37 Days In A Strange World

by Dave Hazel

  Mykal believed all his viewings of Hollywood blood and guts would prepare him for such a gruesome scene. Wrong! Though it sickened him, he couldn’t take his eyes from the ghastly sight. He noticed Kaiser’s stomach had a shallow rising and falling.

  Mykal grimaced. “How the hell could he still be alive?” He felt panic swelling. There were severed limbs before him and he wasn’t sure what he could do for the man. He felt weak and helpless. “Help! Larry hurry,” he yelled as Larry started down the small basin.

  Mykal desperately wanted to assist Kaiser, but feared touching his broken body. Thankfully Kaiser remained unconscious and didn’t beg for help. “They’re both still alive,” he yelled at Larry. “This one is hurt real bad,” he pointed.

  Larry’s run came to a sudden halt when he saw Kaiser’s severed limbs. His hand slapped to his mouth as if to prevent vomit that crept up. “Shit Myk,” he turned his head from the bloody sight. “He’s dead. Even if you say he’s alive this poor guy is dead,” he winced.

  “See if you can tell what’s wrong with that one,” Mykal nodded to Newell after Larry’s face lost all color.

  Mykal went to the twisted ball of wreckage while Larry checked on Newell. Mykal inspected the charred remains of the helicopter just as Kurt raced the military vehicle over the hill. Franklin ran down the hill carrying Mykal’s web belt and rifle with him.

  Under the broken and crumpled metal Mykal saw half a body sticking out. The upper half had been blackened and burned to a crisp. The sight jolted Mykal but the smell came like a punch in the face. ‘This person is, is… dead.’ Mykal moved to what would have once been the front of the helicopter.

  One of the pilots was pinned to the ground by a long steel rod. The rod pierced into his back through his chest into the ground below. The pilot’s body suspended inches off the ground like an insect for a science project. The man’s fingers touched the blackened ground. One leg was still inside the wreckage, the other dangled unnaturally from his hip.

  The second pilot, partially burned, had a large part of his head crushed by twisted metal. Blood dripped from his lifeless form. Mykal was glad he couldn’t see the name on his jumpsuit.

  He saw the arm of another person trapped inside the mass of junk metal. A pool of blood formed at the end of his fingers. Mykal didn’t check for a pulse. Should there be a pulse, he knew they wouldn’t be able to free him from the twisted metal. He couldn’t live with the thought of leaving a man to die. It’d be much easier to think of him as already being dead.

  “This can’t be happening,” he moaned to himself and ran back to the others who were busy trying to save the lives of the two men on the ground. Mykal couldn’t understand how Kaiser could still be alive. He felt nauseous but he couldn’t ease the feeling by vomiting. His body wouldn’t allow it.

  “Kurt, just leave the poor guy alone,” Larry argued. “Just let him die. There’s nothing we can do for him and we don’t even know where the hell we are. You’re just gonna cause him to suffer more,” Larry accused him despite Kurt’s busy work to keep the severely injured man alive. “Just stop.”

  “No! I’m not giving up on him,” Kurt fired back without looking up from his work. “I think we might be able to save him. I’ve been trained for this stuff,” he explained, applying direct pressure to the stump of Kaiser’s right arm at the shoulder. Kurt had a tourniquet applied to the severed leg and worked feverishly. “If we can find help in time, we can save his life.”

  Mykal understood the serious commitment of Kurt’s volunteer fireman stint. Kurt took all his training to heart. He told Mykal many times he wanted to become a fireman in or out of the Air Force. Kurt’s actions made Mykal proud of his friend who was known for being a big goof, ‘always clowning around and screwing off’ for most of the time.

  “Where are we gonna get help for this guy?” Larry asked.

  “We gotta try, damn it,” Kurt argued. On his knees, Kurt’s lap and stomach had been saturated in Kaiser’s blood and his hands looked like a surgeon’s during a bad operation.

  “I agree with you, Kurt,” Mykal said. “But we don’t know where we are and we don’t have a clue where help is.”

  “All you’re doing is prolonging the poor man’s death,” Larry said and turned to go check on Newell.

  “You hold on buddy,” Kurt said to Kaiser, ignoring Larry. Kurt pulled his own belt to tie off the flow of blood.

  “The pulse stopped, Kurt,” Boris said and jerked his hand from the dead man and quickly rubbed his hands on his legs as if to rub off ‘dead man germs’. “He’s dead.”

  Kurt stopped his actions and confirmed the lack of pulse. “Damn,” Kurt sighed. He slumped back on his heels and stared at the lifeless pieces. Kurt looked defeated. His knees were soaked and his hands were red and sticky. “Blood will wash off, but he’s gone forever. I wanna cry right now. I wanted to save him.”

  “You gave it your best, man.” Mykal couldn’t believe what a different Kurt knelt before him, caring so much for a stranger.

  Boris consoled his best friend. “You did all you could do.”

  Kurt’s blood covered finger pointed to Kaiser’s wedding band. “Look, tell his wife, and kids, if he had any, that I did all I could. I’m sure that’ll go over well,” he said with a pitiful moan.

  “Don’t beat yourself up.” Mykal patted him on the shoulder. “That other guy is still alive, and he needs your help.”

  Nelson had removed the strap of the M-60 machinegun, to lift the weapon from Newell’s body. Nelson gave his diagnosis. “I would think he was thrown from the helicopter and with the weight of the 60, he’s probably suffered internal injuries. No telling how bad he is for sure. He needs help real soon.”

  “Are any others alive?” Denny turned to Mykal with a look of concern that seemed to age him.

  “They’re all dead.” Mykal’s solemn tone matched Denny’s look. “There are four others. I’ve never seen death like this.”

  “Larry, come with me,” Denny said. “I wanna go check the rest of the crash. Myk, while we’re checking it out, see if you can get WSC on the radio.”

  “Sure,” Mykal said and watched the others feel for broken bones in Newell’s body. “Do you think he’ll live?”

  “I don’t know,” Nelson answered. “There is really no way to discern how severe he is without x-rays. He needs ER help ASAP.”

  “Boris, try to get WSC on the radio for Denny,” Mykal said.

  “Sure.” Boris lit a cigarette as he walked to the vehicle.

  Mykal looked over at Franklin and felt bad despite the fact the kid normally irritated everyone on the squad. Franklin looked shook up. He sat with his face buried in his trembling hands. “Hey Franklin,” Mykal called the ashen face kid. “Go give Boris a hand in the vehicle. We got it covered.”

  “Okay, thanks,” he replied and ran to the Suburban.

  Denny and Larry returned. Their sickened faces expressed what they saw. When Denny and Mykal made eye contact no words had to be spoken. They both knew how the other felt.

  “Is it bad?” Kurt asked when they returned.

  “Worse,” Larry answered and gave an exaggerated shiver.

  “No! Stay here,” Denny said to stop Kurt from going to investigate. His tone clarified there would be no discussion. “There’s nothing you or anyone can do for them. They’re all dead. It’s messed up.”

  “I got someone,” Boris yelled as loud as he could. “Hurry.”

  “We got someone,” Franklin laughed with wild excitement. “We found help, we found help.”

  Mykal and Larry easily outran Denny. Kurt and Nelson stayed and watched over the unconscious Newell.

  “I’m not sure what they said,” Boris explained and handed the radio to Mykal. “They’re coming in real weak and staticky, but I did get someone.”

  “13 to Wing Security,” Mykal spoke into the microphone. He paused but nothing. He continued calling to empty air.

  After a brief crackle of static came a faint
reply. “Trip 13, this is Trip 104, Lieutena--” loud static. “--security. We are lost and we need assist--” crackled hissing. “--our--” More interfering static blocking the caller’s message. “--is on its side. Please send help our way.”

  “Trip 13 to 104, how do you read me?” Mykal asked. He looked at Denny. “This isn’t who I wanted to hear. 104 is a convoy call sign. That helicopter must be their air escort.”

  “Very weak, sometimes broken. How me?”

  “Same here, weak and broken. Be advised Sir, we are lost and we need help. We need a medical response immediately. We have an accident site with at least five confirmed dead--”

  “You’re not supposed to say that stuff on the radio,” Denny cut him off and grimaced.

  “I know, but I don’t give a shit,” Mykal snapped back. “I’m trying to get someone’s friggin attention. We’re lost and I’m not gonna play their silly games about radio etiquette.”

  “Say again,” the weak, static laced voice requested.

  “Sir, I know this is not proper to say over the radio, but we are lost and have a major accident with five people dead. One other is seriously injured. We need help sent to us immediately. Please relay the message to WSC for us.”

  “Trip 13, I copy you have five dead--” static “--I can’t make contact with Wing Security or any--” loud disruptive static “--only contact we have had since--” static interference “--are lost. But we are set up to protect our resource. We need you to relay--” The static cut them off for a longer period of time.

  “This friggin radio,” Mykal yelled and slammed his hand on top of the dash board knowing it wouldn’t help to hit the radio.

  “--you pass our message along? We are--” the voice vanished in the crackle and white noise. It didn’t return.

  Mykal called to Trip 104 several more times but with no response. The static faded to dead air.

  “Damn it,” Mykal yelled and threw the microphone down hitting Boris in the knee. “I’m sorry,” he said to his longtime friend. “I don’t understand what’s going on around here.”

  “This is really un-friggin-believable,” Larry shook his head as his hands slapped his thighs. “Whadda we do now? Just leave them here to rot?”

  Kurt and Nelson rushed to them. “Newell doesn’t look good,” Kurt said. “He needs a hospital or a doctor right now.”

  “His breathing is labored. He’s gasping about every third breath,” Nelson added. “Little bubbles of blood come from his nose which I think means something is wrong with his lungs.”

  “We gotta see if we can find Newell some help,” Denny said looking up into the sky. He tried to twist the tight tension out of his neck and shoulders. “I’m starting to get a headache from all this stuff. We’ll have to make room for him in the vehicle.”

  “Do you think he should be moved?” Kurt asked. “I’m afraid we might do Newell more harm than good.”

  “I don’t know,” Denny sighed and grabbed the back of his neck. “I don’t wanna make any more hard decisions. It may not be good to move him, but I--”

  “It sure as hell ain’t gonna do him any good to leave him there waiting for help to show up,” Larry scoffed.

  “How about if some of us stay here with him,” Nelson suggested. “The rest of you could go look for help.”

  “And who is gonna be left behind to wait?” Mykal snapped in anger. “I know I don’t wanna be left here.”

  “Me neither,” Boris quickly responded.

  “I’ll stay,” Nelson volunteered.

  “I’d be willing to stay too,” Kurt offered.

  “No! And I mean no,” Denny said with his raised hand. “I’m not letting anyone stay behind. We’re lost and we only have one radio. We’re not splitting up for nothing. With all that’s happened today I’m not taking any chances. We’re not splitting up,” he reiterated when Kurt looked to debate. “I’m responsible for everyone here. End of discussion.”

  Mykal changed the subject. “I think we better decide to ration our food and whatever we brought out to drink. Since we haven’t seen any signs of help, we don’t know how long it’s gonna be. I don’t wanna starve to death out here.”

  They discussed the three day supply of food they had. Most of which was junk food and soda. They packed food in preparation of a three day tour at a missile site, not a journey into the wilderness. Snacks were the primary supply since their main food sources for meals would have been purchased at the missile site.

  “Hey, I have two canteens of water,” Kurt replied to their lists of food and drink. “I’ve had them for a while so they’ll probably taste a little funny. But they’ll be drinkable.”

  “Denny you better make the rules for conserving our stuff,” Mykal nodded to him. “We gotta stretch it as long as possible.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. What we’ll do--”

  “Wait, shut up, shut up,” Larry desperately silenced everyone. He tilted his head to one side as if listening for something. “What was it? Did you hear it?”

  “I did,” Boris jumped up and looked to the top of the nearby hills. “I heard three faint gunshots.”

  “That’s what I heard,” Larry scanned all the higher ground.

  “I didn’t hear anything,” Kurt said.

  “Me neither,” Nelson agreed with Kurt.

  “Shut up you two,” Larry barked. “I’m tellin’ ya, I heard three shots. If we find who is shooting, we could find a way out of being lost.”

  “I heard ‘em too,” Boris said. “Someone’s out there.”

  “Oh there’s someone out there,” Mykal countered. “But are they going to help us or is there going to be trouble?”

  “Trouble?” Franklin asked, examining the new wetness on his fingertips from picking his face. “What kind of trouble?”

  “He’s right,” Denny said. “We don’t know where we are or what’s going on. We surely don’t know how this helicopter came down. For all we know it could have been shot down. What if the people who are shooting, shot down the helicopter?”

  “We can’t take any chances,” Mykal said. They all looked spooked after Denny spoke. “Better to be safe than sorry.”

  “Everyone grab your weapons and make sure they are loaded,” Denny ordered. “Do not, and I repeat, do not chamber a round unless I tell you to.”

  Everyone made a mad dash to get their rifles and web belts. Mykal ran to the body of Kaiser and pulled his blood caked web belt from his body. He wanted the two ammo pouches attached to the web belt. Mykal gained eight, thirty round, magazines, which doubled his standard duty supply of ammunition.

  “Which way do you think the shots came from?” Denny asked Larry when everyone regrouped, weapons in hand.

  “I got the impression they came from that direction,” Larry pointed over the hills in the general direction beyond the wreckage. “East, if that’s east.”

  “Yeah, but these hills could stretch for miles in that direction,” Denny groaned, scanning the rim of the basin.

  “Denny, I’m going up the hill.” Mykal pointed to where they just descended from. “I’ll keep watch for a little bit. I think you should send someone up so the four sides are covered. We don’t want them to get the higher ground and have the upper hand. We sure as hell don’t need any more surprises.”

  “Agreed,” Denny replied.

  Mykal rushed up the north side, where they just created tire tracks in the grass. Larry ran to the east on the far side of the crashed helicopter. His view was blocked by more hills. Mykal knew the dead bodies in the crashed metal would make Larry eerily uncomfortable. He chuckled when Larry kept looking back over his shoulder to the twisted tomb.

  Boris ran up the hill opposite Mykal, and when Kurt started up the side opposite of Larry, Denny stopped him and sent Nelson instead. Mykal knew Denny would want Kurt behind the wheel if they needed to make a quick departure. All four directions were manned. Mykal watched Denny scold and threaten Franklin to join Boris. Franklin obviously feared the
unknown.

  Boris and Nelson, like Larry, only saw more hills. Mykal eyed flat open land. None of the four lookouts saw any signs of life. They all stayed in a prone position, making themselves unseen while getting the best viewing possible. They all waited and watched, watched and waited. Nothing.

  4.

  Fifteen minutes passed, but to Mykal it felt like an eternity. Restless and uncomfortable, he kept looking over his shoulder to see what the others were doing. He’d scan the hills and the flat land. Nothing, just swaying, windblown, grass.

  Denny crept up behind him. “See anything at all?”

  “Nah, nothing.”

  Denny dropped down beside him and moaned when his body hit the firm ground. “I just landed on a friggin rock,” he groaned rubbing his elbow. “Damn it, I’m laying in prickers too.”

  “Welcome to my world.” Mykal smirked. “This land looks soft and beautiful, but it’s terrible. I’m also on rocks and thorns.”

  “I can honestly say I’m too damned old for playing this soldier and war games stuff,” Denny said while picking thorns from his arm. “Well, I just came by to see if you saw anything. “The others haven’t seen anything either.”

  “If Edwards could see us now, he’d go ballistic. He’d be screaming at us for not wearing our flack vests and helmets.”

  “That’s for sure,” Denny giggled nervously. “You know he’s pissed off at us now since we didn’t show up for work. I’m sure he thinks we’re out screwing around. After this morning, he’s probably got the paperwork started for us being AWOL.”

  Mykal chuckled with him. “You know he’s gotta be wetting himself over the idea of nailing us to the wall.”

  “Hey, I put Franklin with Boris and when I went to check on them it sounded like Boris was ready to kill that little idiot. Boris said Franklin wouldn’t shut up for two seconds.” Denny sighed. “Poor kid, he’s scared shitless. Franklin is so nervous that he won’t stop picking his pimples. His face is all swelled up with red bumps.” Denny laughed. “He looks like he stuck his face in a hornet’s nest.”