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Chapter 35. Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things

by Zula

Zula had seen more than her fair share of dirt and grime in her relatively short life, but never anything like this. The stench of the sewers was just not something one got used to; the vixen wondered vaguely if Nevyeer's creatures ever had. As they set off again through the sewers, Nevyeer in the lead and Brull following close behind, muttering dire threats to the ferret about what he'd do to him if he led them astray, Zula hoped Rekkua and the others would forgive her for her little fib earlier about needing to stay clean. Of course, technically her mother did often lament the grubbiness of her child, but Zula never really listened. But it was no fair, her being much shorter than the others. The water would come up to her waist, probably, and who knew how long that stink would cling to her brush?

Instead, Zula chose to ignore her guilt and enjoy the second ride on Rekkua's shoulders that day. At first, the lizard's cold scales felt bizarre, rather like sitting on a larger version of Silisk, but the fox was beginning to get used to them. She wondered if Silisk had felt the same way about her shoulders and sighed, wishing her friend could have come with them instead of going to look for the Red Brandy. Now that would have been a sight, herself on top of Rekkua's shoulders and Silisk atop hers. Zula couldn't help but giggle aloud at the thought.

"What iz funny?" Rekkua muttered somewhat sulkily.

Zula shared the strange, imagined scene with Rekkua, but the lizard just sighed in reply.

"You should try laughin' sometime, Ms. Rekkua. It's fun, it is."

"And maybe you try walking?" the lizard threatened.

Zula fell silent and went back to imagining things stacked on top of other things.

Nevyeer led them through many twists and turns; Zula tried to keep track of which forks they took but after a while she gave up trying to count them all. Eventually the ferret stopped at the base of a ladder which stretched up into what looked like a narrow, vertical tunnel in the ceiling.

"Up there, through the tunnel, should take you right to it," he said. "Come, Geoffrey! Let us away."

The ferret motioned for his imaginary servant to follow him before slinking off, back the way he had come.

Sheriff Brull watched him go, shaking his head. "Absolutely mental."

"Let's just hope his brain worked enough to get us to the headquarters," said Pearl.

Brull started up the ladder. The other three watched the rat's progress as he reached the top and began fumbling with the lid covering the tunnel's entrance. A faint grating noise stung their ears and they were all bathed in a pale beam of light. For a nervous few moments, all they could see was the lower half of Brull's body protruding from the hole (which was not the greatest of views, really), but then, finally, the rat's head reappeared.

"All clear," he called down to them softly. "Best be quiet about it, though."

Pearl made her way up the ladder. Once she had gone, Rekkua moved forward and Zula grabbed hold of the metal rungs, hoisting herself most ungracefully off the lizard's shoulders. The vixen scrambled up the ladder and out into the street. The sun was just beginning to set by now. Rekkua emerged shortly after and slid the hefty iron lid back into place.

Zula looked around curiously at the deserted streets. "This doesn't look much like a headquarters t'me."

"Of course it doesn't," said Brull. "You don't think I'd have us climb out right in the middle of a group of woodlanders, do you? Please don't answer that," he added when Zula opened her mouth to give a response to the rhetorical question. He pointed down the street, continuing, "Nevyeer said that there's a town square a few streets down that way. Says that's where they interrogate all of their captives before locking them up. I say we check it out, and hopefully Zula will be able to find Jericho or whatever his name is before too long."

"You mean Gericault?" Zula asked hopefully, her eyes brightening.

"Yes, him. Now let's move. Zula, please, remember to keep your voice down."

"Okay, Mr. Sheriff, Sir," she whispered fervently.

The rat shut his eyes, clearly searching the hidden depths of his soul for another scrap of patience. "Okay. Good."

They made their way down the street, their eyes peeled for any sign of movement. Zula kept close to Pearl, with Brull ahead of them and Rekkua bringing up the rear. Suddenly, Brull halted, and Zula nearly ran into him from behind. The rat held up a paw, urgently motioning them to follow him quickly. They darted down a narrow alley, ducking down behind some rotting crates. Zula peered over the tops of them, gasping as a familiar figure strode into view.

"Ger—"

Pearl clapped a paw over the younger vixen's mouth. "Hush!" she hissed. "Do you want everyone to know where we are?"

"But it's him, Ms. Pearl!" Zula whispered. "On me affidavit 'tis!"

"He looks to be alone," Brull observed quietly. "Zula, maybe you should go talk to him. He knows you best. But scream like you've never screamed before if you run into trouble."

"Can do, Mr. Sheriff!" Zula nodded.

The young vixen left the cover of the crates behind and trotted back out into the street. She saw the otter walking away and ran after him.

"Mr. Gericault, wait up!"

The otter turned, surprise stamped on his features when he recognized her. "Oh my...Zula?"

"Aww, y' remembered m' name," Zula said, smiling sheepishly and kicking awkwardly at the cobblestones with a footpaw.

"What are you doing here? I heard some of you escaped, but I thought you'd all be long gone by now."

"But we're not! There's more of us just a little ways back. Want to meet 'em? They won't hurt you, I swears on me tail they won't."

Gericault looked apprehensive, to say the least. "Er, I dunno if that's such a good idea. I'm supposed to be reporting back to headquarters soon."

"C'mon, please?" Zula put on her best sad face. "Please, Mr. Geri?"

The otter sighed. "All right, lead the way."

He held out a battle-scarred paw. Zula stared at it for a few moments before grabbing it, feeling oddly fuzzy inside as she did so. He remembered my name! Grinning at the thought, the vixen practically dragged him back down the alley, where Brull, Rekkua and Pearl stood waiting. Gericault looked uneasier still at the sight of them.

"Everyone, this is Gericault," Zula announced.

Something brushed roughly by Zula, knocking her to the ground. Next thing she knew, Pearl had the otter by the lapels and was shaking him.

"Where is she? Where is she?"

"Ms. Pearl!" Zula cried, and she was surprised to hear both Brull's and Rekkua's voices mingling with her own.

Gericault struck out instinctively, cuffing Pearl between the ears. The fox sank to the ground, whimpering, and the otter definitely looked as though fleeing would be a good idea at the moment.

"What is going on? What is this vixen talking about?"

"Please!" Pearl sobbed. "I'm s-sorry, but it's just b-been so long since I've s-s-seen her!"

"Gericault, is it?" Brull said, stepping forward and helping Pearl to her footpaws. "Listen, sorry about Pearl, but her kit's been imprisoned by your lot, and, not surprisingly, she hasn't taken it very well. Zula said you're a friend of hers. We need your help busting her kit out, as well as...some...of the others."

Gericault looked from Brull to Zula, and back to Brull. "Look, I dunno what you're expecting of me, and while I can't say I entirely approve of the actions of Felldoh's Heirs, I can't exactly go about aiding and abetting their enemies."

"Why not?" asked Rekkua, looking vaguely disgusted. "If you not approve?"

"Because!" Gericault cried. "Marcion would have my hide if he found out! A very dangerous beast, that squirrel. He's so passionate about his cause, and you just don't want to know what happens to beasts that disagree with him. Like my sister. He...uses her, only for his disgusting needs, but he doesn't care a whit about her."

"Don't worry, he won't find out," said Brull. "All you'll have to do is help us create some sort of a diversion. We'll do the rest. You won't have to get your paws dirty."

"A diversion? How am I supposed to do that?"

A relative silence fell. Apparently Brull hadn't thought that far ahead yet.

"Er, well..." he said slowly.

Zula raised a paw. "I think I've got a plan, Mr. Sheriff."

The rat sighed. "Okay, let's hear it."

"Well, Mr. Geri, you said that Mr. Marcion uses yer sister, right?"

The otter's eyes were dark as midnight and his voice was tense. "Yes. He does."

"An'...she's an otter, right?"

"Of course she's an otter, Zula," he said.

"Can you please just get to the point?" Pearl begged.

Zula nodded, a rather sly smile spreading across her muzzle. "Oh aye, Ms. Pearl. It's just that Mr. Geri says Mr. Marcion likes to use 'is sister without carin' for her, which means species don't matter much t' him, nor do their feelin's. Sure an' if he could do that t' her, he could do it t' another beast."

Pearl looked confused. "Another beast? But who, exactly...?"

She paused. All eyes had become fixed on her.

"Absolutely not!" she shrieked.