Mykal's Return to Towbar's World

by Dave Hazel

  “Does that mean that Towbar, the seven foot man is here?” Dale asked and all the reporters seemed to sit straighter in their chairs.

  “He’s actually 7’7” and a giant mass of muscles. But yes he’s here. When we went into the green fog a number of the Sosos followed us in. As soon as the green fog cleared I saw we were at the old radar base south of Minot. The Sosos attacked and we fought until we killed them all. They killed two of our people here at that spot. From the final count they recovered one hundred and twenty-six Soso bodies. So as proof we have dead Sosos on ice, we have Towbar, we have a few giant horses, and we have my Quecktarbs and they better not be doing experiments on them,” he warned playfully while looking at some of the doctors in the room. “I have a bunch of photos I took with a Polaroid camera that includes Dwarves, Towbar’s soldiers, and other people from there. There are a couple of pictures of the battle field after a battle.”

  “Sergeant Graves, when may we be able to see all these items?”

  “He’s here Sir,” someone shouted from the door when the doors were being opened. Captain Roberts walked in first.

  “Send him in,” Lieutenant General Solley said as he stood to his feet. “For those looking for some proof, I present to you the giant himself. Here is Towbar.” Everyone else followed the General’s action by standing to their feet as if a higher ranking officer had just entered the room. Captain Roberts turned to watch the giant enter the auditorium.

  Towbar doubled over to step through the doorway. When the giant stood, the room filled with gasps of surprise. For those who had not seen him yet the gasps turned to stunned silence. Murmurs of amazement broke the silence once everyone could see it wasn’t a man in a costume, but a real life giant. Towbar stood shirtless bearing his mass of muscles. He was allowed to carry his six foot sword, though it was sheathed on his back.

  Towbar stood 7’7” in his leather boots. His trousers looked like cheaply made pants out of worn out cloth. They were tied at the waist with a leather strap in place of rope. Towbar’s long thick brown hair was held back from his face tied with a leather head band. His skin pulled tight over every area of his body. His natural skin tone would make the most ardent sun worshipper envious. His face was tight and smooth. He posed with a stern facial expression, though Mykal saw he looked awkward because all eyes were fixed on his entrance. When he saw Mykal he cracked a smile and moved to the table where his friend stood.

  “Hey buddy,” Mykal said. He smiled knowing he no longer had to face ‘the vultures’ alone. Everyone watched the interaction. Mykal reached out to shake with his approaching friend. Instead of gripping hands, they gripped each other by the wrist. “This is how they greet each other in Towbar’s land,” Mykal informed the onlookers. “And if you grab the inside of the forearm,” he said as they demonstrated, “it’s an expression of complete loyalty and trust, which we have for each other.”

  “Does he speak English?” One of the reporters called out.

  “Greetings,” Towbar replied with a loud booming voice. “Where I come from this language is known as the common tongue.”

  “Which is great,” Mykal said. “Cuz when we first met him we musta looked like we were from outer space. From Towbar’s point of view, I guess we were from outer space,” he chuckled. “But he was able to understand me and I was able to understand him. The rest is all in those reports,” he said and pointed to the towers of paper on a different table.

  “This is truly amazing,” Dale Rowe announced and gawked.

  “Provided we can verify that this is truly not a hoax,” one of the other reporters said and quickly threw up his hand. “Not that we’re accusing anyone. We just need to verify facts.”

  “We have kept Towbar’s presence a secret,” Lieutenant General Solley informed them before the reporters asked questions. “The others from Towbar’s world are dead. They are all Sosos. They are being kept in a makeshift morgue. For obvious reasons their bodies are under constant guard. After several exams have been performed on the remains, we can confidently claim they are not from this world. In anticipation of your next question, viewing will be allowed in due time.”

  “May I ask, Towbar, how do you know our language?”

  Towbar looked at Dale. “I would ask you, why do you say it is your language? It is the common language in my world.”

  “Yeah, Towbar’s people have their own language and all the peoples know the common tongue. The Sosos know it. Even the Dwarven people know the common language, but they haven’t used it for a long time so only a few of them could speak it. They were used as translators and now that they are going to come out of the mountains, they were going to have their people pick it back up as a regular second language.”

  “Towbar, do you know how to get back to your world?” One of the reporters called out.

  “And do you know where your world is in relation to our world?” Another quickly asked.

  “Is there a way we can go there?” A third asked without giving Towbar a chance to answer.

  Towbar’s head seem to lower slightly. “I do not know how to return,” he answered with sadness. “I need to return. My people need me at this crucial time. We are at war with the Sosos.”

  “Do you have any ideas how you might return?” Dale Rowe asked. All four energetically scribbled notes on their notepads.

  “Towbar is stuck,” Mykal answered before Towbar spoke. Mykal didn’t want Towbar to announce that he was a magic user and that he would have to use magic to return to his world. Mykal wanted the idea of returning to Towbar’s world off the table, so if Towbar did discover a method to return, he would be able to leave quietly and unhindered.

  “Where is your world located?”

  “I know not,” Towbar said and already looked bored. In the past month he had been asked that question over a couple hundred times.

  “With all the people we have been talking to we’ve had a million ideas thrown at us,” Mykal said. “One idea is that his world is on another planet outside of our solar system which would mean the green fog is more complex and more powerful than anything our people at NASA could come up with. One suggestion was that his world is right here but in another dimension. Another idea was that it is right here but maybe in another time, but that theory would have to be in the future since we’ve never discovered anything to show their existence. One idiot had an idea,” he quickly caught himself. “Ooops excuse me, one civilian idiot had an idea that Towbar is not real, but that he is just a figment of our imagination. He didn’t get to finish explaining his theory because Towbar picked him up by his shirt and lifted him over his head. When Towbar threatened to throw him down, the idiot agreed that Towbar was in fact real.” Mykal waited for the laughter to end. “So if anyone doubts he’s real, just say the word. Towbar can make it very clear for you if you need help.”

  The group laughed and chuckled at Mykal’s humorous remark.

  “Well, I’ll tell you one thing Sergeant Graves,” Dale Rowe said while folding his hands together. “This is impressive. As journalists, as reporters, as the media, I can’t say that I am fully on board as of yet. Don’t take me wrong, I am not going to turn my nose up at this. But sitting here in the twentieth century even with all our technological advances, this is so unbelievable.”

  “This is right out of a sci-fi movie,” another added.

  “I will not say that I doubt, but I would like to see all the evidence that’s available,” Dale Rowe said. “I would like to know why you haven’t gone public with your story yet.”

  “For the same reason you guys gave your word and signed your life away to secrecy. Because I’m told I’m not allowed to say anything. Being in the military I have to keep my mouth shut. I understand where they’re coming from. A nuke has disappeared as well as all the people who were involved. We came back and we told a story that over fifty people have been killed and the nuke is abandoned lying in the middle of a big open field in another world somewhere. The military needed to do the
ir investigation, they needed to make sure the nuke didn’t fall into the wrong hands and they needed to make sure the Air Force is not going to be embarrassed by the stuff we said if it turned out not to be true. I understand all that.”

  “Have you been threatened?” One of the four asked.

  “What, are you trying to start some trouble?” Mykal asked distrustfully. “I’m in the military and I have to obey orders that are given from the higher ranking individuals who are placed over me. Obedience to higher ups and obedience to orders is a way of life. It’s not that I’ve been threatened, it’s how we live. Those who are above me have their reasons for our imposed silence. Who am I to question those above me?” He asked like a compliant member of the armed forces.

  “Would you say there has been a cover up?” Another asked.

  “You’re asking the wrong person,” Mykal replied. “I do what I’m told. The military has its reasons for doing certain things that get done. As for the reason why those decisions are made, there are times I just don’t have the need to know. Those questions are above my pay grade.”

  “Has there been a cover up General?” One of the journalists turned to General Solley.

  “No. We have kept a tight lid on this until we could ascertain all the facts,” Solley replied. “All information had to be vetted. You four were selected and brought in today to help us get this out to the American people. Our investigation has been completed and after examining the facts presented to us, it has been determined that the story, called Mykal’s story in some quarters, is verified to be true. How? Now that,” he paused briefly, “is a different matter altogether.”

  “We still need to see all the real proof General,” Dale Rowe said. “I would like to make sure that we are not going to be used as pawns to get an unsubstantiated tale of time travel or world travel out to the American public.”

  “The world public,” one of his colleagues added. “This will inevitably spread around the world like wild fire.”

  “The main reason a tight lid had been put in place was so we could verify as much of the facts as possible,” Solley continued. “Obviously we don’t have the means of producing the green fog that transported eighty-five American people to Towbar’s world,” he said and used his fingers to make quotation marks in the air.

  Another of the reporters spoke up. He sat there with his finger pressed against his lip as if in deep thought. “But General Solley, without the green fog and actual access to Towbar’s world, I don’t think the majority of the public would blindly accept something so bizarre from the military.”

  Mykal cut in before Solley could respond. “Honestly, I don’t care if you people or people down the street or people around the world believe me or not,” Mykal said, taking everyone by surprise. “I know what we’ve been through.”

  Colonel Parker looked ready to jump up and stop Mykal when it appeared he would say something foolish. Lieutenant General Solley stopped Colonel Parker with a raised finger.

  “Sergeant Graves, I don’t understand the sudden antagonism and the hostile attitude you’ve taken with us,” Dale Rowe replied.

  “I don’t mean to blow up but I’m so friggin fed up with all this damn nonsense,” he said firmly and slightly raised his voice.

  “Mykal please,” William whispered and stood to get Mykal’s attention.

  “Stand down Captain Roberts,” Lieutenant General Solley said and waved to silence him.

  “Well please, help me to understand, Sergeant Graves,” Dale continued. “This is the first we’ve learned of this. You must be able to appreciate our skepticism I’m sure. As much as my journalistic mind is screaming to call you a fraud and say this is a hoax until I know with certitude, I’m willing to hear you out. We’ve only heard your side of the story. We haven’t interviewed any of the others who have returned. To be honest, I have a natural distrust for the military. I know the military would not be so brazen as to try to pull a hoax of this magnitude on the American people. They would gain nothing by trying to spread such a fantastic fabricated story to cover up the fact that a nuclear missile is missing. I am intrigued and I am appreciative that I was one of the four selected and brought in. So help me to understand your hostility. Is this a plot to run a hoax and you’re just not willing to be a participant?”

  “Are you kiddin me?” Mykal scoffed.

  “No, I am trying to understand why you’re so angry.”

  “I’m friggin pissed off because I fought for my life to stay alive so I could come back home to my family. Since I’ve been back it’s been nonstop interrogations and one big ass investigation. I haven’t seen my family since I’ve been back. My life is turned upside down and I’ve had a couple people tell me my ass is on the line for stealing and selling a nuke to terrorists or the Russians or the Chinese or who the hell ever else would want one of our nukes.

  “I’m friggin pissed off because there has been a clamp down on anything we say. We can’t even let the damn families of the missing people know anything about their loved ones. I have friends who are dead and I can’t say a damn thing to their family members, people I have a relationship with. My wife has had to have our phone number changed twice in the last month already. I see people and they beg me for any information and I can’t say a stinking thing to them or my ass is on the line. I had to--”

  “To be fair Sergeant Graves,” William cut him off. He looked frustrated at Mykal’s choice of words and tone. “We had to be sure and verify all the information that was relayed to us after you returned.”

  “That’s fine,” Mykal snapped in heated anger. “That’s fine, I understand that. But I friggin told you people what happened over and over and over. The others told you the same damn story over and over and over. We’re all on the same page here. I just wanna be able to tell the truth to the families of my friends who are dead and or missing. One of my friends who came back is a civilian. His name is Roy Dosch Jr. His little brother, Baby Ray, was killed and his father and his other brother Randy are stuck back there. They may be dead too. When he said he was going to tell his mother and sister what happened, they locked him up. He’s still locked up. We didn’t ask for this to happen to us,” he angrily slapped the side of his leg.

  “Is this true General?” Dale turned to Solley.

  “Mr. Dosch is being confined for his own welfare,” William quickly stood and answered for the General. “When everyone was advised to remain silent, Mr. Dosch became angry and made threats and actually punched one of our investigators.”

  “And just to be clear Mr. Rowe,” Colonel Parker picked up where William ended. “Mr. Dosch is under medical supervision because of his extreme emotional outburst and physical attacks. Preventing the release of information wasn’t the only factor in Mr. Dosch’s detention. Concern for his safety and the safety of others became priority number one. Mr. Dosch and all the others have freely admitted to killing in combat situations. Doctors will testify he is suffering with PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder, and with his violent outburst we would be remiss if we didn’t protect the public from him.”

  “My concern is to be with my family,” Mykal sighed. “And then my only other concern--”

  “I don’t mean to cut you off, Sergeant Graves,” Colonel Parker spoke up. “You have been with your family more than the others have had the chance to be with their loved ones and families during their period of this investigation.”

  “Are you kidding me Sir?” Mykal snapped. He knew he’d catch hell for responding to Colonel Parker in such a tone. “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, Sir, I don’t, but every moment I’ve been with my family has been supervised. I had to have a babysitter to make sure I wasn’t going to say something they wouldn’t approve of. I’ve had zero, I repeat, zero alone time with my family. I’m a damn prisoner and didn’t commit a crime, Sir. I’ve been open and honest about everything,” he fibbed, since he left out certain information that would put a bad light on some of the relationships.

  Myk
al was glad they didn’t mention how he managed to elude those supervising one of his visits with his wife that gave him seven hours of freedom early on in the investigation. The ‘baby sitters’ were awestruck and occupied with Towbar the giant which enabled his escape. It was during that time he managed to recover some things he hid upon their return on July 29th. He played it off as ‘needing some alone time’ with his wife.

  “I’ve answered every question thrown at me, I’ve jumped through every hoop put before me, and I’ve done everything I could to help prove the truth. But I’m the ‘bad guy’. At least that’s the way I feel by the way I’m being treated. So yes, I’m very frustrated. I’m friggin angry. I’m not trying to be a jerk. I’m just being honest with you.”

  “I think we need to get control of our emotions and our tone of voice,” Colonel Parker said forcefully. He glared at Mykal.

  “Kit, let him go,” Lieutenant General Solley spoke to Colonel Parker by his nickname. They had been close friends for a very long time and the nickname stuck since their college days. “Mykal, you don’t mind that I call you Mykal, do you?”

  “No Sir,” Mykal replied and took a deep breath. A moment of clarity hit his brain and he knew he was going to be in serious trouble.

  “Mykal, this is the first time in the history of mankind that we have had a situation of this sort. Keep in mind it is not just the fact that you time traveled or world traveled to another place, but there have been many people killed. There are many people missing and we can’t ignore the fact that there is a long-range, strategic, nuclear missile with a live warhead that’s unaccounted for.”

  “Yes Sir.”

  “Help us understand your anger.” Solley sounded concerned while glancing to Doc Cannon. Solley appeared to be drawing something out of Mykal.