[Steve]

It seemed that the young Dorin was a perceptive individual. He had pretty well figured out what Bubba had in mind. Bubba appreciated that, because he certainly took the time and effort to learn what Kallick was doing. It was not difficult to learn how many hands were hired originally or how much Kallick was paying them. Bubba also knew that the Governor of Imperia was the owner of this plantation. Among his own kind it was common knowledge that Imperia was not a friendly place for Slavers. So, he had to come up with something that would be acceptable to the son of an Abolitionist. Indeed he had something ready.

"Well sir, here's what we can do. At the end of this brightening you get rid of the people you have now. Not to worry 'bout them, what with the new Provincial Army, the new Forges and increased output at the mines, they'll all find work pretty quick.

"I'll provide a work force of 100 slaves tomorrow. Gonna be mostly families, men,women and children. Slave families are easier to handle and with tobacco there lots of work for the little ones. They gonna pick the hornworms, easier for the little ones to bend over and do it. When we let a few of the best plants go to seed, the little ones do the seed picking.

"Your total cost gonna be 40,000 crowns. For that ya gonna get 100 slaves that are yours to keep. All there offspring too. Most slaves breed pretty good. Ya get my services fer 24 cycles too. After that ya decide if ya wanna keep me and we talk about pay. They can build their own Slave Quarters. Ya got plenty of wood from when ya cleared the land. Gonna cost ya less than what you planning on paying the others and ya get to keep the slaves to boot. They already marked as slaves.

"If ya feed them good, they gonna work harder and won't be much need fer flogging."