David Afumba, formerly known as David Berger, son of the deceased Steven Berger, was a slave, working in the fields from sun up to sun down. He'd been stripped of everything he knew and loved, from his family to his culture, to even his last name. He'd been branded by his master, marking him as property of the Afumba astate. David had accepted his fate as a slave, and had even learned his master's language. Day in and day out, David worked from sunup to sun down. Picking cotton and growing crops was more tiring than David had imagined, and it had begun taking a toll on his body. Blonde haired slaves like him covered the fields, only the ones with dark hair, or those whom the master especially liked could go inside. His hands were rough and covered with calluses, and his back was a mess full of scars from the beatings. He wasn't paid for his work, and every night he went to sleep safely, he was a lucky one. He had his own family now, having married a slave woman who came from a different part of Europe. Together they had three kids, two boys and a girl. He and his wife, Laura, would tell their kids about their home land, and all its beauty. They told them how they once lived peaceful lives, and David, who saw most of his family die even before he got off the boat, promised one day he'd find a way for them to return. David, much like his father, could only take so much before he'd retaliate. Lately he had been stealing books, and having used to be a house servant, he taught himself to read by watching the house mistress teach the masters kids. He began to rebuild his vocabulary in the new language, and he taught his children the same way. David figured out the better they knew the language, the better they could figure out what was going on and escape. David was highly intelligent, and even with very little help, he mastered his oppressors language, and helped his kids do the same. He made them promise to pass down the gift of knowledge no matter what. Little did he know what awaited him.
"All right everyone in a line. It seems one of you dirty yanks have been stealing books, not that you can read them. Whoever you may be, step forward, or I'll punish you all!"
No one moved. David, both irritated and scared, tried to hold his peace, so his family wouldn't have to see him die.
"Goddamn it who's gonna talk?! Some fucking yank had their dirty white hands on my books and I need answers!!!"
"It was me!"
David stepped up, raising his hand.
"David, what are you doing?!"
David looked at his crying wife and said simply,
"I've saved you all, one day you'll understand, and I hope you'll forgive me."
"David!!!"
The master looked at David, seemingly amused.
"Well there boy, thinking that you're allowed to read was a big mistake. Give me one reason not to string your ass up in that tree, yank?!"
"I know what I did. I educated myself, my only regret is not teaching anyone else how to read. My one reason is because you can just shoot me down just like your people shot my mom and dad down."
"Well…"
Master Afumba hit David in the gut, and pulled out his pistol, putting the barrel between David's eyes. David coldly stared at him, with no fear in his heart.
"You've got guts boy, I guess I can make it quick for you."
And with an evil smirk in his face, he pulled the trigger, as simply as he'd flip a lightswitch.