Part One: VII, Human Guise and VIII, The Great Flight Summary

In Human Guise, M. Lenormand de Mézy takes Marinette, a slave in charge of laundry, to his bed after his wife's death, while he arranges marriage to another woman. A devout Catholic, the new wife directs the building of a nativity scene that winter. The slaves look forward to the celebrations of Christmas when they might be able to sneak some food and wine. Ti Noël, however, will be away at a neighboring plantation where they will celebrate the birth of the master's first son with one glass of brandy for every slave.

At the celebration, the drums beat. More than two hours into the celebration, Macandal rises up behind the main drummer. No one speaks, but they all see the one-armed holy...