Tuesday, September 9
Belly of the Beast: Part 6b – The Hulks
Strong iron rails, running from one end to the other, divided the bottom deck into two long cages with a passage between them. In this passage a warder paced to and fro, commanding a view of the prisoners, who were slung up in hammocks, fastened in two rows, in each cage of the ship. There was also a little transverse passage at the end of each ward that allowed the officer on duty to take a side view of the sleepers, and to cast the light of his bull's-eye lantern under the hammocks to assure himself that the men were quiet in their beds.
The deep-toned bell against the forecastle sounded three bells. In a minute scores and scores of men tumbled out of their beds, wriggling and stretching themselves in their blue shirts.
"All up! Turn out, men!" cried the officer; and the prisoners were in their trousers in an inconceivably short time.
Kham looked up from the deck. He had lost control of his bodily functions in the night. He felt like he had been turned inside out. Everything ached.
“Ye had a rough night,” said Scarbelly. The one-eyed orc’s ugly snout poked into view. “Didn’t think ye’d make it.”
“What do you know…” gasped Kham, “…greenskin.”
“I know what a liability looks like,” said Scarbelly. “Me beauty, yer me bunkmate, so what happens t' ye happens t' me. Now get up!” [MORE]
Labels: arcanis
posted by Mike Tresca at
6:40 AM
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