Dead South

---

Silas once told me war pushes

people in and out your life.

But you better off

guessing on the wind

than tryin' to figure it.

Truer words was never spoke.

The hero part is later,

after the labeling part.

In the moment,

it just be some cowering

and some that choose

to throw their lives away.

Later, maybe some of those

that threw their lives away,

they be the heroes.

More than half

a million men was killed

by snipers, small battles...

...and skirmishes

of just a few dozen men...

...made up about half

of all the killing.

I curse the ground

of this northern soil,

and given the chance, I will not

touch this land again.

Anything can happen here.

We are abandoned by hope.

There be's misery,

and there be's misery

that changes your life forever,

and puts you on a new path.

That particular misery

was creeping in the woods

that night

and it's what brung

them brothers,

and all what they done

here to nightshade.

Can you look at me?

You're awake. Are you all right?

Can you look at me?

Son, son, look at me.

Look at me, come here.

Here.

Can you look at me?

Can you sit up?

Come on, you can do it.

Sit up on me. Come on.

There you go.

You and your brother have been

unconscious for five days.

Frankly, I'm surprised

you even survived.

You have

a very serious infection.

I have seen this, a half a dozen

times during the war.

It's overwhelming

your body's defenses.

Soon, even daylight

will make skin feel like

hot coals are on it.

There's no medicine to help you.

But... there is one thing.

They're only rumors

that I've heard,

but they're very persistent.

When you make

an offering to him,

by no means make it modest,

but I think he's... he's the

only one who can help you.

You have to go to Lazarus notch

and see the potion man.

Now lay back down, easy, easy.

That's good.

Cannibals.

Word told it started in the

prison camps during the war.

Some took to it to survive,

some didn't.

But it gave them

strength, power, spread past

the walls of the camps.

Now some was sheriff, deputies,

home guard, drifters...

We're the home guard, fellas.

We need to see all of your

release papers, right now.

...whatever they

wanted to be called,

they was all just eaters.

Whoa.

This is not our fight.

Like opium smokers,

they couldn't stop.

They was addicted

to human flesh.

All right, then. I think...

I think that should

just about do it then.

Poison.

What?

Poison... it's all that

spills from your lips, Stokes.

- Poison and lies.

- Shut up, Lester.

Things ain't perfect for no one.

But the war is over,

and if we're going to keep

things together here at

eye tooth hollow,

it's best we

abide an understanding

with Royce and his nightwalkers.

I don't got much use for them.

Now, let's be clear.

We're all in a world of trouble

if those negroes

up and clear off.

This truce is critical for us

to have an abundant survival.

And this truce is...

Is designed for one thing,

and one thing only,

and that is to keep

our labor in place,

so as we all can be fed.

Are we done?

Well, mister, hurry-up,

why don't you just repeat,

back to me, the rules,

so as we can be certain

there are no misunderstandings.

Royce and his ghouls go first.

Me and mine are left to their

cast offs and their leavin's.

And?

The only ones who what get took,

are the troublemakers,

and lawbreakers or, generally,

any uppity niggrahs,

or anybody what dares fall on

the mighty emperor's bad side.

This truce between you,

your men...

...and Royce and his people,

is the law.

And more important than that...

...you are accountable.

Well, I thought

we might need them for cover.

You were right.

I'm sorry I was right.

Hilde, I want you to have...

Try... try not to talk, Jim,

save... save your strength.

How could they know

the horror, and river of blood,

that would be

released by that deed?

Stick with the plan,

little brother.

We've already put them

through enough.

Seems like red hat and his men

are headed in the same direction

as we need to be going.

We'll catch up.

The reason we got you

all out here in this breeze,

is 'cause y'all is respected,

and can talk to the rest.

Mr. Lincoln says you

are all free to leave,

go where you will.

But he don't know that

we all depend on each other

and understand each other

in this hollow.

You can all shove on,

but when the cotton's grown

and ready for pickin',

what will you have?

Same thing we all have

right now... nothing!

When you're out there

on the road...

What harmin' bandits are waitin'

out there to prey on you.

You... you've got to stay here.

See... see through the season.

Sheriff has heard of reports

that speak of cannibalism.

Blood drained corpses

of unfortunate

and innocent travelers.

We need each other

despite whatever

yankee laws are saying....

...about freedom.

There we was,

and there they was,

tryin' to tell us

to keep slaving for 'em

like it was

brisket and biscuits.

And they didn't even

crack a smile.

What about us croppin' cheap,

like peanut and hemp?

- We make bigger coin wit' that.

- Eye tooth is cotton.

Well, ain't y'all tired

a picking cotton

for Jimmy crack corn yet?

- What did he say?

- - I'm telling y'all.

We get a lil' piece a land,

a lil' piece,

- we all throw in together.

- I don't believe this.

- It's good dirt around here.

- This boy,

he just doesn't understand.

We get one good bumper,

that all we need.

We can build from there.

Is you moonshine crazy!

All flavor of spookies

runnin' round here,

you tryin' to join

the Chuck wagon?

Take your ass home

'fore they chop you up.

I want you to take

care of that boy.

Just do it quietly.

Home guard, huh?

Ain't y'all heard,

the war's over.

You scream pretty,

real pretty.

Pray to god

if the brothers came for you.

But god, don't listen

to no nonsense.

Two whiskeys.

We're holding the paper

for a nightshade farm,

mister, here in eye tooth.

Do you know who we can

talk to about selling it?

Well, now, boys,

you can't sell that...

...'cause I own it.

Well...

That doesn't bother me.

You see we have plenty

of your type around here.

And that paper's no good.

No one will buy it from you,

'cause you don't own it.

Our paper says different.

And we done quit bosses

for good, mister.

- Much obliged.

'Neighbor.

If you're interested in some

whore cabins, just east of here,

they're clean and they're white.

But ifin' you boys is hungry,

there's some nigga whores

down in the holler,

and you can do

what you want with them.

You see we have ourselves

a truce here in eye tooth.

Nightwalkers like you

will not touch any eater,

and the eaters

won't touch you.

You know, I hope them pantied

ladies at least as friendly

as the welcoming committee

outside of town.

Well, come on then.

You ghouls ain't gonna be

the first ones to cross my path.

Hey, why you lettin'

your horses go?

Somebody's been

floodin' this land.

These fields...

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