Faith Plantation, Barbados

The novel opens on a plantation on the island country of Barbados. The plantation is owned by the Wilde family. Big Kit was captured by slavers in Africa and brought to the plantation, where she gave birth to Wash in the year 1818. Wash grew up on the plantation, directly witnessing and experiencing the horrors of slavery. In the early 1830s, he escaped with the help of Titch Wilde.

Norfolk, Virginia

After Wash and Titch escape from Barbados, they acquire passage by boat to the city of Norfolk, Virginia. There, they are given shelter by Edgar Farrow, a church sexton and friend of the Wilde family. Edgar secretly helps runaway slaves travel north towards freedom. Wash refuses Edgar’s offer of traveling north with other runaway slaves, and Wash instead chooses to continue on with Titch.

Nova Scotia, Canada

After Titch and Wash meet with James in...