Joaquim got up laughing, despite the blood in his mouth, and told her she was ready.
The December Tournament
The tournament took place during the first week of December. The Baron of Araújo's estate was decorated as if for a celebration: colorful lanterns, laden tables, live music. In the center, a wooden circle attracted everyone's attention.
Eduarda de Araújo, the baron's daughter, watched from the main box, dressed in red, with a sharp and penetrating gaze.
When Joaquim arrived with Benedita, the laughter erupted again. This woman, bought practically for free, was going to face trained men. Nobody took her seriously.
However, Joaquim paid the registration fee with his last pennies.
The first fight pitted Benedita against a butcher from Barra Mansa, a 120 kg man with a thick neck and heavy fists. The crowd was betting on him.
Benedita entered barefoot, dressed in linen trousers and a white shirt tied at the waist. No gloves, no protection. Only her body, her technique, and the rage of a lifetime.
The butcher attacked. She dodged, spun, and landed a hook to his ribs. The sound of bones breaking echoed. The man fell to his knees, gasping for breath.
The unexpected fighter.
Her second opponent was a capoeirista from Recôncavo, quick, agile, and dangerous. He circled her, unleashing a flurry of sweeps and kicks. Benedita absorbed the blows, observed, and searched for his rhythm.
When she found him, she advanced like an unstoppable force. One blow to the chin was enough to stop her.
The third fight was more difficult. Her opponent, a former soldier from the War of Prata, was technically skilled, experienced, and ruthless. The fight lasted four minutes. He broke her nose. She broke three of his ribs and won on points.
In the final, the sun was setting. Benedita was bleeding and could barely stand, but she was still there.
Standing before her was Tomás, an enormous man, 2.10 meters tall and weighing 150 kg, the son of a human trafficker. He had killed six men in underground fights.
Eduarda de Araújo approached the ring and asked Benedita if she was brave or crazy. Then she added that she wanted to hire her if she won.
Benedita spat blood on the ground and replied:
“I am not for sale.”
In the final fight,
Tomás attacked with overwhelming force. Each of his blows seemed capable of ending the fight. Benedita dodged, counterattacked, but exhaustion slowed her movements.
In the third round, Tomás landed a hook that made her stagger against the ropes. She fell to the ground.
The crowd erupted.
Next to the ring, Joaquim shouted:
“Stand up! For Vicente, for his freedom, stand up!”
Through the pain, Benedita heard his voice. She thought of the chains, the four properties, the overseers, the nights she spent tied up. Something inside her straightened even before her body could react.
She got up.
Tomás advanced to finish him off. Benedita waited until the last moment, then gathered all her remaining strength and delivered an upward blow to his chin.
Tomás froze, rolled his eyes back, and then collapsed like a mountain.
The crowd remained silent, before erupting in shouts, applause, and amazement.
Having won his freedom,
Joaquim climbed into the ring and embraced Benedita. She could barely stand.
Eduarda returned with a leather bag. She gave the 100 coins to Joaquim. He counted them and immediately gave half to Benedita.
That was his part, just as he had promised.
The next day, Joaquim was to sign his manumission papers at the clerk's office. Benedita was about to be free.
She asked him why he had done that.
Joaquim simply replied that she deserved a chance and that he had needed one too. They had saved each other.
What did she do with her freedom?
Three months later, Benedita left Vassouras with 50 contos, new clothes, and a signed letter of emancipation. Joaquim paid his debt and renewed his five-acre lease.
They never saw each other again.
