by Dave Hazel
“We have her riding in one of the other crafts my friend,” Towbar answered. “Captain Diaz thought it would be best to have her in a more spacious craft and have all the medical soldiers near her.”
“Good, but is she really doing okay?” He asked Towbar. He knew Towbar wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to hear but only truth even if the truth was to hurt.
“Yes my friend. She is in pain, but she will get better.”
“Okay, if we don’t know where we are, where are we going or where do we think we’re going?” Mykal asked and suddenly felt frustrated when he realized they were admitting to being lost in the wide open plains on the other side of Towbar’s world.
“We do know that there were forces who were in pursuit of us my friend and we are doing our best to avoid them.”
“There were some of the big Things with them,” Mathis replied and we have just been on the move to get away from them. We fear we may be back around the general area of the city where we rescued Doninka from.”
“I know what Things you’re talking about. We were on the run from them, but let’s get something straight. You guys didn’t rescue Doninka,” he attacked Mathis playfully. “You guys created a shit storm of a mess and left me there all alone with her and I had to sneak us outta there. So let’s keep our facts straight about the rescuing of the princess,” he added and had to laugh when Mathis looked like his feelings were hurt. “I’m just kidding with you. Chill out. We were all a part of the team that rescued her and I mean that,” he added and realized the problems occurred when he wasted time to torture the two brothers who abused their mother’s dog.
“I know things kind of blew up in our face, but we didn’t do that on purpose,” Mathis said as if he was defending the actions of all the men involved.
Mentally Mykal was hit with sudden guilt. He believed his actions of punishing the brothers, Dabinau and Angolow, who abused Baby the dog, may have caused their delay enough that resulted in the problems that had developed. Two men died back there and if he would have just killed them quickly or avoided them, then it was possible those two brave men wouldn’t have died and they wouldn’t be running without the use of magic now. Being honest with himself Mykal knew all the fingers of guilt pointed back to him and his selfish actions.
‘I wonder if God is punishing me by killin’ our two guys cuz of those two dirt bags I killed?’ He wondered, but then clearly remembered a time when both Diaz and Ski answered a similar question for him and made it clear that Almighty God doesn’t operate like that.
“Really Mykal, we didn’t mean for that to blow up in our face,” Mathis repeated when Mykal just sat there and stared into space. Mathis didn’t realize that Mykal had suddenly been overcome with heartbreaking guilt and condemnation.
“Seriously, don’t worry about it. I was only kiddin’. We were able to rescue her and get her away from the bad guys after all the weeks of crap we had to go through. Hey, so what happened back at the point of attack? How did we lose two guys?” He asked and didn’t want to admit that he felt the blame should rest on his shoulders. He looked into Towbar’s eyes and the giant looked as if he was going to keep Mykal’s detour to torture the animal abusers between the two of them.
“From what was told to me,” Mathis replied and gave a sad expression. “And you can check with those who were there just to make sure, but I was told all the men were hiding in between the darkness of the buildings while you were trying to find Doninka. Cremona was farther down the line. He was hidden in the darkness and wouldn’t have been seen. But about ten or a dozen soldiers came strolling along the length of the street near the buildings like they were on a night patrol. I guess Cremona’s ear piece had gotten pulled out of his radio so when a message was spoken to him the soldiers heard the squawk of his radio.”
“Awh damn,” Mykal sighed.
“Well, all of them went to inspect the noise and before they came upon him he opened up with his rifle and before he could kill all of them about three of them stabbed him with swords. By that time a couple others were there and took them out quietly but by then it was too late. He handed his radio off to someone else and stumbled over to where Towbar was and then several other soldiers came out due to the noise. So the team had to open fire to keep them back.
“Whoever had the radio called for help and said Cremona went to the building where you were at,” Mathis continued. “I don’t know what the miscommunication was, but a couple of the Mk 19s fired on the buildings and not the stone wall. Their attack took out your stairwell and killed Sergeant Bush. He was taken out with friendly fire. It’s possible Cremona was finished off with friendly fire too, but he was stabbed three times and a couple of the guys said he couldn’t have made it. They couldn’t believe he walked as far as he did because all three of the blades went through him. He had wounds in his front and back.”
“Damn it I hate hearing when guys get hurt or killed. I really hate it even more when they get hurt by friendly fire,” Mykal said and thought back to the sight of the two men laying on the ground before they were carried away. “But I do have a great idea. Seriously though, I have a great idea,” Mykal said with an evil smirk. “I don’t know if we’d be able to pull it off, but I would like to get a specialized team and go back into that mountain,” he said and used his thumb to point over his shoulder in reference to something behind them. “And then I’d like to capture some of those zombie things we ran into. What did we call them, AFAs? What was it, Area Fifty-one Aliens?”
“And UBAHs. The Ugly Big Ass Heads,” Mathis replied which caused Mykal to laugh.
“Yeah, that’s right,” he continued to laugh. “But if we could get one or a couple of those zombie things I would honestly take them back to this city and release them. Then that would be a problem that Ziggy Stardust would have to deal with in his own land,” he added and looked to Towbar who seemed to be deep in thought over the idea.
“Oooh, I don’t know Myk,” Mathis whispered and shook his head.
Mykal turned to look at Towbar. “I know I had joked to you about dropping some of them off in the Soso lands, but the problem there would be that they would eventually make their way to your land. So that wouldn’t be good,” he chuckled.
“But Myk, what about the innocent people on this side of the world?” Mathis whispered so the others wouldn’t hear him.
“What damn innocent people on this side of the world?” Mykal snapped and showed he didn’t believe there was one innocent person here.
“The children. What about the children?”
Mykal hesitated and knew Mathis was right. “The children. It’s always about the damn children,” he said as if dwelling on what that would mean. “Screw the children,” he snarled and his anger and hatred spewed out. Like they would ever care about the children in Towbar’s land? Besides, the children here will only grow up to be miserable bastards like their parents who live to follow the rules and do the bidding of that evil bastard Ziggy Stardust. Besides, if the zombies are feasting on the people over here and turning them into zombies, including the children then Ziggy would have to deal with the problem over here and quit trying to take over the rest of the world. It’s all part of the collateral damage that he doesn’t giva shit about anyways. Let it be on his head. That’s what I say about the so called ‘innocent’ people of these lands,” he scoffed bitterly
Towbar broke his silence. “If we could ensure we would be able to depart and not bring traces of that foul evil to my side of the world, I would do it. Yes, to protect the people of my land I would most assuredly do that. My people are on the edge of being annihilated. I will do all that I need to do to protect my people from the evils of the Sosos and from the forces from this side of the world.”
“Well, to be honest,” Mathis started and paused. He knew he drew out Mykal’s anger and wanted to change Mykal’s feelings. “It would be a game changer,” he said as if to be agreeable. “Munch munch.”
Mykal burst out with laughter
and immediately his anger was gone. “Damn you Mathis,” Mykal laughed. “What the hell is it about you?” He asked referring to Mathis’s ability to make Mykal laugh all the time. “Speaking of munch munch, have we heard from the Hawkmen?”
“Yes,” Mathis replied with a slight laugh because of Mykal’s laughter. He knew he could always make Mykal laugh and change his mood when Mykal started to ‘go off the deep end.’ “The Hawkmen were with us until the green fog appeared on us and took us away. Oh yeah,” he gasped excitedly and snapped his fingers. “I forgot to mention. When we got transported away by the green fog, most of us heard an evil voice that threatened to kill us.”
“Seriously?” Mykal asked with surprise. “That’s what happened when we got sent to this side of the world for the very first time.”
“Yes, that was the first thing I thought of. I heard you explain that many times, and that was what I heard. I know Captain Diaz and Lieutenant Finley heard it and they were there the first time and said it sounded like the same voice from the first time they heard it.”
“I, myself, heard the evil voice that made a threat to our presence inside the green fog,” Towbar acknowledged.
“Did it have an accent?” Mykal asked.
“Yes, to me it sounded a little like an eastern European voice. Kinda, slightly,” Mathis answered and shook his head excitedly. “I should say that’s what came to mind, not that it really sounded like that but that was the first thing that came to mind when I heard the voice.”
“Damn, I bet it’s the same voice we heard the first time,” Mykal gawked. “So if it is Ziggy Stardust, then he’s planning to kill us,” Mykal laughed because he didn’t know what else to say.
“That’s our ol’ Ziggy,” Mathis mocked playfully which made Mykal laugh more. “Always talking tough and making big threats. You know how he is.”
“Towbar, let’s seriously consider if we can attempt to do this thing with the zombies under the mountain,” Mykal suggested and sounded determined. “There would be a great risk in doing something like that, but if we could pull it off, it would put his people on the run for a long time and they would have to rid their lands of all the zombies, infected people, and they would probably turn on each other out of fear, so that would keep him away from attacking your side of the world for a very long time.”
“Let us talk with the others after we get away from the problems that plague us at this time. I, for one, would gladly be a party to such a scheme,” the giant replied and looked like he was still giving it deep consideration.
“Hey Mykal,” Sergeant Barry called from the front passenger seat. “Captain Diaz is calling to see if you’re up. Do you want to speak to him?”
Mathis pointed to his radio near his seat to let Mykal know he could talk to him on the hand set.
“Sure, tell him I’m gonna be on Mathis’s radio.”
“Will do.”
“Hey Captain Diaz, how is everything going?” Mykal asked after he grabbed the radio handset.
“I’m doing fine, but how are you doing? You’re the one who had another rough experience,” Diaz said and chortled into Mykal’s ear.
“You’re right. It does seem like I’ve been having some rough times,” Mykal snickered back to him.
“I’m not going to get all preachy on you, but I think maybe Someone is trying to get your attention before it’s too late.”
“Do you mean God?” Mykal asked and thought of all his recent close calls with death. He knew he had to take Diaz’s recommendations seriously.
“You already had one very bad experience that you almost died from,” Diaz reminded him of the battle on the 22nd of January. “You shouldn’t even be up and walking around after what you experienced that day and yet, here you are just escaping another very dangerous, nearly a life taking, situation again.”
“You’re right,” Mykal replied and had to sigh. “We’ll have to get together sometime and talk.”
“And I think we need to do that very soon,” Diaz said as a joke but meant it. “Because you may not be here in the next couple of hours. I say that by the way you live Mykal. And to hopefully make you really think about where your life is and where it is going.”
“Do you mean after death like heaven and hell?”
“Yes,” Diaz continued to snicker. “But you do live life dangerously.”
“Yeah, that’s not really funny, but I get your meaning,” Mykal laughed. “Message heard loud and clear Sir.”
“Seriously though Myk, we should talk when we get some free time.”
“Will do. What do you think is going on right now?” Mykal asked.
“I take it they explained that Towbar has been prevented from using the green fog to take us back to the Pass?”
“Yeah. That’s a shocker,” Mykal sighed. “I’m fearful it may lead to the final showdown with the Ultimate Bad Guy.”
“We were discussing that and we wondered if that was a possibility.”
“I guess we’ll just have to do what we’re doing and see what happens and we’ll have to do our best to avoid these armies that are coming out against us. We have to protect Doninka, cuz I think this is all about them trying to get her back.”
“We will do what we can to protect her, but I don’t want to put my men at risk,” Diaz said.
“You don’t mean that like you would give her up, do you?”
“Oh no,” Diaz replied and had to laugh. “No, no no no. Not like that. I just want to be extra careful with the men under us. I want to be wise and avoid the enemy at all costs.”
“I agree. Cuz I was afraid you were willing to turn your back on her.”
“No, not at all Mykal.”
5.
They stopped to have a meal and Mykal wanted to mingle among the men to touch base with a lot of them, but his main concern was to reach out to make contact with Doninka. When she saw him she bounced up from her makeshift bed in the seat she sat in and hugged him tightly. “How you doing Doninka?” He asked and could hear that she started to cry quietly.
“I’m fine, now that I see that you are fine,” she said and tears filled her eyes. “I was so worried for you.”
“No, I was worried for you,” he hugged her back and she wouldn’t let go of him. “I thought you were dead when we flipped and rolled. See why I wanted you to wear your seatbelts? D’ya see?”
“Yes, I understand now. I will never complain about them again,” she said with a laugh and still held tightly to him.
“Are you hurting?” He asked and tried to gently pull away but she wouldn’t let go of him.
“No, I am fine now that I see you are well,” she replied and finally let go of Mykal. “My head hurts a little bit,” she added and pointed to the bandage that wrapped around her head. “The doctor told me they had to put sutures in my head. Twenty-nine of them. I am not sure what they are. Yet they say that is what helped to stop my bleeding.”
“You know when you sew your clothing with a needle and thread?” Mykal asked and simulated stitching a piece of fabric. “That is what they did to your head to close the wound. They put stitches in your head,” he tittered when she made a funny face. “You have seen some of your soldiers who have been stitched up before.”
“Oh, I understand now. I never heard the word sutures before.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just rest your body and we’ll get you home before you know it,” he said and knew he was lying to her. “I have to go and meet with some others. I will talk to you later.”
“Would you mind if I ride along with you in the craft you are in when we depart?” She asked. Her face begged him.
Mykal felt bad for her and the puppy dog look she gave him weakened him easily. “Let me see what I can do. But you, make sure you eat the meal they bring to you, okay?”
“I will, only because you suggest I do so,” she said with a devoted smile. “I trust anything you say to me Mykal.”
While he looked at her Mykal knew he could easily take a
dvantage of the girl and have a devoted woman in two worlds and no one would ever know. ‘No! I would know,’ he rebuked himself in thought. ‘I wouldn’t do that to Pam. And I wouldn’t do that to Doninka,’ he thought while he stared into her pretty, though bruised, face. ‘I’m totally devoted to Pam. I’m not gonna play games with Doninka. I really do care for her too much to do that to her and to hurt her that way. She would be devastated if I took advantage of her and just used her for my selfish pleasure.’
“Is there something wrong?” She asked when he stared at her. “Do I look hideous?” She asked and turned her face away.
“No. Nothing like that,” he said and grabbed her hand. “I just want you to be good. I want you to be alright, so you’ll get better, okay?”
“Yes. Thank you Mykal from another world,” she said with a smile and looked away. “Do you know how long it will be before we go back to Gartolin in the Pass?”
“I’m not really sure. I’m waiting on Towbar,” he lied. “I will make sure we ride together, okay?”
“Yes Mykal.”
“Just make sure you do what Corporal Renner here says, okay?” He asked and pointed to the medic who was inside the vehicle with her.
“Yes. I will do as he instructs. Corp-oral Renner explained how I should have been severely injured and how these belts were able to save me from great harm,” she said with a smile while she tugged on her seat belt.
Mykal looked to Renner who gave a friendly wink and a nod. “Okay, I’ll talk to you shortly,” Mykal said and left the vehicle.
“I will take good care of her Myk,” Corporal Renner said as he left.
Mykal joined Nordad the wizard who stood with his two men and the six Elves.
