3 New Crew Member

Captain Bolrey couldn't believe his luck with the weather, the storm had passed over him too, but it was weaker then. After the storm, the sun came out forecasting a nice day, and the wind blew a nice constant breeze. Bolrey looked around watching his hares at work. "Watch those sails!" He would yell, then. "Keep up the good work!" He decided to check on his cook. Going to a hatch in the middle of the deck, he opened it and jumped down. Bolrey's ship was a mighty beast. On surface it looked shallow, but really it had two below decks, and it was wide. He was in a long, wide room that ran almost from bow to stern A long table ran along it and two benches alongside that. There was no light so small smokeless lamps on the table were lit. To the stern lay a stair well that led down to the galleys. Bolrey walked down it and stopped at the door. The air was warmer with a good smell floating around, and a jolly song was in the air.

"Oh leave him me lassie, me lassie, me lassie.

Oh leave him me lassie for he is a hare.

He'll eat you out of home, of home, of home.

He'll eat you out of home and board!"

Bolrey chuckled as he walked into the warm kitchen. "Is that you Viftul? You old hare, I think you were off a note!" The hare turned to look at Bolrey, he had a solid stare that would put a cat out business, then slowly a grin crept onto his face till it blossomed into a full out ear-to-ear laughter lined smile. "Oh ho ho! Yes it is me, and If I'm not mistaken but you can't sing so well yourself!" The old friends rolled on the ground in fits of laughter.

"He he, yes I can't sing but nothing like you!"

"Ha ha, no it is you who can't sing!"

This went on till Flyteye came in, a puzzled look on his face. "To much rum I see! Now to attention there you giggling babes!" Bolrey looked up at the look-out. "Ex- he he excuse me?" Bolrey got up with difficulty. "Oh ha ha! Very funny Flyteye, but I'm the Cap'n here! So any way what are you doing down here? Ears straight, chest out, hands to the side there we are, now report!"

"Sah! There is a vermin in the ocean off the portside! The crew are waiting for you before they kill it! Sah!" Bolrey eyes flashed. "Well lead away to the beast Flyteye!" Flyteye dashed out of the door closely tailed by the captain, with chubby Viftul waddling behind. They came up onto the deck to find the whole crew on the left end of the boat. As the captain neared he heard mutters all around.

"Is it a vermin?"

"Yes it is! Can't ya see?"

"Look at it. Is it dead?"

"No it's breathing. Wish it wasn't."

"It's a weasel! Isn't it?"

"Look at that oaf Otho protecting it!"

Bolrey couldn't take it anymore. "Well move aside, and let your captain see!" They slowly moved apart letting there captain see. Bolrey looked at the burly Otho who had a face of fury, and was dripping wet then to the unconscious weasel in tattered clothes in his arms. Bolrey sighed deeply. "Otho, get that thing dry, and into my bed. Then come down to the kitchen so you can explain. The rest of you get back to yer duties!"

"What happened Otho?" Otho turned to the captain, and started. "Well little Flyteye sees this black thing in the water, and after awhile it floated near enough to be seen, and the crew saw it was a vermin, and wanted to kill it on the spot, but Flyteye was the smart one, and went off to get you. Well the creature was slipping off the piece of wood it was on, and I dove in to get it before it fell in and drowned. When I got back up on the deck, all the hares were in a frenzy saying I should of let it drown, and I should have waited for you, but I felt that wasn't right to leave a unconscious creature to drown. I had to fight them off because they were trying to pull him away, and toss it over board. Then you came."

Bolrey sighed again. "I understand where your coming from, and it is right to save a drowning creature bad or good, but still it must go. A vermin is vermin is a vermin, and none of them are good-"

"But I think I can change this one for he is still young. I'll be his charge, and won't let him out of my sight!" Otho could not help bursting out, he knew the captain if left to say his whole say, he would stick solidly by his argument. Bolrey slowly nodded.

"Otho, I know your perfectly capable of caring, and watching this weasel, but what about the crew? We can't ignore them!" Otho shook his head. "I know they don't like the weasel already! Let me have a chance. Two weeks, and then we'll see what they think, it might just be that they are being hostile by what he is, and they will warm up to him after a week or two." Bolrey sighed. "Okay Otho, but one complaint to me, one mess up, and the weasel will somehow have to go." Otho nodded. "Aye, aye Cap'n thank you."

Bolrey shook his head. "Did I do right, or did I just make a mistake." Bolrey asked Viftul who had sat quietly listening through the whole argument. "If you think you did right in your heart then you did right." Bolrey smiled, Viftul was always there with good information when it was needed.