RAT RACE: A TRILOGY OF TROUBLE

By Dawn G. Griffiths

Willis barely escapes from the out-law traitor Jenner, managing to get to safety — and report the alarming news to Justin, confirming that the young Chief was not delusional after a head injury after their climactic first fight.

The youth’s report resulted in an enraged Chief Justin recklessly bolting into the nearby woods to confront his great enemy — and make the murderous Jenner pay for the untimely death of Nicodemus. His recklessness almost costs Justin his life. But now, … it is over.

Or — is it … ?

[It is later on now, in the evening.]

[JUSTIN is in his office tent, at his desk.]

[ARNOLD stands before him, talking]:

... and on that note, we should be finally able to move into the new cave spaces by the end of the week ... or the week after next at the very latest, since we’ve been sending work teams up here from our old colony ... and they’ve been enlarging the original caves that our explorers found — even before we left the farm.

Fine. Good, then. And now that we’re back on track, food won’t be a problem either, since by that same token, we’ve been moving supplies up here as well. We’ll eat well this winter, won’t we? And have some great crops to Plant in the spring. It’s gonna be a good, fine harvest come next fall, ... hey?

:{smiling; nods}:

Yep. Oh, by the way, our guests have been secured for the night, with a nice, private tent in the residential corner of the camp. The missus said they’d spend a few days to visit and rest a little. I asked them if they wanted to live here with us, like you told me to, that you invited them to; but Mrs. Brisby said they didn’t want to intrude, that their home is on the farm and we went thru’ so much — y’know, to make sure it could stay their home. But they are comfortable right now ...

<Sigh> Well, we did go thru’ a lot of trouble in moving their house —

Did we ever!

and they know it ... Besides, as Mrs. Brisby said, it’s still their home and now it’s safe from the tractor. It isn’t right and we don’t have the right to force them to stay — especially if they don’t want to.

I dunno ‘bout that. I got the impression the kids would love to. It’s their mama who’s the hold-out. But I think that in time, even she’d like to live close to us.

Who knows? Maybe someday, they will decide to live with us.

:{shrugging}:

Yeah, ... maybe. I ... guess so. You’re right — as usual. Just like you say, if they wanna come back, that’s their right ... and their business — just as much as not, eh?

Right. Now, why don’t you get outta here and take care of our guests, whether they need anything or not — so I can get something done. Y’know, ever since we reached the valley, I’ve not been able to log a single decent journal entry? Go on. Get outta here awhile, will ya?

:{laughing}:

[JUSTIN gives him a mock-dirty look, then smiles wryly.]

Oh, ha-ha, … that’s really funny.

I shoulda known, eh? Especially since earlier today! You must have a heap to catch up on!

<Sigh> Um-hmm, yeah.

[ARNOLD turns to exits.]

<Chuckle> Wise-guy...

[ARNOLD bumps into ISABELLA as he exits and she enters.]

Hey!

:{exiting}:

Oh — ‘scuse me!

Hello, Izzy. I mean, Isabella. To what do I have the honor — of this intrusion?

[ISABELLA has her paws on her hips; good-naturedly]:

ISABELLA:{jokingly}:

Really, Justin. Ever since you won your office, you have grown considerably more ill-mannered. Power for anybody ... does really go right to the head, doesn’t it? You know what they say about absolute power. Corrupts absolutely, huh? But I still love you all the more in spite of it.

<Sigh> Uh-huh, very funny, Izz. I’m not corrupted; I’m behind in my work ... and these interruptions don’t help. Now, may we dispense with the jokes — and get down to brass tax so I can get back to work?

[ISABELLA looks dismayed at JUSTIN’s response and attitude.]

So what’s up anyway?

:{coldly}:

You’ve got ... another interruption, I’m afraid, ... as you’ve got company outside — and ... he says he wants to see you — right now.

[She turns away before JUSTIN can answer]:

... so I’ll have him in to see you.

Now, wait a minute. Does he have an appointment? I just can’t have everyone barging in here whenever they please — you know that. You know, I have way too much ...

[She exits before he finishes and he lets his words trail off]:

... to do ...

[JUSTIN watches her go with an expression of puzzlement and hurt.]

[With a sigh, he shrugs and turns back to his work.]

[JUSTIN does not see that when ISABELLA gets outside, someone seizes her from behind, pulling her away, a paw over her mouth as she struggles.]

[Meanwhile, JUSTIN returns to the work on his desk.]

[He opens an envolope, takes out the contents, and puts this material at the upper-left hand part of his desk, taking the top page, which is half filled, reads it, pauses to think, eyes on the tent ceiling, chin in one paw.]

[He picks up a quill, dips it in ink, and starts to write.]

[As he does, a dark shadow suddenly appears — and falls over him, blocking off his light (from an oil lamp across the room) as he works.]

[With a mild start, he looks up.]

[And sees another rat, standing before him, in some kind of a hooded robe that covers everything — the too-big of a hood completely covers the stranger’s face and the too-long sleeves seem to cover the stranger’s (apparently) folded forepaws. Nothing is left visable.]

[JUSTIN stares in astonished puzzlement of this, taken aback.]

Oh! Excuse me. I ... I didn’t hear you come in. Y’know, you really should have made an appointment — or something — to see me. I’m sure everyone knows I have so much to do. Really, … more than I can really handle. So, uh, ... now then, ... how can I help you?

[After a very brief pause, the stranger speaks softly]:

[Horrified, JUSTIN tenses, recognizing the voice]:

:{whisper}:

[Suddenly, the stranger (JENNER) whips off the hood, looking insane with rage, face scarred from his fall.]

[JUSTIN lets out a cried gasp of horror.]

[JENNER finishes, shouting in rage]:

[JUSTIN cries out in alarmed terror as JENNER throws off his robe — and as he does so, it swirls in JUSTIN’s face, briefly blinding him in the black cloth.]

[Now JENNER’s wounds are more apparent without the robe; the bandages around his mid-section are new — with a fresh spot of blood showing red on his right and two lesser spots on his left side, his left sleeve torn and a bloody bandage around that arm, a bloody bandage around his lower right leg, a bandaged brow — all evidence of his fall into the Trout River.]

[There is a lightning flash of metal as JENNER whips out his sword and brings it crashing down onto JUSTIN’s desk, slashing the air-borne robe thru’, too.]

[There is a loud "Rip!" from the slashed robe — and it flies down on either side of the desk in two heaps.]

[JENNER’s sword becomes slightly imbedded. The paper JUSTIN was writing splits in two and both pieces both flutter to the groung on either side of the desk, two wounded, bicuspid butterflies — so does the quill, being a feather; it goes much further, but slower. The ink-well is knocked to the floor and its contents is overturned, the ink-well itself breaking.]

[As the sword strikes down, JUSTIN cries out in horrified alarm ... and tries to stand up — ]

[ — but JENNER tears his sword free of the desk top — and before JUSTIN can stand up completely, JENNER puts the tip of his sword at JUSTIN’s throat, forcing him to sit back down, terrified, grasping the arms of his chair in a white-knuckled grip, trembling.]

:{shouting}:

For I think that it is you who needs that help, Wilson, … as you really do have more to do than you can handle — now!

[Lowering his voice to a growl, he goes on]:

And as for an appointment, I do happen to have one, you little wretch — and it is quite long overdue!

[He raises his voice slightly; hissing loudly]:

[Shaking his head, pleadingly, JUSTIN is about to speak, his mouth opening to protest.]

[Seeing that JUSTIN is about to speak, JENNER snarls at him savagely]:

[JUSTIN flinches, crying out in terror … and pain — ]

[ — as JENNER jabs his sword at JUSTIN’s throat; he goes on, his voice dropping to a growl]:

A single false move — or even a word — from you, you little meddler, ... and ... you ... die! That is, … quite a bit sooner than I have Planned for you —

<Gasp>

— since we have some unfinished business ... first.

[JUSTIN shrinks back in terror and shock in his chair, trembling and breathing hard in fear; teeth bared, brow furrowed, gulping hard — as his trembling slowly worsens.]

[Sneering, JENNER pauses, glaring hatefully at his frightened enemy, his eyes narrowing dangerously.]

Now then, my little friend, I have been told ... and by several different sources so far, while in disguise, of course, and they all confirm it ... that you have the Amulet. Undoubtably, hidden somewhere ... close ...

[JUSTIN can barely answer, trembling so violently as he is, persperation forming on his brow, under his fur. He tries to speak; faulteringly]:

H-How — ? Wh-Who — ?

JENNER:{snarling}:

[JUSTIN responses at once, defiantly, but terrified]:

JUSTIN:{desperately}:

I — I’ll never tell you — never!

... before I thrust this blade — right thru’ your miserable throat!

[Gulping hard, JUSTIN freezes in horror — as JENNER finishes his threat; then]:

:{whisper}:

... N- No. No, ... n-never!

JENNER:{slow growl}:

You tell me … right now, … you little wretch, ... or ... you ... shall ... die!

JUSTIN:{bared teeth}:

N-N-Never! I — I’ll n-never tell you … w-where it is — never! Y-You can go ... and rot ... in H-Hell ... before I — I do! So, … g-go a-ahead, … I — I know y-you’re gonna d-do it … anyway! G-Get it over with ... b-because … I — I’ll n-never tell you ... a — a thing! N-N-Never!

[For a long moment, they glare at each other, totally motionless: JENNER narrows his eyes, seeming about to carry out his threat, for all intents and purposes — as JUSTIN glares at him in defiance … and terror, gulping.]

[Involuntarily, however, JUSTIN’s gaze wanders to the corner — where an object lies hidden under a white dust cover on a pedestal.]

[JENNER carefully studies JUSTIN’s expression ... and follows his gaze. Seeing the covered object, he grins with malicious triumph.]

[He turns his gaze back to JUSTIN, contemptuously menacing.]

[JUSTIN stares at him in dismayed alarm.]

[Sneering, JENNER suddenly calls over his shoulder]:

[Before JUSTIN can react, TEMPLETON WILLARD and RATTEN WARWICK dart in.]

[TEMPLETON is a white rat, with a drole, sour-looking face that is prematurely lined and withered, giving him a look of premature age. He is wearing a sleeveless wine-red tunic ... and has dark grey gauntleted forepaws with black tops.]

[RATTEN is a greyish-tan rat, with a violet tunic with long sleeves. He bares Nazi swastika bands on both of his upper arms and has an eye-patch over his left eye, to which a nasty-looking scar is visible ... and wears a monocle on his right eye. He is shorter than TEMPLETON.]

[Both are armed with short swords that are almost like large daggers.]

[The pair run up to either side of JUSTIN, TEMPLETON on his left and RATTEN on his right grab his arms; to restrain him, the pair twist his arms back up behind the high back of the chair, making JUSTIN cry out, sharply, in pain.]

[Sheathing his sword, JENNER turns to investigate the mysterious object in the corner.]

[He crosses the office to it and whips off the white dust-cloth. It is NICODEMUS’s jewel box.]

[JENNER raises the lid — and inside is]:

[The Amulet. It glows softly, illuminating the tent with with its soft and radiant crimson glow.]

[JENNER involuntarily gasps at the sight of it, in awe, astonishment, and pleasure, his eyes wide, mouth agape, slowly raising a paw to slowly reach for it and caress it, almost seemingly hypnotized, his carass almost sensuous.]

[JUSTIN watches, transfixed and frozen in horror and dread, angered by his helplessness. He tries to break loose from the two Hench Rats, whimpering in pain as he struggles, but he fails to break free from JENNER’s two minions, becoming still again.]

[JENNER slowly lifts the Amulet from its chest.]

[He turns back to the others, holding the Amulet, cupped in his paw, slowly approaching them, looking as if he is in another world, one of total ecstasy — as he continues to stare at the Amulet in his palm.]

[Cowering in dread, JUSTIN stares at him in horror — and anger.]

[The two Hench Rats have neutral, poker-face expressions — with just the faintest hint of triumph.]

[JENNER stops a short ways from JUSTIN’s desk.]

[He continues to admire the Amulet’s gleaming, glowing scarlet surface.]

[When he finally speaks again, it is softly and slowly]:

Ah, ... yes. Things are beginning to get nice. Nice ... again. ... For me!

[He looks up sharply at JUSTIN, sneering hard, hatefully ... and he advances towards JUSTIN, menacingly, stopping right at the desk.]

[JUSTIN involuntarily cowers even more, trembling; his breath quickens involuntarily, as does his pulse, staring up at him in dread.]

JENNER:{snarling}:

[Teeth bared, brow furrowed, JUSTIN recoils as if from a blow.]

[He holds up the Amulet, triumphantly, in one fist.]

[He reaches for his sheathed sword.]

[JUSTIN is terrified at this at first, trembling hard, staring at JENNER in horror, breathing hard; then he is angry, resuming his struggling.]

[TEMPLETON and RATTEN must really hold on to him now to restrain him.]

[JUSTIN shouts defiantly at JENNER as he struggles]:

No-oooo! No, ... you can’t, ... you — you mustn’t! Put it back, put it down! Now!

:{drawing his sword}:

<Chuckle> You are in no position to be giving me orders, Wilson. Do not tell me what I cannot ... or ... must not do, you meddling, little wretch. Do not tell me to do anything. Do not forget who is the Master here now, ... you worthless little worm! But now, ... our business is finally complete — and so, ... now ... I shall have ... my revenge!

[As he speaks, he menaces JUSTIN with his sword, shaking the blade in JUSTIN’s face. Then, he raises his sword, aiming for JUSTIN’s chest.]

[At first, JUSTIN is frozen with horror, watching the blade draw back — very slowly, as JENNER stretches the moment out (for suspense).]

[He resumes struggling — fiercely.]

:{to the Hench Rats}:

[With an-almost-final burst of strength, JUSTIN breaks loose from TEMPLETON’s and RATTEN’s grip, snarling in pain, lunging across the desk.]

[JENNER is about to strike him down, but JUSTIN rams into him, making him drop his sword and stagger back.]

[JUSTIN lashes out, seizing the Amulet, still partly consumed in JENNER’s fist, grabbing JENNER’s wrist of the same paw with his free paw.]

[JENNER, in alarm, cuffs JUSTIN on the head with his fist.]

[JUSTIN, teeth bared and eyes pressed shut, ignores this and hangs on, as TEMPLETON and RATTEN lunge for him with their short swords drawn.]

Look out, Templeton, he’s —

[Confused, RATTEN is slow on the uptake; but TEMPLETON’s lead motivates him to action.]

[They grab at JUSTIN’s arms with their free paws.]

[TEMPLETON raises his blade to strike, aiming for JUSTIN’s back — as JUSTIN struggles to get up, rolling onto his back.]

[RATTEN prepares to stab at him, preparing to slice open JUSTIN’s stomach — as he rolls onto his back.]

[Terrified, then angry, JUSTIN kicks them off.]

[One blow gets TEMPLETON in the crotch, painfully doubling him over, the other blow gets RATTEN in the stomach, knocking the breath out of him and sending him staggering back, gasping, losing his monocle in the process. Both are severly stunned at the moment.]

[Both drop their blades and staggering back.]

[Snarling and screaming unintelligibly at each other, JENNER and JUSTIN continue to grapple for the Amulet, scratching and biting at each others paws and arms, cuffing each other, still struggling for the Amulet, teeth bared in determination and the effort.]

[Finally, tho’, JUSTIN manages to tear the Amulet from JENNER’s grasp and viciously cuffs JENNER hard and squarely in the snout with one fist, stunning him badly.]

[JENNER staggers back, away from JUSTIN, grasping his bloodied nose.]

[TEMPLETON and RATTEN recover — as does JENNER, less stunned as he is — and grab their short swords.]

[JENNER recovers his weapon as well.]

[JUSTIN, clutching the Amulet, grabs a new quarter-staff (lighter in color, with metal-tipped ends, to indicate that it is a different weapon), and charges at TEMPLETON and RATTEN as they attempt to block off his escape.]

[He knocks TEMPLETON clear — and sends RATTEN ducking out of the way as he bolts out of the tent office.]

[TEMPLETON cries out from where he lands]:

Benjamin — get ‘im, ‘ere ‘e comes!

[Outside, another rat (cream-grey in appearance, wearing a blue tunic without sleeves, with a short collar, a studded belt and light green leather wrist bans) appears, armed with a big iron cudgel.]

[JUSTIN cries out, ducking as BENJAMIN attempts to club him and a glancing blow to his shoulder causes him stagger and nearly fall, then knocks BENJAMIN in the head with his quarter-staff, knocking him down, then bolts, still holding the Amulet tightly.]

[JUSTIN flees, with the Amulet in one paw and his quarter-staff in the other.]

[TEMPLETON and RATTEN come thru’ the door. RATTEN hurries on to pursue JUSTIN, but TEMPLETON pauses to help BENJAMIN.]

[JENNER, in a blind rage, charges out so fast, he knocks TEMPLETON out of his way and forces RATTEN to leap to one side to avoid getting trampled.]

[Not stopping, he yells back to his men, snarling as he charges]:

[The three Hench Rats recover and split up.]

[At this, JUSTIN keeps running, his bravado gone, now terrified and running scared, panting hard thru’ bared teeth as he runs, leaping over rough terrain.]

[Even as JUSTIN does so, a great, swooping shape — the hawk SHADOW-WING — appears and dives for JUSTIN, black claws extended, razor-sharp talons gleaming evilly, snatching for him.]

[JUSTIN dives out of the way, falls down and rolls onto his feet.]

[Suddenly, BRUTUS GIDEONS leaps out from behind a stone outcropping, blocking off JUSTIN’s escape, swinging his terrible, jagged electro-spear, which violently spits out a vicious electrical charge as it slashes the air, narrowly missing JUSTIN, the charge leaping and swirling around JUSTIN — as the young Chief attempts to leap clear, stumbling away from him, ducking — horrified and alarmed, but angry at this latest betrayal.]

Brutus! What the hell — !? Not you, too!?

[BRUTUS forces JUSTIN to fight and JUSTIN does so temporarily — his escape delayed in the process.]

[JENNER’s battle cry, a loud, blood-curdling snarl, almost a roar, makes JUSTIN break away — and try to run again.]

[As he does so, he suddenly finds himself surrounded by JENNER, TEMPLETON, BENJAMIN, RATTEN, and BRUTUS; all of them circling around him like a pack of wolves closing in for the kill.]

[SHADOW-WING lands on a nearby ledge to observe the fight, looking ready to attack at a second’s notice.]

[Heart pounding and out of breath, JUSTIN gasps heavily in angry, shocked terror, staring wide-eyed around at them, gripping his staff in a white-knuckled grip. Grunting in effort, he swings at them every time one advances, forcing them back; but his swings seem little more than desperate attempts to hold the pack of them away, rather than calculated attacks.]

[They laugh evilly in triumph, toying with their terrified victim, taunting him cruelly, mocking him in his terrified helplessness (both with their words and actions, mockingly and openly hostile — as they occasionally swing a weapon at him, threateningly, the taunts overlap), swinging and jabbing their weapons at him — even as they continue to tease him]:

[Brutus: Micheal Dorn, Star Trek: TNG.]

C’mon, Wilson, try ta get thru’, jus’ try it!

Yeah, Wilson! C’mon, ... see if you can! C’mon!

<Laugh> Come on, Wilson! I’ll let you thru’!

[SHADOW-WING adds his taunts, too, screeching loudly and flapping his wings.]

[Suddenly, JENNER charges JUSTIN, while the others keep a tight circle around them.]

[Armed with a quarter-staff, JUSTIN fights JENNER, who is unfairly armed with his sword. JUSTIN grasps his quarter-staff with both paws, the Amulet hanging on his arm by the loop of its chain.]

[The fight rages for several seconds, back and fourth — as JENNER’s thugs continue to laugh and mock JUSTIN with their cruel taunts.]

[All JUSTIN can manage to do with his quarter-staff is to fend off blows — on an angle, since a direct defense would result in a broken staff — and dodge the blows he cannot fend off.]

[Several times, JUSTIN tries to run, but JENNER’s men force him back, making him resume fighting to avoid being killed, forcing him back each time with their respective individual weapons: TEMPLETON and RATTEN with their short swords, BENJAMIN with his cudgel, and BRUTUS with his spear. Furthermore, every time JUSTIN tries to rush one of JENNER’s minions, he nearly leaves himself open to attack — from behind, nearly taking a blow each time and having to fight to fend it off. And then]:

Do nothing, men, just keep him here! Stay back — and leave him to me!

[JUSTIN is forced back to face JENNER again.]

I will deal with this wretched little meddler myself!

[TEMPLETON raises his sword encouragingly]:

Don’t worry, Yer Honor — he’s all yours. But iffen yer need ‘elp —

[JENNER presses the fight more viciously on JUSTIN.]

[JENNER charges viciously, striking a blow that knocks JUSTIN off his feet.]

[JENNER viciously continues to engage his rival — ]

Oh, no — n-no!

[ — who is now spawled out on the ground, blocking his standing enemy’s continual attempts to take his life. He struggles to his feet and leaps away, but stumbling and tripping.]

[Terrified and exhausted, worn out past his endurance, JUSTIN stumbles and he accidently drops the Amulet — as JENNER reaches for it.]

[The Amulet falls down a seemingly bottemless hole — the opening of which is too small, even for a thin mouse child to get down, let alone a full-grown rat.]

[As the Amulet disappears down the hole, JUSTIN cries out in horror, loosing his grip on his quarter-staff as he makes a fumbled effort to grab at it.]

[But it is JENNER who reacts most strongly — and loudly. Horrified, he drops his sword and attempts to dive for it, screaming his own protest over the event, but misses, landing on his stomach as he screams in horrified rage, his cry overlapping JUSTIN’s]:

No-ooooo!

[Pausing, stunned for a moment, JENNER rises slowly.]

[JUSTIN and JENNER both stare at the hole in silent, mouth-gaping shock, as do the four Hench Rats and the hawk, who stare at the hole, too, then at the two rivals.]

[Both JUSTIN and JENNER are trembling from exertion.]

[JUSTIN, as well, trembles with fear.]

[JENNER trembles, too; but with seething, insane rage, slowly looking up at JUSTIN, with his eyes blazing like wild-fire, glowing red, slowly baring his teeth at his rival.]

[JUSTIN returns the glare; but it is a dread-filled stare of fear.]

[After a long, awkward silence, TEMPLETON hesitantly speaks]:

... Sir ... ?

[But JENNER is oblivious to TEMPLETON; suddenly he snarls in rage at JUSTIN]:

[With his teeth bared, he picks up his sword and begins a slow, menacing advance on JUSTIN, wide eyes mad with insane, crimson-blazing rage as he raves in raging anger]:

[Alarmed by JENNER’s sharp, screaming tone and enraged advance, JUSTIN is terrified, trembling, backing away slowly from JENNER’s menacing advance.]

:{defiant, but afraid}:

W-Well, ... now y-you — y-you’ll … n-never reek the havoc you ... you had Planned — with it! N-N-Never!

[Snarling again, JENNER attacks with renewed rage, again forcing JUSTIN to fight — for his very life once more.]

[Hard pressed and totally exhausted, JUSTIN weakens, unable to fight anymore.]

[JENNER easily shatters JUSTIN’s new quarter-staff in half, once again ripping it from his grasp.]

[JUSTIN, breathing so hard that his breath comes out as loud, hoarse, agonized gasps — as he backs away from JENNER, stumbles and falls to his knees, crying out in helpless terror.]

[With his Hench Rats closing the ranks on all sides of JUSTIN (and SHADOW-WING nearby, ready to attack), JENNER advances menacingly on JUSTIN again, his sword flashing, evilly and menacingly, in the fading light as he and his minions close in on JUSTIN.]

[Looking around at them all in terror, JUSTIN suddenly, desperately, attempts to bolt — but again JENNER bolts to block his path, blocking off JUSTIN’s one and only opportunity to escape. He seizes JUSTIN by the front of his tunic, his sword raised to strike — as JUSTIN cries out, struggling desperately, twisting loose from his captor’s grip.]

[Cringing in terror, JUSTIN loses his balance and lands on his rear, helplessly moving away from JENNER on his rear, moving backwards with his paws and feet, panting — with JENNER and his minions still advancing on him — and closing ranks.]

[Suddenly, his back is against the inner curve of a natural wall of rock. Panting painfully, he flattens against the rock, pressed to it; shuddering and staring at JENNER in shocked horror, crying out in terror as he tries to shield himself helplessly with one arm, one paw out-stretched pleadingly.]

<Gasp> Oh — Oh, n-no! <Pant> No! No! <Pant> Oh, n-no — please! <Pant> Oh — Oh, God — please!

[JENNER looms over JUSTIN menacingly. As JUSTIN tries to pull away from him, JENNER lashes out and seizes JUSTIN’s wrist to stay JUSTIN’s retreat.]

JENNER:{growling}:

And now, you are going to pay for your medding ... and for losing my Amulet! Now, you are going to die!

[He slowly raises his sword like a meat cleaver, aiming at JUSTIN’s stomach.]

I am going to split open your gut — and spill your rotten innards!

[JUSTIN cowers in horror, shaking his head desperately, panting hoarsely, helplessly grasping at JENNER’s fist around his wrist, trying to loosen JENNER’s grip.]

:{moaning}:

N-No! <Pant> <Pant> Don’t! <Wheeze> P-Please! D-Don’t! Please, don’t! Don’t! Don’t do this to me!

[JUSTIN manages to twist his wrist free, cowering in terror against the rock, shaking his head, desperately.]

[JENNER looms over him like a black storm cloud about to erupt. He raises his sword high to strike, holding the hilt in both paws ... and with a grunting snarl, slashes down with it — at JUSTIN.]

[JUSTIN cries out in terror ... and leaps to one side, trying to bolt — ]

[ — as JENNER hits the stone surface of the natural wall, sparks leap up from the surface, a loud "Clang!" reverburating in the air.]

[TEMPLETON and BRUTUS seize JUSTIN —]

<A-ah-ah-hhh-hhh> No! No! Oh — Oh, God — no!

[ — and wrestle him down, holding him down on a flat rock, making him kneel with BRUTUS’s help, and bend over on the small rock.]

[BRUTUS holds JUSTIN’s forepaws together behind his back — and he pulls up on JUSTIN’s arms with both paws, holding them together, a knee in the middle of JUSTIN’s back, pushing down at the center of JUSTIN’s upper back — as he twists JUSTIN’s arms painfully — making JUSTIN cry out in agony]:

<Owwwww-wwwwww> P-Please — don’t! Don’t hurt me — please, don’t — oh, God! Please! Please — don’t!

[TEMPLETON grabs JUSTIN’s hair in his paws taking care to keep his paws clear of the back of JUSTIN’s neck.]

[JUSTIN is forced to kneel there with his head down on the rock, as if it were an executioner’s block, with the right side of his face pressed down on it, so he is facing his foe, exposing the undefended back and left side of his neck, making him squeal in terror.]

‘Ere, My King! We’ve got ‘im! We’ve got ‘im good — now ye cin lop ‘is ‘ead — right clear off, M’Lord!

[JUSTIN screams at this, terrified, struggling even more desperately]:

No! No! Oh — Oh, God — no! No! No! P-Please, don’t kill me — please! Don’t do it! Please! Please, don’t!

JENNER:{with savage satisfaction}:

Yes-sss! And so, ... I shall! Now, you will die, you miserable, meddling, cowardly, little wretch! Now, ... you ... shall ... die!

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

[JENNER looms over him with his sword raised up in both fourpaws — preparing to bring the blade down on the undefended back of JUSTIN’s neck — and behead him!]

[JUSTIN bursts into tears, squealing in despair, eyes pressed shut]:

Please! Pl-Please — have mercy! Let me go! L-Let me live! I — I’ll do anything! Anything you want, … please! P-Please! A-Anything ... y-you — you say! Anything! Oh, … please! P-Pl-P-Pleas-se —... <Sob> <Sob> <Sob>

[His plea is broken off as he breaks down, sobbing helplessly, shuddering, his eyes pressed closed.]

[JENNER pauses — for such a long moment, JUSTIN looks back up at him.]

[JUSTIN watches him in horror in his peripheral vision, panting with exhausted terror, heart pounding and echoing in his ears, trembling, tears streaming down his palid cheeks, futilely and helplessly straining against BRUTUS’s grip.]

[JENNER’s sword seems to be reflecting light in the form of streaks that run up and down the length of the blade, which seems to flash once, twice, three times.]

[Trembling in terror, JUSTIN finds he cannot tear his horrified gaze from it as perspiration runs down his brow.]

[The terrible moment seems to drag on — seemingly forever, … punctuated (for JUSTIN) with the sound of his pounding heart echoing in his head and his ragged breathing.]

[Suddenly, JENNER lowers his sword.]

JENNER:{low growl}:

... Let go of him, men.

[JENNER’s Hench Rats stare at him, bewildered, then look at each other.]

Now. Go on, ... let him up.

[RATTEN and BENJAMIN exchange looks with each other — and SHADOW-WING, all of them puzzled.]

[BRUTUS and TEMPLETON protest simutaneously at this astonishing order]:

[JENNER glares at them, teeth bared in anger.]

[Alarmed at this, BRUTUS and TEMPLETON let JUSTIN go. They back away from JUSTIN — and especially from JENNER.]

[JUSTIN gasps in relief as his twisted arms are released — and that BRUTUS’s knee is out of his back. He is also relieved that he has been spared, almost incredulous.]

[For a brief moment, JUSTIN crouches over the rock, petrified, head still down, as if afraid to move, paws pressed against the rock. He does move, slowly. He looks up at JENNER, trembling, defeated and afraid, ears flattened to his head.]

[JENNER glares down at him, then points at him with his sword.]

[JUSTIN cries out, flinching away at the threat of the gesture. He helplessly shields himself with one arm, terrified, eyes pressed shut as he cowers, falling back away from the rock to cower on the ground, partly supported by his other arm.]

:{menacingly pointing at him with his sword}:

Alright, … Wilson! You know your place now — supposingly! And your place — quite obviously — is not here, ... so get out! And ... be grateful that I just so happen to be in a merciful mood. Otherwise, ... you would be laying there in two seperate pieces — one of which I would mount on the wall of my new throne room ... as a trophy … and the rest of which would provide dinner for my mount — who may decide to have you anyway, if you don’t move!

[SHADOW-WING hisses with disappointment, glaring at JUSTIN with greedy hunger, flapping his wings angrily.]

[JUSTIN is stunned, too stunned to move, too full of dumb incredulousness.]

[This infuriates JENNER]:

Damn you! Just don’t sit there — move! Get the Hell out!

[Again, with his sword still drawn, he advances on JUSTIN manacingly.]

Or I really will kill you — and let my hawk pick your bones!

[SHADOW-WING squawks and flaps his wings in excitement.]

[JUSTIN gasps in horror, still on his rear, once more backing off with paws and feet, trembling, his ears flattening on his head, his eyes wide with terror at this threat, mouth agape, his chin trembling as he backs away, his body almost flattened to the ground.]

[JENNER advances and his men follow suit behind him.]

[As they advance, JUSTIN’s retreat grows more and more hurried.]

[With rising anxiety, he cries out faulteringly, perspiration on his brow]:

Alright, a-alright! I ... I —… Alright! I ... I — I’ll g-go!

[JENNER continues his advance, faster, forcing JUSTIN to move faster.]

Y-You ... Y-Y-You — Y-You w-wi-w-win! Y-You ... w-w-win! I — I-I’ll g-g-g-go!

[Still advancing, JENNER slowly raises his sword again.]

Pl-Pl-Please! Please, … I — I’ll g-go! I ... I — I g-give up! I — I —

[JUSTIN continues his retreat, pressed flat against the ground now, wide-eyed with horror, almost paralyzed.]

I ... I ... I’ll g-g-go! I-I-I’m g-going, I-I-I’m — please — I — I-I’m —

[JENNER snarls, charging at him, and slashes down at JUSTIN with his sword.]

[With a cry of alarmed terror, writhing to one side, JUSTIN dodges the blow.]

[JENNER’s sword goes into the ground where JUSTIN was as — ]

[ — horrified, JUSTIN screams, floudering against the ground, writhing and scrambling desperately, crying out in terror.]

[JENNER draws his sword back and up, slashes down again, but he misses — as JUSTIN writhes out of the way: first once, then twice, before — ]

[ — JUSTIN manages to scramble to his feet and bolt on all fours, terrified.]

[JENNER shouts after him, waving his sword]:

And don’t you dare stop! Just keep on running! Run! Run, you meddling, little coward! If I ever see you again, I shall kill you! I swear it! I will kill you if I ever see you again — and you can count on that!

[JENNER, still seething with rage and panting from his efforts, watches as JUSTIN vanishes from sight in the gathering dusk.]

[JUSTIN pauses in the undergrowth, panting and trembling, cowering in the bushes on his paws and knees, head down in exhaustion, out of his enemies’ sight, indescribably relieved to be alive; thought]:

[He glances back where he came, then turns away, bolting again thru’ the thick undergrowth, hidden by the undergrowth and undercover of darkness.]

[Meanwhile, JENNER’s Hench Rats watch JENNER in puzzled astonishment.]

You — You’re letting him go, Lord!?

[JENNER’s reply is snapping and distainful]:

What? Ha! Do not be a fool!

[He regards TEMPLETON evenly, with a combination of disgust and scheming.]

Of course not! He is no longer a consequential affront to us or our Plans, as he is thoroughly beaten and knows it. No, comrades. We are going to follow him! He will no doubt seek out friends — who might attempt to oppose us! And when he does find a pocket of resistance to stand against us, we shall be there, my friends ... and we shall find them! I shall kill them all, all at once! Including him!

[Chucking sinisterly, he turns to the others to address them all, starting with TEMPLETON.]

Gather a raid squad together, Willard, and have them report to me — at once!

[He turns to BRUTUS]:

Gideons, you are in charged of the captured colony until the raid squad and I return. You have full command of the guards, especially since you are their present Captain — and they are more loyal to us than to Wilson — since we’ve given them all their "choices" — life or death. If anyone gets out of line ... kill them! Take any means whatsoever, my minion, but keep everyone in line ... and in their places! The loss of a few more dis-loyal guards is well worth keeping the rest faithful and dedicated — to me.

Yes, My Lord.

[JENNER turns back to the others as BRUTUS exits]:

:{to Shadow-wing}:

Shadow-wing, be off with you — track Wilson and his little friends — and then report to me their whereabouts!

[He turns back to the others]:

The rest of you are with me. Wilson and his friends will soon be dead! Whoever they are, however many they may be, they shall all soon die!

[He laughs savagely, triumphantly.]

[With that, the all set off to enact their purposes.]