"I give a damn, me," Jean-Jacques said.
"They can confiscate your vessel," the major said.
"What they gonna do, they gonna do."
"What's your cargo?" the major asked.
Before Jean-Jacques could answer Abigail stepped out in front of him.
"You didn't see our yellow warning?" she said.
"Pardon?" the officer sa
id.
"We have yellow jack on board," she said.
"Yellow fever?" the major said.
"We're taking a group of infected Negroes to a quarantine and treatment station outside New Orleans. I have a pass from the Sanitary Commission if you'd like to see it."
The enlisted men involuntarily stepped back, craning their necks, looking about.
"Where are these infected Negroes from?" the major asked.
"Up the river. There's been an outbreak on two plantations," Abigail answered, busying herself inside her purse. She handed him a Sanitary Commission identification card. He cupped it in his palm but did not look at it.
"Where are they?" he asked.
"In the cargo hold."
"Something's not right here," the major said.
"Why is that?" she replied.
"Is that blood on your shoes?" the major asked Jean-Jacques.
Jean-Jacques studied his feet. "That's what it look like."
"Happen to know where it came from?" the major asked.
"People tole me I busted a bottle on a fellow's head last night. I ain't sure about that, though. I t'ink I would remember it if I done somet'ing that bad, me."
"Why are you transporting the Negroes in the hold?" the major asked.
"It's an airborne disease. Sir, why don't you inspect them and come to your own conclusions?" Abigail said.
The major's eyes broke. He brushed at one nostril and thought for a moment.
"I'll do it, sir," the sergeant interrupted.
"Very well," the major said.
Willie Burke hooked his hand through the bail of the lantern and walked aft. He hesitated a moment, then grasped the iron ring on the hatch and lifted it. His face darkened as he stared down into the hold.
"What is it?" the major asked.
"There appear to be a couple of families down here, sir," Willie replied.