"I despaired. Our family was going to be wiped out; Kisasi would see to it. Porter would manage to kill James, and then would probably kill Debbie when he tired of her, or when she asked inconvenient questions.

"But…but I still clung to hope. I commented to Ben that once the Benchleys were no more, Kisasi would have no one to torment…I did not know what good would saying that do, but maybe Kisasi would let James live to have more Benchleys to torment.

"\And maybe forbearance, if not forgiveness could be earned. I appeared in front of my father in semi solid for…to let him think of me as a ghost… because to let him know the truth, that I had brutally killed his brother and sister would be too painful for him.."

-0-

"Son, what happened to you?"

"The revenge of the slaves which has reached this family. This revenge will destroy all of us unless we make amends… No, don't get close to me."

The hunger never left me and if my father got to close I might feed of him.

"How?'

"End the trade. Fight to abolish the trade and slavery.. Help slaves get their freedom… if you and James do that, the family might endure."

"Are you a ghost?"

"I am no longer living….and one more warning. Stop Porter, only James stands between him and the family fortune, and he has killed before."

"Jacob disinherited you…"

"I expected no less… and I have no need of riches now. Stop Porter and make amends… to late for your children and siblings, but not for you,, Mother, and James."

"We were interrupted by a scream and the sound of a fall. We ran to it.

I"t was Mother who had overheard us, and her heart could not take the strain. I ran to her, forgetting about my hunger and took her in my arms…. But she was dead already.

"It was too late for her. The ruin of our family was coming fast."

"Stop Porter and make amends!" I shouted at Father as I vanished..

-0-

"I had done as much as I could…and it might not be enough. As the dawn approached I laid down in my coffin and as unconsciouness claimed me I sensed that chains were wrapped over it, locking me inside…

"And I understood that Kisasi had me to torment for as long as he wanted and it did not matter if the rest of the family perished…

"But somehow, I hoped.."