by Dave Hazel
Finley’s head seemed to sink lower. “You’re right. I just don’t want to admit the ugly truth staring me in the face. They are both good men and I don’t have the facts to confirm they are--” Finley stopped and looked down at his boots.
“Sir, now that it’s getting lighter out,” Ratner spoke up and looked to Lemon. “Me and Lemon will take some men and go look through all those bodies one more time. Maybe somehow something was missed,” Ratner said and they all knew he didn’t believe it. They could see he was hoping beyond all hope.
“Yes Sir, we’ll look around the area one more time,” Sergeant First Class Lemon agreed with him.
It was obvious to Mykal the men were doing all they could, retracing and re-doing steps already taken for the benefit of Lieutenant Finley. Mykal looked out at all the dead bodies and though he had seen death countless times it was a shocking scene despite the fact he partook in their annihilation the day before. The bodies were sprawled out all over the place with many of the bodies lying on top of each other. He realized there were some who were sons who would never return home, some who were husbands that wouldn’t return to their wives and some were fathers who would never go back to their children who were probably eagerly awaiting their return. The sappy thoughts started again.
‘Hell no,’ Mykal scolded himself in thought. ‘I’m not gonna feel bad for these bastards. If they woulda had their way it would be us laying out there and we would be the ones never to return to our families.’
“And then I want all of the men up so they can eat,” Diaz replied to their plan. “After our morning meal we’re going to have to vacate the area. Lanorear said when the light hits the sky they, the Hawkmen, would fly over the area again and see if they can locate any clues or maybe their remains,” Diaz said and his words lowered as if he didn’t want to speak such gloomy ideas. “But we need to make ourselves aware that we are running out of options and we are running out of time.”
Mykal was so glad Diaz said that because he didn’t want to be the one to cut off the search and tell that to Finley based on his lack of military experience. He didn’t think Lieutenant Finley would respond from a selfish point of view and attack Mykal verbally, but he didn’t want to take the chance with Finley’s raw emotions running so high. ‘Damn, I’m so glad Finley doesn’t see me as the bad guy in this,’ he thought selfishly.
“I’ll talk to you guys in a little bit,” Mykal said when he saw Towbar walk into the general area.
“My friend, I need to speak to you,” Towbar said quietly and waved Mykal to join him.
“Did you find anything?” Mykal asked in reference to the two missing men.
“Find anything? The two missing men? No my friend, I am sorry I have not. However, I may have some positive news to share,” he whispered and looked around like he didn’t want anyone to hear him.
“Do you know where they are?” Mykal whispered when he realized Towbar was trying to be secretive.
“No my friend. My thoughts do not concern the two missing men. I had tried to Mind Talk with Doninka. Let me be clear, I have not made contact with her. Nevertheless, I felt I had a slight success.”
“Success?” Mykal gasped and nearly shouted his whisper. “Whadda ya mean success?”
“I do not know how to explain it to you my friend. Let me try to put it into words that will convey my thoughts. Every time I have tried to Mind Talk and reach out to get through to Doninka’s mind, it always seemed to be cold and black. Like there was nothing there. It was the same way when I tried to Mind Talk with you when you were lost as part of the Lost Patrol a few weeks back. There was nothing. When I did make contact with you it was like the veil was lifted and I found you and we clearly communicated. Do you remember when I contacted you under the mountain when all of you were trapped inside that large hall?”
“Yes, yes yes. It was like I was in a dark room and someone turned on the lights and I heard your voice clear as day inside my mind,” Mykal recalled excitedly. “I’ll never forget how I felt when you got through to my head.”
“Well, it is not that I made contact, yet it was somewhat similar in the sense that the heavy blackness of nothingness was no longer there. It seemed as if I entered a comfortable place and I felt a calming peace. The dreary darkness, the empty heaviness, was no longer there. If there was a guard on her mind that was blocking me from communicating with her, at this time, it was as if the guard had been removed, though I did not make contact with her. I would say I moved closer, yet I do not know if I will have any success in making contact with the girl. To me my friend, this was such a positive experience that I am looking forward to try once again later in the day. It was very exciting because it felt like I moved closer and was in neutral ground rather than standing on hostile or negative ground. Does that make any sense to you my friend?” Towbar asked with a large friendly smile. “Or did my explanation not help you to understand?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Mykal replied with a laugh. The large friendly smile was a rarity but Mykal could clearly see Towbar was very happy and upbeat over the small progress he made in his attempt to communicate with Princess Doninka through his magic of Mind Talk. “But you’re telling me not to get my hopes up yet, right?”
“Yes, you are correct my friend,” Towbar gasped as if Mykal had read his mind.
“Do you think that it means you’re getting a little closer to her?”
“I do not know that for sure my friend, however, I do believe that is what it does mean.”
“You don’t think there’s any danger involved do you?” Mykal asked as some fearful thoughts struck him.
“Danger? Danger with using Mind Talk?”
“Well, I don’t know,” Mykal sighed and looked down. “Maybe it’s just me being a little paranoid,” he added and looked at the magic ring on his finger.
“Why would there be danger my friend?”
“Oh I don’t know,” Mykal shrugged and tried to laugh it off. “I was just thinking when you said it seemed like the guard was removed, what if Ziggy Stardust had some protection over her mind and he deliberately allowed the guard down to allow you in to trap you or to attack you?”
“Humm,” Towbar said and paused to give it analyzing thought which caused Mykal to chuckle. Towbar picked up humming while deep in thought from being around Mykal. “I will give that some consideration as I dwell on the matter. In my eagerness to find her, and in my eagerness to assume I was getting closer to make contact, I did not entertain the idea of any dangers as you suggest.”
“Whoa, don’t take me wrong, buddy,” Mykal sighed and tried to back track. “I don’t wanna push you away from what you’re doing, cuz I’m always looking at things from a panicky, pessimistic, negative, mistrustful and suspicious point of view. So don’t let me throw you off.”
“No my friend, what you say makes sense. Maybe I am being impetuous and not showing enough restraint due to the potential dangers that could be lurking there.”
“Ahhh, damn it. I wish I woulda kept my mouth shut,” Mykal said and playfully wrung his hands. “But I don’t like to trust things I don’t understand or have a full understanding of. Does that make sense big guy? I don’t wanna push my fears onto you, but at the same time I don’t wanna say ‘hey, go do what you wanna do and don’t think it through’. Do you know what I mean?” He asked and couldn’t help but laugh at the perplexed dilemma he seemed to create.
“My friend you have given me something to dwell on. This could be a trap which would lead me into untold dangers. Thus it could turn out to be a dangerous situation for all of us. I will think this over throughout the day.”
“I didn’t mean to make something out of nothing Towbar. Just do what you feel you have to do,” Mykal sighed and had to laugh for the mess he felt he just started. “Do you wanna try to Mind Talk with me involved?”
“How do you mean my friend?”
“Well the first time you helped me Mind Talk with my wife you projected my thoughts into her
head,” Mykal said in reference to the act of magic Towbar performed on July 2nd during his first stay during the original 37 Days in Towbar’s world. “Maybe you could project my thoughts into her mind and if there is a trap or some magical protection over her, maybe having a third party like me, maybe that will make it difficult for the Big Zee to interfere or to counter attack,” Mykal suggested.
“You may have a point there my friend. Let me think this through and we will discuss this later.”
“Once again big guy, I didn’t mean to hit you with a bunch of shit and throw a wet blanket on your fire of excitement. But I’m always looking at things from a suspicious angle. I know I already said that, but I feel like I gotta apologize.”
“No my friend. Do not apologize,” Towbar said and gave a happy nod to him. “I am grateful you gave me your insights to what you believe could be danger. I was obviously lacking any sound judgment. We are on the other side of my world where magic is viewed differently and people lose their lives for the attempted use of magic. Let us talk as we eat the morning meal,” the giant said and pointed Mykal toward Mathis and the Dosch brothers who looked like they were getting ready to sit down to eat breakfast.”
“Hey guys, you don’t mind if we join you, do you?” Mykal asked them as they joined them.
“Course not,” Roy Jr. said as he started to eat. He, his brother Randy and Mathis sat on the ground in front of their vehicle. “Pull up some dirt and join us.
“Thanks,” Mykal said as he and Towbar sat on the ground with them.
Marines Private First Class Anka and Ferria moved toward them as well as Vick Daring and Ben Milnar from another direction. “Can we join you guys?” Anka asked.
“Us too mates?” Vick asked.
“Sure as long as you boys know you’re picking up the tab,” Roy Jr. joked. Only Towbar didn’t seem to understand the quip.
“Hey Mykal, have you been having bad dreams again?” Randy asked. “Cuz you were talking up a storm in your sleep this morning.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry about that guys,” Mykal answered and shyly shook his head. “Ever since we came here to Towbar’s world I have nightmares every time I sleep,” he said and glanced down at the magic ring. He realized he had the night terrors even before he found the special magic item, but the ring did in fact intensify his emotions.
“I’ve been having a lot of strange dreams also,” Mathis said. “I think it has something to do with our living conditions. Constantly under the threat of war and such.”
“I’ve had more dreams and nightmares than I’ve had in a long time,” Vick Daring admitted.
“I don’t think I have had bad dreams at all,” Roy Jr. said and chomped on his food.
“Bull shit!” Randy snapped. “You’re talking in your sleep all the time and sometimes you yell and say stuff about being chased and all that kinda stuff. Don’t say you ain’t having nightmares.”
“Well okay, I guess I do then,” Roy Jr. laughed. “I just don’t remember them.”
“I think you’re right Mathis,” Mykal said after he laughed with them over Roy Jr.’s correction. “When we were back in the world they had me seeing a shrink cuz no one wanted to believe our story at first. Doc Cannon told me basically it was like you said Mathis. And after all the stuff we witnessed and having to fight for our lives all the time and kinda being on the run all the time, he said it was something in my head. He used big fifty dollar words but I knew he was saying it was in my head and he told me after I get back home for good to get with him and he would help me to get out from under the heavy subconscious pressure I’m under. I only hope he doesn’t try to deal with it with drugs, cuz I don’t wanna be a doped out zombie,” he chuckled but the men didn’t seem to catch what he said.
“I’d have to agree with you too Mykal,” Anka said as if he was making himself vulnerable at an AA meeting. “I know I’m a tough Marine and I’ve gone through all the training and stuff the Marine Corps can throw at me, and I know I’m not afraid of any man, but I’ve been having a lot of bad dreams also. Nightmares I guess. I don’t think it’s because I’m afraid because I know I would never back down from any fight or I would never back down from any man, but when I’m sleeping I can’t control it.”
“You’re right,” Mykal agreed. “Cuz when I’m awake, even though I do get afraid,” he admitted and looked at Anka to show he’s not afraid to admit the truth when it comes to being fearful. “I’ll basically force myself through whatever I gotta do even if it means I gotta piss my pants through it,” he said and paused so they could laugh. “But even though I’ll never back down like a coward, I do get scared and I’ll fight like hell. But something about those dreams when I’m sleeping, it’s like I don’t have any control and it’s kinda like I’m watching myself and can’t do anything about it, and so I guess it makes it like I’m terrified when I’m sleeping. My poor wife has had to put up with me waking up yelling, ready to throw a punch, trying to get outta the bed to run,” he added and laughed. They all laughed with him.
“Yeah, I know what you’re talking about,” Mathis said and looked down. “I’ve had my moments where I’ve been afraid,” he also admitted. “And I think it has caused me to have nightmares at times, but I don’t think it’s every night.”
“Look, I don’t have a problem admitting to being afraid,” Mykal said and ate his cold MRE. “Cuz I know all the friggin stuff I’ve been through since we’ve been here in Towbar’s world. Not only have we had to fight for our lives against Sosos and been on the run for our lives from Sosos when we first got here, but we’ve had to fight these rotten bastard soldiers of Ziggy Stardust and that’s the good stuff. How many friggin monsters and bizarre creatures have we had to deal with on this side of the world? A whole shit load of them,” Mykal scoffed and shook his head. “If you’re not having nightmares and bad dreams then there is something wrong with you or you gotta be doing drugs or something,” he laughed and got them to laugh with him. “I mean for crying out loud, we can’t even say his real name for fear of him picking up on that and tracking us down. How the hell can you not be afraid of that?” He said with a sarcastic laughter and they continued to laugh with him.
“I would have to agree with you there cobber,” Vick Daring laughed. “I think this subject has come up a time or two during my discussions with the men,” Vick added and his Australian accent seemed stronger. “I think all the men have experienced some form of night terror, bad dreams or nightmares if you will.”
“I’d also add too,” Mykal said and paused and wondered if he should not speak since it wasn’t his area of expertise. “In some of my discussions with Captain Diaz, and I know he’s one religious gung-ho hombre,” he said and chuckled. “But he says he really believes a lot of this has to do with spiritual matters. He believes demons or demonic type spirits are working to screw with our heads or something like that. I don’t know. He’s the religious dude, but he really made a lot of sense the way he explained it to me. He said since magic is at work on this side of the world he really believes magic involves demons and dark spirits and that’s what’s screwing with us when we’re having bad nightmares. I don’t know, maybe I’m explaining it different than the way he told me,” Mykal sighed and shrugged. “Maybe he’s right or maybe it’s all hogwash, but it really made sense the way he explained it to me.”
“He really seems to know his stuff when it comes to God and the Bible,” Randy said. “He’s impressed me with his knowledge on God things.”
“Yeah, he does know his stuff,” Ferria agreed. “My father is a minister and I grew up hearing all that stuff and I’m impressed with how much he seems to know and it’s more impressive that he never went to school for it. Captain Diaz is self-taught. He learned it all on his own and he’s not a minister.”
“One thing I do like about Captain Diaz,” Anka added. “He’s not one of these people who tries to shove it down your throat. He makes it clear he’s a Christian and if you have questions he will definitely
answer them, and then be prepared for an onslaught of truth,” Anka chuckled. “But he’s not pushy. If you don’t wanna hear it he’s not gonna force you to hear it.”
“Hey, not to change the subject,” Roy Jr. interrupted the praise of Captain Diaz. He looked at both Anka and Ferria. “But you guys were on the detail that was out there looking for the two missing men, right? They still didn’t find anything?’ He asked after they both nodded.
“No,” Ferria replied sadly and shook his head.
“I hate to say it, but I think they’re both goners,” Anka said. He pointed back to all the dead bodies. “We had to go out there and go through all those corpses to make sure they didn’t somehow get out there. They’re not out there, but one thing I can tell you, we have the stuff to mess up a human body,” Anka said and laughed. “Some of them dudes were screwed up big time.”
“Oh yeah,” Ferria agreed. “You can definitely see some of them took direct hits with the 40 mike mikes. It blew their asses apart man. And the .50 calibers put a damn hurting on those people,” he chuckled and they continued their discussion while they all finished off their meal. “I’ve seen shit the human eye is never supposed to see unless you’re a surgeon. That stuff is supposed to stay inside the body,” he scoffed and the others laughed with him.
“Yeah, I hear ya dude,” Roy Jr. said with a smirk between bites. “But let’s be thankful it’s their bodies and not our bodies that are all blown apart.” He chuckled and they all agreed.
“But I will say,” Anka added and finished his last bite. “I feel for them two guys, Jackson and Thornton, cuz if they’re still alive, I sure as hell wouldn’t wanna be in their shoes. I know we can’t wait around for them. Our time is running out. I just hope and pray we either find them or they died quickly.”
