RAT RACE: A TRILOGY OF TROUBLE

By Dawn G. Griffiths

Justin, battered and bruised and just a little bit bloody as well, is led out of his tent cell before the collective assembly of the entire colony, collected forcably to witness his terrible death — and terrible it will be, too, since Jenner has arranged that Justin’s actual death by this method will be much slower and much more excruciating than it actually has to be!

Led first to Jenner’s royal box where he is forced to knee in homage to Jenner, Justin must deal with Jenner’s humiliating insults — and veiled threats of worse suffering to come.

In despair, he is unaware that help may be on the way …

[In their hiding place, MRS. BRISBY averts her eyes in horror, closing them, covering them with her paws.]

[AURORA, looking angry, but sympathetic, puts a paw on MRS. BRISBY’s shoulder.]

[Brutally, TEMPLETON shoves JUSTIN again from behind, almost making him fall down a second time ... and JUSTIN struggles to stay up.]

[Shocked, members of the audience try to call out to JUSTIN ... and the guards hold them back, amoung them RATTEN WARWICK, his monocle flashing in the depressing, overcasted morning.]

[AURORA has tears in her eyes. She shakes her head in pity for her friend, her paws clasped together.]

:{whisper}:

Oh, Heaven — have mercy!

[So it is MRS. BRISBY’s turn to offer comfort — just as AURORA did, with a paw on her shoulder, not taking her eyes off this grim procession.]

[AURORA glances at her, then back at the procession]:

[JUSTIN is led towards JENNER’s private seat.]

[Realizing this, JUSTIN attempts on purpose this time to hang back, afraid of being taken so close to JENNER — but BRUTUS yanks JUSTIN forward brutally, ... until they have JUSTIN before his arch-rival.]

[Together, BRUTUS and TEMPLETON force JUSTIN to kneel down on the ground before JENNER, facing him.]

Kneel, wretched one — now!

[It does not take much to make him kneel; he is so weak from being beaten and tortured, he goes down at once. The drummer stops, with a sharp and final blow — as JUSTIN falls to his knees, grunting with pain as he lands too hard.]

[The Hench Rats make him bow to JENNER as he kneels — ]

Bow — and pay homage to your Lord!

[ — as they do, (BENJAMIN bows to JENNER; BRUTUS and TEMPLETON adding their bows, too).]

Your Majesty, ... the prisoner has been prepared. We are now ready — to proceed with this extermination, My Lord. We can now begin. We but await ... your word.

[Afraid, JUSTIN does not dare to look up. Wounded and embarrassed, wretched and despairing; he kneels there, trembling in fear and pain, his breath uneven, the tears running down his face. Still bent over, he stares at the ground, his teeth bared.]

[The hysterical, shocked voices of the audience go on and on.]

:{whispering}:

Oh, my God! Oh, … Justin! Justin! <Sob>

[Finally noticing her, he hears her and looks up, shocked to see her, blinking back his tears.]

:{softly; incredulously}:

Wha — !? Isabella! What ... what’re you —... !? What are you doing here!?

:{broken whisper}:

Oh-hhhhhh! Oh, Justin, I — I’m so ... so sorry! I ... I meant to — I — I tried to —… I — I just wanted to — to help, … I — I just couldn’t wait, I — Oops! I mean ... I — I couldn’t — Ohhh! <Sob>

[At her "Oops!", ISABELLA glances in alarm at JENNER, a sidelong glance, then goes on, sobbing with helpless grief.]

[Pausing to glance at ISABELLA, suspicious at her "Oops!", JENNER slowly rises to stand, looking down at JUSTIN from his high vantage point.]

[For a long moment, JENNER glares down at his prisoner coldly.]

[His sharp, cold, murderously hateful glare intimidates JUSTIN, making him look down, cowering and trembling.]

[JENNER begins a cruel and hateful speech, his voice like the cracking of a whip — as he calls order to the gathered assemblage]:

[At once, the audience is silent, watching him fearfully.]

[At the sharpness of his captor’s shout, JUSTIN winces at this as if struck, cowering where he kneels in a cramped hunch.]

Subjects of the Empire, of my Kingdom, and of my Dominion! You are here to witness as an example to all, to each and every one of you, ... the price of any — and all — treachery against me ... by the execution of an enemy, a high enemy, to the authority of the Empire — and to my authority! For if you think to defy my Empire, ... then you defy me! The Empire is but an extension of myself! My Empire is me!

[Everyone stares with horrified pity at the trembling prisoner.]

[JUSTIN continues to stare at the ground, tearing eyes blinking slowly, torpid, with hopeless despair, persperation running down his brow, breathing unevenly and trembling wretchedly.]

:{hateful when referring to Justin by name}:

But this, ... this is not just any enemy. This ... is … former Guard Captain Justin Wilson. This is the meddling little upstart — who has dared to call himself your "Chief"!

[At this mocking comment, JENNER lets his anger and fury reflect in his voice as whip-crackingly sharp hate —]

[ — and JUSTIN trembles even harder, his tearing eyes pressed shut, teeth clenched.]

[The audience bursts out talking again — ]

[ — and are brought to a screeching, startled halt.]

[JUSTIN flinches at this, still weeping silently ... and pitifully trembling with surpressed sobs.]

[Boldly, careless with outrage, ISABELLA leaps to her feet to contront JENNER]:

Stop it! Stop humiliating him! Enough of this!

Be silent, woman!

[He cuffs her with his good arm; she cries out.]

I did not address you — nor did I say that you could speak!

[Staggering against the side of the box ISABELLA cowers, sheilding her face with her paws, crying helplessly.]

I will say when it is enough — and not a moment before! Now then, … sit down, wench!

[Sniveling, ISABELLA pulls herself up into her seat.]

[JENNER goes on slowly and sneeringly, once again addressing the audience]:

[He turns his attention down on JUSTIN, fully and hatefully.]

[JUSTIN continues to stare at the ground, torpid and miserable.]

He ... has been a thorn in my flesh for as long as I can remember. This wretch ... is the one responsible for my many — and numberous wounds, ... the discomforts that I have suffered, that I have had to deal with myself!

[Managing to get hold of herself even tho’ her face is still wet with tears, ISABELLA glares at him from the tail of her vision, her eyes narrowing hard; her thought black with thick sarcasm]:

[JENNER glares down at JUSTIN at his previous comment — and adds, … almost as if to himself]:

Something ... that does not settle — too well ... with me.

[At this, ISABELLA looks as if she is fighting to keep from making some bitter remark, apparently smothering in helpless anger.]

[JUSTIN finally glances up at him briefly and their combative glares briefly meet and lock — but he breaks the contact quickly as JENNER’s hateful, murderous glare so intimidates him again that he is forced to look away, afraid and trembling with a small gasp, his gaze falling. Eyes closing, his ears flatten, his breath uneven in dread, he silently weeps in despair.]

[JENNER goes on in a normal tone]:

<Chuckle> Therefore, ... this very special event shall be commemorated — by being carried out … in … a very special way.

[Gloatingly, he pauses briefly to savor the moment; then concludes in a loud, vicious voice — and a bold, violent gesture: teeth bared in a snarl, narrowed eyes blazing ferociously, he points]:

[At this, a spotlight with a portable battery powering it comes on with a very loud crash from its breakers — and the beam shines on the gallows.]

[A second, brighter beam inside the first shines directly on the noose itself, highlighting it — coldly, cruelly, and sharply.]

[The noise and the bright light makes JUSTIN turn to look in fearful dread, gasp and cringe in horror, … then turn back away and cower, trembling violently, staring at the ground in a trance of panic, breathing hard with anxiety — as the lights fade.]

:{jumping up}:

Ohhh, no! No — please! Please! Don’t do this to him!

Silence! As I have said before, you will not speak unless I say! Now for the last time, sit down ... or else I shall knock you off your feet — and I may not stop ... with that, ... you little wench!

[As he adds this last remark, his tone goes from sharp to an evenly quiet suggestion of a threat — of even worse to come for her, if she fails to obey.]

[Intimidated, cowering back from him, ISABELLA sits at once, trembling; she gulps — with a paw at her throat as she stares at him with dread.]

[At a sudden and harsh, sweeping gesture from JENNER, TEMPLETON (with his cross-bow) and BENJAMIN (with a short sword) aim their weapons at JUSTIN.]

[JUSTIN looks at them ... and the several other guards a slight distance away — who also have weapons trained on him; he looks at BRUTUS — who comes to stand right over him.]

[They all glare back at JUSTIN expectantly.]

[Trembling, his expression beseechingly pleading, JUSTIN looks up at JENNER now — ]

[ — who glares back down at him expectantly, with his good arm crossed over his splinted one, fingers drumming.]

[At first, JUSTIN cannot move; terrified, he just stares back at JENNER. Then, with his teeth bared and his eyes pressed shut, he cowers, bowed forward slightly, moaning in terror.]

[With a subtle nod from JENNER, BRUTUS gives the chain a few hard yanks.]

[His teeth bared, his eyes squeezed closed, JUSTIN endures the yanks, with a pained grunt; then he responds: Gulping hard, he slowly rises to his feet in the total silence, trembling violently in fear, gasping softly in pain. He rises with some difficulty (because of his wounds), … pained by the effort — and by the action. Very slowly, he turns — to face the gallows.]

:{with renewed effort to withhold his response}:

(Oh, no, ... this is ... it! This ... is ... the end. Oh, God!)

[BRUTUS gives a hard yank on JUSTIN’s chain, which he has been holding all the while — and he starts to drag JUSTIN towards the gallows.]

[JUSTIN struggles, fighting to stand his ground (and perhaps resist getting dragged to the gallows as well, his feet skidding on the hard-packed dirt of the ground, his toe-claws digging deep into the dirt) — and he cries out]:

No-oooo!

[As if expecting further resistance from JUSTIN, BRUTUS turns to him — and makes as if he is about to strike at him — ]

[ — and JUSTIN cowers, staring at him in fear — and cries out]:

[At this, BRUTUS pauses.]

[JUSTIN looks over his shoulder to glare at JENNER.]

:{thru’ gritted teeth}:

If I gotta die, … I — I’ll go up there — on my own. No one ... has to make me. I — I may be afraid. I — I admit that. But — I’ve got my own legs. I can walk ... up there — myself. I’ll go — by myself. You won’t — and you can’t — call me a coward, ... not again. No, … I — I can die — and without anyone’s "help".

[JENNER chuckles at this, looking unimpressed.]

:{softly}:

Ah, Wilson. Such bravado. So maybe I cannot call you a coward again, even tho’ that hardly changes the fact that you are one, ... but it will not do you much good now. Pretend to be brave, if you will; you are still going to go up there ... to hang. You are going to die now, … make no mistake about that, you miserable wretch!

[JUSTIN says nothing, but glares at him with resentful defiance, gulping once. He turns away from JENNER with angry despair.]

[All weapons — near and far — stay on JUSTIN.]

Oh, please! Stop it! Leave him alone! Let him go!

[Eyes tearing, she turns to JENNER, her voice dropping to a whisper]:

:{with her paws clasped, going on her knees}:

Oh, please! Have mercy on him! I’ll do whatever you want!

[JENNER replies without looking at her at first, watching JUSTIN instead]:

:{coldly}:

It is too late for that, ... woman.

[He glares at her]:

It matters not what you would do for me now — and certainly not on his behalf! I have ruled that he is to die this day — and die he shall — no matter what you do for me! Now, … sit down!

[Weeping brokenly, ISABELLA sits — and turns her attention back to the execution.]

[JUSTIN, his back to them, stares straight ahead … and a tear rolls down one cheek as — ]

[ — BRUTUS turns from JUSTIN, then leads him towards the gallows, with TEMPLETON behind him, crossbow at his back, prodding JUSTIN forward with the barbed weapon.]

[BRUTUS climbs up to the platform quickly — and the stairs squeak under the executioner’s weight.]

[JUSTIN pauses, fearfully watching BRUTUS’s ascent, the chain long enough that the Executioner reaches the top before the chain loses its slack.]

[Reaching the top, BRUTUS feels the chain tighten again — as JUSTIN once more holds back, making him pause to look at the chain in his paw ... and he turns to look down on JUSTIN. He scowls, holding up the chain’s wrist-loop, … a very obvious threat to JUSTIN, if he does not move.]

[For a brief moment, JUSTIN can only stare back, helplessly, frozen in terror. His breath uneven with fear, he gulps, trembling violently, his knees weak — and trembling. Panting with terror, he nearly collapses, fighting to remain on his feet.]

[Again, BRUTUS gives the chain another few brutal yanks, making JUSTIN gasp and grunt in pain, eyes pressed shut, his teeth bared.]

[Standing right behind him, TEMPLETON prods JUSTIN in the back with his cross-bow, spurring him forward cruelly, the arrow’s head presses into JUSTIN’s back, making JUSTIN gasp in pain, eyes pressed shut, teeth bared.]

[Trembling and cowering, his ears flattened, his mouth agape slightly in despairing terror, his nose held low, JUSTIN is unable to take his eyes off the noose, as he slowly begins to ascend the steps up to the platform.]

[There is dead still silence — and each wooden step creaks and squeals from each of JUSTIN’s slow, trembling steps.]

[While BENJAMIN and RATTEN police the crowd, ready to shoot or strike down any would-be rescuers, TEMPLETON follows JUSTIN up to the platform, keeping his cross-bow on their helpless prisoner’s back.]

[With TEMPLETON standing right behind him, his crossbow still at his back, JUSTIN moves slowly to take his place over the platform’s wide trap door — and he fearfully stands there, facing BRUTUS.]

[BRUTUS stares at him with his icy, glowing blue eyes, scowling, his arms crossed.]

[The noose hangs down between them, only inches away ... and JUSTIN fights to keep from looking at it, as a light breeze makes it sway slowly and his gaze is forced towards it helplessly, making him shudder; he closes his eyes in despair.]

[BRUTUS reaches out and takes JUSTIN’s arm ... and turns him to face JENNER.]

[JUSTIN gasps, partly at BRUTUS’s sudden man-handling of him and partly because the action causes him to bump the noose with his snout, ... causing it to sway about even more, threateningly, as if it were alive, frightening JUSTIN. He fights to hide his reaction.]

[TEMPLETON roughly binds JUSTIN’s ankles together, then jumps down from the gallows’ high platform.]

[Very slowly, BRUTUS moves to stand behind JUSTIN — and taking out a key, unlocks the neck-shackle from JUSTIN’s neck, passing it to TEMPLETON — who goes off to join BENJAMIN and RATTEN to enforce crowd control.]

[His neck suddenly exposed from the iron shackle, JUSTIN gulps hard, staring at JENNER in despair, terror and angry defiance, but he looks as if he is drained of all strength, totally surrendered, hopelessly doomed.]

[Slowly, BRUTUS takes the noose — and brings it up over JUSTIN’s head ... and then, he lowers it down, very slowly, around JUSTIN’s neck.]

[JUSTIN flinches, seemingly startled and alarmed, even more hopeless than ever before — ]

[ — as BRUTUS puts the noose around JUSTIN’s neck.]

[Pausing, BRUTUS slowly takes hold of the slipknot in one paw, then the rope close to it in his other paw … and quickly pulls it tight — uncomfortably tight.]

[JUSTIN chokes and gags even more painfully as the rope is pulled taut — and the noose pulls to its maximum tightness around his throat.]

[Then, BRUTUS turns to where the noose’s rope is anchored to the scaffold ... and briefly loosens it, pulling down on it to eliminate the slack, pulling down on the gallows’ noose, making it even tighter — around JUSTIN’s throat.]

[JUSTIN is forced to stand on his toes to avoid being strangled, to delay the inevitable.]

(Oh, God — please!)

[He stares at JENNER, pleadingly, chin trembling, gasping and panting, baring his teeth in pain and terror.]

[With the pupils of his eyes dilated quite noticibly, his eyes are wide, glissening with tears — and the tears begin to slide down his pale cheeks, slowly. He shakes his head helplessly, pleadingly, then closes his eyes to weep, teeth bared. He opens his eyes again to try to plead for mercy with his eyes.]

[JENNER stares at him in satisfied triumph, grinning, eyes narrowed; forcing JUSTIN to look away, closing his eyes for a moment.]

[Standing there in the gallows with the noose chokingly tight around his throat, making his terrified panting labored, JUSTIN stares skywards as if praying, teeth bared, tears rolling down his face ... with the noose so tight around his throat that it makes the fur on his neck, below and above the noose, stick out in furry spikes.]

[JENNER continues to glare at him in triumph, still grinning evilly.]

[Irreconcilably doomed, JUSTIN can only stare back, looking drained of all strength, trembling and still weeping silently.]

[BRUTUS turns to JENNER questioningly, drawing JUSTIN’s gaze.]

[JENNER looks at BRUTUS, then back at JUSTIN.]

[BRUTUS follows his gaze, looking towards JUSTIN, too.]

[JUSTIN stares back at JENNER, then BRUTUS, staring from one to the other — and back again, silently begging for mercy as he shakes his head desperately, and looking as if he is about to burst into tears any time, trembling. His breath comes in short, weak gasps. His heart pounds in his ears, echoing, painfully loud.]

[In one paw, BRUTUS takes up the cord that will activate the trapdoor beneath JUSTIN. He bounces the handled end of it almost playfully — but menacingly]:

[With perspiration on his brow, JUSTIN stares at this action with terror-widened eyes — then at BRUTUS; he shakes his head pleadingly; whispering]:

Oh, God, ... please! N-No!

[ISABELLA stares at him and he stares back at her, seeing tears in her eyes.]

No! No! Oh — Oh, God — no!

:{moaned whisper}:

Oh, no. Oh-hhh, … please. No!

[Her forepaws go over her mouth — with growing horror.]

[BRUTUS chuckles, then steps off the platform, holding the rope that activates the trap door beneath JUSTIN.]

[The cord is very long, long enough to reach JENNER’s private box.]

[Approaching JENNER, BRUTUS hands the rope to him.]

My Lord, ... the honor of carrying out this extermination ... belongs to you. <Chuckle> May you make this death one to be remembered — for the masses!

[JENNER pauses briefly, then casually reaches for the cord, grasping it firmly in his good paw.]

[Watching this, JUSTIN desperately, but weakly, strains at his bounds, weeping, his teeth bared in terror, panting with pain and fear. He cringes with helpless terror as — ]

[ — JENNER looks back at him, a hateful, cold, sharp, peircing glare.]

[Dreadingly, JUSTIN stares at his captor, his chest heaving as he pants in fear thru’ bared teeth.]

:{whispering}:

No! Oh — Oh, … n-n-no, ... pl-p-please! <Choke>

[Again, he tears flow freely as he struggles to surpress his sobs]:

H-Have mercy on me! Pl-Please! H-Have mercy —

[He breaks off, panting.]

[JENNER pauses, then addresses JUSTIN]:

… Wilson, ... do you have ... any last words, … anything to say, ... before your sentence ... of death by hanging ... is executed?

[JUSTIN pauses before answering, looking defeated, his will crushed; but he suddenly manages to gain control over himself enough to speak ... without bursting into tears.]

[Seeming to actually relax a bit, he answers in a choked voice, due to the tightness of the noose as well as the situation, which makes him sound hoarse, for it is a very painful strain on him to speak now]:

:{shuddering as he sighs}:

<Sigh> All ... that I can say is, ... I ... I knew ... you were — and always were — trouble. I — I ... knew ... it would come to th-this ... one day, ... that ... you’d try to get rid of me ...

<Chuckle> So, ... you expected this, eh? You expected that it would come to this? Such a pity. To think we were once good friends — such good friends that you even looked up to me … and idolized me, … when I was Nicodemus’s Captain of the Guard — and you when my apprentice, learning everything I could teach you — that is, … before he betrayed me … and gave my job to you — and more! Yes, once we were such fine friends. But, not now. No, … since then, … I’ve changed. Still, … we could have still been friends ... had you learned.

"Friends"? I ... don’t know ... if I can believe that. Are you serious? Were you ever ... really my friend — or were you just putting on an act, … to get me off my guard? Just so I wouldn’t be prepared for your treachery — and be even more hurt by it as well, … when you decided to go — and ... and do this to me?

[At this, JENNER pauses, looking down on JUSTIN ... with what looks almost like regret ... and pity.]

:{softly — seemingly with actual regret }:

It did not have to come down to this. Believe it or not, … I was once very fond of you. I am sorry, truly, ... I am sorry that you never learned how to play the "game", as I would have certainly ... allowed you to live. That is, … if only you had; we could have ruled — together. Ah, … Wilson, ... things could have been — so different! As I said, … I am sorry. It is truly sad to see you reduced — to this, ... for us to end ... this way.

[JUSTIN shakes his head.]

I can’t believe that. You always wanted to rule. You wanted me out of the way; you always did. I used to see it ... in your eyes. You always meant to do me ... some kind of harm. I don’t believe you ever really did like me — or if you did, it didn’t last long enough to matter very much ... I think you always hated me and wanted me out of your way — right? I realize that now. I knew you resented me — but I ... I didn’t know your hate ran so deep — or that you’d would go ... so far. I ... I’ll ... that bet you were planning this — for a very long time. I ... I can’t believe, then, that you’d really spare me — just ... because we — we were ... once ... friends — and I ... I don’t believe ... that you’d really want to "share" my own administration with me, ... either.

:{harshly}:

That is right, Wilson. Your administration! Perhaps I did like you well enough at one time to call you "friend" — and I did — and it does not matter whether you believe it or not ... because it has been quite some time since I have — not after that old fool had picked you ... over me! Hah! I hated you when I heard that that decrepid, old fool Nicodemus was training you to be leader — over me! <Laugh> Training! You needed training! That is a laugh. If Nicodemus had had any real vision or true wisdom on the matter, he would have realized that I am a true, natural leader — a true Chief Administrator. No, … I needed no training!

:{sourly}:

Of course not. Well, who needs training to be a murderer ... and a tyrant — when you’re already a natural at it! You’re no leader, no Chief! You’re a natural-born killer, … you —

:{angry}:

How dare you!? What makes you think that you have the right ... to judge me so!? And as for my being Chief, I have a right to take the Chieftain-ship of the colony! Because, Wilson, ... it was to be mine to begin with ... and you know it! Tell me, ... am I supposed to stand back ... while what is rightfully mine is stolen from me ... and by you!? Am I just to stand aside ... and do nothing — while you are given what rightfully belongs to me!?

[He pauses, glaring down at JUSTIN with seething rage]:

Even now, I still do not see how he could do that to me. As you know, Nicodemus and I were once ... old friends — and for a much longer time than he and I had ever known you! And then, he gives you the position that we had agreed, that he promised me — by mutual, unspoken agreement on our friendship ... what would one day be mine! Just as it has always belonged to me!

[He pauses, glaring down at JUSTIN with seething rage]:

And then, ... he broke that promise — in favor of you, you who are, for all intents and purposes, little more than a complete stranger ... to us both, Nicodemus and I! So in many ways, then, he received just what he deserved, for betraying my trust in him — as an old and dear friend.

Huh! With a friend like you, he didn’t need any enemies, huh? He paid a big price in calling you ... any kind of a "friend", ... huh?

Oh, he paid alright — and dearly — for the offense of betraying me, our friendship! He did not get away — with that — and neither shall you. By all rights, you should have declined in my favor — and you know it! You knew that the chieftain-ship was to be mine, that it was mine — all along!

[He pauses, glaring down at JUSTIN with seething rage]:

So, you see now, do you not? You have to die now, Wilson! You have to die — because if I let you live, I know, you will try to take from me my position in this community — at the first chance you get, ... if I do not destroy you — first! Therefore, I must take your life ... and see to it that your life ends ... here and now — before you destroy me!

[JUSTIN is puzzled and bewildered.]

(!?) Destroy ... you? I — I … don’t understand. How could I —

[JENNER trembles with raging fury at this.]

JENNER:{snarling}:

As if you do not remember that night in the garden!

[He slams his fist down on the partition that surrounds his seat, making JUSTIN flinch at this, suddenly silent.]

[JUSTIN stares at him in wide-eyed astonishment.]

:{bewildered}:

Yes! So you see now, justice is about to be served ... and just as I served it ... to Nicodemus!

B-But — But Nicodemus picked me ... over you — because he saw that you would be an unjust leader! And you’re proving it right now! You’re a murderer! I … I was just ... trying to defend myself that night! And now — this!

:{ignoring Justin’s comment}:

Just as I said, Wilson. Justice is about to be served!

:{indignant and incredulous}:

Damn! T-This ... is madness! You say ... I ... was trying ... to kill ... you? Man, do you have reality distorted! You were ... trying to ... to kill me! It — It was me ... that was nearly killed that night — by you. And ... And I certainly ... didn’t start it! I — I was just defending myself ... from you — and you know it! And now, … you ... you’re trying to kill me again ... and this time, I — I can’t even defend myself! Dammit! I ... I can’t even move!

You have no one to blame, but yourself, Wilson. Do not seek to implicate me. All of this — this situation — is ... your own fault, my friend. Yours. You have given me ... no choice! None whatsoever ... at all. Not then — and, ... certainly, not now. You ... would have destroyed me ... and stolen my position ... if I had let you get away with it! As you see, ... I had to do something!

So. So that’s it! You killed Nicodemus, you attacked and nearly killed Mrs. Brisby, you nearly caused her children their deaths — they were nearly drowned in mud because the block-house ... was starting to sink ... with them trapped in it — no thanks to you! And on top of all that, ... you tried to steal the Stone — and when I tried to stop you, ... you try to blame me — for Nicodemus’s decision to make me Chief after him! And then, you accuse me of trying to steal "your" position — and trying to murder you! Boy, you really do have reality all twisted around! You are mad! You have no sense of reality at all! You’re insane, ... you really are insane!

[For a brief second, JENNER looks like this might enrage him again, but then his reaction goes towards something of a reversal]:

<Chuckle> So, ... who said any of us ... are completely sane?

:{somewhat taken aback}:

... Well, ... well, you sure the hell aren’t!

[JENNER seems impatient and bored.]

… Are you quite done now?

[JUSTIN stares at him in angry defiance for a moment; then looks down, crestfallen with dismayed despair]:

<Sigh> I — I ... guess, ... I have ... nothing more to say ... to you. I ... I don’t think either of us have anything else to say to each other now, ... do we?

:{mockingly}:

<Tsk, tsk> Such a shame, ... really. A real shame, Wilson. Too bad — for you. But now, we get on with business, ... eh? <Chuckle> So, Wilson, ... are you quite ready ... to die now?

[JUSTIN’s indignance gives away once more to helplessness as his defiant expression drops away — and he trembles in fear. When he answers, it is almost in pleading]:

:{wretchedly}:

... N-No. But that ... doesn’t matter to you, ... does it?

Certainly not. If I left it up to you, ... you would never be ready, would you? And I certainly cannot use your cowardice as a gauge — for when you are — or I would have you as a prisoner forever. Besides, you really deserve ... far worse ... than languishing around in a dungeon ... for the rest of your miserable life — such as it is! No, you deserve your death — right here and now, ... on this day! You deserve to suffer ... and die!

[He pauses, then goes on grimly]:

By all rights, Wilson, I should really have you tortured to death — which would really be quite enjoyable. In fact, ... were I fit, I would carry out the actual act myself — and probably have you disemboweled! Ah, … what satisfaction that would be — yes, to gut you — and slowly, ... oh, yes, very slowly — in full view ... of everyone!

[JUSTIN cowers in horror at this, letting out a little cry of revulsion.]

But as I am wounded, ... I supposed I will just have to be content with pulling this cord. Anyway, having just taken this colony, ... I have not the time to stretch out your death ... into a lengthy affair — otherwise, perhaps, ... I might just have my men run you thru’. However, it will be enough of a consolation for me to know that you will be tortured enough, when you strangle to death — in that noose! Which, when I think of it, shall be a much harder end — for you! No. I don’t care, not one bit, whether you feel that you are ready to die or not … and I am certainly not about to waste mercy on you ... and nor will I pander to your cowardly indecision on the matter, as if it was your decision to begin with, ... which ... it is not!

That ... isn’t surprising. I ... I don’t think you’d be that merciful anyway. You certainly weren’t ... before — and you aren’t now, ... now that you’ve ... come back. And I guess, ... with me about to — t-to ... uh, ... "lose", ... it’s for keeps now, ... isn’t it ... ?

[He drops his voice low to mutter]:

Oh, Heaven help everyone here ...

:{hissing growl}:

Yes. Yes, it is, as you put it, "for keeps". Indeed. For you are about to die! So, then, my young friend, you must realize that when I proclaimed my return, I was not jesting ... !

:{bitter despair}:

It proves benevolent to know when to decline, Genre. I mean, didn’t you learn anything in Farmer Fitzgibbons’s garden that night? I mean, … besides what you ... think ... you’ve learned?

Yes, Wilson. Oh, yes. I did. I learned ... never to leave my battles only half finished — or to take my own effectiveness for granted.

:{bitterly}:

Y’know, Genre, ... one day, you’ll go too far. And then, ... well ...

[He stops, shrugging.]

[JENNER’s attitude seems to change at this and his tone instantly becomes strangely soft, almost explanitory]:

Oh, I lost the first time we faced each other. Those two times in the garden, before everyone, then again when we were alone — it is true, of course. I can admit my defeats.

[At this, JUSTIN looks increduously astonished.]

But, ... after that, it was ... different. You merely thought you had defeated me again, when we fought over the river. But, no — you didn’t ...

[JUSTIN closes his eyes, pouting in despair, not seeing how JENNER glances uncertainly at his broken arm.]

Obviously ...

[JUSTIN is oblivious to JENNER’s brief vulnerability]:

B-But ... But ... I ... I ... s-saw you fall ... into the Trout River, ... w-when ... my brother ... pushed you ... off the cliff. And then, the water, ... it ... i-it turned ... r-red ... w-with ... with y-your — yo — your —

[JENNER interrupts with a whip-like sharpness]:

So! You thought you were rid of me — finally, eh?

[He goes on, his tone harsher, almost raving as he stresses each word]:

That ... is what you all thought at the time ... because it was what I wanted all of you to think! It was all just as I planned it —

[JUSTIN interrupts with a dead-dry, bitter, incredulous tone, laced with cold, hard resentment and despair ... and thick with biting, mocking sarcasm]:

Yeah, Jenner, ... right. Just ... as you planned it. Oh, sure — you really won, … yeah. You planned it like that — all along, … your nearly drowning in the river. Just as you planned for me to accidently break your arm this last time, uh huh — oh, yeah. Right. You planned everything so good — didn’t you?

[At this, JENNER suddenly flushes — with shocked embarrassment and indignant rage. Quickly regaining his dignity, he sneers, eyes turning fiery red.]

:{low sneering growl}:

[He pauses, testing the weight of the cord in his paw, bouncing it lightly a few times before gripping it firmly.]

[JUSTIN is pallid with horror ... and angry at his helplessness, mouth and eyes wide as he goes lividly pale, terrified and trembling, shaking his head slightly, pleadingly.]

[He raises his voice to suddenly shout at everyone]:

And this shall go for the rest of you! The first one to defy my authority shall follow this wretched, meddling traitor! I will tolerate no defiance — from any of you! Observe — and be warned —

[JUSTIN suddenly shouts out at him in despairing anger as tears run freely down his pale face, his indigant defiance dissolving into sobs]:

[Enraged, JENNER’s eyes fairly glow an orange-red now as he bares his teeth in seething anger, at first too enraged to even speak right away; but then]:

:{shouting back}:

[He slowly loops the cord around his wrist, twice, three times, gripping it even tighter.]

[JUSTIN stares at this motion in horror, breathing hard, persperation pouring down his brow, heart pounding, his teeth bared; he cries out suddenly]:

:{crying}:

No! Oh — Oh, God — please, no! No!

Ohhhh, no! Please! No! Don’t! Don’t!

Oh, no! Have mercy on me — p-please!

[As his plea ends, JUSTIN weeps openly now, breaking down to cry helplessly, sobbing in pain and terror, writhing weakly in his bonds]:

:{whisper}:

Please! Oh, … please! Please, … don’t!

[The drummer starts up again, this time with a rapid death roll on his drum.]

:{whisper}:

Oh — Oh, God! Oh, … God — please!

[JUSTIN seems to surrender completely to his fate, as if trying to ready himself for death. Gazing skyward, tears stream down his cheeks, then he closes his eyes tightly, head back, nose held high, his teeth bared, persperation on his brow. Heart pounding, his breath comes fast and hard, his bounded paws balled into tight fists — as he strains his wrists against the ropes.]

[In the audience, everyone is horrified. Most are simply too shocked to move. Some just close their eyes, others avert their gazes altogether, some actually covering their eyes; many are weeping in grief and fear; males, females, and their children — of whome turn to hide their faces against their mothers’ skirts — or those of the children too afraid to do so themselves having their faces turned into skirts by their mothers, and females burying their faces on their husbands’ shoulders.]

[JENNER is about to pull the rope — ]

No! Please, no!

[ — as ISABELLA tries to suddenly wrestle the rope away from him ... and he knocks her back again, snarling, about to pull the cord — ]

[ — when suddenly, JACKSON appears behind JENNER, leaping over the back of the private seating box’s partition — and seizing JENNER in a choke-hold.]