Through the Cornfield

Keep heading north, keep heading north.

Don’t stop.

Keep heading north.

Names of states float through my mind - Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan - but none of them mean anything to me.

I can only think about heading north.

I’ve been running for so long that I feel a sharp, stabbing pain that begins at my feet and travels up to my legs.

Keep heading north.

It’s felt like years since I’ve last had a decent meal.

Keep heading north.

I would give anything for some freshly steamed rice, sizzling pork, and some soft cornbread! I feel my mouth watering. I’m hungry enough that the leaves on the grass look mighty appetizing, but I have to keep walking.

I don't know where I am or what’s up ahead.

But all I know is that I need to keep heading north.

How do I know I’m headed the right way?

I haven’t exactly been walking in a straight line. I know I’m supposed to follow the North Star or the brightest star in the sky, but it’s easier said than done. For one, it takes me forever to find the brightest star and I don’t have the time to waste. Other times the sky is too cloudy, or there are no stars at all. Traveling in the dark without a torch or a latern makes it even worse. Sometimes I have trouble seeing my own two feet.

All I know is that I can’t afford to turn back. I need to keep moving forward, that’s all that matters.

I wish I could bump into somebody about now. They don’t have to be on the run like me. I just want somebody to tell me where I am or which way north is, I’m not picky. But I haven’t met a single soul on this journey. Maybe I’ve been too good at hiding in the forest and sticking off the main trail?

I have a feeling I’m being followed.

I turn around.

I don’t see anybody.

I should feel relieved, but it just makes me more anxious. I should have done more to cover my tracks, but I just don’t have the time to waste.

Keep heading north.

Keep heading north.

What was that?

I stop moving.

Was that an animal or a human?

I look everywhere.

There’s nothing but some bushes and trees, plenty of spaces for a person to hide. I don’t see anyone following me. What if they’re planning an ambush? It’s too risky, I have to hide.

I look around again.

I see a bush that’s not quite ideal, but it’ll have to do.

Alright, I'm behind the bush, but I'm not sure if it's enough. I need to make myself smaller.

I'm lowering my back and then I'll bring my arms close to my chest.

Wait, before I do that, I need to hide my legs.

The leaves will help.

There, my legs are completely covered. Now let me bring my arms against my chest.

There we go.

I turn my attention back to the path.

I need to stay still.

I can’t make a sound.

Keep heading north.

I will head north, but I have to wait.

And wait.

I hold my breath.

All I can hear are the crickets and the wind brushing through the trees.

If only I knew where that snapping sound came from. I hope it was made by an animal. Please, God, let it be an animal.

Still waiting.

I’m getting tired of this.

No one has shown up.

Gotta keep moving, gotta head north.

Alright, if no one shows up in the next ten seconds I’m making a run for it. No sense waiting when I don’t have time to lose.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Go!

I hear the leaves fall off my legs.

I’m on the path again and I feel like I’m running faster than before.

If someone was following me, I’ve either lost them or they’re planning to cut me off. Doesn’t matter to me either way. I’m too far away from home to give up now.

Keep heading north.

Keep heading north.

What’s this up ahead?

Looks like an intersection.

And is that… a cornfield? And it's guarded by a wooden fence.

I see a light in the distance.

The light is coming from a small house not too far away.

Who keeps the light on at this time of night?

Who cares? At least I can see a bit better now.

I look down the road.

No one is there.

I turn my head the other way.

No one is there either.

I’m alone.

Perfect!

Can’t risk going up or down this road.

True it’s night time, and most people are asleep by now, but you never know who might be traveling at this hour. I can’t risk it.

I have no choice but to cut through the cornfield.

Alright, here goes nothing.

I feel the dirt from the road on my feet as I run.

I slide under the wooden fence and… I’m through!

I need a breather.

Oh, yeah. That feels good.

No one will find me in here, at least for tonight, but I’m not planning on being here for long. I can’t stop.

Keep heading north.

I’ll just walk for a few miles or so, I’m sick of running.

Once I’m out I’ll run, but not now.

I need to take it easy.

There’s too much corn in the way. I know that goes without saying, but this feels like way too much. I have to spread my arms like a bird in order to get through. I hate how the leaves keep brushing against my shoulders. The ground is also very uneven. As soon as I take a step my foot goes straight down into what feels like a bottomless pit, and I have to catch myself every time. 

You think I would be used to this since I spent my whole life in the fields, but corn and cotton are completely different things. For one I can look over a field of cotton and I have more space to walk through.

I hear the hooting of an owl.

I find myself slowing down.

I can take a moment to stop. After all, I'm pretty sure nobody is following me now.

The cool breeze feels so nice on my sweaty skin. For once I can feel my racing heart slowing down.

I look up to the sky and I get a chance to really look at the white moon.  A second breeze picks up. A cluster of black clouds to float in front of it. In a way, it’s kind of peaceful and serene. For a moment all my problems drift away like the clouds in the sky.

But it doesn’t last.

The moon shines through once again, and I’m reminded that I need to pick up the pace.

I need to keep heading north.

But where is north? I’ve lost the star. There’s too many clouds, too much corn. I feel like I’m walking straight, but there’s also a sense of doubt rising from the depth of my stomach. 

I freeze a second time.  I need to get a better understanding of where I am.

I look to the right, and then to the left. 

Everything looks the same.

Wait…

I can see the light from the farmhouse.

It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.  The light is towards the right of me, so as long as it stays around there then I should be okay.

I need to walk on.

I feel a whole lot better now. It feels good to know that I’m going the right way for once. The only time  I haven’t felt this way since I left Georgia, which was a long time ago. 

I tell you it was amazing knowing I was free. There was a mix of fear and joy all wrapped into one.  I told everyone I’d be a carpenter or help out with barn raising.

“How can you be a carpenter?” my Uncle Louie asked me. “You couldn’t nail two blocks together to save your life.”

I told him I’d learn, but he just batted me away.

Louie doubted me on everything, including my escape plan.

Well, look who’s laughing now? 

Hold on.

I shouldn’t be too hasty. I’m not over the border. I don’t want to jinx it.  I can still hear his voice in my head, telling me I’m going to fail. His voice has been nagging me since the day I escaped.  What’s worse, is that it comes every now and again. I could be taking a rest after a long day of walking, and, out of nowhere, Uncle Louie would be telling me that I was going to get caught.

It’s gone now, but it will be back with a vengeance, just wait.

OUCH!

Oh, no!

No, no, no, no!

Ooof!

That smarts!

I forgot about how uneven this ground is. I think some of the dirt got in my mouth. I can feel some chunks swirling over my tongue. I gotta spit them out.

Okay, they’re out. I still can’t get the horrid taste out of my mouth. I think some of it is still hiding within the cracks of my teeth. Maybe I can pick it out with my fingernails?

No can do.

They’re covered in dirt, and won’t do any good.

The best I can do is hope there’s a lake, a river, or a stream nearby.  I’ll just have to deal with it for now.

Uh, oh.

Was that the sound of a door opening?

I don’t think my fall was that loud.

We might have a problem.

I thought people were asleep at this time of night. Guess I was wrong.

“Who goes there?”

I place both hands over my mouth.

Gotta stay still.

For once I’m not afraid of being captured, but now  I am afraid of being killed (not the best trade off in my opinion).

I don’t have to see him to know the man is carrying a gun. All white people have guns, and hell hath no fury like an armed white man.

Maybe I can stay in this spot for the night, wait for the man to tire out.

No, that’s stupid.

He’s not holding a lantern, but the light from his house will make it easy for him to spot me.

I need to get out of this cornfield right now! It’s my only chance to stay alive!

I just need to be extra careful. I can’t afford to make a sound.

Here goes nothing.

Slow, take it slow.

That’s it.

Nice and slow.

“I know you’re there!”

My body freezes.

I can hear my heart pumping like mad. I think I feel sick. Is it because of the dirt I accidentally swallowed or is it all this stress getting to me?

“You get out of there or else I’m gonna blow you to kingdom come!”

You know it doesn’t sound that bad of an offer. If I step out now, he’ll turn me in, I’ll get sent back to Georgia, get whooped a dozen or so times, and I’ll have metal chains around me for the rest of my life, but at least I would be alive. How can I be free if I’m not alive to enjoy it?

It’s a very tempting offer, a very tempting offer indeed.

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Uncle Louie would say. “I hope you’re proud of yourself. So, where’s the world-famous carpenter I’ve heard so much about?”

Shut up, Uncle Louie!

“You traveled all that way only to give up like that? Shameful. Absolutely, shameful.”

That’s it.

I refuse to listen to you anymore!

I’m going to prove you wrong Uncle Louie.

I’m going to be a carpenter, I’m going to be a free man. Just watch me.

Here… I…. go!

I gotta keep heading north. I need to take it one step at a time.

Keep heading north.

Keep heading…

YIKES!

“Now that was a warning shot!”

I can hear his voice trembling.  

“I’ll give you to the count of three. One…”

I close my eyes.

“Two…”

I crunch up my toes, raking in the dirt underneath.

“Three. Alright, you had your chance.”

I hear his shoes stomping on the leaves. They're getting louder and louder.

Gotta keep moving.

I gotta take it slow, but fast at the same time.

Slow.

Fast.

Slow.

Fast.

Slow.

Fast.

Keep heading north.

Keep heading north.

The farmhouse light is still to my right. I can just make it out in the corner of my eye.

That’s good.

Uh, oh.

I can see he’s coming towards me. He’s only a few feet away. I don’t think he sees me because he’s still looking around. 

I can either turn or stay still.

No, he’s headed right for me.

I need to turn.

Maybe if I walk all zig-zaggy like he won’t catch me.

Okay.

Three.

Two.

One.

Zag!

Three.

Two.

One.

Zig!

Hey, I’m not so bad at this. I might actually lose him!

Three.

Two.

One.

Zag!

Three.

Two.

One.

Zi…

Ah!

“I heard that!”

That figures!

What’s a root doing in the middle of the field poking out like that!

This farmer needs to take better care of his land!

I can’t think about that now.

I have to stick with the strategy. I got to keep zigging and zagging. I can hear the farmer’s body brushing against the cornstalks, his shoes stomping in the dirt, and the metal clanking of his gun. I need to go now!

Three.

Two.

One.

Zig!

Three.

Two.

One.

Zag!

Three.

Two.

One

Zig!

Hey, this is actually working! I can hear the farmer getting further and further away. He doesn’t know where I am! Maybe having dark skin isn’t as bad as all that after all!

Three.

Two.

One.

Zag!

Three.

Two.

One…

WHOA!

How close was that?

Too close.

I almost died right there.

“I know you’re there!”

How?

Or is he just bluffing?

Dear God-in-Heaven, please keep me safe!

You know what? There’s no point in being quiet anymore, no point in zig-zagging either. If he can see well enough to shoot me, I might as well run straight. I didn’t come all this way to get shot in the back by some white farmer.

Three.

Two.

One.

Run!

Run, run, run, run, run, run!

Keep heading north, keep heading north!

Run, run, runrun, runrunrunrunrunrun!

Whoa!

I felt that one.

Am I hit?

I don’t feel any pain. If you get hit by a bullet you feel pain right? Right! 

I look down where I thought I felt the bullet. I don’t see anything, no blood, no holes, nothing! Maybe it just missed me?  

Can’t think of it now. Gotta keep running.  Gotta keep running. No, running slows me down. I got to leap. But I can’t leap all the time. Maybe if I mix it up a bit.

Run.

Leap!

Run.

Leap!

Run.

Yikes!

I’m either really fast or this guy is a horrible shot.

That one wasn’t even near me. Gotta stay focused.

How big is this cornfield anyhow?

I feel like I’ve been running for miles.

Can’t think about that now. Gotta keep running, gotta keep leaping.

Run.

Leap!

Run.

Leap!

My heart is really pounding now. I can feel it bursting out of my chest. It’s not just that but I can feel my veins tightening up. It's like a pinching sensation throughout my body. I feel sick. I feel something churning in my stomach. I feel like I’m about to hurl.

Gotta hold it in.

Gotta keep running, gotta keep jumping.

Gotta keep heading north.

Run.

Leap!

Run.

Leap!

Run.

Lea…

I’m out!

I’m out!

Whoo! I did it! I’m out of there!

Oh, man!

I see the forest is not that far away!

I can’t celebrate yet. I need to reach the forest where he can’t get me.

Run, run, runrunrunrunrunrunrun.

And…

Made it!

There’s a bush here I can hide behind.

There we go!

Phew!

That was close!

Now I can finally catch my breath!

I see the farmer coming out with his shotgun. He looks mighty pissed.

He’s looking to the left, now the right.

Please, don’t look over here.

Please, please, please!

“Count yourself lucky! Don’t come here again! You hear?” 

He’s leaving.

He’s gone.

Oh, boy!

That was crazy!

Whoo!

Heheh.

See Uncle Louie?

I did it! I escaped!

“Yeah, but you’re not a free man yet,” he scoffs.

Maybe not, but I still feel amazing!

I need to rest for a moment.

Yes, rest.

I need…

Keep heading north.

Rest…