by Dave Hazel
“You’re right! None of this makes sense. But if we don’t get it together and get moving, we’re gonna be in some serious trouble. Sosos are gonna be coming down from the north. Towbar says there will be hundreds of thousands of them. Yes, I said hundreds of thousands.” He paused while they all looked at each other. Mansfield rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Okay, you just don’t wanna hear it from me,” he scoffed at Mansfield.
“Sgt Graves,” Lt Light responded. “Obviously something out of the ordinary has occurred. But what evidence can you produce to confirm this information? If we’re in danger as you say, I don’t want to take this situation lightly, and I would not want to be the one responsible should something happen that could have been prevented.” He looked to Edwards. “But since we are so far removed from what you claimed to have happened, how can you prove to us there is real danger before we are faced with it?”
Mykal knew Lt Light tried not to step on Lt Edwards’ toes. He feared he couldn’t count on Light to stand against Edwards.
“Not far from here are two villages I told you about. I’ll take you to the villages that have been destroyed and I’ll show you the people who have been butchered. Innocent men, women, and children brutalized in ways you could never have imagined. Come on, let’s go,” he offered. The leaders stood there looking at each other. “You need to understand what we’re up against.”
Mansfield looked to be fishing for a thought. “I don’t know if that would really demonstrate--”
Mykal interrupted him. “Are you afraid of me being proved right? That’s the only reason I would think you wouldn’t wanna go. Come on and I’ll prove to you what I been talking about.”
“Alright,” Mansfield angrily accepted Mykal’s challenge. He looked as if Mykal embarrassed him. “If this does turn out to be another of your pranks, I’ll have you up on charges so fast it will make your head swim.”
“No problem.” He grinned and wished he could get away with calling Mansfield the names in his head. “But I would make sure you put everyone here on alert. There’s Sosos around here.”
“I think we should send a team,” Light spoke quietly to Lt Edwards. “During our entire duration here with the missile, we saw no one. You, yourself, stated that your group hadn’t encountered anyone whatsoever. He does have the Marshal’s car and sidearm. It lends to the fact something has happened.”
“I agree,” Edwards whispered then glared at Mykal. “I just don’t understand how this squad is the only squad to--” He stopped when he noticed Mykal listening to them.
Edwards looked at Mykal’s rifle slung casually over his shoulder. Stern rage exploded across his face. “Sgt Graves! Is your selector lever off of the safe position?” The wrath in his tone appeared as if Mykal committed an unforgivable sin.
“Yes Sir, it is, and there’s also a round in the chamber,” he admitted which caused jaws to drop in disbelief. Mykal wished he would have kept quiet. He knew he was clearly in the wrong.
“What!” Edwards gasped. “This is a severe safety vio-la-tion!” He yelled and stared imaginary darts into the top supervisors of the Crew as he enunciated each syllable. “You’re an NCO! You know better!”
“Excuse me, Sir, I don’t mean any disrespect, but--” he stopped himself. “No, you’re right, Sir. I know better. Not to make excuses, but it saved my life. I should be dead right now, like Nelson.” He knew if everyone followed his example there would probably be an accidental discharge of a weapon and someone would be killed or seriously injured. “I’m in the wrong. My reason was fear, but I’ll correct it.”
“What the hell is going on around here?” Edwards dragged out each word as he looked to the upper tier of NCO’s.
“I’ll deal with this Sir,” Jake stepped in and grabbed Mykal by the arm and pulled him away. Jake got Towbar’s angry attention. “We’ll go get ready to leave, Sir.”
“See that you correct this, Sgt Irwin.” Edwards turned to his Crew leader. “Sgt Mansfield, I want this noted and I want a report started, now!”
“Myk, what the hell are you trying to do?” Jake whispered after they were out of ear shot of Edwards.
Towbar and Roy Jr. followed them and Mykal could tell the giant watched with a parental concern for him. He smiled when Jake let go of his arm because of the giant’s scowl.
“The LT is looking for any opportunity to nail you guys. You just put your head on a silver platter for him.”
“No! Screw him Jake.” Mykal shook his head angrily. “You guys don’t understand what’s going on around here. I know the danger of walking around with my rifle loaded. I screwed up, but if he wants to do something about it, that’s just little Mickey Mouse stuff. I’m not worried about it. I’m not tryin’ to sound like a drama queen by repeating myself, but you guys don’t know what we’ve been through the past couple of days. Jake, you gotta believe me, we’re in serious danger.”
“Myk, do me a favor, please! Keep the round chambered if you want, but put it on safe. We have women and children here with us and we can’t have everyone walking with their weapons unsafe. That’s an invitation for an accident to happen. And as a favor to me, your friend, watch yourself around the lieutenant.”
“Jake, I want you to understand something. I’m not putting my life on the line cuz of that dipshit. This flack vest Roy Jr. is wearing--” he paused to slap the protective armor, “--it belonged to Nelson. He’s really dead.”
Jake let out a sigh and stared at the flack vest. “Wha’d you guys do with Nelson’s body?”
“We had to leave him in the middle of a big empty field,” he replied. “Jake, I don’t mean this as a foolish threat, but as a friend, I want you to know where I’m coming from. I’m sure Boris and Kurt will back me on this. These idiots can’t scare me with threats of disciplinary paperwork like Article 15’s and threats of putting me behind bars in Leavenworth. We’re not in our world anymore. That stuff means nothing to me. Right now, my only concern is survival and finding a way home. If they wanna be jerks, well, they’re gonna have to deal with me, cuz I think I got the only ticket outta here,” he turned his gaze to Towbar.
“What?” Jake gasped as if Mykal just made a threat. “What are you saying?”
“Towbar knows someone who might be able to help us get home. Besides that, Towbar’s got the lowdown on what’s going on around here and the best way to stay alive. He’s got food and water. So these idiots are gonna have to go through me and I’m not gonna let them get me killed cuz of their stupidity.”
“Ooh, Myk, be real careful talking like that. As a matter of fact don’t speak like that again. The first thing they’ll say is you’re starting a mutiny. Remember buddy, you’re still in the United States Air Force. And they outrank you!”
“Well just between you and me, to hell with that! We’re not just lost, Jake, we’re in another world. I know it sounds crazy, but we are. Their military rules don’t mean squat if they’re gonna get us killed. It’s survival time. I don’t think they got what it takes to step up to the plate with the crisis before them. I’m afraid their leadership will impact our survival.”
“It’s the truth,” Roy Jr. agreed. “We’ve been all over this land. We’re in Towbar’s world. We’re not in our world anymore.”
“We knew something wasn’t right,” Jake sighed. “Mr. Towbar, do you know how we got here or how to leave?”
“Just call him Towbar,” Mykal chuckled.
“No, I do not know the answers.” His arms folded across his chest and the stern look on his face gave the impression of anger. “As Mykal tells it, I would think the green cloud brought you here.” Towbar unfolded his arms. “I must declare my feelings. I do not appreciate how Mykal is received by his own people.”
“I’m on his side.” Jake quickly crumbled under Towbar’s fierce glower. “But the people who are in charge of us have never liked Mykal and his squad. I’ll protect Mykal, he knows that,” Jake said and looked to Mykal for help.
“Towbar,
Jake is one of my best friends.” Mykal laughed at Jake’s worry of the giant.
“Anyone who is a friend of Mykal… is my friend as well.”
“Phew, I’m glad we got that cleared up. You just gotta be careful Myk. And I gotta be careful too. Let’s play this by the book until we see how it all pans out. We don’t want to go home with them accusing us of mutiny.”
“Okay, we’ll see what happens,” Mykal replied. “But you may wanna hint to these so called leaders that I have the power. Look all around here Jake. Tell me how you’re gonna feed all these people. Where are you gonna get water for these people?”
“Whoa, Myk, are you saying you’re going to use extortion to get them to make you the leader?”
“No, I didn’t say that at all. I don’t wanna be the leader. But I’m not gonna let them hurt me or get me killed. I want you to know where I’m coming from. I’m not gonna end up like Nelson, the Marshall or those two airmen.”
“Just be careful what you say, Myk. Don’t say anything to them while there are people present,” Jake warned. “Don’t give them anything they could use against you.”
“I know you think I’m talking crazy, but I’m only saying it to you, cuz I know I can trust you. If they wanna get home, they hafta play ball with me. For the past couple of days all I been thinking about is Pam and the boys. That’s all I care about anymore. I wanna go home. I’m not letting them screw me over.”
Jake sighed. “Well, you’re making me a little worried.”
“You’ll see soon enough. These damn Sosos are worse than the Nazis of World War II could have ever been.”
“That’s for sure,” Roy Jr. chimed in. “Them Sosos make the Nazis look like a Four H club.”
“Cowboy wisdom,” Mykal chuckled at Roy’s input. “Between you and me, Jake,” Mykal continued. “I got a gut feeling Edwards and Mansfield are gonna get people killed. And my gut feelings are always right. I’d like to see Light take over, but I don’t know if he’d do any better. He seems afraid of Edwards and plus he’s a green lieutenant anyway.”
“Green?” Towbar asked and looked confused.
“New,” Jake clarified. “He’s not ripe yet. His main concern is protecting ‘the Resource’,” Jake added with air quotes and raised his eyebrows to Mykal.
“He already told us it’s a live nuke. So, do you wanna ride with us?” Mykal said as they turned toward the Ford LTD.
“I can’t.” Jake frowned. “Edwards has been getting on our asses for fraternizing with the lower ranks. So I have to ride with him and TSgt Miller. Not Miller. TSgt Miller.”
“Oh, he’s back to addressing everybody by name and rank again?” Mykal shook his head and let out a sigh. “As if we don’t have enough on our minds. Well, when the time is right, make sure you let them know they’re gonna need me for many reasons. Hint at them they shouldn’t screw around with Denny’s squad anymore.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Jake turned and walked away.
“Mykal, I do not understand many things I see here. Is not Denny your leader?”
“Yes, but these guys outrank Denny. So they’re his leader.”
“I see. Why do some of your people have very dark skin?”
“I’ll answer all your questions about us when we drive to the villages. Towbar, I want you to know that there’s a lot of good guys here, but some others are gonna be trouble. I’ll fill you in on who you can count on and who you can’t.”
“I trust your judgment, my friend.”
“I can see now how that Edwards dude, and the chubby one, may come across as fresh cow pies,” Roy Jr. chuckled.
“Hey Myk.” The familiar voice of Sam Washington called him.
Mykal turned to see his good friends Sam and Rich McDowell. He greeted them and introduced Towbar and Roy Jr. Mykal knew they would be as loyal as Boris and Kurt. “What’s going on? You guys keeping outta trouble? Or you getting your tails whacked?”
“Oh brother,” Rich laughed. They both stared at the size of Towbar. “Y’all ain’t gon’ believe it. Edwards and the rest of them dumb shits have gone plumb crazy since we got lost.”
“Your southern drawl is still thick is mud,” Mykal kidded.
Sam got to the point. “Boris and Kurt are over there scaring everyone. They said we’re caught in the middle of a war with crazy people. And you guys killed lots of whackos armed with swords and bows and arrows. And Nelson’s dead. Is it true?”
“Damn it man, I told them not to say anything. But yeah, it’s true.” Mykal stopped their mirth.
“Dang, I reckoned those boys were just joshin’.” Rich said.
“Myk, why don’t you see if I can come along with you?” Sam begged. “I don’t care how dangerous it is. I’m so sick and tired of listening to Dumb Shit Dobson. I can’t stand it anymore.”
“That ol’ boy is dumber than a box of rocks,” Rich agreed.
Mykal turned to Roy Jr. “If we get into another fight with Sosos, we’ll have to worry about Sosos in front of us and we’ll have to worry about some of these idiots on my Crew behind us.” He nodded to the mob surrounding Boris and Kurt.
“See if I can come along too,” Rich pleaded. “I like being with Doc, but spendin’ time with them other dang fools on his squad has done stretched out my last nerve. Me and Mousy Black almost went fist city twice since we got lost. He keeps pushing me aroun’ with his rank. Him an’ Shit Eater Putman have been riding me like a pack mule. If’n I could get away with it I’d beat the tar outta both dem boys.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Mykal stopped them when he saw Jake coming in their direction. “Go wait with Boris and Kurt and I’ll talk to Jake and see what he says.”
“Are you about ready to leave?” Jake asked.
“Yeah, just about. Can we take one of the Suburbans? The Marshal’s car is getting a little low on gas.”
“Sure, go tell Dobson to give up his vehicle and tell him I said he’s not to give you a hard time about it.”
“Also, let me bring Sam and Rich along. We’re gonna need the extra fire power if we run into the Sosos again.”
“Oh Myk, I don’t know about that,” Jake shook his head. “The LT doesn’t even want Kurt and Boris going back.”
“What? What the hell’s wrong with him?”
“He doesn’t even want Roy to go because he’s a civilian and he doesn’t want to be responsible for him.”
“Are you friggin kiddin’ me? Whadda we gonna do if we get attacked. Jake, he’s gonna get us killed. Do you see what the hell I’m talking about?” Mykal grumbled.
“Excuse me, Jake,” Roy Jr. spoke up. “I need to go back, cuz that’s where my daddy and my brothers are. They’re riding with Denny. I came along to help Myk and I’m not going to let that Edwards dude or anyone keep me from going to my family. My baby brother is hurt pretty bad and I’m ‘bout to git reeeaaal pist off,” he added with deep breaths.
“Don’t piss him off Jake,” Mykal chuckled and playfully rubbed his jaw. “I’m talking from experience.”
“I’m not the top dog. The LT says this is only a fact finding mission we’re doing, so he doesn’t want a bunch of trigger happy people going along.”
“What a friggin idiot. Fine! I’m bringin’ Roy Jr. and Towbar. If you tell me not to bring Boris, Kurt, Sam and Rich because you don’t want them to come, I’ll be okay with that. But if it’s only because the LT doesn’t want them to come, then I’m gonna be pissed. I’m tellin’ ya Jake, there’s thousands of them Sosos running around out there and if we run into them we’re gonna be in trouble. We need a few guns with us.”
“Alright, this is what we’ll do,” Jake gave in and looked worried. “Edwards and Mansfield are gonna flip out. Hurry up and get them into Dobson’s vehicle and take off. Don’t get too far ahead of us and don’t answer the radio if the LT calls you to come back. I’ll tell him you took off before I had a chance to tell you they couldn’t go, and you forgot to turn the radio on. Oh man, I’m gonna catch
an ass chewing for this. I know it.”
“Alright, thanks.” Mykal smiled and expressed his happiness by hitting Jake on the arm. “I owe you one, Jake.”
“One? Hey buddy, you owe me a whole lot more than one.”
While they commandeered Dobson’s Suburban, a mass of people swarmed them. They demanded to know factual information. The story Kurt and Boris shared contradicted the explanation and excuses that Lt Edwards had given. The people pressed close to Towbar and wanted him to explain where they were and how they got here. Mykal promised to give answers after they returned.
5.
Several minutes after leaving, two Air Force autos, both 1982 blue Ford Broncos, followed their path. Newer models and better quality vehicles were always assigned to the higher ranking personnel. Kurt slowed so the two Broncos could pull near. In the closer Bronco Jake drove with Lt Edwards in the passenger seat. TSgt Miller sat in the rear. TSgt Mansfield drove the second Bronco. TSgt Finn, the new supervisor, rode with him.
Mykal looked over and saw rage in Lt Edwards’ face. “Roy, glance over,” Mykal whispered. “Edwards normally looks like a know-it-all college kid. But when he’s mad, he looks like a teenager who’s pouting. We have a bunch of nick names for him like ‘The Kid’, ‘Little Boy Blue’ and ‘Little Princess’.”
Boris smirked. “He’s also known as ‘Ragman’, ‘Rags’ and ‘The Bitch’, cuz he’s like a broad who’s always on the rag.”
Mykal caught sight of Lt Edwards signaling him to turn on his radio. “Yes Sir,” Mykal spoke into the microphone. “What can I do for you, Sir?”
“First question, Sgt Graves. What are all those men doing in your vehicle?” In the background Jake could be heard trying to explain he didn’t have time to relay the message that no one was to leave camp.
“Sir, we may need them. To be honest with you Sir, we shoulda brought more. We could run into Sosos anywhere. Because of my experience around here I took it upon myself to get some volunteers to come along. Sir, I’ve explained the dangers, and they know this is not a joy ride. I didn’t think you would mind my taking the initiative to make a decision to do the right thing.”
