Romey

Born into slavery, Romey had an overwhelming desire to be free. He endured beatings without complaint and did his master's work-until the day came when he was to be branded. The fear that he might be castrated drove him to run.

His father, Old Joshua, had once attempted to escape as a young man but was caught. Despite that, he taught Romey how to survive. Joshua lived the rest of his life in chains, dying while trying to protect his young son from the slave master's whip. That day, in the cotton field under the hot August sun, Romey watched helplessly as his father was beaten to death.

Romey swore vengeance. One day, he would kill the slave master, Bradley-or die trying. Little did he know how many men he would have to kill, or how long and hard the road would be, to finally become a free man.