Into The Fire

I'd seen Crocodile Isle many a time from the Gangplank, but it were a sight different up close, and no mistake.

I s'pose the first thing that struck me were the entrance to the famed "Cauldron" I'd heard spoken of 'afore. It were a big stone formation, roughly in the shape of a crocodile head. The 'mouth' of the cave was wide enough to accommodate a large group o' gents, and a steady trail of steam leaked forth from it nonstop. I didn't call it invitin', and fer the second time was beginning to regret having been chosen for this ventur'.
I'll be honest, my heart beat as we lugged the boat onto the small, rough shore and dragged our sorry piece o' driftwood onto secure land. Klaggart did most of the haulin', hefty bloke as he was. Our rowboat was a nice big piece o' work, strong and sure - had to be, carrying a couple'a rough galoots like Klaggart and Korey, the biggest in our bunch. Not to mention Korey's over-sized cannon, which he blatantly refused t'leave behin'.

The big brown croc whistled beside me, takin' in the impressive sight o' Crocodile Cauldron. "Would ya take a look at that!"

I glanced sideways at 'im. "You ain't never seen the Cauldron, either?"

He shook his head. "This is my first time!" His jaw actually curled up in a grin. Was the bloke actually happy to be here? Granted, I'd been longin' for a real sight of the islan' for some time, but I were thinking more along the lines of tranquil Krem Quay, not a dangerous fire-spittin' volcano.

"Alright, lads!" Klaggart announced in a bellow that shook the rocks. "You know our orders! We're to keep a sharp eye out for them Kong kids! Chances are they've made better headway than us, after all, they've got a head start. But this is Kremling territory, and we have the advantage of allies and of knowing the land better than they do."

'Most'a us, anyway,' I thought, wondering if Korey and I were the only first-timers to the island.

After we secured the boat, we all set to loading our supplies out on the shore so we could divvy 'em up. We'd taken along what we were told, o' course, which consisted mostly of tools and rations. You'd a thought some first aid supplies would'a been a given, but like I said, we were short on such "extravagances"...that is to say, we didn't have so much as a bloomin' bandage on the galleon, let alone on our sorry mission. Well, let come what may, we Kremlings did what we were told.

Klaggart and Korey bore the brunt of our staples, but it ain't to say the rest of us got off easy. My pack of supplies felt powerful heavy on my back, so much that I wondered if that oaf Korey had taken a spare cannon alongside us. I gritted my teeth and handled it as best I could, as I sure didn't want my mates catchin' on to my strain (I'd never hear the end of it.) But first chance I got, I vowed to sneak a peek inside the pack and see just what in blue blazes was in there! I'd be blasted for a fool if Korey thought I'd carry his cumbersome cannon through a hot volcano! There I go complainin' again - well never mind, the six o' us got prepared and ready to begin our search soon enough, and that put all thoughts o' discomfort outta my mind for a spell.

Truth be told, I found myself merely replacin' one pain for another. I forgot about the searin' weight of the pack, but only 'cause we were now approachin' the entrance to the dreaded Cauldron. I'd have said we were goin' out of the frying pan and into the fire, only it were too appropriate a proverb to be repeatin' out loud, given what we were about to face.

Klaggart took the lead, brave soldier that he was, and seemed none to bothered by the menacin' entrance of the cave. I wondered if I were the only one who was given the shakes at the sight of it. If 't'were so, be darned if I were the fool to show it.

The closer we drew toward the entrance, the hotter the air got. It did nothin' to help my nerves, but I held fast and waited while Klaggart stopped. He seemed to think another speech would help our morale in the face o' the unfriendly entrance.

"You know the drill, lads," be began. "The Cauldron is dangerous, now I don't need to tell you that. Watch your step, beware of fissures and geysers, and above all, don't go into the water."

Percy raised a thin hand.

"You don't need to raise your hand, lad. What is it?" Klaggart deadpanned. Laughter rang out from the rest o' us.

Percy, unaffected by the laughter, said, "What water do you mean, sir? Be there water inside the Cauldron?"

Klaggart's jaw twitched. "Of course there be water, Percival! You ought to know. Monty's informed me you've been to the isle before."

"Yes, sir!" Percy responded. "Only...I haven't actually been to the Cauldron…"

More laughter, and Klaggart swept his eyes over the crew. "My lads, there exists only one lagoon inside of Crocodile Cauldron, but mark me when I say it isn't safe." His voice took on a knowing, foreboding tone, and it silenced us at once. A wicked grin spread across the Krusha's face. "The heat from the magma sends the water to boiling temperatures." He nodded, fixing each of us with a penetrating glare. "It'd cook the scales off your hide faster than you could blink an eye. So," he turned his back toward us and all but swaggered a few steps toward the entrance, "if any of you are thirsty, do stick to your provisions only, eh?"

Well, no more need be said.

I always admired Klaggart for a stalwart, level-headed mate, but his speech sent me quakin' in my boots all over again. I a'ready despised the look o' the bleedin' cave, but now I had even less desire to enter it than before! I swallowed my misgivins', though, and followed dutifully behind the others. Behind Klaggart was Korey, and then came Johann, Kaz, me, an' Percival.

"Well, shiver me tired ol' timbers," wheezed Kaz beside me when we'd left the light o' day and entered the cave. "'Tis a bit hotter in here than I were expectin'!" He openly fanned his coat, as if the light breeze'd do 'im any good.

"Forget that, mate," I murmured beside him. "We only just got 'ere and your already sufferin'."

Korey and Percival were affected by the blasted heat, too. Only Klaggart and Johann betrayed no signs, really, of bein' any worse off for it. How could them blokes jus' stand there as if it didn't bother 'em at all?

I s'pose offerin' some description of the Cauldron is worthwhile. In a nutshell, it really weren't anythin' more than a giant cave oozin' with magma and spurtin' terrible vents. Be more poetic t'say the cave were a hellhole jus' waiting to devour us, but then that remained to be seen. All in all, it was actually of a decent size on the inside, which you wouldn't think t'look at the entrance. It were hot inside, of course, but that went w'thout words. As I stood there beside my murmurin' mates, I wondered for the hundredth time how a coupl'a monkeys could possibly traverse such unforgivin' terrain. For that matter, I wondered how we were gonna do it...

Without further ado, Klaggar motioned us onward and led the way down what passed fer a makeshift path. It were a smooth, long path for being that it were inside such an unfriendly place, and I could on'y guess it were made by us Kremlings who still made a living in this place. I'd heard told that many o' us still mined the Cauldron for precious gems and whatnot, and no doubt these paths were made to haul cumbersome minecarts down.

Korey trudged along beside me, cradlin' his cannon in his left arm like it were a child, and fannin' his face with his right. "Hot in here," he said. "I don't think the Kongs would stay long in a place like this...if they passed through here at all." His voice were steady and even, and I noted his lack of fear of bein' overheard by Klaggart, who didn't abide by insubordinate comments.

I shared his sentiments, but I weren't comfortable respondin' to them.

Klaggart was, though, and havin' overheard Korey's comment, said over his shoulder, "The Kongs likely won't still be here, but if they did pass through, it's our duty ta find out." He slowed his pace and turned to face us, "Remember, lads, we do this not jus' for Kaptain K. Rool, but for all Kremlings. Those pesky apes 'ave double-crossed us one too many times. It's high time they pay for their actions!"

A chorus of agreements sounded from us, and Korey actually hefted his cannon in the crook'a his elbow to applaud the statement.

Percy, who'd been lingerin' behind, ambled ahead with the rest of us. "Mind the path, mates," he said, "we don't wanna be traipsing over any footprints!" He kept his eyes on the ground as he spoke, his face dartin' to and fro as if he expected at any moment ta find some sign of our quarry.

Johann spoke for the first time since we'd set foot on the isle. "Look what be there," he said in a low voice, pointing forward. I glanced at 'im, his dark green face set in a quizzical scowl, then followed his pointin' finger.

I looked but saw nothin'. "What be you pointin' at, mate?" I asked with more than a hint o' frustration in my tone.

Kaz broke in with a gleeful slap on the back to Johann. "Well done, mate!"

"A set of footprints!" Percy chimed in, thus cluein' me in.

I felt a bit silly as I approached the ground where Klaggart were already stoopin', examining a large, dark groove in the soil. He lightly traced a finger across it, which was a bit puzzlin', after all, I'd never known him to be much of a tracker.

Johann limped over to the spot, dour look still set in 'is face, and he actually kneeled down 'aside Klaggart. We must'a looked comical crouched in a circle, as it were like we were gazin' on somethin' truly marvelous-like. All I saw were a shapeless print in the ground. Couldn't make much of it m'self, but then I weren't skilled in the "tracking" arts.

Percy moved from his spot beside Korey and popped up again near Johann to get a better look at the scene. His amber eyes were alight with nothin' short'a excitement. Guess I were the only one there that didn't get it...the track could'a belonged to anyone, or anythin' fer all I knew.

"Be that from the monkey's horned companion?" He asked with childlike wonder.

Johann shook his head. "Nay, mate...this be from one'a them overgrown spiders that frequent these caves."

But all eyes turned to Johann. It weren't so much the fact that the oft-silent bloke chose to speak, but he held a fund of knowledge that most'a us weren't aware of. As I've said 'afore, most pirates lacked an education outside of fightin' and sailin'.

Klaggart was quick to pick up on this, and pressed, "What do you make of it, lad?"

The battle-worn Klomp thoughtfully rubbed his chin, and answered, "Not much, sir. Mayhap if there be more footprints, we'd best follow them and see if we can glean anythin' else."

Klaggart gave a curt nod and rose to 'is feet, the rest of us doing likewise. "Let's move on, then. Keep yer eyes open," he announced, proceeding for'ard. "Look out for anything out o' the ordinary."

This new find was more to my likin' - I'd feared that we might'a come to the caves for nothing, but what with the prints we'd spotted...Johann spotted...it were an even chance that it led to somethin' useful.

It was maybe five or so minutes 'afore Korey announced that he found somethin' else. The rest of us rushed over.

"See here," he pointed to the ground just as Johann had done earlier. There were footprints akin to the large kind we saw earlier, and at firs' I thought it were these he was lookin' at. But he said, "Look, right here beside the large one…" He trailed off, pausin' to let the realization sink in. He couldn't keep the grin from spreadin' across his massive jaw. "I'll be tanned for a rawhide suitcase if that mark ain't from a monkey's tail!"

Our interest was renewed at this revelation.

"A monkey's tail?" I repeated, not quite willin' to get my hopes up yet. I stared dubiously at the smaller print in the ground.

Kaz's eyes went wide, and realization dawned on his calculatin' face. "Ah, the bloke be right!" He shoved past Johann and Percy, claws heavin' to an' fro, and stooped beside said 'tail print.' He jutted out a claw, appearin' to have noticed something we didn't. "There be a much smaller print beside it, lads." He, too, displayed a pleased grin.

"That answers our first question, then," Klaggart said, after havin' examined both the new prints. "The Kongs have passed through this way, alright." He heaved a sigh, clearly bracin' himself for what was t'come next. "Our next move is to head to the mines and look in on our Krew stationed there."

"That makes a bushel o' sense, sir!" Percy blurted. "Why, I knowed a few good, stout lads who still haul resources down in them glittering mine shafts. I've no doubt they can help point us in the right direction them Kongs are headed in."

Klaggart nodded once. "My thinking exactly, Percival. Well lads, I admit, I didn't think we'd hit a clue this soon into the journey, but now we know for sure that our enemy's been up this way, we'd best press on to the shafts and gain news of their doings in our territory." Klaggart were like that, always stickin' to business and keeping everyone's thoughts bent on the task at hand. It's what made him second-in-command to Monty, and it weren't hard to see where his merits lay.

I knew it'd be a good hour or so 'afore we'd reach the shafts, for the Cauldron was a powerful large place, and on top o' that, there really weren't no guarantee what else might befall us on the way there.

Johann trudged forward, in spite o' his peg leg, and tagged alongside'a Klaggart. The two exchanged conversation, and I was more-or-less itchin' to hear what was bein' said. Johann were an interestin' fellow, quiet and mysterious, and being that he weren't much of a talker, I wondered what it was he had to say to our commander. Klaggart too, truth be told, for none'a us knew 'im much outside of his position. Well, there'd be plenty and enough time for us all to get on more familiar terms with one another, that was without doubt.

I shook my head, willin' myself for the umpteenth time not to let my thoughts go astray as they so often did.

And here up and comes Percy to break my train o' thought.

"How be you farin' back here, matey?" He inquired, cheerfully enough.

"I be farin' as well as ever I will," I returned.

"Aha," he gave a funny little chuckle, "somethin' tells me yer none too fond'a these caves, am I right?"

"What gave it away?" I kept my gaze for'ard, not choosing to meet his eyes.

"Well, call it a hunch." He seemed in want of conversation, for he lingered by my side 'till I glanced at 'im. He nodded ahead, toward Korey and Kaz, the latter who'd just cracked a joke that Korey guffawed very loudly at. Kaz heartily slapped 'im on the back with his mangled hook of a hand.

"Pleasant bunch, eh?"

"I were thinkin' so meself," I admitted. "Not that I'm familiar with any 'cept Klaggart."

He nodded. "Korey's a good mate...I knowed 'im since we were both stationed aboard the Galleon."

Decidin' to go along with the conversation, I prompted, "And th'others?"

"Eh," he shrugged a shoulder, "don't know Kaz, nor that Johann fellow - he's close, he is. Dour and humorless. Ain't exactly an open door, if ye get my meanin'."

"That I do. But no matter. The man be a decent fighter, that's all that we need be carin' about on this ventur'."

We lapsed into less important chatter for some time. It helped whittle away the minutes, and during our long trek, I were subconsciously grateful that we hadn't run into any hindrances. The terrain hadn't changed much o' course, in fact the very path we were on seemed to head almost directly toward the shafts. But I weren't to find this out until later. At the time, my poor sight was met with the constant glow of the magma, the dark, rugged terrain, and the seemingly endless path ahead o' us. Were it not for Percy's willingness to jaw, the walk would'a worn down on me quicker.

A shout up ahead suddenly sounded from Klaggart, and those of us lingerin' behind came up to meet him.

He was bent down beside the molten lava, starin' into its flamin' mass.

"Sir!" Korey, who was a'ready beside him, spoke in a warning tone. "Be careful, the lava -"

"Steady on, mate," Klaggart said, and he actually grinned. "We've an acquaintance here t'help us!"

Korey hesitated, clearly not understandin' him. Neither did the rest o' us.

Klaggart, instead of explainin', turned his gaze back into the scorching mass of magma. Had he gone daft? Just what did he think he was doin'?

Couple'a us began to murmur, but all in a minute, a thin, gurgling sound was heard, and to my everlastin' amazement, a bleedin' crocodile head appeared right out'a the midst of it!

"Son of a -!" On impulse I grabbed at Kaz's arm, for he was standin' nearest to me.

"What be that infernal beast?" Kaz asked with wide eyes. He leaned in closer to the sight of the croc, as if he couldn't believe it.

The thing's head were nearly as red as the magma. A cruel, keen intelligence lay hidden behind the primal eyes, and it were all I could do not to step back in fear. It were impossible - how could any livin' thing survive in that stuff?

The croc, or whatever he really was, grinned a toothy grin up at our commander. "Klaggart," he said in a gravelly voice.

A startled yell from Percival. "The thing talks!"

"By gum," I heard Korey breath, at a loss fer words. I was thankful I weren't the only one who were stunned. I stole a glance at Johann - I wondered what the tough, ever-stoic fellow thought'a this. He stood poised beside Klaggart, and his deep-set frown betrayed more'n a little confusion. Even he wasn't unaffected by the presence of this croc that could survive in hot lava…

"Long time, no see, mate," Klaggart responded, appearin' to be on friendly terms with the croc. "I can't spare idle talk today. I'm on a serious errand."

The croc laughed a long, shudderin' laugh that weren't at all pleasant to listen to. "When aren't you, old friend? You don't need to tell me why you're here. I already know. It's because of two little monkeys that passed through, am I right?"

Klaggart slapped his knee. "Right you are! What news, mate?"

"They've been quite the pests, meandering about the Cauldron, as if it were theirs." He all but snarled the last word, and I swear by the Powers, his temper briefly matched that o' Monty's. "Those impudent children have been hopping all over the place. Me and the others tried to throw 'em off, but last I saw, they'd made their way past Kleever."

At the mention of Kleever, everyone spoke at once.

"Kleever?!"

"That's impossible."

"He'd never let those two through, it be unheard of."

"Silence!" Klaggart shouted, then promptly turned his attention back ta the croc. "They made it past Kleever - are you sure?"

"It's only what I heard," the red croc responded. "Me and the others would have waylaid them, but we'd have never caught up on land."

Klaggart nodded, now appearin' deep in thought. "No worries, mate, you done the best you couldn've." He looked the croc in the eyes and gave a brief nod. "That's all I need, and thanks for your help."

The croc sunk his ugly snout below the magma, and again that odd gurgling sound came up. I assumed he'd made it in anger, for he lifted his nose one last time and said, "When you catch the varmints, be sure to show them who rules this terrain." His already-menacing voice became more terrible with this last threat, and I couldn't help but admire the vehemence behind it. If only these crocs were more prone to walkin' on land, the bloke might've made a valuable asset to our team.

No matter. Our next step had a'ready been decided fer us, and we trudged onward through the stiflin' bowels of the mountain toward tha mines.

...Though I be a reptile, I was achin' for a nice, cool waft of air...