by Dave Hazel
“Damn, we’ve seen that before,” Larry sighed. “Only we were in vehicles, not on foot. This ain’t good.”
“It’s like a giant fungus that’s gonna try to eat us up,” Boris said and shook his head.
“Myk, whadda ya think it is?” Larry asked. “Do ya think they found the dead we just killed or do you think they’re looking for the hostages that escaped?”
“Both,” Jake said. “Oh man, we’re out-numbered big time.”
“What’s the status of the choppers?” Mykal yelled to Diaz.
“They are just picking up group Two and they will be flying back to the Pass,” Diaz relayed the radio man’s words. “They have to refuel and they will head this way. I have explained the urgency of our situation,” Diaz added before anyone asked. “And to add to our woes, we are having problems with our radio now.”
“Do you think we’ll be able to out run them?” David Brooks asked. He pointed his cameraman where to film.
“I fear not,” Towbar answered. “They move swifter than we are capable of traveling. We move as fast as our slowest person so as not to leave any behind. I would assume they have blood in their eyes. They run with a purpose.”
“We have a purpose too,” Boris quipped. “To get the hell away from them.”
“How long do you think until they catch up to us?” Mykal turned to Towbar.
“I say we have several hours. It depends on how we march. Understand, my friends, the Sosos will not let up.”
“Well for every minute we stand around here watching them they get that much closer,” Diaz yelled. “Let’s move out.”
“We just need to keep away from them till the choppers get here,” Mykal said as they moved south along the river.
“Should we jettison the heavier weapons and ammo cans?” David Brooks asked.
“What a friggin dumb ass question,” Larry snarled while Mykal walked away without responding. “Why don’t you drop your camera shit?”
“We can’t,” Brooks gasped. “We need them to record our--”
“Well the heavier weapons are gonna save our ass if they get close to us,” Larry snapped and cut him off. “Your camera shit won’t do a damn thing to protect us. It’s just extra weight and we could use your help to carry the ammo,” Larry added but Brooks and his cameraman walked away as if he didn’t hear Larry.
They moved at a faster pace despite how fatigued they were. Now it turned into a race against time. They had to out run them long enough for the helicopters to pluck them from the clutches of conflict. Towbar made it clear they would have to pick up their pace and push harder. The Sosos entire lives are spent traveling long distance on foot and at times at great speeds.
The race wasn’t a match. If they wouldn’t have had the big head start to begin with the Sosos would have caught them. Every few minutes men looked over their shoulders to see Sosos slowly gaining on them. Mykal worried that another group of Sosos would come from the opposite direction thus trapping them.
Captain Diaz had his radioman continue calling for help, but radio contact couldn’t be made. “The helicopters must be in the Pass,” Diaz announced. “That would explain no reception. Help will be coming soon men,” he said. “I have faith in my LORD Jesus Christ that these Sosos will not be the end of us. We will escape this situation.”
“He sounds like that wacko Ski,” Boris whispered to Mykal.
Within a couple of hours they clearly saw the gap closed to less than two miles. It would only be a matter of time.
5.
Within another two hours the Sosos moved to within a mile. Mykal’s men were drenched in sweat and near exhaustion. The main factor driving them as hard as they were going was the ideas of what the Sosos would do if they got their hands on them. The rapid pace drained the men physically and emotionally. The Soso numbers were just overwhelming. Clearly there were untold thousands on their trail and they traveled like they were on wheels.
The reporter and cameraman took turns carrying the big bulky camera and accessories. The two worked together to film their escape while keeping pace with the military men. When they asked for help in carrying their equipment Mykal would not allow it. Mykal hoped they would elect to leave the equipment with the incriminating material behind so the Sosos would destroy it.
“What the hell are they moving on?” Jake asked. He wiped his brow with his boney arm. “They’re gonna be on us in no time. Where’s the damned choppers?”
“Beats me, damn it,” Mykal gasped for air and wiped the moisture from his forehead with his open palm. His hand filled with sweat and he had to wipe the little wet puddle on his trousers. “It seems like we’re busting our tails for nothing. They’re still gaining on us. I don’t believe it,” he nearly yelled displaying his frustration. “It’s like we’re standing still,” he overstated. “Where’s those damn choppers?” He repeated Jake’s question.
“Why can’t Towbar make the green fog appear to take us out of here?” William asked.
“I do not have the capability to produce the green fog,” Towbar answered.
Mykal knew Towbar meant he left the leather pouch with the magic powder back at camp.
“Myk, we still haven’t been able to make contact,” Diaz replied quickly. “We’re calling every ten minutes.”
“What the hell is making them move so damned fast?” Larry grunted which showed his exasperation. Larry, like most of the others wanted to stop and rest, but they knew the consequences of taking just a short breather. “Seriously, what’s making them move so friggin fast?” He repeated.
“Fear,” Towbar replied and turned to walk backward so he could eye the progress of the hate filled savages.
“Fear?” A voice called out.
“Yes. Fear. They fear the wrath of Zizmon-Tarl. They know we took their prisoners, and they probably believe the prisoners are with us. The prisoners must have held great importance,” he suggested. “Yes. Yes, they must believe the prisoners are in our midst,” he repeated after thinking it over. “From their point of view, how would the prisoners not be with us? They are on a mission to take them back. I trust they fear what will become of them when the special leader arrives and they no longer have prisoners, save the dead ones.”
“Well they ain’t taking me alive,” Boris announced. “I’m gonna take as many of them down with me as I can.”
“Ditto here buddy,” Mykal agreed and breathed heavy. ‘Damn it,’ Mykal sighed his thoughts. ‘I completed my friggin mission and now it’s possible we’re not gonna make it back. Why the hell is this so friggin hard? Why can’t none of this stuff with Towbar’s world ever be easy?’
“Myk, can I make a suggestion?” Lieutenant Finley asked softly so not many of the men could hear him. He waved for Captain Diaz to come closer to them.
“Sure. I’m all ears and open to all suggestions.” Mykal said. “I’m just getting pissed that we can’t maintain any kind of distance from them.”
“The way things are looking we’re not going to be able to get away from the Sosos,” Finley said the obvious and Diaz moved closer to hear his proposal. “It looks like they’re going to be on us in a matter of a couple of hours. We’re going to have a fight on our hands. Do we want the fight now or when we’re dropping from exhaustion? I suggest we stop and fight. Give them the fight of their lives.”
“What did you say?” William sounded shocked. “There’s no cover or concealment. We’ll be out in the open.”
“I’m thinking we should stop over there,” Finley pointed out before them to a small hill.
“What’s over there?” William nearly cried out. “There is still no cover or concealment. We’d still be in the open.”
“I’m talking about that hill,” Finley continued to point and smiled. “Look at that. The hill isn’t very high, but it’s the highest piece of real estate in the area. More importantly it looks very steep. We’ll either have to climb it or go around it. We might as well climb it and keep the high ground. They’ll h
ave a struggle when they try to climb it and we’ll be able to shoot them down when they try. It would buy us some much needed time while we await the choppers.”
“He’s got a great point Myk,” Diaz affirmed. “I think we would buy more time fighting from the top of that hill rather than continuing to try to out run them any longer. It’ll also give the men an opportunity to have a little, much needed, rest.”
“I could use a friggin rest,” Mykal agreed. “Let’s do it.”
“Yeah cuz if the Sosos don’t kill us, we’ll run ourselves to death,” Boris scoffed. His uniform looked soaked with sweat more than all the others. “If we’re gonna die, let’s die fighting and taking some of the lowlifes with us.”
“Let’s quit wasting time,” Diaz barked. “At the speed we’re traveling it’s going to take us a half hour to forty-five minutes to get to the top of the hill and get set up.”
It took almost an hour for the first soldier to reach the top of the hill. The hill became an exhausting climb. It was a steeper grade than it looked from the distance. Sections of the hill were sheer cliffs. All agreed the climb was well worth it. The Sosos would have to endure the same struggle if they wanted up the hill, and they could pick them off as they tried. After they reached the top of the hill, all plopped down for the desperately needed breather. Fortunately the Sosos were about thirty minutes away.
“Whew! Good thing we had that lead on them,” Larry huffed. “We’d a never been able to fight them while climbing.”
“Agreed,” Mykal gasped. “Diaz, make sure the men watch for Sosos trying to go around us. If they get behind us it’s a much easier climb up.”
“We’re on it,” Finley answered for Diaz.
“Damn, lookit how many of them there are,” Roy Jr. said while taking a deep breath. “If those helicopters don’t make it back soon this is gonna be our last battle. Like General Custer at Little Bighorn,” Roy Jr. sighed.
“Or Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie at the Alamo,” Randy said.
“Or Bobby Hammond at Plainwell,” Boris chuckled.
“Who?” Several voices chorused.
“Bobby Hammond at Plainwell High thought he was a tough guy, so he took on six dudes at once, all a year younger and he got the snot beat outta him,” Boris laughed. “Lighten up guys, we need a little levity. Have a laugh. We’ll get outta this,” he said confidently as if encouraging less experienced ‘youths’.
Mykal and those close to Boris, Finley and Diaz chuckled at Boris’s attempt to lighten the mood.
“It looks like black death swarming over the land,” Jake said. “There are thousands of them and they looked pissed.”
“Listen up men,” Captain Diaz called out to get their attention. “We still have not made contact on the radio, but I’m sure they have to be on the way. I will admit,” he paused. “Our present situation looks grim. I am not one to proselytize or to push my beliefs on anyone else while in uniform. Those of you who know me, you know that. But I must tell you in this desperate time you must have faith in God. I’m a Christian!” Diaz declared with deep conviction. “I am a born again, Spirit filled, covered in the blood of Jesus, believer. I do believe my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ will get us out of this predicament. You must believe and not doubt,” he vocalized for his own benefit. Diaz knew for non-believers to put their faith in something they didn’t believe in wouldn’t help them, but he wanted to encourage the men. “I don’t want anyone to be fearful. We are Marines!” He yelled. “And others,” he added softly and rolled his eyes for humor. “My God has never let me down and unless it is my time to go home to be with my LORD we will be just fine. In church I would say, can I get an amen? Since we’re not in church can I get an Ooh-rah?”
“Ooh-rah! Oooh-Rahhh!” The Marines and few others replied.
“I’m not trying to be funny Sir,” a voice called from behind. “But if it is your time to go home, does that mean that I’m in trouble?”
“I’d know that heathen voice anywhere Private Wickey,” Diaz said loudly which caused some to laugh at his humorous dig. “Are you afraid that all those late nights of boozing and chasing women is finally going to catch up to you?”
“Yes Sir,” Wickey, one of the four M-60 gunners, replied.
“Well, then I guess now would be a great time for you to repent son,” Diaz laughed out to try putting the men at ease. “I remember all those times you wanted to attend chapel service to get out of work detail,” he said and smiled. Others laughed loudly because they were guilty of the same scam. “Hopefully you paid attention and learned something.”
“I just don’t know if I learned enough Sir,” Wickey’s weak reply caused the laughter to grow.
“In all seriousness men,” Diaz’s facial expression and tone became solemn. “In the few minutes we have before the Sosos get here, examine your hearts and see if you need to make your peace with God or whatever it is you believe in. I’m praying for all of you. I sincerely want you men to know, no matter how this day ends, I am proud of each and every one of you. I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve with you. Even those of you non-Marines,” he said with a playful laugh.
“Even the skuzzy civilians?” Another voice yelled.
“Yes, even the skuzzy civilians,” he answered and nodded to the reporter and cameraman who looked terrified. “They too, were brave enough to come along.”
“Oooh-freakin-rah for the skuzzy civilians. Ooh-rah,” Private First Class Jackson shouted playfully. He held his M-16/M-203 between his legs and started to clap. The others followed his lead and began to applaud with him. “We mi’ as well accept y’all,” the black man said looking at the reporter and cameraman. “Cuz we mi’ all die togetha today.”
“No, no, enough of that talk Jackson,” Diaz corrected the Marine Private First Class. “I told all of you, I have faith in my LORD Jesus Christ, and I believe we are not going to die on this ugly hill in the midst of Soso occupied territory. But if you have any concerns about your spiritual condition, come talk to me before they get here,” he said while looking at the advancing army. “If you want to know the truth about God and what His Son did for you on the cross, come and talk to me. Now would be the time to get your house in order.”
“They’re getting pretty close Sir,” Sergeant McPherson, an Army Ranger, announced.
“Get your bodies ready men,” Diaz ordered. “Make yourselves comfortable and don’t let their size fool you. Size does not matter. You are David, they are a weak, though a very big, Goliath. However we have a very big sling and stone to smite the ungodly giant Goliath. You men are some of America’s, and Korea’s, finest fighting machines.” Diaz cheered to pump his men up.
“Make every shot count,” Mykal yelled. “Don’t waste any of your ammo.”
“I hear the flying machines,” Towbar yelled proclaiming the helicopters distant approach. His advanced hearing allowed him to detect them much sooner than the others.
Everyone jumped to their feet while cheering and searched the southern sky. “Where are they?” Someone shouted.
“There they are,” Towbar said and pointed. “The cavalry on the clouds are coming.”
A shout roared among the men when they spotted them in the sky. They saw and heard approaching aircraft. The roar died down when they realized there were only four of the eight helicopters visible in the southern sky.
“Sir, we finally have radio transmissions,” the radioman yelled. “They said they have been trying to make contact with us for some time and--”
“Where are the other choppers?” Diaz interrupted his radioman. “We can’t all fit into four of them.”
“The other four are about ten minutes behind. There was a delay in retrieving part of the previous group.”
“Finley, get the two reporters and half the men on the choppers,” Diaz yelled over the noise of the helicopters as they landed on the hill. “Have the pilots fly around the Sosos till our choppers get here. They can help by chasing the Sosos away.”
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br /> “Towbar, I want you to get on one of these choppers,” Mykal said.
“What of you, my friend? I will stay and fight with you,” the giant said with a look of concern to Mykal.
“Since I’m in charge I’ll stay until the other choppers come. We don’t plan on them getting close enough for you to have to fight. Besides, the other choppers are just minutes out.”
“I will wait with you, my friend.”
“No, that’s fine. Really. You would keep one more rifleman from being here with us. I’ll see ya back at the Pass.”
“If that is your wish, my friend, I will go,” the giant raised his large hand as if to wave. He joined Larry, Roy Jr. and Randy to get on the same chopper. They all boarded the same helicopter that David Brooks and his cameraman entered. Larry looked at Mykal and pointed to the cameraman implying he would try to push the camera with the videotape out of the aircraft while in the air.
Mykal laughed and gave Larry thumbs up. He believed the reporters would be angry beyond description, but he knew Larry had the Dosch brothers and Towbar to assist him if needed. Though no longer in the military, Mykal wanted to protect the image of those under him.
Lieutenant Finley counted the men to ensure half boarded the four helicopters. He had to force some to leave the danger zone and fly to safety. They all wanted to stay. Mykal beamed with gratitude at their brave commitment to stand and fight with their warrior brothers. Captain Diaz urged William to get on one of the helicopters but he argued to stand beside Mykal with Jake and Boris. They all shouted their joy and relief when four other specks could be seen in the distance.
The four helicopter pilots gave Mykal and Diaz a thumbs up then lifted off. To support those on the hill they flew down over the advancing Sosos and opened fire with their M-60s. They dropped many hand grenades into the mass of charging bodies. Mass panic broke out over the machinegun fire and explosions. The Sosos fled in all directions. Obviously the Sosos weren’t sure what type of flying beasts these could be that inflicted so much death and destruction without making contact. The Sosos steered clear of the steep embankment and their roar of yells rose above the noise the helicopters and weapons fire created. Under the bully threats of the mean leaders large groups turned and tried to attack the hill again. The four choppers repeatedly dove down toward the army of hatred, turning them away from the hill.
