Chapter 21
The Aftermath
PATRICE INTENDED FOR his “No” to resonate in the ears of those inside and outside the circle, which defined the sides in this battle, but his defiance brought about an immediate shift in some of the tentative alliances. He intended to clarify his objection and proclaim Andre to be a person of consequence—he did matter and still had good in him. This was Patrice’s plan and he would have executed it well, but his “No” proved to be the only word he would utter.
When the bullet hit Patrice, he assumed it came from one of the armed maroons. Later, however, Patrice understood he was shot in his back by either a gens de couleur or grand blanc. He fell to the ground immediately and the melee began.
In the end, fifty white and mixed-race men survived, while hundreds of
