(Knacker Wagon Chronicles - I)
Baye hadn't known what to expect on his first day of work. Staring into a split-open carcass, he presumed it was going better for him than for this poor beast. He shuffled his feet and decided it wasn't what he saw so much as what he smelled that made his stomach swirl. It was a sickly, sweet metallic pungency. Blood was still pooling, not yet coagulating. Animals, people, aren't supposed to be turned inside-out, thought Baye. The olfactory assault confirmed this for him.
He looked up from the meat pile and let his eyes follow the gravel road far to the horizon. He turned around and saw the same image, more gravel road with another horizon. There was no trace of the vehicle that must have devastated the deer. Baye humored himself with the thought of the new paintjob someone just got for free. You get what you pay for, opined Baye.
With nothing better to do, Baye figured he could do a favor for the next sap that came along by hauling the carcass to the side of the road. He grabbed a front leg and a hind leg and gave a tug. Immediately, he regretted this move. Offal came pouring out the middle of the pile accompanied by fresh waves of gut-smell. He stumbled backward, almost losing both his traction and his last meal. He covered his mouth with his sleeve and tried to suck some air through the cloth. When the tears cleared from his eyes he took in the meat pile again, well, meat piles now. Not wanting to consider himself a wuss, he charged at one pile. Grabbing one protuding leg, he hoisted it along the road and dropped it at its edge. He repeated this with the second pile. Relieved and contended, Baye staggered to the far side of the road and sat down.
"Ahem, ahem."
Startled, Baye looked for the source of the noise. At no time did he think he was accompanied by another soul.
"Do you mind if I help myself?", said a squat looking man.
"What?", Baye said lamely.
"Congratulations. Sarge will be impressed. He'll say you're not a moron. Not everyone figures out to move the carcass aside on their First Kill. Sarge still thinks I'm a moron." With that said, the rotund man plunged his hand straight into the fresh kill. Baye saw him pull and tug and finally rip up a chunk of flesh. "Ohhhhh, I like the good stuff." The chunk of meat went straight into the man's mouth. Horrified, Baye was dumbstruck by this individual, obviously savoring every chew, with blood running down off his chin and dripping off his fingers.
"Why stop there, I'm sure there's some brain left around too." said Baye, rather sardonically.
"Dude, that would be disgusting." said the man, an appalled look on his face. He looked at Baye rather quizzically. "Oh, forgive me.", he said. He thrust his arm toward Baye, intending a handshake. "Hey, the name's Pudgi. P - U - G - uhhh, - I - E. Pudgi." His expression giving way to a friendly smile. Baye stared that the hand, still wet with blood.
"Uh, Baye, the name's Baye." He lifted his hand but didn't quite manage the nerve to grasp Pudgi's hand.
"Don't mind the blood. You get used to it. Boy, that's some good eatin'."
"Yeah", responded Baye, not at all convinced.
"I don't mind you being a priss - most guys are.", retorted Pudgi. Baye tried not to take offense but there wasn't much that wasn't offensive today. "Hey, good job today. Like I said, Sarge will be pleased."
"Sarge?"
"Yeah, Sarge. You'll find out. Sarge, he's the man. The man in charge of the knacker wagon.", said Pudgi, unmistakably in admiration.
"Great. Well, you tell Sarge I think you're a freakin' weirdo and I think this job stinks and I think this is my last day."
Pudgi burst out in laughter. Bits of meat spewed onto Baye. "Oh that's funny. That's very funny. You're a funny guy. I like that." Pudgi laughed harder, more spewage descended upon Baye. "Wait 'til Sarge hears that. I can't wait for you to tell him." Pudgi continued into peals of laughter. By now, Baye had scooted far enough away to dodge the spittle. "In fact, I see Sarge coming with the knacker wagon now."
