Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson Page B

longer.
    When the fat moon rose the next night, I planted the mystery seeds I had taken from Momma’s jar. I did not know what they would grow into, but planting them deep in the cool dirt was a comfort. Thunder boomed in the distance as a summer storm approached.
I ought check the cows,
I thought. Storms made them nervous. More thunder rolled, and then a third wave.
    Fool,
I scolded myself. The cows were in our old life, not this one.
    The moon climbed higher and the air returned to stillness and waiting. I took myself to bed and did not dream.

Chapter XIV

Saturday, June 22, 1776
    LIFE VERY UNCERTAIN, SEEMING DANGERS SCATTERED THICK AROUND US, PLOTS AGAINST THE MILITARY, AND IT IS WHISPERED, AGAINST THE SENATE. LET US PREPARE FOR THE WORST, WE CAN DIE HERE BUT ONCE. MAY ALL OUR BUSINESS, ALL OUR PURPOSES & PURSUITS TEND TO FIT US FOR THAT IMPORTANT EVENT. –LETTER OF CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE ABRAHAM CLARK TO ELIAS DAYTON
    The next day I carried a basket of eels from the fish market to Wall Street, thinking only of hot eel pie for supper. I had not eaten eel pie since Momma died, Miss Mary Finch not being fond of it. But Master Lockton enjoyed the dish, so fat eels weighed down my basket. I fervently hoped Becky would chop off their heads and strip off their skins. It made me go all jumbly in the belly to chop off heads.
    I entered the kitchen and set the basket on the table. Ruth hummed quietly to herself, shelling peas into a large wooden bowl, and Becky chopped kale.
    Madam walked in from the front hall, her hair half-fallen out of her cap, and stains of sweat under the arms of her dress. She crossed the room, peered out the back door,crossed her arms over her chest, and tapped her foot with impatience, then disappeared into the next room.
    â€œI require you, girl,” she said.
    Becky looked at me, eyes wide and warning.
    â€œMa’am?” I asked.
    Madam came back into the kitchen carrying a silver tray. She shoved it into my arms. “You will serve your master and his companions.”
    Becky slowly shook her head back and forth. “Are you sure, Madam, that’s what the master requested?” she asked slowly. “’Tis hard to interpret the ways of menfolk, them being so complex and all, but surely when he said ‘Let nothing disturb us,’ that was indeed his true meaning?”
    â€œBe quiet, Becky,” Madam snapped. “You have the manners of a donkey and the voice of a goose.”
    Becky said nothing more but chopped faster.
    Madam paced back and forth. “The mayor of New York is a supremely important man, could well be the next Royal governor. It is hardly appropriate to welcome him into our home without offering refreshment.”
    She turned to me. “You will not put one foot wrong.”
    When the tray was loaded so heavily I could scarce lift it, Madam preceded me down the hall and waited by the closed door to the library.
    â€œGo on!” she told me, without offering to help.
    I kicked at the door with my shoe and called out, “Wine, sir, and a bite to eat!”
    â€œLeave us!” responded Lockton.
    Madam knocked on the door with a not terribly refined fist. “Come now, Elihu, show some graciousness.”
    Deep voices in the room conferred, then the door wasunlocked and opened. Madam stepped toward the opening, but Lockton filled the frame.
    â€œThank you, dear,” he said. “The girl can serve us. I’ll send her to you if I am in need of anything more.”
    Madam tried to look beyond him to the distinguished guest but could not see through the thick form of her husband. “Very well,” she said, loudly. “I shall be composing a letter to our cousins in London, our cousins who are so well regarded by His Majesty.”
    â€œExcellent suggestion, dear.”
    He stepped out of the way so that I might enter.
    There were only two men besides Master Lockton—Goldbuttons, wearing a shabby waistcoat of black