Dirty Job

[Chak Ku'rill]

The flies were deceiving. Chak kept thinking he saw dead beasts move. He wished they would. How had he failed so abysmally? If he had acted two days earlier, would he have reached these others in time? No, more than likely he would have failed them all instead. The only reason they succeeded in driving Blade out today was because he had already been preparing to leave. With his treasure waiting aboard the Zephyr, there was little to keep him anchored when things got ugly.

?So many...? The otter shook his head as Reedox joined him, holding out a rag. Chak accepted it with a trembling paw, wadding it against his nose.

Reedox's tufted ears flicked as black insects buzzed his head. He spoke around his own rag.

?They thought they were lucky not to have to work in the mines.?

?I'm sure Blade woulda added more if 'is paw 'adn't been forced. None o' them ships in 'is fleet were galleys. 'E wouldn't'a needed any slaves. An' once 'e reaches the mainland 'e'll 'ave 'is pick o' fresh meat if need be.? The sea otter glanced down at the russet-furred squirrel. ?We're all disposable ta 'im.?

Reedox cocked his head at his former slave master. ?That's the first time I've heard you refer to yerself as a woodlander.?

Chak grunted.

The squirrel craned his neck and abruptly pointed down at the pit. ?There ? I saw something move.?

Chak's breath caught and he squinted in the direction Reedox indicated. ?Whar? Air ye sure??

?There, if you follow that long black shadow down, something's alive.? The squirrel scampered off, rounding the pit. ?See if anyone has a rope!? he called back.

At last Chak made out what the squirrel's keen eye had sighted. It was hard to distinguish what kind of beast it was, but it crawled, inching itself slowly across the heaps of dead.

?Ahoy! Who's got a rope on 'em, mates??

Soon the rescue group had assembled a makeshift lifeline with which they lowered Chak down into the reeking pit. His first step sank gruesomely into a mouse's gut and the sea otter gagged, moving to stand on a different, fresher corpse. Flies rose around him in a disturbed cloud and he peered out across the mass grave, searching for that single, living soul. Then he spotted him. It was a weasel. Chak cursed to himself. A pirate. Not a single slave outside the mines would be saved.

He pushed on, more out of obligation now than hope. He had been a pirate. Most of his friends had been pirates. Some were decent enough beasts.

After several more sickening missteps, Chak finally reached the gasping corsair, seizing hold of his desperate, stretched out paw.

?I gotcha, mate.? Chak hefted him by the nape of his blood-stained shirt. ?'Old on ta me if ye cain.? The weasel clung to him with a single paw, but seemed unable to support himself with his legs. His face contorted with agony as Chak dragged him back toward the waiting rope with no little effort.

The otter tugged some slack down on the lifeline and started to loop it around the weasel's chest. He tried to distract the beast as he worked the rope under the arm that was obviously broken.

?So who be ye, mate? An' 'ow'd ye end up down 'ere??

The weasel grimaced, his breathing ragged and pained. Likely some broken ribs as well.

?Name's... Rindclaw. Used t' be head smithy. Those in charge... don' take kindly t' aidin' an' abettin' an escapin' prisoner though.? He winced and gasped as Chak tightened the knot on the rope. ?I jus' hope...he made it out.?

Chak tugged at the line to signal the others. ?Aye, well, we'll be gettin' ye out leastways. May'aps ye'll find yer mate at the 'arbor wi' the rest o' the free beasts.?

"His name was Del-- Tooley. His name was Tooley."

Chak froze at the mention. Then the rope grew taught and the weasel began to rise.

"You know him! Did he make it?"

Chak met the smithy's pleading eyes and shook his head. The weasel's expression grew distant, and he sagged against the line like a deadbeast.

The crew up top lifted the weasel out carefully, then tossed the rope back down to reel the otter in. Never had the seafarer felt so glad to be standing on solid land. Flies continued to swarm him until he re-entered the tunnel, shutting the door to the tomb behind him with somber finality.

The mongooses repurposed the lifeline into a loosely corded net to carry Rindclaw between them.

?Crue will help.? They stated solemnly, lifting the injured weasel with surprisingly gentle paws. Even the savages, accustomed to violence and bloodshed, were affected by the appalling amount of death they had witnessed. The rescue crew made their way back toward the harbor, following the score marks on the walls.

Chak made sure to personally escort Dremlak himself. The fox dry-heaved when Chak pulled the scarf forcibly from his nose. There was a reason the others were keeping their distance from the rot-smeared otter.

?Wha' ? don' like the smell o' yer own dirty work?? Chak pushed the fox mercilessly along. ?I'd think ye'd be used ta it by now.?

The distance felt twice as long as they worked their way back to the docks, but the rescue group reached the harbor at last. Crue was immediately summoned, while freed slaves gathered round, searching for familiar faces and answers to hopeful questions. One by one they learned the awful news, buried their faces in the shoulders of friends, and began to mourn.

Chak walked past with Dremlak in tow. He searched for Robert, then spotted the hedgehog engaged in an earnest discussion with the frightened rabbit from the ship. As the otter approached the two beasts sniffed, then snorted with revulsion, turning to see what could possibly be the source of such a malodor.

?Chak! What in blazes???

The sea otter shoved the fox at the hedgehog. ?'Old onta this bilgebag fer a mo', would ya? An' keep summat pointy aimed at 'is vitals.?

?Alright, but? what happened? An' what's that smell?? Beside Robert, the rabbit took several backwards steps, lifting his stained and torn shirt to cover his nose.

Chak paused. ?Ye were right. We've gotta go after Blade.? He continued on down the dock, then dove into the cleansing bay with a splash.

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

By the time Chak felt scrubbed enough to leave the water again, Robert had heard about the mass grave and the hundreds of dead slaves. He met the otter as he climbed back onto the dock, shaking saltwater from his fur and squeezing the excess moisture from his clothes.

?I'm sorry.?

Chak glanced up from scrubbing at the back of his head. ?Aye, we all be sorry, Rob. But ye know the one who really oughta be sorry be standin' thar beside ye. T'were Dremlak who o'ersaw the slaughter.? The fox showed his teeth at the otter.  Chak gestured at the former captain of the Phantom. ?Ask 'im yerself if 'e be sorry.?

Before Robert could say a word Dremlak answered of his own accord. ?I'm only sorry that I didn't kill all o' ye landlubbin' bilge-suckin' woodlander slavescum. An' that includes you.? He snorted, as if to spit on Chak again until the otter lifted his freshly gleaming axe. The fox swallowed the lump and snarled.

?I made ye a promise, Dremlak. D'ye recall??

The overseer's ears pinned to his head and his lips curled. ?Aye.?

?I think it be 'bout time I made good on that promise.? The sea otter seized the fox by the collar and yanked him toward the crowd of slaves gathered near the Phantom.

?Wait ? Chak ? what are you gonna do?? Robert followed after the two beasts, still gripping his cutlass.

Chak shoved Dremlak through the crowd, which hissed and growled upon sight of the familiar beast. The otter did not stop until he reached the other side of the crowd and had all of their attention. Several crates were stacked there and Chak threw the fox roughly against them.

?I expect ye all know who this scumbag be.? He raised his voice so all could hear.

The crowd answered with a  chorus of incensed "Ayes."

?Today be the day 'e gets what's been comin' ta 'im.? Chak looked from face to face for effect. ?Justice!? He raised his axe high in the air to shouts and cheers.

?Chak!? Robert grabbed the otter by the arm so that he turned to face him. ?You cain't jus' kill 'im like this! T'ain't right! You'll jus' be stoopin' to his level!"

"Executin' innocent beasts ain't the same as executin' someone what deserves it," Chak scowled.

"You cain't deal out your own vengeance whenever you blinkin' feel like it,? the hedgehog insisted.

?This ain't about me own vendetta, Robert. This beast deserves ta die fer what 'e done.?

?An' it's you alone who decides who gets to live an' who deserves to die??

?Nay, Rob. It be them.? Chak nodded at the crowd and the closest beasts shouted their assent. ?Them an' all them dead slaves what be voiceless now. Brothers an' sons an' mothers an' daughters, all dead at Blade's command. Dead at this fox's bloody paw.?

?I think you jus' like killin'. You've got a taste for blood an' you cain't get enough.?

Chak gave the hedgehog a cold look. ?Nay, Rob. Yer wrong. Ain't nothin' grand 'bout takin' a life. That be why this villain needs ta go. It be summat what needs ta be done, don' ye see? What else d'ye plan ta do wi' 'im? Ye wanta try an' take 'im all the way back ta Salamandastron so they can execute 'im thar? It be these beasts what 'e's wronged. It should be them what 'ave redress." Chak's voice lowered. ?An' what about Blade? Ye know 'e shouldn'a been let loose ta 'urt more beasts an' butcher more families. 'E's done enough o' that. An' so 'as this fox.?

Robert winced at the mention of Blade, then sighed, glancing at the fox cowering by the crates. ?I'm in charge, aye??

Chak nodded once.

?If I allow this, it's on me. My responsibility. I might as well be the one swinging the axe.? The hedgehog looked a little sick at the prospect, but he held out his paw.

Chak cocked his head, surprised by the gesture. ?Ye don' 'ave ta do it yerself, Rob. It ain't the judge what allus be the executioner, ye know. Yer paws be clean. Mine? well? that be a different story.?

Robert hesitated, then nodded and withdrew his paw, taking an intentional step back.

Chak turned back to the crowd, more somber than before. ?Be thar any volunteers what would care ta 'old 'im still?? A slew of former slaves came forward immediately and Chak selected the two who appeared strongest. They bent the fox over a crate, pressing him face-first into the raw wood surface. He began to pant loudly as Chak approached.

?Ye think yer any better 'n me, driver?? He glared with one eye at the looming sea otter.

Chak paused, considering, then ran the thick part of his thumb callus across the axe head to test the sharpness of the blade. ?Nay. I wouldn? say that. But thar be one key difference atwix us?? He breathed deeply and lifted the axe high. ?Remorse.?

The axe fell.