2
Codger woke from being unconscious to having a wet cloth dabbing his face. He opened his eyes to see an old mouse holding the cloth to the top of his forehead. "That was a very reckless thing to do, young hare." He said. "I've learned that no one can beat Vaskago. Once one of the fox challenged him and the fight was over in three minutes, with the fox dead and Vaskago with barely a scratch on him. I'm Jonus, what's yore name?"
Codger began to brighten up. "I'm Codger. I guess I did pretty well against him. did you see me knock the wind out of the old vermin?"
"If that's what you want to call it. I saw the whole thing from the window. It's amazing that he didn't kill you. I guess he thought you would make a good slave. That's what this boat is here for, you know. Vaskago is the ruler of a large island on which he keeps his slaves. It's not a very nice place. I got off easy. I'm the cook on this boat. No vermin could ever cook so good. No one else for that matter."
"I'll say," said Codger. "I got a bight o' that fish. It was wonderfull. It was worth a splitting headache. So why are you helping me? Won't you get in trouble, old lad?"
"No, Vaskago ordered me to get you awake so that you could see what he's planning. I'm not sure what it is, but you can bet it will be awfull."
Just then, a sharp whistle blast was heard and Cutleg, the bosun, called out "Land Ho, straight ahead!"
Vaskago appeared out of his private cabin. "All paws on deck, and arm yourselves. Were going t' do a little visiting on a local hare family. He smiled at Codger. Turning, he stopped a weasel that was running by. "Hey you, take this Hare and chin him to the top, right next to the wheel."
Codger was unchained and the weasel said "Come on, you." But Codger didn't want to come on. He punched the weasel squarely on the nose, and ran toward the edge of the ship.
Suddenly, Codger was stopped by a large gang of vermin, who jumped on him. "That's right, don't let him escape." Vaskago said. "I want him alive for a while. Chain him by the wheel."
Codger was dragged, biting and kicking, to the top deck where he was chained. Rain poured freely on his head, since he wasn't protected by the mast.
"To bad it isn't a clearer day, you won't be able to see very well." Vaskago said peering out into the rain. "I know, I'll take you down on the shore, and have you secured there, so you can get an up-close and personal view."
Vaskago walked away from Codger. He stood on the top deck, overlooking the main deck, which was packed with corsairs of all kinds, foxes, weasels, rats, stoats, and many others, all armed to the teeth.
"All right, now you all know your orders, but I will repeat them for any idiots out there. We are to take no prisoners, we have enough. Kill everyone, and burn everything, or what you can in this rain. And most importantly, have fun." A cheer went up from the massed vermin and they began to chant.
"Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go!" they worked themselves into a blood frenzy, roaring and holding their weapons high.
"Now every one, over the side!" commanded Vaskago, and all of the Vermin hurled themselves into the water, from whence they waded to the shore.
Codger stared in Horror, they were right on the beach near his family's home. All of his family knew how to fight very well, but they didn't stand a chance against the hundreds of vermin.
Codger was lowered down onto the sand by his chains, where he was firmly secured between two large stakes. He had an excellent view of the carnage.
The Longshanks family came out of their tents roaring they're battle cry and swinging weapons. Lockax, Codgers father, was in the lead, swinging his large battle ax.
The horde charged foreward, the ones in back shooting arrows at the hare family. Vaskago was in the lead, and he threw one of his knives straight at Lockax. It hit him in the chest, burring itself into his blue fighting jacket.
Codger struggled at his bonds, trying to get free so that he could help his family, but they were to strong. He watched helplessley through the pouring rain as his family was murdered. Soon it was over, and the Longshanks tent was going up in flames.
Codger didn't weep, he had a killing look in his eye. On that day, he swore to kill Vaskago, if it was the last thing he did.
Codger woke from being unconscious to having a wet cloth dabbing his face. He opened his eyes to see an old mouse holding the cloth to the top of his forehead. "That was a very reckless thing to do, young hare." He said. "I've learned that no one can beat Vaskago. Once one of the fox challenged him and the fight was over in three minutes, with the fox dead and Vaskago with barely a scratch on him. I'm Jonus, what's yore name?"
Codger began to brighten up. "I'm Codger. I guess I did pretty well against him. did you see me knock the wind out of the old vermin?"
"If that's what you want to call it. I saw the whole thing from the window. It's amazing that he didn't kill you. I guess he thought you would make a good slave. That's what this boat is here for, you know. Vaskago is the ruler of a large island on which he keeps his slaves. It's not a very nice place. I got off easy. I'm the cook on this boat. No vermin could ever cook so good. No one else for that matter."
"I'll say," said Codger. "I got a bight o' that fish. It was wonderfull. It was worth a splitting headache. So why are you helping me? Won't you get in trouble, old lad?"
"No, Vaskago ordered me to get you awake so that you could see what he's planning. I'm not sure what it is, but you can bet it will be awfull."
Just then, a sharp whistle blast was heard and Cutleg, the bosun, called out "Land Ho, straight ahead!"
Vaskago appeared out of his private cabin. "All paws on deck, and arm yourselves. Were going t' do a little visiting on a local hare family. He smiled at Codger. Turning, he stopped a weasel that was running by. "Hey you, take this Hare and chin him to the top, right next to the wheel."
Codger was unchained and the weasel said "Come on, you." But Codger didn't want to come on. He punched the weasel squarely on the nose, and ran toward the edge of the ship.
Suddenly, Codger was stopped by a large gang of vermin, who jumped on him. "That's right, don't let him escape." Vaskago said. "I want him alive for a while. Chain him by the wheel."
Codger was dragged, biting and kicking, to the top deck where he was chained. Rain poured freely on his head, since he wasn't protected by the mast.
"To bad it isn't a clearer day, you won't be able to see very well." Vaskago said peering out into the rain. "I know, I'll take you down on the shore, and have you secured there, so you can get an up-close and personal view."
Vaskago walked away from Codger. He stood on the top deck, overlooking the main deck, which was packed with corsairs of all kinds, foxes, weasels, rats, stoats, and many others, all armed to the teeth.
"All right, now you all know your orders, but I will repeat them for any idiots out there. We are to take no prisoners, we have enough. Kill everyone, and burn everything, or what you can in this rain. And most importantly, have fun." A cheer went up from the massed vermin and they began to chant.
"Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go! Vas-ka-go!" they worked themselves into a blood frenzy, roaring and holding their weapons high.
"Now every one, over the side!" commanded Vaskago, and all of the Vermin hurled themselves into the water, from whence they waded to the shore.
Codger stared in Horror, they were right on the beach near his family's home. All of his family knew how to fight very well, but they didn't stand a chance against the hundreds of vermin.
Codger was lowered down onto the sand by his chains, where he was firmly secured between two large stakes. He had an excellent view of the carnage.
The Longshanks family came out of their tents roaring they're battle cry and swinging weapons. Lockax, Codgers father, was in the lead, swinging his large battle ax.
The horde charged foreward, the ones in back shooting arrows at the hare family. Vaskago was in the lead, and he threw one of his knives straight at Lockax. It hit him in the chest, burring itself into his blue fighting jacket.
Codger struggled at his bonds, trying to get free so that he could help his family, but they were to strong. He watched helplessley through the pouring rain as his family was murdered. Soon it was over, and the Longshanks tent was going up in flames.
Codger didn't weep, he had a killing look in his eye. On that day, he swore to kill Vaskago, if it was the last thing he did.