, not just because of his position, but because he represented something they had lost—hope. N'kuke wielded his authority with fairness and wisdom, earning their loyalty and trust.

However, word of the discord and N'kuke's growing influence eventually reached the master. Enraged by the idea that his household could be so disrupted in his absence and feeling his authority undermined, he ordered that N'kuke be whipped as a punishment. The master's cruelty knew no bounds, and the punishment was meant to reassert his dominance and break N'kuke's spirit.

But N'kuke's spirit was unbreakable. That night, as the master slept, N'kuke made a bold and fateful decision. He ordered the master's wife, who had come to despise her husband, to bring him the master's head. The woman, driven by her own dark motivations and a twisted sense of loyalty to N'kuke, complied. When morning came, N'kuke was presented with the master's severed head in a bag.

With the master dead, N'kuke took control of the household entirely. His rule was harsh but just, ensuring that the other slaves were treated with a dignity they had never known before. The master's wife and daughter, now bound to N'kuke by fear and twisted admiration, followed his commands without question.