Educated in Paris, trained as both a surgeon and classical pianist, Benjamin January thought he had put memories of his slave childhood on a sugar cane plantation behind him. Then his former owner, Simon Fourchet, comes to New Orleans asking, no, demanding Benjamin’s assistance. Strange events are occurring at Mon Triomphe, Fourchet’s newest plantation. First there was a fire in the sugar-mill, then Fourchet’s valet was poisoned by drinking his master’s cognac. Fourchet needs to know who’s sabotaging him, and quickly, lest his crop be ruined and his family endangered, and he offers Ben a small fortune to come to Mon Triomphe and be his spy.

Fourchet is as nasty-tempered and obnoxious as Benjamin remembers and Ben takes pleasure in refusing the old plantation owner’s request. But to his utter amazement, his mother, sister, girlfriend and even the local constable, all try to convince Ben to take the job, each for different reasons. Benjamin reluctantly admits to himself that he can’t be enraged over the fact that no one helps his people if he himself is not even willing. He also knows all the slaves will suffer for the actions of one, if indeed a slave is to blame.

His greatest fear is that in the isolation of a plantation, who’s to believe a large, black sugar cane worker is actually a freed man working to assist the white owner? He could easily be captured and sold, by strangers or even by Fourchet, whom Ben doesn’t trust, and no one would ever know what became of him. Constable Shaw devises a clever way for Ben to get a message back to New Orleans, so, with serious misgivings, Benjamin finally agrees.

Along with his musician friend Hannibal, Ben arrives at Mon Triomphe with a cover story that places Ben among the slaves working in the sugarcane fields and Hannibal in the main house as a guest. Hannibal is Ben’s eyes and ears among the whites as Ben tries to find out the cause of the fear and unease among the slaves. When the despised overseer is found murdered and two slaves disappear, Ben realizes someone has upped the ante and he dispatches Hannibal back to town to bring Shaw. Ben then seeks an audience with Fourchet only to find Fourchet dying and delirious, with no recognition of Ben. Ben’s worst fear has been realized.

Sold Down The River is a fine, well-constructed story with complex characters. Hannibal is a wastrel and opium addict, but also a brilliant musician with a keen intellect. Constable Shaw is a filthy Kentucky hick with a colorblind sense of justice. The historical backdrop is accurate and carried through down to the smallest detail of dress, custom, even body language and speech.

Distrust and double crossing, casual cruelty, greed and hate know no racial restrictions, but in the end, Benjamin is justly rewarded in a small, sweet way for his heroic efforts and bravery.

*A Free Man of Color
Fever Season
Graveyard Dust

--K. W. Becker