Anne Schroeder’s novella, Boy in the Darkness, is a highly suspenseful, three-part story of a young Chinese boy, an indentured servant, traveling west on the Oregon Trail. The boy, Man-Gee, becomes separated from his master while looking for a missing cow. Man-Gee falls into a narrow, deep pit and is severely injured with little or no hope of rescue.
The second section of the book overlaps the first. Indians hear the wailing and soft moaning that seems to come from a narrow hole in the ground. They call the apparition “Spirit Who Lives in Darkness.” A young slave girl is entranced by the sounds coming from the hole and, when she can get away, drops small gifts to the mysterious spirit below.
The third section of the book takes us to a modern-day road construction crew. They come upon a hole and are immediately concerned with what they see below. Is this going to mean a delay in meeting their deadline? This is Lakota homeland and there are strict laws about finding bones.
Boy in the Darkness is a well-written, well-researched tale with a mystical charm. I very much enjoyed this little jewel.
