1

"Stay close." I remember him saying. War was no place for an African servant woman, but Nathan Algren kept me at his side from the Indian wars to the trouble that was going on in Japan.

When his wife died, he lost everything, but his status as a soldier kept him going and I would not abandon him. Even in this dark forest of Japan, I would still stand by him even when I was afraid for my life.

"These men know nothing about combat. It's a shame but I will not leave you here. I don't know their ways or their views on freed slaves. So if you'd like to accompany me on tomorrow's ride to defend the railroad, you're welcome to come, Grace you will be protected."

I smiled at him and told him I would come. But now it was a nightmare as I was standing on the rear on my horse with Col. Bagley who was not pleased in the first place with me coming along in the first place. It all happened so fast. The soldiers stood with their shaky guns pointed at the wave of people coming to kill them. I was told to wear black so I would blend in with the trees and not be spotted should I be separated. I remember my curls were pulled back in a neat bun and my gloves were warm as the light coat I was wearing. I heard a single gunshot and now my eyes opened again and I was holding on to a tree as I watched men being stabbed and butchered like animals.

I remember being thrown from my horse and had managed to crawl over to a tree away from the battle it seemed. My heart was pounding and my hair was covering my face as I hugged this tree for comfort. I had never seen war before. Even during the Indian wars, I remained in a tent or home with other Negroes. I even served a few of the generals who Nathan served under.

I was looking for Nathan now and as I did, I noticed one of them coming at me with a sword raised and my eyes widened as I felt my heart jump from my chest. I ran from the tree, holding my dress up as it was dirty and heavy from the mud I fell in. Where was I to go, what was I to do? I felt an enormous weight tackle me to the ground and I screamed as I was pinned to the ground and I felt a cold blade at my throat. My throat would be slit and I would be left bleeding on the ground. I heard angry yelling and words, but I could not understand them. My brain rattled in my mind as I was suddenly forced on my feet and a firm grip clutched my scalp causing me to scream. Now I didn't hear hardly any screaming and I looked around. For a moment all I saw were trees and I saw Nathan on the ground and I winced. He was hurt.

"Nathan!" I shouted and once more angry words were shouted at me and I struggled against the grip that was going to pull my hair from my scalp. Now I was standing in front of a calm eyed man dressed in a… samurai uniform that seemed to stand out more than the others. He stared at me for a moment looking me over as if confused, but also bewildered by the sight of me.

"You are…African." he said in such a thick surprised accent, that I almost didn't catch it. I just nodded anyways and he just looked at me again. He shouted something at the man who held me, and now I was being led away. What would they do to me? I turned and looked at Nathan to see two men were lifting him up and tying his hands. What would they do to my master and friend? I felt my wrists being placed together and I was being led to a black horse. More words were shouted at me, and I took the hint to get on it. I kept my eyes on Nathan as he was very far from me. My face was wet with tears, as I assumed we would be separated through this journey.

My horse did not move, and so I took the time to look at the battle field before me. There were bodies everywhere, and only one dead samurai. I noticed the samurai who spoke to me before standing in front of General Hasegawa who was on his knees with a sword in his hands. The blade was pressed to his abdomen, and my eyes were fixated on the scene. The samurai raised his sword and seemed to be waiting. In seconds, the general thrust the blade into his stomach and the samurai let out a powerful yell as his blade swiped across the general's head and I yelped as I watched the elderly man's head roll on the ground.

I have seen death among my people, so my stomach did not churn like it normally would, and I did not vomit. But seeing death in another country, would haunt me for quite some time. Finally all the samurai were all together and the horses were moving. It was over. I could see Nathan in the middle of this long line, and I wondered if he was okay. He had bought me for his wife Sarah, and I was afraid of the horror this family would put me through, but if anything they were very kind to me. They did not hurt me even though they had the right to. This is why I cared for him.

I heard birds chirping all around me as well as our captives talking amongst each other. I then noticed something tugging on the bottom of my dress and I looked down to see one of them observing my dress. In reaction, I gasped and leaned back from his hold. Like that had any effect on this man. He held the dress up a little as if looking under it, and I moved my feet a bit in duress.

"Don't touch me." I said with fear in my tone.

"Grace?" Nathan's voice snaps my mind from fear and I looked up at him. He was hunched over a horse and I nodded.

"I'm here." I replied. Another Samurai shouted at me, and I remained quiet. Nathan looked at me with weak and tired eyes, and I gave a look of hope. I do not know how long we walked in this never ending forest. But I was hungry and tired. Another samurai, they all looked the same in the armor they wore except they were different colors, came up to the horse I was riding, and pulled me faster across the line. I was nervous now, as I knew something was going to be done to me. I was at the head of the line and now I was riding right beside the calm samurai as I call him. He was looking straight ahead and seemed to be enjoying the silent ride.

"My name is Katsumoto. What is your name?" he asked and I was still in aw for the fact he could speak good English. I was staring at his peaceful features, until his eyes fell on me and I jumped a bit forgetting that he had spoken to me.

"Grace." I replied softly and he blinked rapidly.

"Grace." he said suddenly bowing his head at me. "I have never met an African before in my life. It is an honor to meet you." I stared at him for a long moment wondering what I should say next.

"Are you going to kill us?" I asked causing a samurai who was riding beside him to snort and laugh. Katsumoto gave a polite smile.

"No. I have other plans. You will be perfectly safe at my son's village. My best warrior, Ujio will take care of you." he informed motioning his head at a rough faced samurai behind him. His hair was perfectly combed back and flowing. I had never seen such a mane on a man before. It gave him a feral look. He head a mustache and a neat haven beard. He wore blue and grey armor and he looked at me firmly and coldly, and honestly he scared me. Now I looked back at Katsumoto.

"Your son's village?" I asked. He nodded.

"In the mountains, yes. The snow is falling and the paths will be closed until the snow melts. You will remain there." he said quite calmly, yet there was a hint of command in his tone. I looked back at Nathan to see his weak eyes staring at me. "I hope we can have great conversations, you and I. I am most curious of you."

I turned my head back around at his words and wondered what he meant by that. Soon we were in the mountains, and my eyes were moving everywhere they could. I have never really been in the mountains. It was so nice and peaceful. Nathan and I kept our eyes on each other making sure neither were hurt by our captors, but Katsumoto seemed to keep his word. No one hurt us. We arrived now at what looked like a village. My eyes went everywhere in curiosity.

Nathan and I were taken from our horses. He was forced to the ground, and I was not. My hands were still bound and I just stared at the soldiers who surrounded us.

Katsumoto got off his horse and walked over to Nathan.

"What is your name?" he asked Nathan who said nothing, but stared at him. Ujio shouted something angrily and walked over to Nathan with his sword out. I thought he was going to kill him, but instead he let his blade fall calmly on Nathan's neck. But my master was not afraid of death.

He had looked it in the eye too much. I remember holding him while he yelled and screamed at the pain he was in from killing all the Indians. He didn't care about his life anymore. Katsumoto said something in his mother tongue, before telling Nathan what he told me. We would remain in his son's village until the snow melts. He then began to walk away and a younger man nodded.

"Jolly good." he said before turning as well. Nathan was lifted off his feet and I was being pushed forward as we were led past some long wooden gate. I had seen them in books Nathan gave me when teaching me to read. It was like a doorway into another world for me. The rough samurai, Ujio came up to me, and grabbed the ropes that held my wrists together and he led me from the rest of the group. Fear overcame me, and I wondered what was to become of me in this samurai's capture.