Solo Crates and Carcasses

[Kai']

68th of Summer 515av
The Great Harbour
Late Morning

　

　　　"Heave! Ho! Heave! Ho!" The harmonious chanting of all the men could send one to sleep, if one's shoulders didn't threaten to burst from their sockets. Kai's shoulders screamed, his biceps burned and his fingers - despite their thick callouses - were beginning to feel the stinging of rope burn. Bunched tightly in a pack of dock hands, they all worked in unison to haul the heavy load. Supplies of all variation were gathered in a large net; a rope knotted to this net ran through the length of a pulley system. Crafted for the purposes of lifting large loads from the pier into the intended ship's cargo hold, it was a nifty invention.
　　　It was a grueling effort to not let his sweating palms slip on the rope tightly grasped in his fingers. Every time he leaned forward at 'Ho!' shuffling his grip further up the rope, he could feel his back muscles aching. Then when 'Heave!' echoed across the harbour, his whole body grinded, his muscles bulged. Each time the men heaved, the load lifted higher and higher. An odd sense of pride filled the young Svefra's breast, as he witnessed his efforts working the net up so high so as to tower above their heads, swaying wildly in the summer's breeze.
　　　"Alright men - Heave! And Hold! Hold it!" One last pull on the rope and Kai dug in his heels. Stretching back the young Svefra locked his knees and spine, refusing to give way under the full weight of the supply net. Groans of pain and struggle could be heard through the gritted teeth of the collection of dock hands - each locked in battle with their own power of will to control their muscles. Kai's arms screamed at him to let go. With each shift in the rope, he could feel a layer of skin grind away, the rope chafing at his digits. Teeth bared in defiance, Kai refused to relent.
　　　As the group held strong, the net remaining in place, sailors aboard the Sylirian Naval ship raced to hook their catching poles and drag the supplies over the side of their vessel. A large and quite rounded worker behind the young Svefra suddenly barked out encouragement, his voice gruff and loud in Kai's ears, "C'mon lads! Hold strong. Keep her steady!" As soon as the sailors had the net hovering where they wanted, they waved down to the struggling line of dock hands. "And release!"
　　　Another chant ensued as the workers let go the rope in their hands in perfect timing with one another. Inch by inch. Slowly, carefully they began to lower the supply net into the open cargo hold of the Naval ship. In this respect, Kai found it much more difficult than hefting the load up. To keep a constant control over every one of his muscles was taking all of his concentration. Sliding the rope down one hand, then the other in a slow rhythm was exhausting.
　　　His arms began to shake, his legs burn. Despite this he pushed the pain of his crying body to the back of his mind, instead concentrating on the task at hand. If he were to slip, it could cause a chain reaction that could be deadly. He couldn't afford to let that happen, so the young Svefra gritted his teeth and focused on his breathing.
　　　Suddenly a loud bump resonated from within the hull of the ship and the rope instantly flew slack in their hands. "And it's down! Well done lads, take a breather! Two chimes, then get started with the crates!" As if still in unison, the line of workers all slumped to the ground where they were stood. Kai sighed in relief as the weight was suddenly taken off his fingers and arms. He fell to the pier, sitting on his rump with legs outstretched, panting for breath.
　　　His shoulders, arms and fingers all thumped painfully but he ignored them. Pushing the biting pain to the back of his mind as he raised his sweat soaked, stubbly face to the glorious rays of Syna. Closing his eyes, the young Svefra relished in the sudden relieving gust of wind that spiralled across the pier, tussling his shortly, cropped, chocolate hair.

　

[Kai']

　　　Suddenly jostled from his moment of solace, the worker behind the young Svefra nudged his tensely sore shoulder, "Oi, ya did good mate, holding strong with the net there. What's yer name?" Peeking over his shoulder with one eye, the young Svefra appraised the man. Porkier than most laborers he had seen, the fellow was stubbly and unkempt with a head the opposite. The man's scalp was slick with sweat and so closely shaven it could reflect Syna's rays back to her.
　　　A grizzly looking fellow to be sure, though the laugh lines surrounding his goat-bearded mouth was a truer sign into his inner personality. "Thanks! I am Kai. Kai Tidalwave." The young Svefra twisted around to offer his hand in greeting, only wishing that he hadn't as the stretch of his arm resulted in the pop and crack of sore muscles not yet rested. The man accepted his hand with a bark of a laugh at the obvious wince in Kai's rugged features, "Aha! You young'ns are too soft for this line 'o work. Yargul Mundercitcher. Stick by me sonny and you'll soon be lift'n weights you never knew you could."
　　　Kai laughed, though he wasn't sure the man was joking exactly, "Thanks, though I don't want to be lifting that kind of weight," The young Svefra jestingly pointed to the jingling beer-gut around Yargul's middle. There was a dangerous gleam in the man's eye, that made Kai think he had overstepped the mark, then the man succumbed to a bout of chuckles, "I'm gunna like you laddy!"

　　　After a good few minutes rest it was time to start loading up the Sylirian Naval ship with the rest of its supplies. Packed in loose bags, crates and barrels of all shapes, sizes and weights, it was not going to be an easy task. As the other men set to work grabbing an item each and hauling their load to the ship, Kai remained where he was a moment. Watching them as they went, with his legs sprawled before him, he saw no logic in their method. All men would have to make a double trip to the ship with their haulage. Kai knew himself, that would be exhausting just after the first couple of runs. There must be an easier way.
　　　Deep in his thoughts, the young Svefra had not noticed the pair of narrow eyes watching him from balded skull, "What are ya thinking laddy?" Momentarily startled Kai near jumped to his feet, then suddenly uncertain of himself, adverted his gaze to the pier and shrugged, "I'm not sure. Just the way they are doing things. Don't seem very smart."
　　　"And to be a laborer you mustn't'a be very smart either, so what of it?" Kai shot Yargul a dark look in annoyance; brow furrowed, eyes narrowed. This man didn't seem very nice. He either disguised jokes within insults, or it was insults within his jokes. Either way, the young Svefra was uncertain as to how to take the fellow. Raising his hands in defense, Yargul calmly explained his remark, "All I meant was ya kanne be very book smart, if ya working with yer hands eh? Am I wrong?" Kai's silence was all the answer the beer-bellied laborer needed. "Well then, what ya doing sitting here thinking?"
　　　Kai ignored the man's pestering and instead responded with a question, "I think I know of a better way to do this. How many men do we have?" Yargul disguised a small smile beneath his facial hair as he scratched his sweating temple, "I dunno, 30, 40, if you can understand that number. Y'know, with common being your second tongue and all."
　　　"I understand this number. This will work." Kai noted more to himself than to Yargul, as he envisioned the length of the gaps needed and the stretch between ship and lump of supplies at the end of the pier.
　　　"Alright then Svefra, show us your smarts."
　　　The young Svefra hauled his tired body to it's feet, his muscles groaning to him 'not yet!', but he ignored their plea, his mind set in determination. "I will."