by Dave Hazel
“Edwards, for a leader of men, you are a colossal fool!” Towbar said while he watched as the numbers on the hills continue to grow. “Yes, let us see what they desire. Sosos do not take an occasion to negotiate. I am curious to hear their desire.”
“Too-Barrr!” One of the wild looking men from the hill top called out. “Too-Barrr, we wish-speak-you. Join us. We speak.”
“I can hear your words from where I stand,” Towbar replied.
“We wish, Too-Barrr, join us up hill. We wish not, not--,” he paused and spoke his native language to one of his comrades to find the correct term in the common tongue. “Wish not treaty for strangers in your company. Treaty with Too-Barrr.”
“The strangers are my friends. I will speak from here, or I will not speak at all.”
The Soso in charge spoke in a foreign language that Towbar could understand. As they conversed, Mykal saw Sosos on the ground sneaking through the remains of Jamison. “Towbar, they’re surrounding us. The guy on the hill is just setting us up.”
“Yes, they are delaying us. His talk is meaningless.”
“Myk, whadda we do, whadda we do?” Sam sounded panicked.
“Kurt, get in the vehicle, and be ready to get us outta here,” Mykal ordered.
“Airman Jones, don’t you dare move!” Edwards overrode Mykal’s orders. “I will strike up a deal with them and I don’t want anyone to do anything that would interfere with it.”
“Kurt, get in the vehicle now!” Mykal re-demanded.
“You dare question my orders?” Edwards barked at them.
Mykal swung his rifle around so it pointed in the general direction of Edwards. “I’ll take care of this right now. They’re gonna kill us. Move it!” He said, but Kurt already started for the Suburban, obeying Mykal not Edwards.
“Put that rifle down,” Edwards squawked and turned his head, cowering in terror. “Make him drop his weapon,” he squealed and he held his hands up to cover his face. “Airman Jones, stand down!”
“Myk, please stop,” Jake begged. “This is too much.”
“You’re in serious trouble,” Mansfield said while he moved a couple of steps from Edwards. “Your actions constitute a threat to an officer.”
“Myk, dey’re behin’ us an’ tryin’ to block our exit,” Rich yelled. His voice bore his physical trembling.
Mykal turned to see that some on the far end of the hill were descending the hill in order to cut them off and wedge them in.
Finn and Miller stood beside Jake and turned their rifles toward Mykal. “You better quit worrying about me and get your asses ready. We’re in a friggin bind here,” Mykal warned them. “They got us surrounded. We’re gonna have to shoot our way out.”
“Sgt Graves, let’s resolve this peacefully,” Finn said though he looked away from Mykal. “Lower your weapon.”
“Sgt Irwin, put that weapon back,” Edwards said when Jake pulled his GAU from inside the vehicle. “There will be no weapons discharge. I will resolve this!”
Jake sighed and looked defeated. Mykal knew Jake feared for his military career. Jake put his GAU on the front seat and decided not to gamble. Disobedience to Edwards could lead to a court martial, though obedience to him could result in Jake’s death.
“Jake, you’re making a big mistake,” Mykal said and put a Soso in his sights again. “Boris, Sam and Rich, get the vehicle doors open and be ready to haul ass cuz when I say move, me and Towbar are gonna be coming in right on top of you guys.”
“If you men move you will have sealed your own fate. You will join Graves in Fort Leavenworth for the rest of your lives. I said I will resolve this!” Edwards declared but they continued to follow Mykal’s orders. “This is tantamount to treason! You will pay for this!” He screeched hysterically.
“Towbar, what’s he talking about?” Mykal ignored Edwards.
“He suggests I join them to kill you, the strangers in my land. They say you are evil people sent here to bring evil magic into my land. He says I may keep any treasure you have.”
“Why would they say that?” Edwards challenged him.
“These may be the same Sosos we fought on the beach the day before,” Boris answered. “We kicked their ass and they’re probably still pissed. That’s when we met Towbar.”
“I think Towbar’s lying,” Edwards replied. “I can negotiate a settlement. Everyone, stand down! Lower those weapons as a sign of good faith.”
“If I was to join them, they will turn on me after you are all dead. Sosos can never be trusted.”
“No, no, that can’t be true,” Edwards said. He turned and called to the Soso leader. “It’s not true, we are not bringing evil. We are lost, that’s all. We are looking for someone to point us in the right direction so we can depart this place.”
“What a friggin idiot,” Mykal said loud enough to be heard.
“I would like to make a deal with you.” Edwards pointed to the one who had communicated with Towbar. “I am sending one of my men up to speak with you. Sgt Miller!” He turned to the terrified bug-eyed man. “I need you to go up there and explain our situation.”
“Sir, I-I don’t know if--”
“I need you to go up there and explain our situation,” Edwards barked. “Be sure to elucidate we mean no harm.”
“Sir, I-I don’t think it’s a g-good idea,” Miller whined and for the first time he didn’t roll over like a beaten dog.
“Miller! This is not a democracy. You must obey me. Time is of the essence. Don’t make me put you on report with them.”
“Sir, if you’re the great communicator, why don’t you go up there?” Mykal said which made Kurt and Rich laugh out loud.
Edwards hissed at Mykal. “You are done Mister. Miller!”
Miller watched the brutes who lined the hill. His breathing increased like a woman who went into labor. He hesitated and his hands fidgeted. He obviously feared Lt Edwards.
Mykal spoke to Miller but kept a Soso in his rifle sight. “If you go up that hill, you’ll never come back down. Did you look at the village? Do you wanna die over something so stupid?”
Miller turned to Edwards. He couldn’t hide his terror. His hands trembled. “Si-Sir, I’m sc-scared,” he admitted.
“Sgt Graves! What the hell are you trying to pull? This is mutiny. Finn!” Edwards turned to the new guy. “Go with Miller. Both of you go up there and explain our situation. Appease them and negotiate a truce so we can depart without incident. Offer them trinkets to show our good nature.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” Mykal said. He saw the Sosos who lined across the top of the hills were itching for a battle. “We need to get outta here. They’re getting antsy.”
“Sgt Graves, I am ordering you--to cease talking. I want this man on report,” Edwards said with clinched teeth to Mansfield. “Finn and Miller, you have your orders. Go now before this situation becomes irreparable.”
“Yes Sir,” Finn moaned and looked heavenward. “Jake, I put MSgt on in two months. I can’t afford to lose that stripe.”
“I wouldn’t do it,” Mykal warned. “Finn, you even look like you know this is bogus. They’re gonna attack us.”
“Graves! Why are you trying to usurp my authority?”
“You’re sending them to die,” Mykal said. “We gotta leave.”
“Do you think we’ll be able to work something out?” Miller whispered to Finn. He looked like a frightened child.
“I sure as hell hope so,” Finn said and slung his GAU over his shoulder.
“No, no. Leave your weapons here. I want them to know they can trust us. Give trust to receive trust,” Edwards coached them as he hid behind his vehicle. “We need to calm this anxious, threatening, situation that Sgt Graves put us in.”
“You’re wrong, Sir,” Mykal said. It felt odd watching the enemy watch him. The Sosos continued to grow in numbers all around them, tightening the noose. It dumbfounded him to watch Finn and Miller set their weapons inside the vehicle.
“
Sgt Graves, I am holding you personally responsible for this situation we’re facing. You’re going to pay for turning my men against me,” Edwards said after looking at the airmen.
The Soso leader called to Towbar in a foreign language.
“Jake, do something,” Mykal whispered to his friend. Jake’s head dropped, he seemed afraid to stand against Edwards. “Get ready! And don’t hold back,” Mykal called out when the Sosos became agitated and stirred by the advancement of Finn and Miller to the base of the hill.
“I am giving a direct order to put those weapons down!” Edwards demanded. “Do not interfere with my negotiations. They should be able to strike a deal for us.”
“They desire us all dead,” Towbar announced.
Lt Edwards ignored the giant’s words. “I command you men to put those weapons down now! You’re going to ruin everything,” he nearly screamed while balling his fists in anger. “That’s it, you’re all going on report,” he said and threw his hands in the air like a child who didn’t get his way.
“Sir, you either shut the hell up or I’m gonna shut you up,” Kurt threatened with a smile. His tone sounded friendly, but he pointed his pistol toward the Lieutenant, while his rifle pointed to Sosos.
Mykal knew Kurt’s brash attitude resulted from his example.
“Okay, okay,” he cried out and moved farther behind his vehicle. “Write it down, write it down,” he hissed in a panic to Mansfield. “Jones threatened me with a handgun. These men--”
Suddenly a yell from the lead Soso broke the tension. The air filled with dozens of arrows. Most of the arrows zeroed in on Finn and Miller who were almost half way up the small hill.
*******
Finn walked behind Miller. He quietly tried to comfort and reassure Miller that everything would be fine. Finn’s fear rose, but he didn’t wear it on his sleeve like brand new stripes as Miller did. If it hadn’t been for his upcoming promotion, he would have told Edwards to ‘go to hell’. Sgt Graves and Towbar seemed to understand the Sosos so he didn’t trust the savages.
“It’ll be alright Miller. Calm down. We’ll tell the leader we’re lost. We’re neutral and want no part in any hostilities.”
“What if they want us to turn Towbar over to them?”
“We’ll do what we have to do,” Finn replied and eyed the crazed looking warriors lining the top of the hill. He felt like he allowed himself into the lion’s den at the zoo where signs clearly warned: DO NOT ENTER! KEEP OUT! DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS!
The leader of the Sosos held a sword in one hand and a short axe in the other. As a group they reminded Finn of thugs ready to commit a crime. The leader gave a smile that turned into an evil sneer. “Doah-yahhhhh,” he yelled.
In an instant Miller was slammed by at least two dozen arrows turning his body into a human pin cushion. The arrows sounded like a short drum roll when they hit Miller. Any number of the arrows could have been the killing strike. He took four to the face and head, two in the throat, five in the general area of his heart, and the rest struck from his thighs to his chest. He fell backward into Finn’s arms who miraculously escaped the rain of black arrows with Miller shielding him.
They fell backward and slid down the hill head first a few feet. Finn knew Miller died just by the feel of his dead weight on top of him. Finn believed he received some sort of miraculous blessing, but had been shocked into temporary deafness as he scrambled to his feet for the run of his life. He couldn’t hear it, but sensed the Sosos charging down the hill.
Sound returned to his ears when he neared the bottom. His heart thumped like it would explode from his chest. He heard war cries coming behind and rifle shots from the front. He wanted to cry out this entire situation was unfair. He didn’t want to walk up the hill. He didn’t want to go unarmed. He didn’t want to risk his upcoming promotion, but Edwards was the type of…
Finn ran faster than he thought his thirty-seven year old body was capable of moving. He felt a couple of arrows whiz by the side of his head. He saw Graves aiming his rifle toward him, but knew it was at Sosos directly behind him. Graves shouted for him to run faster while he continued shooting.
He watched the younger airmen firing their weapons as well. Finn selfishly admired Graves for standing up to and disobeying Edwards’ orders. They should have trusted Graves’s judgment due to his experience with the Sosos.
Finn saw Sosos running through the wrecked village. Sosos charged down the hills in all directions blocking their exit, and completely surrounded them. Being unarmed made him feel so vulnerable and desperate. He never experienced such fearful anguish. Reaching the nearest vehicle looked like his only hope for survival. Edwards and Mansfield climbed into Finn’s Bronco.
Finn saw Jake duck beside the other Bronco as a new volley of arrows filled the air. Jake climbed inside his vehicle rather than shoot back at the mass of Sosos flooding down the hillside. Finn wanted to shout his fear but he knew it would only waste more of his desperately needed energy. More arrows whizzed by much closer. Finn thought his heart would explode in his chest.
Since the arrows missed him again he wondered if maybe God could be real, and maybe God could be watching out for him. Such an odd thought at such a desperate time. Suddenly he regretted the countless times he skipped out of going to church with his wife and kids. Tears wetted the corner of his eyes as he tried to push his body just a little harder.
Just yards away from the Bronco he heard Mansfield scream to Edwards to drive away. Edwards struggled to get the vehicle started. He heard Mansfield and Edwards screeching at each other. Suddenly the vehicle started and to Finn’s horrible surprise, the Bronco sped off just as he reached for the door handle. When the vehicle sped off it kicked stones, dirt and dust in his face, adding insult to injury.
“Nooooooo,” Finn cried out as he watched his vehicle of deliverance and survival speed away. Now he was trapped in the middle of this barbaric madness, not even capable of defending himself. Jake’s vehicle fell in behind Edwards’ vehicle. Deep inside Finn knew he would join Miller.
*******
When the attack commenced and arrows filled the air, Mykal opened fire first. Boris and Kurt quickly joined him. Rich and Sam hesitated, but followed their example. Mykal watched Miller fall and thought he looked like an acupuncture patient on a bad day. To Mykal’s amazement Finn didn’t get touched from the shower of death arrows. Mykal dropped Sosos as fast as he could put them in his sights and squeeze the trigger. Every shot kept Finn from being attacked from behind.
“Get outta there! Run! Run!” Mykal directed the older man between shots. He squeezed the trigger and drilled a Soso in the forehead who had closed in on Finn. “Finn, run!” Mykal yelled as loud as he could, but didn’t think Finn could hear him with all the noise and confusion around Finn.
“They’re all over the place!” Sam gasped.
“Keep shooting! Or we’re all dead,” Mykal responded without looking to what Sam faced. Mykal’s concern was to help Finn make it to Edwards’ vehicle so they could all leave together.
Shock and disbelief slapped Mykal when he watched Finn get within inches of the vehicle only to be left stranded. Mykal thought Edwards and Mansfield climbed inside the vehicle to retrieve their weapons and help them fight it out. They drove off leaving everyone to fend for themselves.
“Those friggin cowards,” he snarled. His heart sank for Finn. “If I woulda known, I woulda shot their tires out,” he roared, but none of the others took notice. “No, Jake, come back,” he howled when Jake followed behind their vehicle.
“Kurt, tell them to get back here,” he hollered while reloading. “We need their help!” He felt desperate, but he couldn’t leave Finn to face the Sosos unarmed.
“Finn, ov’r here, dude,” Rich shouted, catching Finn’s attention. “C’mon ol’ boy, we’ll git ya outta here.” Rich kept squeezing off shots, taking down Sosos with every round.
The terror on Finn’s face looked like he had given up when the Bronco disappeared.
*******
Finn turned to the sound of the southern accent. Just as he started running his eyes watered with a flesh ripping pain that caught him in his lower back. The arrow head pushed through the front of his shirt. His shirt felt as wet and sticky as his balding head under his Security Police wool beret. His head excreted sweat, but under his shirt oozed blood. When Finn clutched at the pain, he sliced his hand with the razor sharp arrow head. He let out a growling moan.
In his heart he feared his life had been limited to moments not years. Suddenly, his deepest regret was not spending more time with his children. He wished he could go back in time to three weeks ago to attend his eight year old daughter’s birthday party. He had made excuses not to join her and her friends. ‘God, get me outta this and I’ll never miss--’
A second arrow ripped into his calf as he hobbled along. The arrow deflected off the bone twisting the calf muscle with a violent jerk. It knocked him to the ground. The pain in his leg hurt more than the pain in his back and stomach. Despite the pain, despite the regrets of missed opportunities with his kids, his most nagging concern was dirt entering his open wounds.
Finn looked up at the younger airmen, who had stayed behind, risking their lives to save his life. Regardless of what Edwards and Mansfield thought of these men, he had tremendous respect and gratitude for them.
Through the blurriness of his tears Finn saw one of the two vehicles had returned. Jake’s vehicle broke through the enclosing circle of Sosos, driving straight for him. When he saw Jake hunched over the steering wheel Finn burst out with a laugh, an expression of joy at the prospect of being rescued. Jake slammed on the brakes which forced the Bronco to slide into a skid at Finn which threw more dust and dirt into Finn’s face.
Finn heard the sound of automatic gunfire going off amid the single shots popping off. Jake rushed from the Bronco to help the crawling Finn. A barrage of arrows hit near the Bronco. Two arrows flew inside the door and ripped into the front seats.
*******
Before Jake picked Finn up off the ground, two more arrows drilled into Finn’s body. One stuck into his shoulder blade. The other arrow passed through the side of his neck. Blood spurted wildly from his throat. Finn’s luck seemed to have run out.
