"Kevin. Kevin, wake up!" I was being shaken awake. My eyes opened to see it was Captain Holly .
"What? What's going on?" I asked him, as he was sniffling the ground, the grass, and the air. I noticed that Blackberry and Bluebell were awake and aware of what Captain Holly was trying to sniff out.
"Can you smell a fox?" Bluebell asked.
"A fox is nearby?" I wondered.
"Not that I have seen one... or even trying to smell it out, but I can't." Blackberry stated.
"I can definitely smell a fox." Bluebell spoke, as he scratched his nose.. "There's a distinct foxy flavour to the air, right?"
"The fox scent is a couple of days old. We should be fine for the night, but not here." Captain Holly stated.
"Should be fine." Bluebell whispered to himself three times.
"How are you doing, Kevin? You were tossing and turning quite a bit in your sleep." Captain Holly turned back towards me, as we're finding another spot to sleep.
"It was a dream or a flashback to say." I answered.
"What was it?"
"Well... it was back when I was about seven and my father was about to leave for work. We spoke to each other for the last time before he died." I briefly spoke.
"What happened to him?" Captain Holly asked.
"He died in a car accident, before my mother passed months later." I brought up.
"A hrududu accident?" Blackberry questioned.
"A car accident. Another car or a hrududu you could call it, crashes to another hrududu causing an accident." I explained to Blackberry. "My father was driving to work, until a car rammed into hism and his vehicle rolled to a pole or a traffic light pole."
"I'm very sorry for your losses. What about your mother?"
"She died in her death bed from illness." I answered.
We found a small ditch slope and rested there for the night. I was starting to get myself comfortable, while the three bucks kept themselves on watch. I almost forgot that some predators or elil could hunt rabbits at night. Squawking of crows roamed through the night above us, but they were just passing by. However, we than heard rustling of bushes not far from us. Perhaps it maybe a elil or another rabbit, we kept ourselves close to each other.
"Did you hear something? What was that?" Blackberry asked.
"I don't know, but we should stay close together." I answered, before we all looked at our surroundings. The four of us started to shiver from fright, as Captain Holly was perhaps the most bravest out of the four of us. While Bluebell was trying to maintain his bravery, he shivered and panted in fright.
"Bluebell... and/or Kevin... you both don't have to, but... tell us a story or a sing us a song." Blackberry suggested either Bluebell to tell a story or me to sing a song.
"Bluebell... you want to go first?" I offered him to tell a story or hear a song.
"Perhaps you could start. I prefer to hear a song of yours. Captain Holly hasn't heard any of your songs yet." Bluebell suggested.
"Songs? You sing?" Captain Holly surprised.
"Songs from my world that I listened to. I'm not the best. I just sing along, as the song is played." I told him.
"Maybe a short song could help me figure out a story to tell." Bluebell suggested while he began to think for an El-Ahrairah tale.
I cleared my throat and I started to sing a song.
One evening as the sun went down
And the jungle fire was burning,
Down the track came a hobo hiking,
And he said, "Boys, I'm not turning
I'm headed for a land that's far away
Besides the crystal fountains
So come with me, we'll go and see
The Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
There's a land that's fair and bright,
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
On the birds and the bees
And the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs
Where the bluebird sings
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
All the cops have wooden legs
And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth
And the hens lay soft-boiled eggs
The farmers' trees are full of fruit
And the barns are full of hay
Oh I'm bound to go
Where there ain't no snow
Where the rain don't fall
The wind don't blow
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks
The brakemen have to tip their hats
And the railroad bulls are blind
There's a lake of stew
And of whiskey, too
You can paddle all around 'em
In a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains,
The jails are made of tin
And you can walk right out again,
As soon as you are in
There ain't no short-handled shovels,
No axes, saws or picks,
I'ma goin' to stay
Where you sleep all day,
Where they hung the Turk
That invented work
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
I'll see you all this coming Fall
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
"What song was that?" Captain Holly asked.
"Big Rock Candy Mountain by Harry McClintock." I answered. "You figured out a story, Bluebell. Or do you want me to continue singing?"
"Hm... hmmm... " he continued to think until he finally got the story to tell us. Once upon a time in, the darkest cruelest winter the world has ever known, El-Ahrairah's people were starving. So, El-Ahrairah set out to find the only being he thought could save them.
"And whose that?" I asked, as interrupted Bluebell.
The Black Rabbit of Inle'. He struggled on and on until eventually, he arrived at the Caves of Inle, the mouth of which appeared before him, like the maw of a giant monster trying to eat the sky-
And before the prince, the nightmare figured emerged... a voice came out no where that wasn't Bluebell's narration. We than saw a rabbit, as he was continuing with the story... like a toxic void, and in his heart, El-Ahrairah knew that there were no more tricks to be played. The rabbit finished the tale with a chuckle and more bucks were surrounding us.
"The old yarns are the best and you spin them so well, storyteller." the rabbit spoke.
"Who are you?" I questioned, as the four of us whimpered.
"My name is Captain Orchis... and I'm surprised to see a human in our world." the rabbit, who completed the tale, greeted himself with a sinister laugh while the bucks started to close on us. "My friends and I are from a little warren nearby called Efrafa. We'd love you to join us."
I started to remember what Efrafa from the novel. Their Owsla displayed tyranny and dictatorial under General Woundwart's order. "Yeah, but actually we're heading our way back, so we won't accept the invitation."
The Owsla blocked us, so we don't go anywhere. "I'm afraid there's no other choice, but for you to come along with us. Now come along... quickly now." Captain Orchis took lead, as the bucks started to push us to go forward. I started to panic.
"Do you know about Efrafa?" Captain Holly whispered to me.
"Do I know them?! Of course I do!" I exclaimed, as he tried to calm down me. I couldn't stop shivering. "No, no! Efrafa is ruled by General Woundwart and his Owsla! Like Hitler and his fascist political party! Strong over the weak! He marks outskirters on the hind, used does, and punishes severely on anyone who attempts to overthrow and/or escape!"
Captain Holly was disbelief from what I know.
"Just don't ask me how I know, I just know." I told him. He than nodded his head, as he took my word for it.
It wouldn't be until the next morning that we arrived at Efrafa. I knew what may become of us. For Captain Holly, Blackberry, and Bluebell, they have no idea what comes to store for them, as they are anxious.
"Holly, I don't have a good feeling about this." Blackberry feared.
"Me neither." I started to feel more frightened, as I knew what they'll do to us.
"Stay calm. Everything will be fine." Captain Holly assured us.
"Which is worst, Captain Holly? Knowing or not knowing?" I shivered.
He sighed and maintained his bravery than the rest of us, as he probably forgotten about his downs back in our warren. "I can't tell you. Just be calm, and stay next to me whatever you do. Nothing will happen to you, I promise."
Blackberry, Bluebell, and myself looked around us to see strong bucks on sentry and guarding the warren's path to Hell. They all appeared to be very strong that Bigwig may not be able to take all of them out. The bucks hissed and growled at us, as we're continuing to head towards their warren.
Bluebell took a look at one of the guarding bucks and startled from the buck's appearance. "That is the biggest rabbit I have ever seen." Bluebell whispered.
"Just wait until we see Woundwart, you may reconsider that statement." I whispered back to him.
We than have a clear view of Efrafa. The warren is possibly inside the ruin of what it looks like a factory, because it has two chimney separate stacks. I remembered seeing it in my dream/vision.
"What is this place?" Blackberry asked.
"It's called Efrafa." I answered, as we heard distant screams.
"Silence! I do the introductions of the warren here." Captain Orchis exclaimed, before he evilly chuckles. "I do welcome my esteemed guests to Efrafa. I'm surprised to see you know our warren, human."
We than continued to march towards the warren. We were on a railroad track that it might have been connected with the factory to transport goods. However, I than had nightmarish image in my head, as if I was walking or riding on a cattle train towards Auschwitz. We were starting to slow down on our march, as we're near towards the checkpoint and the entrance. We looked around to see does were silflaying, but they were on watch. They were punished or warned by the bucks, even if they did the smallest offense such as talking to each other. Those bucks were like the SS that they growled and sneer viciously at a prisoner.
"I'm an American. My name is Kevin Marcus. I'm from Bodega Bay, California. I have a father and mother, with three brothers: Dan, Mark, and Mack." I silently repeated those words. It was more than likely that I would become a prisoner of this warren. Captain Holly looked back at me, as I was repeating myself out of fright than being insane. He stayed close by my side and never left me.
Get back to the warren, does. We than saw an Owsla buck struck a doe. Fury boiled Captain Holly that he was about to intervene. I held him back, just before Captain Orchis was about to step in his way.
"Don't do it, Captain Holly." I warned him. Captain Orchis stared at us, before he turned around.
"Are you the fool who's supposed to be supervising this mark?" the toughest buck questioned what it maybe another Owsla buck.
"Well, I don't-" The buck was than struck down, by the toughest buck's paw, as he held him down.
"Concentrate, Sergeant. Give these does an inch and they'll be gone." He than let the buck go. "Now, get them down to the holding."
"Thank you, sir." the sergeant thanked him for not tearing him apart. He than escorted the three does back into their warren.
"Uh, Captain Vervain. My brother." Captain Orchis spoke.
The captain turned from the sergeant to Captain Orchis, as they may be related. "Brother, what is it?"
Captain Holly cleared his throat. "We have come to ask-"
"Silence!" Captain Vervain burst out. "You'll speak when you're spoken to directly and not before."
His authoritative voice shook me at the core, from the way he spoke. "I picked these up on the wide patrol... and one of them is 'man'." Captain Vervain than spoke. The two looked at me, as Captain Vervain hopped towards me.
"Just stay calm, Kevin." Captain Holly whispered back to me.
Vervain sniffed towards my face. His eyes were dark red around the black. His emotionless glare was intimidating and horrifying that I didn't want to be near him. I slightly stepped back. "Hmm... one for the Council." He said, before he stepped back from me, as he glared at the three of us. "I'll take them down with me."
He than took point, as the guards behind us forced us to follow him. By the time we entered the warren... it was dark, gloomy, with very little light from a gutter that we passed by. Does sobbed and whimpered not far from us. We than halt ourselves, as we're at the edge of a pit that leads to the core of the warren.
"Get in there!" Vervain ordered me.
I quivered. "No way! I'm not going in there!"
Vervain shoved me. "I won't say it again... get in there.
"No." I shook my head and disobeyed weakly.
"Get!" he than pushed me into the pit that I fell and landed on my back. A growl came from above by Captain Holly. If it was a resistance, it didn't last long until he fell and landed next to me. I helped him up.
"Are you alright?" Captain Holly calmly asked me.
"I'm little from okay, are you?" I answered, before Blackberry and Bluebell came down.
"I'm fine." Captain Holly answered, just before Captain Vervain jumped down. "You didn't have to do that to a young human like that!"
Captain Vervain ignored Captain Holly, as he took lead. He led us to a waiting point. "Wait here until the Council is ready to see you."
"Please sir, we have a home to go to. We're supposed to be heading back be-" I was than interrupted, as Vervain's paw struck by the nose.
"You seemed not to understand what I just said outside... now wait here." he stated before he left. My nose began to bleed a bit, as I searched through my bag for a small package of tissues to stop the bleeding. Fear took hold of me, as I a tissue and dropped it. Captain Holly picked up the tissue and handed it back to me, before I pressed my nose to stop the bleeding.
"Thank you."
Captain Holly gently pressed his paw on my shoulder in comfort. Whispers were close by, as the hear does whispering back to each other.
"What if they separate us?" one of them asked.
"They won't." another spoke. "Leave the talking to me. So long as we stay together..." She than turned towards us, as we caught her attention. "Can I help you with something?"
Captain Holly looked away nervously.
"No, I think we're okay. Thanks for asking." I thanked her.
We heard someone grunting. It was older buck limping on his right hind. Apparently, he was probably received his punishment from a petty crime I suppose. I matched the description of a torn rabbit from the ears, with claw and bite marks all over him.
"So... they got you in the end, then?" the torn rabbit spoke to Captain Holly.
"I'm sorry?" Captain Holly was puzzled.
"Three days ago, a little way from here, I'll admit, but it was definitely you." the rabbit spoke to him. "I told you to run for your life."
"Is he the same rabbit you saw?" I whispered to Captain Holly.
He nodded his head, before looking back at the injured rabbit. "Who did this to you?"
"Sainfoin, the Council want Blackavar paraded around each of the marks at silflay as an example." Captain Vervain came back and ordered the sergeant to carry out the punishment that was given to Blackavar. "Take him down to the deep burrows." The Owsla buck named Sainfoin escorted the torn rabbit, Blackavar away, before Captain Vervain looked back at us. "Right, vermin, you're in first. Especially you, human..."
I gulped from his tone. "The Council would be surprised to see you. The General would be thrilled to make an acquaintance with 'The First Man'." Captain Vervain spoke again, that I stayed close to Captain Holly, as I clinched my right hand to his back. My nose finally stopped, minutes after it bleed. I than heard Captain Holly breathed heavily.
"You lack animality." Captain Holly said to Captain Vervain that he stopped and turned back towards him.
"What did you say to me?"
"You have no integrity. Animals don't behave as like most men. If they have to fight, they fight. If they have to kill, they kill, but they don't devise ways of hurting other creatures. Including hurting this human." Captain Holly stood up, as Captain Vervain slowly approached towards Captain Holly near towards his face.
Captain Vervain's eyebrow lowered in hatred, alike to SS-Hauptscharführer Gustav Wagner from the TV miniseries Escape From Sobibor. Vervain was about ready to strike the strong spirited prisoner. However, all he got out was... "If you speak out of turn to me again, I will have your tongue, before I took your human friend's tongue. Next time you see me, you'd better wish the both of you invisible." Captain Vervain than turned towards me and tried to approach towards me. Gratefully, Captain Holly shielded me.
Captain Vervain than dismissed the approach and headed back to what it may be the Council chamber with the other bucks.
"I guess you really meant it, from what you said of looking after me." I turned to Captain Holly.
He let out a exhale and breathed from his nose, as he nodded firmly his head back at me.
"What's happening here, Holly? What have we got ourselves involved in?" Blackberry asked. We hoped for a simple offer to the does that they wished to join us, but instead... we may have something else worst in store for us.