RAT RACE: A TRILOGY OF TROUBLE

By Dawn G. Griffiths

The deal that Justin found himself forced to make on his folk’s behalf does not cut any ice with his father Jackson.

Jackson does not believe for an instant that the deal with Jenner will be honored by him … and that they are all still very much in danger, no matter what they do or where they go. Furthermore, Jackson has no intention of letting his son die. In addition, there are other prisoners in camp under Jenner’s sway — such as Isabella McBeringer’s older sister Beatrice.

It takes much of the night, but Jackson organizes the basics of a rescue. Can they save Justin’s life — without being killed themselves as well?

[JENNER and his minions make their way back to camp with JUSTIN as their helpless prisoner, still bound. As they approach the camp, JENNER speaks to TEMPLETON, something that the rest of them cannot make out — because JENNER speaks only loud enough for TEMPLETON to hear. It is a long comment, to which TEMPLETON nods at the end of and salutes his master smartly.]

[As the arrest party returns to camp with their prisoner in tow, they stop and TEMPLETON climbs up on a natural platform of stone — and announces loudly]:

Attention, subjects of the Empire of Lord Genre! At daybreak tomorrow, our esteemed Lord and King shall oversee the execution of his arch-rival, ... your former "Chief" Wilson! Attendance is mandatory! Females and youngsters are also aquired to be there! Any failure to attend this extermination will be construed as treason — and will be punishable by death, alongside the condemned! Some of you laborors shall begin building the gallows — at once. Report to me for work assignments. Now, the rest of you, return to your labors — until you are all commanded otherwise! That is all!

[JUSTIN is horrified at this annoucement — and enraged on the behalves of everyone in camp.]

:{angrily; to Jenner}:

Hey — now wait a minute! That’s insane! You just can’t order everyone to have to watch me ... die ... like that — especially the women and children! Why do they have to be exposed to such horror!?

[JENNER cuffs him cruelly, almost knocking him down. He seizes JUSTIN by the front of his tunic as he replies with nasty viciousness]:

Silence, you wretch! This is my kingdom — and I shall order of them what I wish! If you dare to defy me again, I will have you executed — right here and now — by beheading — or gutting; you take your pick — if you keep it up! Now then, you little meddler, you hold that insolent tongue of yours — or I shall see to it that it is the first thing that you lose!

[Eyes flattening, JUSTIN cowers, mute with fear, but looking bravely defiant with anger and indignation.]

[There are cries of protest among the crowd. Several of them try to rebel — and set out to free JUSTIN, … but JENNER’s cruel guards slaughter the rebels — ruthlessly. The horror of their deaths restore order to the remaining laborors, frightened back into line — even as JUSTIN cries out to them — as several fall dead from arrow-bolts, spear-thrusts — and even worse]:

Oh, God, no — don’t! You —

[He tries to bolt towards his fallen comrades, ... but JENNER holds him back by the collar.]

[As TEMPLETON starts giving out assignments to the gathering laborors, JENNER (still clutching the back of JUSTIN’s collar and practically dragging him along cruelly) leads him to the tent that is to be his cell for the night.]

[Both are still accompanied by JENNER’s guards.]

[The guards continue to aim their crossbows, longbows, and spears at JUSTIN.]

[JENNER turns to his prisoner]:

This tent shall be your prison cell tonight, Wilson. It will be under very heavy guard ... all night long. As there is no way that you can escape, you therefore might as well not even bother with the attempt — because if you do, you will instantly be recaptured ... and then ... you shall not live to hang, ... come morningtide — as in the event of your attempted escape, my men would see to that.

[The guards growl in agreement, brandishing weapons.]

[JUSTIN glances around at them nervously at the guards as they growl at him, brandishing their weapons.]

And then, I would be very disappointed. <Chuckle> But at least, it wouldn’t be a total loss, now would it — since you are dead — either way.

[The Hench Rats and guards who are present laugh evilly with JENNER and his sarcastic comment.]

And so, my young friend, ... I advise you, ... do not be tempted ... to try ... anything! <Laugh>

[JUSTIN stares back at him in despair, dismayed by JENNER’s sarcasm, gulping.]

So then, you might as well just try to get some sleep; you ... will ... need it. <Chuckle> For the time you will have left to live ... tomorrow. <Laugh> Of course, ... it scarcely matters now, you know. After all, you die tomorrow whether you sleep tonight ... or not! Ha! You may even try — going without! Maybe you’ll be so exhausted by morning, you’ll be too numb to feel a thing, eh? <Laugh>

[JENNER suddenly pushes him into the tent.]

[JUSTIN stumbles thru’ the door, trips and falls down hard, grunting.]

[JENNER leaves, accompanied by his private staff.]

[At first, JUSTIN just lays there, stunned, staring over his shoulder at the tent door in dismay. With some difficulty, he struggles to his feet, standing slowly, looking around the tent.]

[It is a dirty cell, unfurnished and unlit, with only the bare, hard, packed dirt ground to sleep on.]

[He slowly moves towards the tent door and attempts to peek out by the way of a crack formed by the tent flaps, pushing one flap aside with his nose, nervious and tentative — ]

[ — only to be immediately confronted by several guards right outside as one whips the tent door open suddenly.]

[JUSTIN starts in alarm, jumping back in fear.]

And what d’ya think yer doin’, prisoner?

Yeah, ya think yer goin’ sumwhere, huh?

Oh, he’ll be agoin’ sumwhere a’right, but not till mornin’ — and not sumwhere anyone’d like ta be a-goin’, either, eh? Hehe!

Never mind that now, matey. So where yer think yer goin’, hm?

[JUSTIN is taken aback, stammering out nerviously]:

Well, ah, I ... I, uh, that is, um, well, eh, no — nowhere, it — it’s just that I ... I, a-ahh, I j-just want to, uh, I was curious, I — I ... just wanted to see if ... if, uh, um —

[The guards cut off his faultering explanation]:

— if the King spoke truly about yer bein’ guarded, eh? Well, then, ya might s’well save up yer curiousity, prisoner.

Ya cin trust ‘Is Majesty ‘bout yer bein’ guarded, prisoner. Tis true — as ya cin see. And it’s this way on all sides o’ ya. You can’t ‘scape from here. Ya cin see fer yerself.

An’ if ya did ‘scape ‘n’ we couldn’t get yer back, why, ... then yer ‘greement with the Lord-and-King ‘ould be invalid — ‘n’ voided.

‘N’ then, friend, well, we’d ‘ave ter go after yer friends ...

... fer whome yer had surrendered yerself fer ta begin with, y’know —

[GUARD 3]:{sarcastically}:

— and then would that be just too bad!

[Again, the guards all cruelly laugh at this sarcasm.]

So ya see ya might as well jus’ let it be too bad, ... but jus’ fer yer.

And now, then, wretch, yer still our prisoner — so, fer now, yer’d better git yer ass back on in dat dere tent ‘n’ ‘afore we kick it back in dere fer yer! Eh, mates?

[The all laugh.]

[Tho’ intimidated, JUSTIN stares at them indignantly.]

[For a moment, deep in thought, he looks down and to one side, as if thinking — and suddenly, he looks like he has just made a very major decision.]

Look, I — I wanna see your ... uh, ... "king". I —

What fer?

There’s something I want to say to him.

Well, yer naw t’have ‘ny visitors. Yer kin say it t’us.

"Visitors"? Certainly your "king" ... is more than that —

Look, prisoner, we’ll relay yer message ‘n’ —

No, ... wait a minute. Look, ... uh, ... consider it as something like ... like a — a last request maybe — or last words.

[They all sneer at him with incredulous disgust — and JUSTIN goes on desperately]:

What? Hah — not many! ... Ah, what th’ ‘eck! Sumone, go in git His Honor. Let the liddle fool make ‘is las’ peace wi’ th’ King, tho liddle good it’ll do ‘im.

… Thank you.

In th’ mean time, yer git back in yer cell — now!

Okay, okay. You don’t have to be so pushy!

<Humph!> I’ll show yer wha’s "pushy" is if yer don’t move!

[Dismally, JUSTIN retreats back into the tent, slowly pacing about fretfully.]

[In a few minutes, JENNER (dressed in a fresh outfit) slowly enters, looking at JUSTIN, impartial, cold, and distant as he literally looks down on his prisoner.]

So, Wilson, ... what do you want?

[At first, JUSTIN does not answer. Then, slowly, he sinks to one knee, head bowed, eyes closed, as if finally submitting. He swallows hard, then looks back up slowly, starting to speak very softly, trembling]:

Look, … I ... I don’t wanna die — please! And — And … not like that, … please, ... not like that! Please. Please, not badly. I ... I’ll do ... anything! Anything you want, ... a-anything you say! I ... I’ll even join your Empire — please! I ... I’ll swear my allegence to you — publicly! Anything! Please! Please, whatever it takes — I’ll be yours to command! That is what this is all really about, isn’t it — my — my resisting your will? Isn’t it? So, … okay! I’ll kneel to your will. Just ... let me live — please! Please, … grant me this reprieve! Spare my life … and I — I’ll ... do anything you want, ... anything you say! I — I swear it — please! Please, have mercy on me ... and I swear, ... I ... I’ll serve you — faithfully. I ... I promise! Please!

:{coldly}:

... So, ... you have called me here simply to waste my time with your pitiful begging? And now, ... this! So, ... you fancy yourself a hench-rat, ... eh?

Yes. Please, give me this mercy! I — I’ll serve you faithfully, uphold your rule! Whatever you want, I — I’ll do it —

Hah! Were you truly one of my minions, I would have killed you long ago! You are a weakling — and a coward! You cannot even face your death without this pathetic begging! No, I would not call you a henchrat, ... little wretch. I would not even call you a lowly slave! No, you are such a pathetic, sniveling wretch and a complete coward that you cannot even face your own death, ... not even without dishonoring yourself by this groveling — and offering to betray your own people — to which, were you really one of my men ... and you commited the same treason against me, would give me all the justification I need — to take your miserable life! Besides, assuming that I were to grant your reprieve, to what assurance would I have that you would not betray me and take your first opportunity to slip away from me? None — none whatsoever! There would be no way I could trust you to keep your word. Perhaps you gave you word that you would die — but now, you are trying to get out of even that. No, I could not trust that you would truly stay to do my bidding — not for an instant! And this, your offering to ally with me after offering to die, is every indication that you cannot be trusted! You’re only trying to get out of this, … aren’t you?

Please, sir! I swear! You have my word! I’ll do anything, anything you want, anything you say! Just don’t — please — don’t kill me! I — I’ll do ... anything. Please, ... I’ll be your unquestioning servent, … if you just ... let me live!

Out of the question, Wilson! You came here to die and that is the absolute end of it! You shall die come the dawn —

[As JUSTIN resumes his pleas — ]

No, please! I’ll —

[ — JENNER seemingly ignores him]:

— and that is final! You will die tomorrow! You are too great a figure, too large an influence — to these pathetic "cattle"!

Oh — Oh, please, I —

The longer that I allow you to live, the greater a disruption that your cursed presense presents to my authority and my rule! At least, in death, your disruptive presense will serve my purposes!

No! No! I ... I won’t resist you again! Please! I — I swear —

:{with great menace}:

And I shall tell you something else, you meddling wretch: if I was not wounded as I am now, I would rend out your very throat myself! With my bare paws! And — right this very moment, too! And … nothing would stop me this time!

[As if to do as he threatens, he slowly advances towards JUSTIN as he speaks, his good paw curling into such a position, his claws bared — ]

[ — and JUSTIN cowers in terror]:

Oh, — Oh, God — please, no!

[JENNER halts his advance suddenly at this and — ]

:{with sarcastic lightness}:

Oh, … do not not worry about me doing that now. You can see very well enough that I am in no condition to be wringing anyone’s neck — not even yours, … no thanks to you, I might add. No, that is for the gallows to do — come the morrow!

No, please! Oh, God — have mercy on me, sir! I’ll do anything —

No, I cannot have you around, I cannot let you live! You are too much of a pesty little nuisance to me!

Please! I won’t be —

Therefore, you must die! And so, you shall! You certainly shall not remain a nuisance for very long! And nothing that you can or may say will change my mind!

Please! I’ll do it! I — I’ll be your slave! Please, … let me — let me live! I — I’ll be yours to command! I ... I’ll help you with your rule —

:{finally acknowledging him}:

Ohh, you shall help my rule alright, Wilson! <Laugh> Come the morning, ... you shall help plenty! When the masses come to witness ... the horror of your death agony! You will die!

[JUSTIN moans in fear, shaking his head desperately]:

No! Oh, God! No! No! Please! Oh, no!

Oh, but yes, my friend! For as we agreed, you indeed will help my rule — by being made an example of — in death!

[With that, JENNER turns away from his prisoner and leaves the tent abruptly.]

[On his knees, JUSTIN tries to follow]:

Please! No, no! Now, wait a minute!

[He struggles to his feet and goes as far as the tent door — ]

:{calling out}:

Please! Wait! What does it take —

[ — but it is no use; JENNER is gone.]

:{now to himself}:

— to make you see, I ... I mean it — ?

[For a long moment, JUSTIN just stands there, staring at the tent door in complete and hopeless dismay, then slowly turns away.]

[He looks at the hard-packed dirt floor despairingly, then kicks at it vaguely. A cloud of dust rises up.]

[Wearily, despairingly, JUSTIN collapses to the floor. He tries to sleep. But cannot. Instead, he lays on the hard, cold, uncomfortable, dirty ground, ... tossing and turning.]

[He lays there for several moments (perhaps for around 10 or 15 minutes), staring into space with a look of despairing horror on his face. A tear rolls down one cheek. He closes his eyes ... and another tear comes, from both eyes now. He tries to relax, but cannot.]

[But at that moment, he hears hammering. Loud hammering.]

[Startled, he sits up in the dark, then stands slowly.]

[He creeps to the tent flap, careful not to make any noise and attract the guards. Carefully, he again noses the tent flap aside just enough to peek out.]

[He goes pale in horror, sinking to his knees — as he sees]:

[Some of JENNER’s henchrats are building the scaffold work of a gallows!]

[JENNER is supervising the construction, along with several of his men; amoung them is TEMPLETON, BENJAMIN, RATTEN, and BRUTUS.]

[The foreman comes up to JENNER — and it is obvious that the guy is scared to death of him, even while trying to make his point]:

M-My Lord, ... the rope is far too short.

Of course, it is short, foreman! I have arranged it so!

But, Your Honor, ... it ought to be longer — that is, ... if it’s to break the prisoner’s neck cleanly and quickly, M-My Lord —

:{grimly}:

In his case, I want it to be too short. The correct length is far too long.

I — I beg to differ, My Lord, but ... if that rope was truly too long, it’d would cause his head ... to be, uhh, ripped right off when the trap door goes, uhh, because his fall would gain momentum — and the force of that momentum ... uh, would ... snap his head right off, ... but if it was the correct —

If it was correct in length, he would die instantly of a broken neck — yes, I know — however, that would be a far too easy a way for him to die ... instantly. Even having his head ripped right off, tho’ interesting to see if somewhat messy, ... even that would be too easy. I want that meddler to suffer! He is to receive no mercy! So, I have made sure that he will be strangled to death — and a very long, painful end it will be for him, as well. He will be choked! That is why I have chosen this form of execution to carry out his death; that is, opposed to something quite fast — like beheading, for example. It would be ... interesting to watch, that, but it would be over ... far too quickly. Now then, foreman, you will cease to haggle this point with me — and you shall do your job — now! I am Lord and King in this place ... and what I say is Law! That is, unless you desire ... to sample your workers’ efforts personally, mister — after the prisoner is dead! And — that can be arranged faster than you would like!

[He gestures towards the building of the scaffold.]

[The foreman pales in horror.]

Oh, no, sir — oh, please! I — I’ll get right on it, My Lord, ... sir! Your will ... shall be done! At once, ... My Lord!

:{menacingly}:

Excellent. Then ... see to it that you do!

Y-Yes, sir ...

[The foreman backs away, pauses, then turns away and returns to his duty.]

[JUSTIN pulls away from the tent flap, staring in a trance of horror.]

[He imagines he can already feel the noose, tight, slowly, very slowly getting tighter, tighter, tighter, strangling him, choking him to death!]

[He reels in terror, nearly collapsing, scrambling away from the tent door, half stumbling as he tries and manages to stand up.]

[Overcomed with despair and terror, JUSTIN sinks back down to his knees, starting to cry.]

[At that moment, JENNER turns from the construction and to TEMPLETON and RATTEN.]

Willard! Warwick! You both are with me! <Chuckle> There is going to a little "pre-hanging party" — and I invite you both to come!

[Grinning in ghoulish anticipation, TEMPLETON and RATTEN join him as he turns from the construction site.]

[Back in his tent, JUSTIN’s heart pounds as he pants hard in terror, the tears rolling down his face, whispering in a tremulous voice, shaking his head desperately in the dark, his eyes closed tight as he weeps and whispers]:

Please! God, no! <Sob> Help me! Please, … help me! I — I d-don’t — I ... I d-don’t — want to ... to die! <Sob> Please! Please — I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!

[Trembling violently, he looks around. There is not much in the way of light to see, but the tent flap is parted just enough for a little moonlight to get in.]

[There are also several peices of rock scattered all about. JUSTIN manages to get one in his paws — and slowly wears the rope off of his wrist. The rope comes off. He rubs the circulation back into his paws.]

[For a moment, he kneels there, a paw at his throat]:

(I ... I don’t want to d-die! If I don’t try to get away, they — they’ll kill me in the m-morning! I — I don’t want to spoil my truce ... with him, ... on my folk’s behalf — that is, if he honors it. If I try to escape, he and his cronies will kill my people. But maybe, ... if I — I can escape ... and I can get to everybody first ... before Jenner and his men do — and maybe ... we can all get away. I ... I gotta try. All that I can do now — is try! I gotta try!)

[Slowly, he crawls towards the back of the tent, pausing; then he kneels down at the back wall, gripping at the botten hem of the tent wall with one paw.]

[Trembling, he swallows hard, persperation on his brow.]

[Slowly, he lifts the edge of the tent, looking out.]

[As he lightly bites his lip while contemplating the situation, all that is visible to him is a natural wall of stone — and no guards.]

[Slowly and silently, he creeps thru’ on all fours, pausing in a crouch. Then, he stands slowly, standing between the tent and the wall.]

[He moves towards one end of the tent — and sees that not far off is the closest slope leading to the woods.]

[He slowly drops back on all fours, staring towards the wooded slope.]

[He takes a deep breath, holds it; then makes a dash on all fours.]

[At once, the prison-tent guards spot him — and they give chase.]

[Before he can react, JUSTIN is knocked down and pinned on his back, with two of the guards holding him down by his arms — while the rest cover him.]

[He screams in terror — ]

No! Don’t do this to me! Please! No!

[ — for the guards (all of them are armed with spears) are all about to impale him to the ground, their spears against various areas of JUSTIN’s vital anatomy; his throat, chest, stomach, and groin — all of which are a dozen spears altogether are aimed at these areas; three spear-points per body area.]

I give up! Please! I give up! Don’t do this to me! Please! Don’t do this —

Too late fer that, yer little liar! Yer said yer’d die fer yer chums ... ‘n’ here yer are, tryin’ ta git ‘way. So, yer sacrifice fer yer chums caint o’ ‘n dat ‘portant! Yer lyin’ piece o’ rebel filth — yer ter die; but now, things’re gonna really go ‘ard fer yer! We told yer whatcha ‘appen, if yer try t’ ‘scape. So den, … now we gonna kill yer!