by Dave Hazel
“You wouldn’t believe some of the things the men say about these MREs,” Mykal laughed because he knew how much his men complained about the Meals Ready to Eat. He had heard the many different names given to the MREs. “But it is definitely better than not having anything to eat and I have had worse food that our military used to provide.”
“Would they rather have dried meats and stale bread?” She asked based on what her people normally travelled with on long journeys.
“No, we used to have what were called C-Rations,” he scoffed. “Compared to the MREs they were crap but I guess--” suddenly something thumped on the front of the vehicle and flopped to the front where he couldn’t see it.
Doninka screamed in fright at the sudden jolting noise as if they had been attacked. It felt like he had driven into a tree, but they were parked while they ate.
“Whoa, what the hell was that?” He gasped and stretched his neck over the steering wheel in an attempt to see what was in the front of the vehicle while he looked above to ensure the strange boulder tossing creatures from the previous day weren’t in the air. He grabbed his GAU that rested between them and chambered a round. He looked in all directions and couldn’t see an immediate threat. Behind them in the distance he saw the army that was chasing them from the previous night. He clearly saw the six Things being led on chains. They were too far away for even those monstrous giants to throw something that distance.
“What should we do?” Doninka screeched.
“I wanna make sure it’s not gonna be anything that’s gonna hurt our vehicle or our tires,” he replied while he rolled down his window and looked out of the vehicle to the front. In amazement he saw the legs of a human. It was combat boots and camouflaged trousers. Surprisingly Mykal feared his people waiting at the Tree of Strange Happenings had been attacked and captured. He looked up and saw seven of the flying giant bat like demon creatures he battled the day before had come into view. He killed three and left two, but now there were seven of them. “Oh shit,” he moaned. He didn’t want to fight more of them.
“What is it?” She whined in fear while she too tried to peer over the dashboard.
“Sit still,” Mykal ordered her and suddenly his heart raced. He had to make sure it wasn’t one of his people who needed help. “I’ll be right back,” he said when he made sure the flying creatures were high in the air. He remembered the five creatures lobbed large boulders at them yesterday. Only one came close and struck the rear of the Jeep.
He rushed to the front of his vehicle with his rifle pointed before him. He was ready to shoot if there was another creature on the ground in front of them feasting on the body of one of his friends. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was William lying in front of the Jeep. The front of the grill looked slightly dented. He believed William was dropped from above and struck the front of the Jeep. They used William’s dead body rather than a boulder this time. William’s eyes were slightly open; just little slits and his face looked pale with the loss of all color except for the dark, dried, crusty blood on his face and forehead. William had been dead since the previous night.
Mykal felt confident, he knew for sure, he shot William three times in the back of his head while he was being carried away. He clearly saw three exit wounds. One exited William’s left cheek with a clean little exit wound. Another ripped out of the left side of his throat which took a large chunk from his neck. It was a ghastly wound that appeared to have exploded from within. The third exploded out of the front right side of his forehead and left almost as similar a grisly opening. Mykal stood in shock for a moment. He wanted William dead, but as he stared at William’s lifeless body he felt bad, somewhat, especially after eyeing the horrific wounds that he inflicted. He knew his emotions were on overload due to the magic of the ring playing games with his mind and running on little sleep made it hard to think clearly.
Unexpectedly William’s eyes opened and he looked directly at Mykal which caused Mykal to stumble back. His eyes looked dead, but he looked at Mykal. “Whoa, what the hell? Will, are you alright?” He asked in shock and felt stupid that he asked the question. If William wasn’t ‘dead’, William displayed three horrendous exit wounds from being shot by him in the back of the head and he would have to live with those ghastly wounds. ‘How could he not be dead?’ Mykal shouted mentally.
William didn’t say anything and just as abruptly as his eyes opened, he was jerked to his feet with his arms out stretched just like he had been before Mykal killed him. Doninka screamed when William popped up in front of the vehicle closer to her. Both of William’s arms started to wave up and down as if he was part of a bad marionette show. His dull, dead, eyes looked at Mykal and his arms continued to flail, but he didn’t speak.
“Will, are you okay?” Mykal yelled. He asked the same ‘dumb’ question because he didn’t know what else to say. Without warning two large boulders dropped near him. The loud thudding thumps worried Mykal. The boulders were dangerous to their physical bodies and dangerous to their vehicle.
He looked up to see the strange flying beasts had targeted him with the large rocks. He quickly ducked back into the Jeep and blasted the horn a couple of times to see if the noise would have any effect on the form of William that stood before him. William continued to flail his arms and just stood there.
“Screw this,” he yelled and backed up a few feet to rush forward so he wouldn’t run over the re-animated body of William Roberts. “He’s dead,” he roared more to assure himself for his own peace of mind. “He’s frickin dead!” He shouted and slapped the steering wheel several times to convince himself that William Roberts was dead and not alive.
Doninka also yelled various thoughts, but Mykal ignored her. He continued to look skyward while driving. The ground forces coming against them were not an issue. He could easily out run them, but he wasn’t sure about the seven creatures flying above them. He wasn’t knowledgeable of their speed or endurance, but he knew they were capable of dropping large boulders that could easily destroy his only means of transportation. He looked back to see that two of them dove down to pick up William just like they carried him the night before.
“What the friggin hell are they gonna do with him?” He yelled while watching the camouflaged trousers dangle in air.
“I do not know what you are asking,” Doninka cried out.
“I’m talking to myself. Do me a favor and pull that big radio up front, cuz I don’t wanna stop to put it up front here with us.”
“I will try Mykal,” she replied and quickly reached over the seat and struggled to pull the big bulky radio to the front seat. “I am trying,” she barked as if he had said something but he didn’t say a word. She was frustrated with her weak attempt to move the radio to the front seat.
“I wish I woulda taught you how to drive,” he snickered while he watched all around them. “Alright stop. I’m gonna stop and put it on the floor at your feet. Those things are far enough behind us. As soon as I stop get out and open the back door and keep your door open,” he said and stopped the vehicle to put it in park.
“Oh shit,” he gasped when he saw two of the creatures were closer than he assumed. One carried a large rock to drop on them and the other carried a large bow and arrow. “Damn it,” he snapped when he saw the large spear like arrow sticking into the rear passenger door. It had gone through the door and the arrow head was larger than his hand. He quickly grabbed the portable radio and put it on the floor at Doninka’s feet and ordered her back inside while the two beasts in the air rushed to them.
He ran around to the driver’s side and stood in the doorway. He eyed the dried blood of Marittle on the side of the Jeep and wondered how the kid was doing. It suddenly hit him that he was responsible for possibly killing that sixteen year old kid. It hurt him to think that Marittle was dead or going to die because of him. He knew he had to push his emotions aside and deal with the situation at hand.
He rested his rifle on the roof of the Jeep and took aim. With the
crosshairs firmly on the face of the one carrying the boulder he squeezed off six rounds and was confident he struck the creature with every round. The large boulder dropped harmlessly at least thirty yards from the vehicle and the bat like bird tumbled backward while flapping its wings wildly.
Mykal was startled when he heard the loud swoosh as the spear like arrow flew beside him over the hood of the vehicle. He readjusted his aim and placed the crosshairs on the face of the beast while it drew another arrow. It did Mykal a favor while flying in place to re-string its bow. He fired four rounds when it dropped the arrow and turned to fly away. Mykal thought he struck it with all four rounds, but since it turned to fly away he wasn’t sure if he missed it. He giggled victoriously when the creature flew about ten feet and fell face first into the grass. It lay on the ground while its massive wings flapped wildly against the ground.
“Whew, let’s get the hell outta here,” he laughed victoriously when he got back into the vehicle and drove off. “That thing woulda screwed me up if it woulda hit me with those big-ass arrows. Hell, he probably woulda screwed up the vehicle if it woulda hit the engine with those big-ass things. Oh damn. That woulda sucked if we’d have to be on foot,” he chortled frightfully and shook his head.
“Sucked?” She asked and shook her confused head. “I do not understand.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said and made sure the enemy was truly behind them before he grabbed the radio.
“Do you think we will be able to escape them?” She asked and looked terrified while she looked through the rear window.
“Yes. I’m gonna get you outta here. I can use that green fog, but I don’t wanna use it yet cuz the rest of the guys are waiting for me. If I use the green fog and we leave here they will never know where we are and won’t know if we made it back or not. So I gotta meet up with them before we do anything.”
“Can we use the green fog to go to them?”
“Yes we can, but the problem with that is, if I don’t make us appear far enough from them then I will cause them to be zapped outta there to who knows where? It’ll make them disappear,” he added in response to her confused expression. “There’s too much risk. Besides, with my guys by my side, I’ll show them sonsabitches what’s what.”
“What is what?” She asked and looked more confused.
“It’s what,” he said and knew she was confused and played along because of her naivety. “I’ll show them what’s what.”
“What is what?” She asked and looked more perplexed. She continued to look back and forth from Mykal and the rear window.
“It’s what and I’ll show them what’s what,” he laughed when he saw the curl in her brows that signified confused anger was right around the corner. “What’s what is just like ‘Who’s on first?’ I’ll show them what’s what,” he laughed when he added in an old Abbot and Costello gag.
“What? Who is on first? What does that mean?” She asked with all the seriousness she could muster and it blended with her confusion causing Mykal to laugh out loud. “I do not understand,” she said as if he had been talking a foreign language.
“Don’t worry about it,” he continued to laugh. His laughter increased with the twisted distortion of her confused facial expressions. “You should see the look on your face. I’m just playing with you,” he admitted and continued to be humored by her befuddlement. “It would be hard to explain, but if I could explain it to you I think you would laugh your pretty little face off.”
Suddenly she stopped and looked at him. “Do you think I am pretty?” She asked and looked down as if suddenly shy.
‘Oh boy,’ he thought and knew he was getting himself into trouble that he didn’t need, let alone want. “Yes. You are very pretty. I’ve told you that before,” he said and reached for the radio handset to change the subject. Mykal called a couple of times on the radio for his team and ignored what she said because he needed to get off the subject that he saw her as attractive.
“Mykal, is that you?” Mathis’s voice came through the ear piece.
“Yeah, it’s me. Anything special going on? Is everything okay there?” He asked and hoped it detracted from her longing to talk about his admission of her beauty.
“Yes. We are fine. Here, I will hand you over to Captain Diaz. Mathis out.”
“Hey Mykal, where are you at?” Captain Diaz asked.
“I’m hauling ass toward you guys, but I got problems. I’m being chased,” he replied.
“Being chased?” Diaz asked and told the people around him to quiet down.
“There are at least six Things, several flying monsters but I have been able to kill five of them so far. And there are a number of soldiers with them but I don’t know how many. As soon as I get to you guys we’ll use the green fog and go back to the Pass.”
“Would you like us to head your way to meet up with you in the plains?” Diaz asked.
“That’s what I was just gonna ask,” Mykal laughed. “I can easily keep away from the people and Things on the ground, but the flying beasts are different. They like to lob big-ass boulders and shoot spears from a bow at me,” he chortled. “I don’t know if they will catch me or be able to keep up with me by flying, but the sooner I’m with you guys the better I’ll feel.”
“We’re on our way. Give us about ten minutes to depart and we’ll follow the same path we traveled before to meet you.”
“I’m watching for you. Just go a little faster than normal,” he said with a nervous chuckle to imply his apprehension. “Myk out,” he said and put the radio handset back.
“So you said you think that I am pretty?” She asked and wanted to continue their conversation.
‘Like a typical woman,’ he joked mentally. ‘I’m running and fightin’ for our lives and you wanna talk about whether I think you’re pretty or not.’ Mykal was going to say that to be humorous but he didn’t think he would be able to convey the humor and decided to keep it bottled up in his thoughts. “Yes, I think you are very pretty, but get your damn seat belt on,” he barked to her to change the subject. “I have to tell you that every time we get into the vehicle. I know you’re a princess, but for crying out loud,” he laughed while she struggled to clip the seat belt and shoulder harness.
“Why would it matter that I am a princess?” She asked and tugged on the confining belts.
Mykal laughed and kept quiet. He made that comment in place of saying she was ‘like a damn kid who had to be told over and over’. He didn’t think that would go over too well. “I’m just teasing you,” he snickered and shook his head while giving a quick wink. He continued to watch all around them while he drove.
3.
“Go ahead and grab whatever one you want,” Mykal said to Doninka while they stood at the back of the Jeep. She wasn’t sure what MRE to take.
“I do not know what kind is the best one to eat.”
“Don’t worry about it and just grab one,” he snickered and pointed to the unopened packages of MREs. “If you don’t like it, we’ll throw it away and get you a new one.”
“I would not want to be wasteful,” she said as if shocked that he would suggest such extravagance.
“Yeah, but you’re a princess,” he joked. “Just grab one, and if you don’t like it I’ll eat it and you can get another one. Just don’t grab that one,” he joked when she reached for the first one in front of her. “Everyone says the breakfast MREs taste like crap. Just go ahead and grab one,” he laughed when she pulled her hand back.
“I will eat whatever is put before me,” she said and took the breakfast MRE.
“Are you sure? Most of the men don’t like those MREs.”
“I will eat any food place before me,” she declared and didn’t want to come across as a picky eater despite the fact she was a princess and could choose whatever she desired.
“Let’s hurry up,” he said while looking behind them. “Even though we can’t see them, those friggin bastards are out there and they’re coming after us. On
ce we’re with the others I won’t care so much cuz of the weapons we have,” he said while getting back into the vehicle.
“How much longer do you think it will take before we are with Towbar and the others?” She asked.
“Not much longer. Maybe a couple hours or maybe less. Get your seat belt on,” he ordered and tried to sound angry. “Dang it, I have to tell you every single time we get inside the vehicle.”
“I am not used to such a device,” she moaned but followed his orders. “What is the purpose of such a restricting thing?”
“If we get into an accident with another vehicle it will help hold you in place.”
“There are no other crafts around us,” she mocked.
“If we run into a tree, it will help hold you into place so you won’t be thrown out of the vehicle.”
“There are no trees to be seen in any direction,” she bantered and pointed out the front of the windshield.
“Okay smartass,” he laughed because she was right on both counts. “It will help keep you from being slammed into the windshield should we hit something. But believe me, you need to get in the habit of wearing your seat belt. I’m just glad you’re not saying ‘I don’t want my dress to get wrinkled’,” he joked in reference to a wife of a friend who ended up in a bad accident and was seriously injured for not wearing her seat belt.
“I do not understand. It would seem to me that if one is thrown from this craft you would only fall a small distance to the ground. It would seem that would be better than being trapped in such a craft.”
“It doesn’t work like that,” he sighed at her childlike answer. He realized she had no idea what destruction car accidents were capable of doing. “When we’re driving very fast, much faster than what a horse travels, then you would hit the ground going that fast,” he said and he could see she started to think it through. “Have you ever been thrown from a fast moving horse?”
