37 Days In A Strange World

by Dave Hazel

  Edwards and Mansfield started to object right away. Mykal felt they opposed the idea only because he suggested it. The group agreed it would be beneficial to have an early warning detection system in place. Reluctantly Edwards and Mansfield caved and gave Mykal credit for a good idea.

  “Speaking of good ideas,” Denny cut in. “Roy, share yours. For those who don’t know, Mr. Dosch was a Marine in Vietnam during the mid-sixties. They had to deal with traps set by the VC, the Vietcong. Roy suggested we set up some traps.”

  “Traps? What kind of traps?” Light asked.

  Roy took a proud stance when all eyes turned to him. “First of all, I would say back up about a mile,” Roy said and directed everyone’s attention to the narrowest point in the Pass. “That area there is four tenths of a mile. I measured the distance with my car. It’d be the best place for bottle-necking the Sosos. Then I say we dig a very large pit all the way across the Pass right there.” Roy’s hand movements animated his enthusiasm. “We could make the pit ten feet across and seven or eight feet deep. The more time we have, the bigger we can make it.”

  Flemour grumbled and folded his arms. “If there is the potential for war, I don’t like this idea of manual labor.”

  “Townspeople will do most of the work,” Mykal said. “Towbar will get us anything we need like shovels and digging tools.”

  “Listen, it’ll slow the Sosos down,” Roy said. “They won’t be able to jump across it. They will have to go down into the pit and climb out the other side to get to us. Towbar’s people will be very effective against them when they try to climb out.”

  “It’ll be one hell of an obstacle,” Mykal replied ardently. Mykal knew Flemour’s mindset differed since his job involved the maintenance of missiles. The security policemen had extensive training in Air Base Ground Defense, combat tactics, etc.

  Roy continued. “We can do like the Vietcong did to us. We could set punji-sticks in the bottom. Spikes, sticks, knives, or any pointed object stuck into the bottom of the pit will kill or injure those falling in. I lost a very close friend back in the Nam who fell into a punji-pit. When our pit is dug, we can cover it with a lattice works of anything soft that will give way, and then cover it with grass. When they attack, the first wave will fall into it, killing or injuring everyone. The second group will have to climb down on top of them to climb out.”

  Towbar looked fascinated. “I am intrigued. I have never heard of such tactics. This deception will shock the Sosos.”

  Denny turned to Flemour. “It’s a great idea and if we only dig just the one pit, that small investment of time and hard labor will pay back great returns of delay. Towbar’s people and us, standing side by side, could knock out a few pits easy.”

  “What good is it if their numbers are so large?” Flemour asked. It surprised everyone he complained more than Mansfield.

  “Can I answer this, Sir?” Boris asked, pushing his hand in the air and continued when Light approved. “Towbar I wanna tell you something that happened in history back in our world,” he said then turned to Flemour. “First, did anyone ever see the movie ‘The 300 Spartans’? It was made in 1962 or 1963.”

  “Yeah, it was a great movie,” SSgt Fisher replied.

  “Well it’s based on the true story of the Spartan King Leonidas who led a small group of 300 Spartan warriors to fight a mixed force of well over 400,000 strong. The Spartans were great, fierce, fighters but what really helped them is the Persian army had to attack them by going through a small strip of land, the narrow pass of Thermopylae. Leonidas and the 300 held off the assaults of the Persian army because they couldn’t get around them. The 300 even held off attacks from the imperial body guard of 10,000 called the Immortals.

  “Just like our situation, they had to defend the pass of Thermopylae waiting for help,” Boris continued. “The 300 kicked ass and held their ground. But then someone told Xerxes, the Persian King, about a secret goat passage to the rear of their position. The 300 Spartans were surrounded and all got killed. Anyway, my point is that small number, the 300, beat back a much larger army because the big army was forced to fight in a narrow passage way, nullifying their great size advantage.”

  “That’s us,” Mykal said. “Only they can’t get behind us.”

  “Sounds like a great plan. Let’s get started,” Light said but looked to Edwards who gave a slight nod of approval.

  4.

  Within four hours nearly all of the more than 13,000 people of Gartolin and the surrounding area, moved to the Front with Mykal and Towbar. Nearly 7,500 were refugees from other towns and villages. After a brief speech by Towbar through the magic of a vehicle’s PA system, work began on the pit.

  Per Roy’s suggestion, the zone for the pit relocated to the narrowest stretch in the Pass. The natural formation of the rock wall jutting from the east created a chin and neck shape. From rock wall to rock wall the slim neck measured about 2,100 feet.

  Thousands of people stood side by side and across from each other. More than twelve hundred dug, extras worked on dirt removal, and more stood by ready to rotate when excavators became tired. Many gathered wood and any items to be used as punji-sticks. Some women and the elderly delivered and served water. Others prepared food. An assembly worked to put sharp points on the objects to be embedded into the floor of the pit.

  The dirt removal teams placed the dirt in piles behind the pit. Light directed the dirt mounds to be staggered every fifty yards. They were to create small earthen walls to be used as protective barriers for the riflemen to fight from when the threat of Soso archers came into play. Every rifleman’s top priority would be to stop Soso death arrows.

  Mykal and his people worked hard alongside the townspeople. While working Mykal mentally played out different scenarios to imagine how the battle would unfold, should Towbar’s army not arrive in time. He felt confident they would be able to hold off two, conceivably three heavy assaults. The pit would devastate the first wave and confuse the Sosos. He feared the Sosos would make their adjustments and adapt to the pit for their second assault, but they would have to negotiate the pit. He couldn’t see them withstanding more than three major assaults due to limited ammunition and such small numbers of townspeople.

  Mykal stood in a long line of people stretched across the Pass. Sweat poured from his body. Mykal knew he could have excused himself due to his recent wounds, but he didn’t want to be viewed as one who needed special privileges, or one who wouldn’t do his part. He needed to lead by example. He felt he wanted this more than others, and he couldn’t expect them to do the work he wouldn’t participate in. It impressed him that no one complained about the hard work. People from his world that he predicted to gripe and grumble worked hard. Everyone gladly did their part knowing survival rested on the work put forth.

  Mykal had never been accustomed to hard manual labor. It amazed him how much his hands hurt. The hard wood handle of the crude shovel produced blisters on his tender hands. His skin cracked and split which produced blood.

  He wrapped a t-shirt around his hands and kept working. In time the pain and hard work tempted him to quit. He knew too many people looked up to him so he had to put on a show and press on through the discomfort. He kept focused on his ultimate goal.

  The t-shirt wrapped around his hands didn’t ease the pain, but he kept at it. Mykal looked up to stretch his neck and relax for a brief moment. He saw the women with water just minutes away. The barrels and buckets set on a crude cart drawn by horse. He pushed onward. It amazed him how much the people had accomplished. The ground before them vanished at an incredible rate considering it had been dug by hand.

  The hard work in the blazing sun made him feel he would die of thirst. The closer the water cart drew near the more he deliberately tormented himself by thinking of dry crackers and salty pretzels. He imagined crawling across a sandy barren desert in search of water. He hoped his mental build up would make the drink more satisfying once he relieved his thirst.

  The cart
neared and he anticipated how great the water should taste going down his throat. He thought of freezing water in a glass filled with ice cubes making the sides sweat. He imagined chomping on ice and pouring frigid water on his head. He couldn’t wait. His mouth watered at the thought and his breathing increased as the bucket inched closer down the line.

  “Would you like some water?” A soft female voice asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Mykal turned to her words and climbed from the three foot ravine and dropped to his knees. He couldn’t remember being so thirsty. “Oh that was good,” he gasped for air after downing as much of the tepid water his body could take. “Oh that felt so good,” he repeated and wiped his forehead from sweat. He took a small amount of the water and wiped it over his face. Surprisingly the lukewarm water felt good on his skin.

  “Would you like another drink?” She asked and scooped another mug. She stared at the ugly scar and grimaced slightly.

  “Thank you.” He greedily gulped and didn’t hide the scar.

  The petite, dark haired woman shyly turned from his gaze. Her hair had been neatly tied in a bun on her head. A wild lock escaped from the bun and hung down in her face. It curled around a smudge of dirt drawing attention to her natural beauty.

  Mykal thought she looked pretty, and had a quiet, shy sex appeal, but he forced his thoughts to stop at her appearance. He looked at her and hoped she would carry the conversation further so he would have a legitimate reason to take a break. However, she avoided eye contact with him.

  She glanced down the line of hard working people and nodded to a man who waved to her. “I would like to thank you, Mykal,” she spoke softly. “I thank you for the people and for myself.”

  “Thank me? For what?” He smiled because he could take a couple of moments without looking like a slacker to everyone.

  “Lord Towbar shared what you and your people have done for us in fighting the Sosos. I also thank you for myself. You asked Towbar not to punish me. I should have stayed at your side when you were ill. Lord Towbar became very angry with me when I left your room. I knew not what he would do to me,” she sighed. “I have never seen him so cross. I thank you he did not punish me.” She expressed her gratitude in her pretty smile.

  “That’s alright.” He smiled back. “I was already hurt. To be honest, I don’t remember much of that day. What’s your name?”

  “I am called Doninka.” She replied shyly and brushed some mud off her ragged dress with her dirty hands.

  “That’s a very pretty name. I’ve never heard a name like that before.” ‘As Kurt said, she’s a sweet little hammer,’ he thought and had to smile. “Just to let you know, I don’t think Towbar woulda done anything to you.”

  “I am not so sure. You are his close friend. He said I could have cost you your life. I am awe-struck. I never heard of a person surviving a death arrow. You recovered remarkably fast. I am happy to see you are well. I must be going.” She nodded to a man who waved at her. “Others are in need of water.”

  “Thank you for the water. Without it, I would have fallen over dead,” he chuckled. “A death arrow couldn’t take me out, but thirst would have finished me.”

  She laughed gently to be polite. “Good-bye Mykal. I hope I will be back to bring you more water.”

  “See ya later Doninka.” He waived his t-shirt wrapped hand.

  “Hey Sarge, I see you’re makin’ time with that sweet little hammer after all,” Kurt laughed from behind. Kurt, Boris, Larry and Rich were all working nearby. They stopped to take a break and joined Mykal. They all looked worn from the labor put forth.

  “Her? Na, we’re just talking.” Mykal smirked since he knew their thoughts. “I wouldn’t even think such a thing.”

  “She’s a nice lookin’ lady,” Larry leered as she meandered down the line serving the precious water. “I saw her when she was wearing clothes that would do her justice, ohhhh yeahhhh. Myk, she’s an A-1 kinda broad. I mean it.”

  “You oughta jump on her,” Rich laughed. “She looks like she likes you anyways.”

  “No, I wouldn’t mess around behind Pam’s back,” he declared firmly. “And I don’t want anyone thinking I would.”

  “Boy, its friggin hot out here,” Boris said and wiped his face with the bottom of his dirty t-shirt.

  “Maybe this heat and some of this hard work will help you to shed a few of those blubbery pounds, Pork Chop,” Kurt teased.

  “Hey, drop dead, you Alice the Goon looking--”

  “Girls, girls, don’t start,” Mykal stopped them before they started to riff on each other. “We got work to do.”

  Larry turned serious. “Ya know, Myk, I’ve been thinking. In a way, I don’t care if we ever make it back to the world.”

  “What? Are you crazy?” Mykal looked at him as if he lost his mind. “You been in the heat too long, son.”

  “He’s pretending to be nuts,” Boris joked. “He wants us to take him out of the sun so he doesn’t have to work.”

  “No, I’m not. I’m serious. Listen, I’m not too crazy about all this killing and fighting with the Sosos stuff, but I wouldn’t mind staying here for good. They treat us like we’re kings. We can have anything we want. We got it made here.”

  “What about your wife and kids?” Mykal asked.

  “Hell, what about TV and fast food?” Boris added.

  “You know the two kids are from Cindy’s first marriage,” Larry replied. “The more I think about it, the more I think I only got married cuz I was lonely. Don’t take me wrong. I really love her and the kids. I do. But I’m starting to love it here.” He paused and stared at the mountain walls. “I dunno, maybe it’s just something in the air I guess.”

  “Maybe it’s just somethin’ in the stuff you been drinking Sarge,” Kurt laughed and imitated someone tipping one back.

  “Laugh, go ahead. Laugh it up. But if you find a way home, I might just stay,” Larry said without cracking a smile.

  “Man, you better think long and hard about it.” Mykal shook his head in disbelief. “If we find a way home, there might never be a second chance of going back after that.”

  “I know. But now we gotta factor in Edwards and Mansfield. You know they’re gonna start one hell of a shit storm for us when we get back. I can’t handle prison.” Larry shook his head.

  “Listen to me, I’m telling you guys here and now,” Mykal whispered forcefully. “After all I’ve been through, I’m not going back to the world only to have to worry about what those two little scum bags are gonna try to do to us.”

  “How are you gonna stop them?” Rich whispered.

  “If I can’t control who goes back, Towbar will take care of them. They’ve threatened us too many times. I’ll kill them myself if I have to,” Mykal vowed with a cold dark expression he never shared before. “They’re not gonna separate me from my family. I almost died here. They’re not going to ruin me there.”

  “Right on, brotha,” Rich laughed and raised his hand.

  “I’m serious,” Mykal said darkly despite high-fiving Rich.

  “I’m with you, Myk,” Boris agreed and laughed with them.

  “Ya know, when you think about killing,” Kurt said weighing his hands as imaginary scales. “What’s the difference? Sosos in one hand, or shitheads in the other hand,” he laughed. “I’d also like to say, if Larry stays behind, I might wanna stay too.”

  “Gimme a break,” Boris laughed. “Once you’re out of ammo, you’ll be the first one crying to go home.”

  “Come on guys, let’s get back to work,” Mykal stopped them. He feared they had been changed beyond repair. He watched his friends continue to joke and laugh like normal. They didn’t pull a gag or a prank. Their sense of joviality came after plotting the murder of two superiors. ‘What the hell’s become of us?’

  5.

  When night crept into the sky, men were picked and posted for guard duty. The guards were all assigned only two hour shifts and a list was drawn up so everyone would pull their shar
e of guard duty equally. The only people exempt due to their rank were Lt Edwards, Lt Light, Flemour, Mansfield, and Jake.

  Mykal helped select the guard duty detail and some thought he would omit himself from the list. Instead he assigned himself the late hours that most didn’t want, and took more hours than the required two hours. Towbar enlisted the services of the townspeople to help with guard duty. The townspeople thought it the strangest request ever put before them. Sosos don’t fight at night, but they humored the Visitors upon Towbar’s request.

  Mykal went back to the vehicle to start in his diary where he ended days before. He looked at his family photos and realized his blistered, bleeding hands were healed.

  Despite the happiness of knowing something magically odd changed in his physical body, he felt despair wash over him. Frustration over their strange situation hit harder than it had previously. It didn’t make any sense. The how’s and why’s of their being in Towbar’s world were still unanswered. It became a maddening exercise to try to resolve.

  Towbar approached him and Mykal did his best to put on a happy face. He knew Towbar saw through the phony cheerful mood. “We have accomplished much today, my friend.”

  “Yeah, and I’m sure this will work out great for us. During the day tomorrow we’ll finish the pit and then we’ll have people put the spikes in the bottom of the pit. It’ll be one hell of an obstacle.”

  Towbar changed the subject. “What troubles you, my friend?”

  “Huh? Aw, nothing.” Mykal had to turn away his lying eyes.

  “I hear it in your words. It is painted on your face.”

  “Well, to be honest, it’s two things. Since I nearly got killed, I think I’m gonna be afraid to face the Sosos. Deep down inside I think I’m afraid of being afraid.” He forced a laugh.

  “I know you will be strong when you face the enemy. You do not have it in your character to run from your fears.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Mykal replied. “But the thing that’s really getting me down is my family. I’m just so afraid I’ll never see them again and it breaks my heart. They’re all I care about.” His voice cracked. “I hate being away from them. I know Pam’s worried sick about me and I want her to know I’m okay. I almost died and she woulda never known. Everyone probably thinks we’re dead. I don’t want her to think that. We’ve only been gone about ten days and it feels like months. This is killin’ me.”