May the Road Rise Up to Meet You: A Novel by Peter Troy Read Free Book Online Page B

Sunday, feelin’ on this somber occasion that he should read something a little more religious in nature than
The Odyssey
. Ethan settled into his usual spot in the stern, but before he read a full page, he was startled by a deep voice comin’ from just behind him.
    Enjoy dat reading, young man. You will not have much for two, maybe t’ree days.
    Turning quickly around, he saw a large black man standin’ on the other side of the mooring ropes. Ethan’d seen him before, usually at the top of the mainmast, tyin’ off and adjusting the sails while the captain on the bridge shouted orders. The man had very dark skin and powerful arms and stood at least six feet tall, but his smile eased some of Ethan’s fear.
    A storm come from de northwest, the man said slowly and clearly. It is a few days before de wedder is good for reading on deck.
    A nod was all Ethan could manage for a response.
    What book is dat? the man asked.
    Ethan closed the book, keepin’ his finger on the page he was reading, and stared down at the faded cover, as if there was anything to read there.
    Para
 … he began, then cleared his throat and spoke in a voice just above a whisper … 
Paradise Lost
.
    I never hear of dat one. It is Irish?
    Ethan shook his head, then murmured … English.
    Oh. What is de story of it?
    Ethan looked up from the book and at the man’s face. He’d never spoken to or even seen an African before this voyage, and was surprised, seein’ him up close, that there were no strange rings through the man’s nose or ears. He wore regular clothes that covered his whole body. He had shoes on too, and didn’t carry a spear, and Ethan decided that there must be two types of Africans, the ones he saw an illustration of in one of the English histories he and Aislinn used to read, and another group who were normal, just like Irishmen or Englishmen except for their skin and the way they talked. And out of that second group came the likes of Hannibal and Othello and this man who was askin’ him the story of
Paradise Lost
.
    It’s about Satan’s fall from Heaven, Ethan answered, his heartbeat beginning to slow from its previously agitated state.
    Oh, like in de Bible, the man replied. I have read de Bible sometimes.
    Me too.
    What is your name, young man? he asked.
    Ethan tried to respond in a firm and confident manner, but then, when the man said
E-tan?
in response, it sounded a little like the way his Mam’d drop just enough of the ‘h’ so you’d hardly know it was missing. It was a harsher sound coming from the man, but Ethan didn’t want to correct him.
    I am Suah … Soo-ah, the man replied and extended his hand, which Ethan shook, feelin’ his own hand disappear inside it while he did.
    Dis is my favorite place on de ship too, next to up dere, Suah added, pointin’ to the small platform atop the mainmast. I let you go back to reading now, dis storm last two, t’ree days at least, so you must make today last.
    Just as the man’d said, rain and chilly wind kept nearly everyone but the crew from walking on deck for the next three days, until, on the mornin’ of the fourth day, it passed completely and a warm sun began to emerge from behind them in the east. But the storm had taken its toll on them all. Several people below had the fever, and the worst news of all was that they hadn’t made even a single day’s progress in the last three. When the hour above came that day, Ethan carried
Paradise Lost
with him again, wondering if maybe he’d see the African Suah, who had grown in stature in Ethan’s eyes, the way he’d predicted the storm would linger just as long as it had. He went right to his reading spot, leanin’ against the wet ropes, and letting himself become transported into Milton’s world of the Archangels and the Son of God and battles and eternal damnation.
    So … more of Paradise, the familiar voice of Suah bellowed from behind him, just a few minutes after he’d settled into place. How did you