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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4457686" data-attributes="member: 3285">Belly of the Beast: Part 6b – The HulksStrong iron rails, running from one end to the other, divided the bottom deck into two long cages with a passage between them. In this passage a warder paced to and fro, commanding a view of the prisoners, who were slung up in hammocks, fastened in two rows, in each cage of the ship. There was also a little transverse passage at the end of each ward that allowed the officer on duty to take a side view of the sleepers, and to cast the light of his bull's-eye lantern under the hammocks to assure himself that the men were quiet in their beds.The deep-toned bell against the forecastle sounded three bells. In a minute scores and scores of men tumbled out of their beds, wriggling and stretching themselves in their blue shirts."All up! Turn out, men!" cried the officer; and the prisoners were in their trousers in an inconceivably short time.Kham looked up from the deck.  He had lost control of his bodily functions in the night.  He felt like he had been turned inside out.  Everything ached.“Ye had a rough night,” said Scarbelly.  The one-eyed orc’s ugly snout poked into view.  “Didn’t think ye’d make it.”“What do you know…” gasped Kham, “…greenskin.”“I know what a liability looks like,” said Scarbelly.  “Me beauty, yer me bunkmate, so what happens t' ye happens t' me. Now get up!”Kham was half-lifted by Scarbelly yanking on the chain around his wrists.  He slowly, painfully rose to his feet.Presently the gates were opened, and the prisoners turned out one after another, carrying their bolster-like beds on their shoulders."Now men, go on there! Steady, steady!" exclaimed the officer. "Come on, men! Come on, the rest of you!" he shouted. The prisoners appeared in single file, some carrying one hammock and others two. Those who carried two had, in addition to their own bed, that of a fellow-prisoner, who remained below to forward other work. Some of the men were fully dressed in their brown striped prisoner's suit, while others were in their blue shirtsleeves. The officers continued shouting to the men and hastening their movements. "Come on with that hammock! Come on now!"Long lines of men, with their hammocks upon their shoulders, wound along the decks. The sides of the black hammock-houses were open, discovering lettered compartments, as A 1, A 2, B 1, etc. The warders on duty went into the houses to ensure the hammocks stowed, as the prisoners delivered them, under their proper letters, varying the work by directions."Shove that a bit forward there. Now then, stow away there, my lads, stow away! Do you belong here? How came you so late? Any more C 1? Is that the last of C 1? Now then, come on, lads! Move up!"Still the brown line of men moved forward to the hammock-houses, each hammock bearing the prisoner's registered number stitched upon it and the word Warrior printed on the canvas.Their gear stowed, everyone began to wash in buckets, placed ready over night; while other prisoners arranged their hair by the reflection of the windowpane; and others scrubbed the tables ready for breakfast. Everything and everybody seemed to be undergoing a cleansing process more or less searching.  Prisoners covered the white deal tables with painted canvas tablecloths; there were groups of men, down on one knee, brushing their boots, while the messmen were busy at the preparations for breakfast. The tables, ranged in a row along the wards, accommodated eight prisoners each. Each man took his turn as messman, while the service of the ward was divided. Kham sat shoulder to shoulder with orcs; Scarbelly on one side, a nasty orc with a scar running the length of his scalp on the other."Where's your plates? Where's your plates?" cried the messmen.  Something brown clattered on the plate in front of Kham.  A syrupy liquid was sloshed into his cup.Kham turned and emptied what little contents were left in his stomach onto the floor.One of the orcs hopped up.  “No good pinkskin! I’ll gut ye from stem t' stern—““Ye’ll do no such thin', “growled Scarbelly.  “Thank t' val fer givin' ye his food today.”The orc squinted at Scarbelly. Then he slowly slid back in his seat.  With a powerful swipe, he snatched the bread and cocoa from Kham’s place at the table and began scarfing down both meals.“Yer father was a good man,” said Scarbelly.  “I’m sorry t’hear we didn’t stop Coombs in time.”The empty vessels were returned to the galley, and washed by two prisoners, appointed as "Inspectors" of Weights and Provisions for the day. A thorough cleansing of the ship, including decks, poop, and forecastle next took place, at which prisoners continue employed still. Kham was half-dragged by the orcs.“Come on, ye stupid sack, or we’ll fail muster!” hissed one of them.The muster of the prisoners commenced. Two officers were occupied in the wards. The prisoners were all ranged behind the tables.“Silence! Keep silence there!" shouted an officer; and then, while one officer called the names of the prisoners, the other marked down the absentees upon a slate. As each name was called, the prisoner owning it responded, "Yessir," accompanying his reply with a military salute. The replies of "Yessir," in every variety of voice, ran along the wards.This ceremony over, the registering officers retired, and the warder on duty padlocked the prisoners in once more. The same routine was performed for the prisoners at work—the cooks, bakers, and the like. "All correct, sir!" said the registering warder to the chief."Now, then, A ward!" was shouted down the hatchway.Instantly four prisoners appear, following one another. "That's for A ward. B ward!" was next shouted down. "Now, then, B ward here!" And in this way the messmen of the various wards were summoned from their decks, to fetch the breakfasts of their comrades, the messmen of each deck appearing at different hatchways. The messmen moved along in file towards the ship's galley, and presently they reappeared, each man carrying a large beer can full of cocoa, the bread taken down in baskets, and served out by the officers at the ward-doors.“T' doctor’ll be here soon,” said Scarbelly.  “Ye should see him.”Kham was too sick to disagree.</blockquote>

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