Warm Bodies

Posted on Fri Oct 7th, 2022 @ 10:42pm by Holdstaff Unnamed

Mission: Unknown
Location: Northern Continent SWE
Summary: 2nd installment of Mystery Plot
Timeline: M4 D20

The odor from the hold of the ship was rank. Unwashed bodies, vomit, excrement....the fetid smell of rotting corpse. The two men climbing out of the belly of the sailing vessel didn't seem to notice.

"Another dead one and five girls!" scowled the big man whose hands and face were covered in Threadscore scars. "How are you going to explain why you didn't meet the quota number??!!"

His voice was rising as he walked along the deck towards the gangplank leading to shore in a tiny secluded bay. His shorter companion stumped along on a wooden peg leg and a mood that was becoming darker by the moment.

"What do you mean when I have to explain? I just deliver the goods," Pegleg spat back.

"You're supposed to keep them alive! Not let them drown in their own shit."

Pegleg stopped at the gangplank, "You're leader expects a lot for pittance he's paying! As for the numbers of girls in this bunch, talk to your hunters back on the Southern Continent as this is what they brought me."

Scarface snorted as he walked down onto the beach. He knew for a fact that his employer was underpaying the smugglers and he knew he'd have delicately broach the subject with the man. Not something he relished. Not at all. He turned and yelled back to the crew that remained on the ship.

"Bring my cargo ashore. And don't damage them anymore than they already are!"

He tossed a leather purse of coins to Pegleg who snatched it mid air. The one legged man hefted the weight of the bag with scowl. It was lighter than last time, but he was too scared of what would happen if he voiced a complaint. Instead he made a sudden decision. He looked at the line of chained humans that were staggering or being dragged onto the shore. Yes, this was his last trip for this kind of cargo.

"Tell your employer our business transaction is closed with this payment," he said. "And he will have to find someone else to carry out his transportation needs."

Before Scarface could say a word, Pegleg was back on deck and pulling in the gangplank. The anchor was being winched aboard and two deckhands tossed a body into the shallows. It landed face down with a splash. One didn't need to see the front to know the dead person was a woman. The ship started to pull out of the bay as stiff winds began to fill the sails.

Twenty-nine live bodies dotted the beach, strung together like beads on a string, but instead of string it was a thick iron chain.

Scarface gazed at the dead woman bobbing in the water a short distance away from him. He'd get someone to drag the corpse in and bury it. No good would come of it if a human or a pesky dolphin discovered the dead woman. He sighed and started to yell out orders to his men. Quota not met again. He would suffer in more ways than one if he didn't come up with another live one to fill that space on the chain.

They would pass a holdless camp before nightfall. He could solve his issue there.


~~~~~

Scarface and Pegleg, NPC
Michele ~ [email protected]