Goin' Free excerpt by Bud Altmayer

              Fear.  Devastating fear.  They clung to each other, doubting themselves, afraid to put into words their wondering if goin’ free was worth the unknown.  Slavery was agonizing and humiliating, but they were safe where they were.  They had their friends, their cabin and food to eat, but if they went free the hounds would find them.  They didn’t know how to escape.  Where was north?  They couldn’t go by the road because the pattyrollers would get them.  If they went through the woods, they wouldn’t know where to go and the animals were dangerous.  What would they eat?  How long would it take?  Chaney and Pliney loved each other above all else, and not for the world would either risk the death of the other.  But, they had talked about goin’ free and since Pliney had been beaten by the white overseer, Lang, they knew they had to get away from him.