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CAPTAIN MOKE'S QUEST.. Tales of the Uncompromising Shepweiler
By David Butler March 10th, 2005 DEAR READERS.....It has now been 2 years since "Captain Moke" the beloved Shepweiler of David Butler passed away. A lot has happend in this period of time....as some of you know. David Butler has been in the hospital for surgery a couple times. He is returning to the writing of Captain Moke's Quest shortly. He is going to finish the first part....then we will put it into book form. The Second part featuring "Gorg" will be in the 2nd book, so what you now read on this web site....is part of the first and part of the 2nd books to be published. We hope you enjoy a good "taste" with what is on this web site....you are luck enought to be able to be one of the first to "preview" these great stories. Let us know what you think. CAPTAIN MOKE'S QUEST TALES OF THE UNCOMPROMISING SHEPWEILER By David Butler Chapter Nine "Seventh Son"... Continued Release 40 Gorg had learned from Amook that Leal was being made ready for Keck in Loso, the main village of the Gorloks, and the place of Keck's home. The route to the Gorloks took Gorg, Smoke and Vor past Uru's old place. They spent the night there and left early the next morning for Hidden Valley. When they reached home Gorg was surprised to see how well Noor had managed without them. Smoke was just as happy to see them. Vor couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Noor and all her pups. He pleaded with Gorg to give him one. But the happiest of them all was Koda. Koda was ecstatic to see Gorg and tried to follow him everywhere. Gorg picked up Shadow and examined him closely, making sure he had gotten enough nourishment and was growing fast enough. While Gorg was examining Shadow and showing him off to Vor, Koda was tugging at his pants leg. Gorg ignored him. Vor was so excited over the wolves, Gorg told him that he could have any one he wanted but Shadow. Gorg offered him Koda. Vor picked Koda up and examined him. He thought Koda looked stunted and stocky. Vor frowned, and placed him back down on the ground. "I'd rather have one of the solid colored ones, sir, if you don't mind." "I don't mind," said Gorg. "You can have any one you want." Then after a moment, he added, "Any one, that is, except Shadow." "Can I have Smoke?" "No." Smoke wagged his tail. "I swear that wolf knows every word I say," said Gorg. "I think you're right, sir," said Vor. Gorg woke up Vor before daylight and together with Smoke they started off for the land of the Gorloks. Gorg refused to think about Leal. He couldn't imagine what manner of outrage, agony and torture she had been forced to undergo. At first Gorg wasn't going to take any victuals with him, thinking that they would get food as they traveled, but then deciding that they could travel faster if they didn't have to hunt as they went. They loaded up as much food as they could comfortably carry. He had no idea how long they would be gone, and then there was the trip back. As they set out for the land of the Gorloks, Smoke automatically led them through the secret mountain pass that they had discovered the last time they were this way. Gorg was surprised that the Gorloks didn't know about this passage. It was like a back door into their homeland. Gorg was delighted to see that Vor did not slow them down. Indeed, Vor actually helped them to get there faster. It was Vor who decided what to have for their meals and it was Vor who prepared and cooked it for them, including Smoke. It was also Vor who cleaned up after the meals, leaving no trace that they had even been there. Vor was expert at snaring boars, and in many instances it was Gorg who was the pupil, quickly learning from Vor, who had been Amook's most recent star pupil. Throughout the entire journey, Smoke never left Gorg's side. He never let Vor get between himself and Gorg. Gorg found this pleasingly amusing. They approached the entrance to the beach cautiously. It was early evening. Vor had never seen the sea before. The pounding of the waves frightened him. This time, instead of walruses, the beach was covered with sea lions. Even Gorg was surprised. "We've got to get some of these skins before we go home," Vor said. "We can come back for the skins later," said Gorg. "We're here to rescue Leal and no other reason." "Which way lies Loso?" Gorg didn't answer, just pointed. He took Vor down to the water's edge and let him get his feet wet. "Can we swim in it?" Vor asked. "Sure!" The two men stripped and dove into the foamy waves. Smoke played in the surf, but wouldn't go in over his head, despite Gorg's pleas. "It's salty!" Vor exclaimed. Gorg laughed. After a few minutes of frolicking in the water, they got out and put their clothes back on. "We'd better get back to the passage," Gorg said. "You lead the way." But when they started back, Vor, for the life of him couldn't locate the entrance. It was then that he understood how the Gorloks had missed it. It was completely invisible from the beach. Gorg took them far enough back inside the pass so that their cooking fires and food smells could not be detected. There they made camp. He told Vor to stay put while he reconnoitered. Gorg didn't have to whistle for Smoke. Smoke was right by his side. Gorg kept to the beach until they had passed the village. They could see people silhouetted around the fires. Gorg wondered which hut was Keck's and whether Leal was being kept there or not. They entered the edge of the forest from the far side. Gorg found a tree that was taller than the rest and shimmied up it to have a look. He sat quietly for hours watching. It wasn't long before he found the hut where they were keeping Leal. It was easy to spot. Keck had posted guards all around it and there were a lot of curiosity seekers even at this late hour. He also spotted the place where Keck lived. It was the cave surrounded by guards. It had huge curved tusks from the great wooly beast on either side of the entrance. It would be impenetrable. He would have to figure out how to get Leal without having to fight the entire Gorlok army. From his perch in the tree he heard a commotion outside the hut where Leal was being kept. He saw the guards dragging a bedraggled Oola and throwing her inside. He also got a glimpse of Leal as she dashed outside and shouted at the guards. He smiled at the sight of her. She was still very much alive and full of fire. He quickly looked up. The crack of dawn was beginning to break over the mountain tops. He would have to hurry. He scooted back down the tree and he and Smoke scurried back to the beach, running along the edge of the water so as not to leave footprints. They made it to the hidden entrance leaving no tracks as they climbed over the rocks. They made it back before the full light of day. Vor was already up and had fixed breakfast. "Did you find her? Is she still alive?" asked Vor. "Yes and yes." "When do we go after her." "Tonight. There is much to be done. The Gorloks are not fools. We must go over the plans carefully. Not now, though, I must rest. My head must be clear for tonight." Gorg slept most of the day. When he did wake up it was to the smell of roast rabbit. The sun was already beginning to set and Smoke was watching the spinning hare. Gorg smiled. Vor had been busy while he slept. They would have full bellies tonight. Carefully Gorg and Vor went over the details again. Smoke watched and listened rapturously to every word. After midnight they set out following the same path Gorg and Smoke had taken the night before staying close to the water's edge. This time as they entered the woods Smoke stepped in front of Gorg and stopped. "What's the matter with Smoke?" asked Vor Gorg put his finger to his mouth motioning for Vor to be quiet. They waited for a while. Nothing. Gorg started to proceed again. Again Smoke stepped in front of him. "What's the matter with him?" asked Vor again, louder this time. "Take Smoke and go back to the hideout," Gorg whispered. "Wait for me there." Vor started back to the secret passage, but Smoke refused to leave Gorg. Gorg stood not moving until he was sure Vor had made it back to the beach. "AAAIIIGH!" Gorg shouted as loud as he could, and darted through the underbrush thrashing and stomping and making as much noise as he could. Instantly the Gorloks were in pursuit. Gorg had been careless last night. The Gorloks must have seen signs that he and Smoke had left the night before and were lying in wait for them. It was still dark, so, Gorg couldn't see where he was going, but the Gorloks couldn't see either. One thing he hadn't counted on, however, was that this was the land of the Gorloks and they would be familiar with the layout, whereas, he would not. All they had to do was wait until dawn. And wait they did. While he was hiding, Gorg reached into his pocket and withdrew the pouch of stones. He carefully tied it around Smoke's neck and told him to protect them with his life. At the first light of day the Gorloks found their quarry hiding under an old log at the edge of the bog. When Gorg knew the Gorloks had discovered him, he jumped up and ran in one direction and Smoke took off in the other. The Gorloks saw Smoke, but they were in no mood to chase a wolf. One of them threw a spear at him, but Smoke easily dodged it and disappeared into the forest. Gorg heard a thud. He felt a dull pain in his left shoulder and at first he didn't think anything about it. He thought that he had been hit with a stone. Then he felt the fire. He looked down and saw the bloody tip of an arrow protruding out of his shoulder. He felt warm blood flowing down his side. He began to lose strength and stumble. He fell forward. He tried to stand. More fire, this time it was his head. He felt another blow. Someone was kicking him in his kidneys. Then a boot to his face. Crunch. He felt his nose crack. His head was spinning. The last words he heard before losing consciousness were, "That's enough. Keck wants him alive." When he awoke he was in a cage the Gorloks used to trap and hold tigers. His hands were bound behind his back. They were carrying him somewhere. As they bore him into town a crowd started gathering and following the procession all the way to the entrance to Keck's cave. Children were taunting him and throwing stones at him and calling him a filthy Koorm. A snaggled-toothed old woman spat at him. They threw rotten fruit at him. Gorg groaned in agony as one of the boys running beside the cage reached in and grabbed the arrow and twisted it. Two guards came out of the Keck's cave and ordered the crowd to disperse. Keck sent for Kumi. When Kumi came, he had Roke, his assistant wait outside while he entered Keck's cave. Keck ordered Kumi to administer aid to the Koorm so that he would not die before he paid for his crimes against the Gorloks. Keck asked Kumi was it true that the Koorm had come to steal Leal. Kumi told him that it was so. "He will pay," Keck said, matter-of-factly. Keck dismissed Kumi. Kumi emerged from the cave and ordered the guard to open the cage door so that he could examine Gorg's wounds. Big black flies were all over the wound from the arrow and it was already beginning to become infected. One of the guards objected when Kumi started to untie Gorg's hands, but stopped when Kumi glared at him. "It is the order of Keck to save this man." Kumi said to the guard. "That's no man," the guard said, "that's a Koorm!" "He's still a man." "He's a savage!" the guard said. Kumi took a skin in the shape of a bladder and held it to Gorg's lips. "Drink this." "What is it?" Gorg mumbled. "Doesn't matter. You'll be glad you did." Gorg took a swallow. "That's awful!" "Drink some more. You're going to need it." Gorg did as he was told. Almost immediately his head stopped throbbing. Kumi reached down and expertly broke the arrowhead off the stick before Gorg knew what he was doing. "Ouch!" Gorg said. "Help me get him out of this cage," Kumi said to Roke. "NO!" the guard shouted, stepping in front of the cage. "Go get Keck," Kumi said to Roke. The guard stepped aside. "Well, don't take him anywhere." "Why don't you take a break," Kumi said to the guard. "You look like you could use a rest." The guard did as Kumi advised, never realizing that he was disobeying a direct order from Keck himself. Kumi had Gorg sit up straight and told Roke to stand behind him with his legs pressed against Gorg's back to brace him. Kumi gently got a firm grip on the shank of the spear. He motioned for Roke to give Gorg another swig of the potion. As Gorg lifted the bladder to his lips, Kumi zipped the arrow free with one swift yank. Even with Kumi's powerful potion, Gorg's yowl could be heard from the sea to the mountaintops. Kumi and Roke patched up the wounds and dragged the unconscious Gorg back into the cage. Nobody seemed to notice that his hands were no longer bound, and luckily no one, especially Keck, heard Gorg muttering, "Leal, Leal," in his state of blessed unconsciousness. To be continued... View Archive
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