A New Brand of Slavery

[Chak Ku'rill]

The burly otter stepped away from the column he had been chained to, rubbing his smarting wrists and looking up at Captain Ciera and Blade, the pirate king he had heard tales about most of his life. He gave an appreciative nod to both ferrets, as he was certain it was only by Captain Ciera?s word that he was now free. Chak rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, then breathed deeply that sweet scent of freedom, which unfortunately was fouled by a small gust of wind carrying smoke from the young Waverunner?s smoldering corpse. Chak shivered, realizing it could have just as easily been him hanging there, a sizzling blackened skeleton.

What a way to go.

Chak joined Vera, Plink, and a hare he didn't know, climbing the path up to the dark mountain and the torch-lit entrance where beasts awaited them. He stopped just inside the stone entryway, glancing over his shoulder, wondering what would become of Robert.

Surly they wouldn?t burn him too?

No. Everyone said Blade was smart. He would see the value in keeping a healthy, able-bodied beast alive ? woodlander or not. As long as he didn?t return Robert and his fellow Waverunners to the vengeful savages, Chak might be able to find him again.

He turned his attention back to the vast mountain hall before him.

Then again maybe not.

Chak stood at the edge of a huge, natural atrium. Its walls were riddled with holes ? tunnel entrances that led into the heart of the mountain. An inscrutable maze, no doubt. The otter whistled in wonder. It was a hive. A pirate hive. Yet these pirates were not your typical run-of-the-mill corsairs. Some actually wore uniforms, and they marched rather than swaggered.

He turned and looked at Plink who had squeezed in after him, raising an eyebrow and nodding at the vast space before them.
?Quite a set-up, eh, matey? Blade?s been busy fer a deadbeast.?

Plink stared, starry-eyed at the scene before them, then swallowed and nodded in agreement.

?Glad ter see ye made it out o? the jungle in one piece,? Chak added in an attempt to smooth things over with the young rat.

She held up her truncated tail wordlessly.

He sighed. He never was very good at this sort of thing.

?Where?s Minstrel?? the rat suddenly inquired. ?I didn?t see him at the village.?

Chak?s face fell and he shook his head sadly. ?Found a booby trap in the jungle, mornin? after ye left.?

Plink stared, uncomprehending. Then her eyes widened abruptly. "He's dead?"

Chak nodded somberly.

Plink scuffed a footpaw in the dirt that had accumulated across the cavern floor.

Ahead of them Vera was led away by a searat and the hare by a uniformed stoat.  Another rat from Blade?s crew approached Plink and Chak, followed closely by a weasel who looked the sea otter up and down. She reminded him of Tooley, but with a cleverer, scrutinizing look in her eyes. Both the weasel and the rat wore simple sashes rather than uniforms, as did most of the mountain?s inhabitants.

?So ye be the new additions ta Cap?n Blade?s crew, eh?? the rat grinned, winking at Plink. ?Come wi? me, lass, an? I?ll show ye around!?

Plink brightened some at the pirate?s welcoming words and followed after him, glancing back briefly at Chak as they separated.

?They tell me yer a slavemaster.? The weasel addressed him. ?Ye?ve been appointed ta the brimstone mine ta replace Dremlak who be promoted now. I?ll be showin? ye where ye need ta go.?

Chak nodded, scanning the swarm around him. So he was to have clout and authority again. Status. It seemed he hadn?t fallen quite so far as he had feared. He snorted and spat.

?So slavemaster means I be ?avin? a rank o? some level, aye??

?Aye,? she answered carefully.

?An? I be guessin? that rank be ?igher ?n yers, aye??

The weasel frowned. ?I serpose.?

?Good. I be needin? a shirt. Go find me one.?

?A? shirt??

Chak shot the weasel a disapproving look. ?Aye, a shirt.  An? if that be too hard fer ye, bring me a beast about me size an? I?ll take ?is.?

The pirate glanced around, uncertain.

?Air yer ears full o? wax, weasel?? Chak barked. ?I be givin? ye an order!?

The weasel yelped and hurried off, recognizing the danger in Chak?s tone.

It wasn?t long before she returned with a wadded up garment that smelled of sweat and mildew. Chak didn?t ask questions, throwing the shirt on quickly over his bare back and tucking it in at his belt.

?Now,? he addressed the attentive weasel, after rolling the sleeves up evenly, ?take me ta this ?brimstone? mine ye mentioned. Soun?s like a barrel o? laughs.?

********************************

Despite the clout it awarded him, the position Chak found himself in was not an enviable one. Brimstone, or sulfur, as it was also called, was a noxious substance that filled the air with a stench like rotten eggs. The dust burned when you breathed it, and though a scarf over the muzzle helped, one?s eyes still watered and stung when exposed.  The mine was in a crater at the top of the mountain, but it was deep enough that what little wind reached them merely stirred up the dust from all the chopping and digging.

The slaves themselves were another version of horror. Red-eyed and sickly, they coughed and dribbled body fluids as they stumbled along steep, narrow paths, lugging great baskets filled with yellow chunks of sulfur. Some were missing body parts, and most looked like they were just waiting to die.

As Chak had suspected, Blade had kept Robert and some of the other Waverunners alive to work. They showed up shortly after Chak, and were immediately shackled for the night. Reedox, too, was among them, which made the otter?s heart sink further. In Chak?s mind, he had set the squirrel free. It would be hard to go back to the way things were, and Chak had a feeling Reedox would not comply this time, no matter how strictly he treated him.

His first day on the job, Chak had tried to revive the slaves with his rewards and bonuses system, encouraging them to work hard to earn perks. They were obviously desperate and hungry, but they lacked the will to participate, finding it challenging enough to simply keep up with the day?s quota. The energy saved from not working extra was more valuable than any pickled egg or candied fruit Chak could offer. In fact, the slaves seemed to move slower than ever, and responded only when the slave driver cracked his whip and threatened them with violence.

The pungent scent of sweet decay assaulted Chak?s nostrils as his counterpart, a tailless wildcat named Torin, stepped up beside him to give him some pointers. The days were to be split between the two slave drivers, each taking on eight-hour shifts, but since Chak was new, Torin had to show him the way things were done.

?A typical run shouldn?t take more ?n a quarter hour,? the cat advised, nodding at Robert, who was breathing hard and unloading a basket full of yellow chunks into a big wagon. The slave driver grabbed a large hour glass from a compartment on the side and waved it for the hedgehog to see.

?Oy, you! Grovelhog!?

Robert?s brow knitted at the name. ?D?ye mean me, mate??

?Aye, that be what I?m callin? ye. Ye know why?? He motioned for Robert to come closer, then kicked his legs out from under him so he fell to his belly with a grunt. ??Cause yer ta grovel afore yer masters, ya pin-brained scuttler!? Robert gave Chak a ?Can you believe this guy?? look, then nodded his head for Torin to see.

?An we?re not yer mates, slavescum.? He gestured for Robert to stand and the hedgehog rose with some effort, grunting at his tender joints. Torin tapped a claw to the glass of the timer. ?Ye see this ?ere hour glass, Grovelhog? Ye?d better be back with full baskets by the time the sand runs its course. Productivity be mos? importan? ?round ?ere. Yer expected ta keep up wi? the rest an? pull yer weight. Ya savvy??

?Yes, sir.? Robert nodded again. Torin flipped the hourglass and set it atop the water barrel, forcing Robert to hurry back into the mine.

?Ye gotta lay down the law, mate. Otherwise they won?t take ye seriously.?

Chak scowled behind his kerchief. ?I know ?ow ta drive, chum. Been doin? it most o? me life.?

The wildcat laughed harshly. ?Well whatever ye were doin? earlier wi? the dried mango bits at breakfast ? that ain?t gonna fly wi? this crowd. Mine slaves be understandin? jus? one thing.? He pulled his short, multi-tailed whip from his side. ?Pain.? He laid into a random shrew, causing him to howl and scramble along faster. ?Yer soft method might?ve worked on a galley crew. I unnerstand on a ship it be importan? ta maintain yer numbers. Ain?t easy ta replace a slave when yer in the middle o? the ocean. But out ?ere, things be a li?l more? flexible.?

Chak crossed his arms, looking out across the crater. Robert had just reached a deposit and was starting to break it up with a wooden pole.

?Dremlak unnerstood that well. Mayhaps too well. Production were ?igh under ?is paw, but we lost a lot o? slaves. Worked ta get ?im promoted though!? The cat winked at Chak.

A hare trudged slowly up the path and Torin nodded meaningfully toward him, indicating the sea otter should take action. Chak growled and pulled his own whip from his side. He would have to be careful not to appear weak in front of Torin.

?Yarrrr! Pick up the pace thar, long ears!? He cracked his whip and a red welt appeared across the hare?s shoulders. The Waverunner flinched and sped up, nearly upsetting his baskets. Chak moved down the path, snapping his whip and growling threats to keep the plodding slavebeasts moving. Familiarity set in and Chak relaxed, feeling more comfortable in his role. He started to see foot-dragging as a form of defiance, as though those slaves were personally insulting his authority and competence.

Finally Robert appeared, lugging two full baskets on either end of a short yoke. Chak had started to worry that the hedgehog was a foot-dragger too, but it appeared he had made good enough time as they reached Torin and the wagon. Chak noted the sand that still remained in the top of the hourglass. Robert was the kind of hard worker Chak could be proud of.

?Hold on.? Torin stopped the hedgehog before he emptied his load into the wagon. He grabbed a chunk of sulfur from one of the baskets and held it up in the late morning light. ?Ye call this pure?? The piece of sulfur was more brown than yellow, but neither Robert nor Chak had realized color mattered. Torin dumped both baskets out onto the ground. Bright yellow gleamed amidst dull and brown-striped chunks. ?This whole load be rubbish!? Torin struck Robert hard across the face so that he reeled. Chak started, finding his own paws forming reflexively into fists. Then consciously, intentionally, he unclenched them, breathing deeply through the kerchief. He could not allow himself to be so affected. Robert was a tough enough beast.

?Ye?ll fill these up right else I?ll flay the quills off yer back!? Torin pointed at the near-empty hourglass. ?And ye?d better hurry. Yer time?s almost out.? Robert?s eyes widened at the impossible task, but he hefted the empty baskets over his shoulders all the same, heading back down into the mine.

?I keep this glass with me every time I be out ?ere, mate. If a beast be takin? too long, ye know ?e ain?t up ta no good. Slaves should be workin? ? not chattin?. Otherwise they be gettin? all kinds?a ideas.?

Chak grunted his agreement.

?I be ?avin? me own way o? dealin? wi? beasts what be takin? their time, though ye might be findin? yer own method soon enough.?

A chill ran up Chak?s spine. What was Torin going to do to Robert?

A squirrel sauntered up to the wagon and tossed his yellow sulfur in. It was Reedox. He glowered at Chak and swiped a paw angrily across his dripping nose. Torin noticed the glare.

?Looks like that one be trouble.?

Chak nodded. ?Oh, aye. He allus ?ad a ?ead like a walnut. Used ta be on me crew.? Chak paused, then added as a reassurance, ?We ?ave an unnerstandin? though.?

Torin?s yellow-green eyes tracked the squirrel like prey. ?Do ye now? What kinda ?unnerstandin????

Chak felt a surge of heat flush across his face. ??E works ?ard an? I leave ?im be. Simple. If ?e slows, I give ?im a lashin?.?

?Looks ta me like ?e don? respect ye, mate.?

?Oh, ?e be respectin? me,? Chak insisted.

?Call ?im o?er then.? The cat?s eyes did not leave the squirrel.

Chak panicked inwardly. If there was one thing Reedox was bad at, it was playing along. ?Oy! Reedox! C?mere!? Chak made sure to use the squirrel?s proper name.

Reedox halted in his tracks, then turned, walking stiffly back toward the two slave drivers. Even his posture was resentful. Yellow dust coated his fur except where wet trails dribbled from his bloodshot eyes.

?What.?

Chak bristled. ?Ye?d better curb that attitude, squirrel.?

?What, sir.?

Chak smacked him across the back of the head with his coiled whip, frustrated. Reedox responded with a snarl.

Torin raised an eyebrow at the sea otter. ?Got spirit, that one.?

Chak snorted. ?Aye, but it ?elps keep ?im goin?. Get back ta work ye lout.? He gave Reedox a kick in the rear, sending him back toward the mine before something worse could happen.

?Stop.? The wildcat commanded, and the squirrel paused, showing signs at last of apprehension. Torin patted Chak on the shoulder. ?Le?me show ye ?ow we deal with spirited slaves.? He sauntered over to the rodent, relieving him of his yoke and empty baskets. ?Come with me.? He seized Reedox by an ear and drug him up toward the dining pit near the edge of the crater where gruel would be dished out at the midday shift change. A fire crackled continuously there, awaiting the great pot.

Torin gave the squirrel a shove, sending him sprawling to the ground beside the fire. He put a footpaw to his chest, pinning him there on his back, then picked a pole up that had been resting half in and half out of the flames. An ?X? glowed red hot at the tip.

The squirrel?s eyes grew wide. ?W-wait ? what?d I do? What are you gonna do?? Reedox squirmed against the cat?s claws.

?One brand fer each instance o? insubordination. First the forehead, ? he gestured loosely with the iron, outlining a triangle as he spoke, ?then the left cheek, then the right cheek, and then if they still ain?t learned their lesson, the left eye be next an? then the right. Most don?t last long after that, but they sure know their place, har har!?

Chak forced a smile and a short laugh.

??Elps ta iden?ify who ta watch out fer too.? Torin turned the brand slowly, studying Reedox. ?Hey, do me a favor, would ya, mate??

Chak swallowed. ?Aye??

?Grab that wet rag over there and wipe ?im down. That dust be ruther flammable.?

Chak grabbed the cloth from a short stone wall nearby. He knelt down beside Reedox and began wiping the yellow dust carefully from his red fur. It was an oddly intimate endeavor that would have made both beasts extremely uncomfortable if not for the blistering threat radiating above them. To Chak, the act was an apology of sorts. He couldn?t stop what was about to happen, but he could at least make sure the squirrel wasn?t engulfed in flames like another mongoose sacrifice.

?A?right, a?right. That be good enough ye fusspot.?

Reedox clung to the otter as Chak tried to pull away. ?Chak? Chak? Don?t let him!?

Chak tore away from the squirrel?s grasp.

?Chak!? Reedox reached a paw out, begging for help.

Flashes of memory from the sinking Maiden filled Chak's mind: helpless, drowning beasts, reaching for him - their last desperate hope. And all he could do was watch them drown.

Chak closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. ?It won?t kill him. This isn?t life or death. I can?t be a protector now.? He willed the squirrel to understand, though he knew he never would.

A horrible screech tore through the air and the smell of singed fur and burning flesh assaulted the otter?s nose, despite his kerchief. Chak opened his eyes in time to see traces of smoke still wafting from the black X that burned across Reedox?s forehead.

?That be one strike, tree climber.? Torin leaned in, still holding the squirrel down. ?Ye?ll avoid more if ye do yer work proper an? treat yer masters with the respect they deserve. Includin? this ?ere otter.? He cocked his head at Chak. ?Savvy??

Reedox nodded readily, though he appeared to be in some form of shock.

Torin turned and smiled at Chak. ?Fear is the quickest means to garner respect. Remember that. If they fear you, they?ll respect you.?

?Aye,? the otter affirmed, then added silently, ?Until they strangle you in your sleep??

?Ahoy! Grovelhog!? Torin called down the slope to Robert, who stood staring from beside the wagon, holding his two full baskets.

Chak felt a stab of shame, wondering if Robert had seen his cowardice. Had he been wrong to let it happen? Should he have stepped in after all and fought the wildcat, bearing whatever consequences might have resulted?

?Come fetch this slave an? ?elp ?im get back to work!? Torin instructed, then turned to Chak. ?I?ll let ye get back ta things now, matey, but don?t be so lenient. Let ?em know who?s boss.? He clapped the otter on the back. ?I?ll be up in me quarters ?til me shift. Send one o? the lads if ye need any further assistance.?

Chak nodded, more than a little relieved to see the slave driver depart. Robert hurried over to Reedox and helped the squirrel to his shaky feet. At least Robert could be there for him. He had the nobler role again. Yet it was a powerless one. Chak, at least, was in a place where he might actually make a difference when he decided to take action.

And take action he would.

He might not have been able to help one slave today, but perhaps in the days to come, he could help them all.