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  Meeting at the Rock  
  Setting It was a misty fall morning in a forest next to a farm sold to John Brown by Gerritt Smith. On a large flat rock where children had dove into the creek to swim in the hot summer months, there was a lanky man lying prostrate in prayer. He heard the cracking of branches on the forest floor. It was Fredrick Douglass. He rose from prayer to greet this distinguished fighter for the last time.
  John B. Welcome Frederick, did you have any difficulty finding this spot?
  Fredrick D. No, your map was easy to follow. How are you doing?
  Setting The two men embraced as mature friends.
  Fredrick D. I brought some breakfast, I hope you will share it with me.
  John B. Thank you, I had come early so as not to miss you. I do not trust staying out in the open very long.
  Fredrick D. This does seem secluded though but I know that they have raised the bounty on you.
  John B. Did you want to come down to the farm and check out the troops. They are training very hard. I know they would be honored to meet you.
  Fredrick D. I can't stay.
  John B. I was hoping you might have changed your mind.
  Setting Just then the wind picked up and blew off John B. hat.
  Fredrick D. I'll get it.
  John B. Laughing - old habits die hard - ah?
  Fredrick D. No. (winking) I am just helping an old man.
  John B. The help I need is fighters like yourself.
  Fredrick D. Have you flushed out your plans?
  John B. Gerritt has helped me by financing things. The state of Virginia will help me by supplying us with lots of arms. Harper's Ferry is not defended I will take it by surprise and then distribute the arms to the surrounding plantations and spark an uprising that would make Nat smile.
  Fredrick D. You know it didn't take long to crush Nat's revolt. How do you hope to hold out?
  John B. I know it is chilly this morning but I didn't think you would have cold feet?
  Fredrick D. That is not fair of you. Let me speak to your plan. Can we walk rather than just lean on this rock - it reminds me too much of Abraham getting set to kill his son.
  John B. Let us walk and avoid bitter words. Did you bring William Seward's speech?
  Fredrick D. (A gesture is made to reach inside his coat). Yes. This is a very important contribution to our cause. His "Irrepressible Conflict" points out that the Revolution has begun. He does have more faith in the Republican Party than I do but it would be good for you to use them and force them to take up our principles.
  John B. Even though I have admiration for his bold prediction of inevitability, does he not have too much faith that political gentlemen will somehow curb the slave holders?
  Fredrick D. A good strategy would include using contradictions among the ruling class?
  John B. Your words are a lot sharper than the speeches a few years ago. Who has influenced this view?
  Fredrick D. Have you heard of this revolutionist in England called Marx?
  John B. But he is an atheist.
  Fredrick D. So what? His manifesto puts the struggle against slavery within the context of material conditions - something I believe you need.
  John B. Doesn't he just write theory in a library? How can we as holy men listen to some pagan Jew?
  Fredrick D. I do not agree with his atheistic outlook but it comes from a recognition of his bitterness at politicians and slave masters using God to tame the rebellious spirit of slaves.
  John B. What is needed now is action - speeches are like those clouds up there (point's to the distant storm clouds). The rumble does nothing it is the lightning striking the parched forest that starts the conflagration.
  Fredrick D. John, would that it was so. Your reasoning is too simple. The material conditions are not ripe. You will just sacrifice yourself without causing the uprising you hope for.
  John B. It is time for sacrifice - look at what Jesus's sacrifice did for the rise of the human spirit?
  Fredrick D. I know you too well to think that you would compare yourself to Christ. He also did not pick up the sword. Let me develop my views as to why it is premature to organize a spontaneous slave revolt.
  John B. Fredrick maybe you forgotten your own words of standing up against the nigger buster you faced.
  Fredrick D. I will not get into personal tattle-tale-telling for then I would have to remind you that it was only six months ago that you were hiding from the sherriff in some well- to-do's attic. Let us both calmly admit that sometimes you have to hide, retreat other times you are compelled to go into the fray. You and I both enjoy how succinct Seward is in spelling out details of history. It is a big leap to ask a man with a family and children to not only escape but then abandon that family and take up arms without having a whole army behind him.
  John B. I have no illusions that I will succeed all by myself. We need forces that is why I am calling on your help. But there is no going back.
  Fredrick D. I am not asking you to go a beg those dainty yankee ladies. Why not change the military tactics. Learn the lesson from the first revolution. The swamp fox ran his scrumishes like he was an Indian - hit and run not taking any high ground.
  John B. It is sound advice but it took the martyrs before the revolution to force the hand of the merchants. We are desperate men - we have nothing to lose.
  Fredrick D. Your zeal and conviction has never ever been in doubt. The pain of your son's murder may have caused you to judge that your anger is shared but the majority of slaves. It is one thing to be oppressed, it is a whole other matter to know how to fight against it. You are too needed to go off on your own. If there were 100 more John Brown's scattered in strategic locations then I would walk down to the farm and raise my hand and enlist in your army.
  John B. That is unfair of you to bring in my family. Of course I can never forget Kansas. But it was my justified revenge, if you recall, which forced the abolitionists to get practical and move off their prattle of begging the politicians or ministers.
  Fredrick D. Your right, I must admit, you have been my teacher when Garrson got attacked and suddenly went limp. God knows I hope you succeed but you are not leaving yourself a place to retreat.
  John B.

You can be the ambassador and go over to England and wait it out but I can not. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.

  Fredrick D. So now you are Martin Luther. But recall he hid when the Roman Church was looking to assassinate him.
  Setting The two men took off their coats and the sun broke from the clouds. In some unspoken unison they decided to turn and return to the rock.
  John B. So what do you want me to do? Sit and wait.
  Fredrick D. I know you will not do that. If it wasn't for my color, I would switch places.
  John B. I know I have sounded like a preacher and have pushed you hard but what a great contribution it would make to have you in our ranks.
  Fredrick D. Consider that I have seen my share of hanging trees, blood soaked whipping posts and hounds tearing the flesh of a run-away. It is not for lack of anger that I do not join you but we need a whole army of slaves to rise not another Nat Turner.
  John B. At least let us part on good grounds - we will leave it to the Irrepressible Conflict that is to come to sort out who was the wiser general. God speed.
  Fredrick D. If you want to change your course you know how to reach me. Bless you John - I will never flinch from defending you.