37 Days In A Strange World

by Dave Hazel

  Kurt turned in his seat while driving. “Hey Towbar, what’s gonna happen after we tell your people to get outta Dodge?”

  “Just keep your eyes on the damn road,” Boris snapped.

  “What road?”

  “I was in a car accident where a car rolled because the driver wasn’t paying attention,” Boris said. “Just watch where you’re going.” He pulled out another cigarette.

  “Hey Pork Chop, leave the driving to me. And don’t you think you should cut down on the cigarettes a little bit? Cuz you been smoking a lot of them lately.”

  “Leave the smoking to me, you Alice-the-Goon looking--”

  “Girls, girls,” Mykal stopped them before they started riffing on each other. “Not in front of the guests.”

  “Kurt, I do not comprehend your question. When you say get out of Dodge, I do not understand the meaning.”

  “It’s just a saying we have. When you tell your people to leave, will they have time to pack their stuff?”

  “I am not sure they will leave,” Towbar said.

  “What? Why the hell not?” Roy Jr. asked and his head snapped back to Towbar. “What in the world are we risking our lives for?”

  “They’re gonna get wiped out if they don’t leave,” Kurt said.

  “Unless they got a bad-ass army hidden there,” Boris added.

  “I did not say they will not leave. I am not sure. My people will have to make that decision on their own. I will ask them to leave their homes and all they possess. If they refuse to leave, they understand the danger. My objective is to warn them so they can warn the others who live along the mountains. My desire is they relocate to the Pass to help defend the Pass until my soldiers arrive. They may elect to stay and fight.”

  “Stay and die, is what you mean to say,” Kurt quipped. “With that group we just ran into, they don’t stand a chance. And you said there are more Sosos on the way. Can’t you force them to leave?”

  Towbar gave a half smile. “I admire your concern for my people, Kurt. They understand what they face should they decide to stay to defend their homes. My people know the Sosos very well and have lived with this threat all their lives. You have only known this threat for a couple of days.”

  Kurt scoffed. “Well it doesn’t make any friggin sense. If the people want to be idiots, that’s fine, but what about the children who are gonna be stuck because their parents decide to be a bunch of lug heads? I’m concerned about the children.”

  Towbar reached to place a large reassuring hand on Kurt’s shoulder. “I agree. I am concerned for all the people. If they stay to fight, their defenses are stronger. They will be better prepared because we will give them warning. Those who live near the border learn very young how to fight and defend themselves.”

  Kurt sneered. “Yeah, it sure looked like it from the two villages we just left. I can’t believe you’d allow any woman or child to face those rotten savages we just ran into.”

  Roy Jr. sighed. “It would be one thing if the Sosos just killed you out-right. But dang, they don’t do that. They make the people suffer in ways I coulda never imagined.”

  “Do not be angry, my friends. I will not encourage anyone to stay and fight. I would rather they flee and join forces at the Pass. There is strength and safety in numbers.”

  “I don’t understand this. Homes can be rebuilt.” Kurt slapped his hand on the steering wheel. “Why doesn’t your king send some help?”

  “Help is coming,” Towbar said calmly. “My concern is help will not arrive in time. This is not the normal pattern for Sosos to attack. When I learned of the rumor that the Sosos were going to start their offensive several years early, I came to warn the people and see if it was true. The army has been deployed from the Great Walled City. Now that I see Sosos are on the attack, I must defend the Pass until my soldiers arrive.”

  “Why don’t you have an army stationed at this Pass on a permanent basis?” Boris turned his head to ask. “In our military, we have people stationed all over our world so if anything happens we’re ready at a moment’s notice.”

  “I have asked this very question. Our King has made provisions for all the males in this area to serve as soldiers in time of need. It is clear that it is not enough. I will ensure this change is implemented after this war is over. You must understand, my friends, there is a pattern that has been in place for ages. It is not that we trust the Sosos to keep to this routine. Rather we know it takes time to regroup and rebuild their forces after we decimate their armies.”

  “What’s the population where we’re going?” Mykal asked.

  “Including the women and children, there are over four thousand. There will be approximately two thousand well-armed and well-trained fighting men.”

  “From what we just drove through, I’m guessing the fighting men are still outnumbered four or five to one,” Kurt replied.

  “They are fierce fighters. They fight with a purpose.”

  “But, they’re still badly outnumbered,” Kurt huffed.

  The rest of the trip remained silent. They all seemed to be deep in their own thoughts. The closer they moved to the mountains, the prettier the view became. Mykal found it odd that the scenery could be so beautiful in such an ugly world.

  Mykal closed his eyes to nap and hoped when he opened them he would discover they were driving to work, and it turned out to be an awful dream. He peeked with one eye open but nothing changed. He had grown weary of being lost in Towbar’s world. The involuntary separation from his family had to be the most difficult component to this journey. The threat of being attacked at every turn was easier to cope with than the abduction from his family.

  A new concern started gnawing at Mykal’s brain. He feared the rescue team would take Lt Light and the convoy home, leaving them behind. Once the government, ‘Uncle Sam’, retrieved the all-important missile and warhead, they’d depart since they’d have no need to stick around. Uncle Sam’s only concern would be to return the missile, not a handful of airmen who strayed from the ‘precious resource’.

  ‘We gotta get back quickly,’ he thought. ‘How the hell did this happen? This doesn’t make any sense.’ He repeated those two lines in his mind over a hundred times the past couple of days. He rubbed his hands over his face to try to erase the depression he sensed approaching. The rough sensation of stubble reminded him it had been almost three days since he shaved or showered. Feeling sticky and dirty made everything worse.

  10.

  At the foot of the mountains, they got out of the car to stretch their legs for a few minutes. Mykal eyed the wall of rock. The base was dressed in green; grass, brush and trees. He looked up to see the top and started to get dizzy. “Towbar, I can see what you mean. No one is gonna climb this, let alone a whole army of friggin crazy people.”

  “The gods have given us a natural fortress,” Towbar said. “We need only to defend the Pass for my people to be kept safe.”

  “There’s no weakness here,” Boris said. “The best the Sosos could do is get about fifty feet up and then they’re done. Look, the jagged rocks end about fifty feet up. Even if they could get to the top, then they would have to get through the many, many miles of mountains on the other side.”

  Mykal agreed. He eyed the trees and jagged rocks at the base that would enable the first fifty to one hundred feet. “I couldn’t climb that if my life depended on it.”

  “Devil’s Tower in Wyoming would be a piece of cake compared to this,” Roy Jr. said, staring at the top.

  “Doing Devil’s Tower blindfolded, would be a piece of cake compared to this,” Boris exaggerated.

  “Doing Devil’s Tower blindfolded, one hand tied behind your back and no equipment would be easier than this,” Kurt said, getting the others to laugh.

  “I do not understand,” Towbar said and looked at them all.

  “It’s a place from our world,” Mykal said and waved it off.

  “One time when me and Boris went on leave together, a military vacation.
We went down to the Black Hills of South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore,” Kurt explained. “And wouldn’t you know it Boris got drunk and wanted to climb the faces.”

  “You liar, that was you,” Boris laughed at Kurt’s twisting of the facts. “And then we went to Devil’s Tower and Kurt swore he was gonna climb it cuz one of the guys with us bet he couldn’t, while he was drunk of course. But Kurt tripped over a little stone on the path and passed out,” Boris said causing them to laugh except for Towbar. “The idiot woulda got killed.”

  “Ah, let’s leave our dirty laundry at home,” Kurt said in a pretense of embarrassment.

  Towbar looked confused. “The gods have given us a great wall of defense and now the gods brought you to our aid. The gods do not want the Sosos to be victorious over my people.”

  “I don’t know about gods and spiritual stuff--” Mykal said and stopped. His intent was to disagree but he changed his mind. As much as Towbar needed them, he realized, they needed him more. “--but if they brought us here, we’ll do what we can.”

  “I don’t think your so called gods checked our credentials before they zapped us over here,” Kurt said humorously. “I think they brought the wrong people here.”

  “I am truly grateful to the gods for their choice to bring you to my aid. You men have greatly impressed me.”

  “He really doesn’t know us,” Boris chuckled to Roy Jr. and then looked to Mykal. “We’re known as the black sheep, the bad boys, of our Crew.”

  Towbar instructed Kurt to travel east and follow along the mountains until they reached the next town. “You will not be able to detect Pallomee if we pass it. The town is well hidden in a large pocket in the mountains and is completely concealed by trees. The mountain wall surrounds almost three fourths of the town. A small forest conceals the other fourth of the town. When we enter Pallomee, I am confident you will be surprised by the size of the town in relation to what you see from this side of the trees.”

  “Are they hidden from the Sosos?” Roy Jr. asked.

  “I fear the Sosos know the location of every town and every village this side of the Pass. I believe there is an informant on the King’s staff who is in league with the Sosos.”

  “Why?” Boris and Kurt asked simultaneously.

  “Greed.”

  “Do you know who it is?” Mykal asked. “Cuz I’d string his ass up by his balls after the stuff I’ve seen today.”

  “It is not that simple, my friend. The matter will be dealt with appropriately at the right time. Kurt, stop the craft here. It will be better if I walk, and you follow behind me,” Towbar said when they drew near a thick grove of trees. “We are being watched as I speak.”

  “How do you know that?” Roy Jr. asked. They all stared into the trees to find any sign of those observing them.

  “They are watching you, though you do not see them,” he said as he climbed out of the car and pulled his long sword out. After sheathing his sword he waved his arm for Kurt to follow. “I will walk where you will be able to maneuver your craft.”

  The car wound through the trees, keeping about ten feet behind Towbar. For the most part the branches were above Towbar’s head. The trees were large, with trunks big enough to hide one or two people. Plenty of bushes could have been used for concealment.

  The farther they followed the giant the darker it became. Less sunlight made it through the green canopy, but Towbar walked as if he had traveled his route many times before. Towbar entered into a clearing. Kurt stopped the car and waited for permission to continue. The sight amazed them.

  “Damn, he was right,” Roy Jr. said. “I can’t believe how big this is. This is gotta be bigger than the other two places put together.”

  “It’s like finding a hidden room in a house that you can’t see from outside,” Boris said while looking in all directions.

  Mykal looked at the many homes and was struck by how normal it looked. It fit the description of any small town he had been to except it was simple and more primitive. Some homes had gardens, laundry hanging from clothes lines, and animals roaming about.

  People ran in all directions toward the trees and from the strange thing following Towbar. The townspeople carried weapons similar to their adversaries, swords, clubs, axes, spears and bows. Four men armed with bows, and swords at their sides, cautiously approached the giant. They kept eyeing the car.

  “Wait here, my friends, until I call for you,” Towbar said.

  While they watched Towbar greet the four men, Mykal saw movement all around them in the trees. They were surrounded and being watched closely. Men were peeking from behind trees. Women and children were sneaking peeks from doors cracked open and from windows of their homes. It appeared the town had been put on alert.

  “Oh man, they’re all around us and they’re even behind us,” Kurt said and pointed to the movement in his rear-view mirror.

  “It’s like we’re stuck in a fishbowl,” Boris whispered.

  Mykal watched the four men bow down before Towbar. Towbar gently waved his hand urging them to rise. While talking to the men, he pointed back to the car. The four men eyed the car like they tried to make sense of the odd craft while Towbar spoke.

  Kurt’s head swiveled in all directions. “Oh man, there’s about twenty people getting close to us.” He sounded desperate as he spied the townspeople near the vehicle through the trees. “I don’t like this.”

  “I hope Towbar lets them know we’re okay,” Boris replied. He nervously glanced around and puffed heavier on his cigarette.

  “We’ll be okay,” Mykal said to calm them. “Chill out.”

  “Hi y’all,” Roy Jr. said softly as he gave a gentle wave to some of the people staring at him from nearby trees.

  “Watch this,” Kurt laughed as he grabbed the radio microphone. With an evil, demonic growl, he spoke through the PA system. “Get the hell outta here or you’ll be sorry.” His voice blared through the speaker on the roof of the car. Suddenly the siren wailed and the horn honked with red lights flashing.

  They all laughed wildly when the townspeople dove to the ground or ran for cover. Many dropped their weapons when they fled. The four talking with Towbar dropped to the ground and covered their heads, afraid to look up.

  “What the hell are you doing Kurt?” Mykal raised his voice but couldn’t stop laughing with them.

  “Damn it,” Boris screeched. He dropped his lit cigarette between his legs from laughing.

  Towbar turned and for the first time he had an expression of anger. “I’m sorry Towbar,” Kurt explained through the PA system. “They were sneaking up on us and I didn’t know what they were going to do.” He stopped the lights and noise.

  Towbar looked around to see his people scurrying like scared rabbits. He looked down at the four elders who were still afraid to look up. Towbar threw his head back and let out a loud laugh that took them all by surprise.

  “That’s a switch.” Boris continued to laugh while he rubbed the burn spot with his hand.

  “I’m surprised he thought that was funny,” Roy Jr. said. “But glad, cuz he sure looked pissed.”

  “I didn’t think he knew how to laugh.” Kurt chuckled and waved at Towbar. “He’s always so damned serious.”

  “Come, my friends,” Towbar called to them and waved his large hand. “Come join us. Leave your craft and join us.” He continued laughing while he helped the four men to their feet.

  “You think maybe I should stay with the car?” Kurt offered playfully. He pretended to be afraid of the townspeople. “You know, just to be on the safe side.”

  “No. Come on, you coward,” Boris chided Kurt. “We’re with friends. You saw how those people bowed down to Towbar. He’s a big shot with these people. They’re not gonna mess with us.”

  “These are my friends,” Towbar said when they joined him. “This is Mykal, Kurt, Boris and Roy Jr.” He pointed to each as he named them. “They have been sent here by the gods to help us.” Towbar paused to allow the puzzled expressi
ons to form. “This is Drod, the town elder,” he said and placed his hand on the heavyset Drod’s shoulder. “This is Yond, Buck and Vert.”

  The four men looked frightened, yet seemed curious until Mykal reached out his hand to shake with the town elder. They looked confused and unsure what to do.

  “My friends have a custom from their land to shake hands when they greet one another,” Towbar explained and clasped his hands together and shook to demonstrate.

  Everyone took turns shaking hands with each other. Boris and Kurt tried to be comical and shook hands with each other. “Nice to meet you,” they both said. Instead of desired laughs for mimicking an old Laurel & Hardy routine, they received odd glares from the townspeople. Only Mykal and Roy Jr. snickered at their silly behavior. The four leaders studied them with great interest since Towbar declared they were gifts from the heavens.

  “Let us eat,” Towbar requested and started to walk away. “My friends and I are hungry. We owe my new friends the world.” Drod rushed to the giant’s side like an obedient dog. Towbar looked down into the face of the town elder. “Drod, we must waste no time. Trouble is approaching swiftly. We should talk while we fill our bellies.”

  “Yes my Lord,” Drod nodded into a bow. He spoke their native language and the three men ran off.

  “The Sosos are making war again.”

  “Ah, this does not surprise me. However, their timing does indeed surprise me,” Drod scratched at the white whiskers on his chin. He nervously grabbed the flabbiness of his neck. “How far away are they, my Lord?”

  “A detachment is a day’s travel from here. Maybe two days depending on their speed. There are several thousand in the band we encountered. They destroyed both Jamison and Wussic. Every man, woman and child have been killed.”

  “Ill news indeed, though the handiwork of Sosos.” Drod appeared to be thinking as he stared off into space. “My older brother occasionally lived in Jamison. I am not sure if he lived there recently.” He paused then refocused. “I thought it should be at least four years before the wars would start again.”