37 Days In A Strange World

by Dave Hazel

  “Take some food before we depart. We do not know when the next hot meal will be.”

  “That sounds good, but I gotta get something else off my chest,” Mykal said and paused while Towbar called one of his huge battle hardened warriors.

  Towbar spoke to the soldier who snapped to a lazy form of attention. Mykal couldn’t understand the native language, but he clearly comprehended the scene. Towbar gave an order and the soldier rushed off to complete the task.

  “Your food will be here briefly.”

  “What I wanted to say Towbar, is where I’m from, countries all over our world are always going to war with each other. But it’s different where I’m from. Most of the time, we kill our enemy without ever seeing them. With our technology we kill people from long distances. Me personally, I’ve never been in a war before, but I’ve always heard war does strange things to people. Like during one of our recent wars, the Vietnam War,” he paused since he knew Towbar would be clueless to his reference. “They would say the most dangerous thing in war is an eighteen year old kid with a gun in his hand who had been given the green light to kill. It screws up your head. Now I’m not eighteen, but I’m wondering, have I become that ‘dangerous eighteen year old kid’ with the green light to kill?”

  “My friend, I do not know what you are asking. I would suggest that you are thinking too hard. I understand this is new for you. You are justified in all you do because you are fighting for survival. You admitted you have shown restraint just this morning. There will be a time when you will be able to address your thoughts. For the time being I would set aside your concerns. Now, if I may change the subject, I would like to see the weapons of your world. You said you have greater weapons than these that have been used here. I am truly amazed and…”

  While Mykal ate, some of Towbar’s soldiers gathered around to listen while he ran through a list of different types of weapons and their capabilities back in his world. Mykal spoke of big destructive weapons of war such as jets, bombers, tanks, helicopters, war ships, submarines, artillery, missiles and anything else that randomly popped into his mind. The mighty warriors hung on his every word like young children listening to fairy tales for the first time.

  “…And no, it’s not magic it’s all real. And to be honest I haven’t even scratched the surface of what we have.” Mykal smirked at their gawks. “Boris and Sam are coming with us.”

  “I welcome their company.” Towbar nodded as the pair joined them. “It may be good to have more thunder sticks with us.”

  “Why, is there a monster up there?” Sam joked.

  “We do not know what is there. That is why we are going. My desire is that it not be a strange creature. However, I must be sure whatever is there does not have an alliance with the Sosos. We can ill afford to have an attack at our back. This mission is of great importance.”

  3.

  Towbar selected nine soldiers from the overwhelming number of volunteers to accompany them. It clearly demonstrated a deep respect, loyalty and trust his soldiers had for him. A tenth had been picked to go along to man the horses and supplies while they searched the area of concern. The warriors were honored to go on a special mission with Towbar. It wasn’t about getting face time to promote their own military ambitions, but a genuine admiration and love for their leader.

  The men Towbar selected were battle hardened veterans, proficient with all weapons. They were all big strong men who made Mykal, Boris and Sam appear small physically. Towbar’s warriors didn’t doubt the Visitors ability, heart or strength based on Towbar’s praise of them. Though the warriors hadn’t seen them in combat, they did see the aftermath of yesterday’s battle. Size really doesn’t matter.

  “Horses? I never rode a horse before,” Boris complained when a large beast had been placed before him. “Not only that, but these things are giant horses,” he said nervously. “These make Clydesdale horses look small.”

  “You will learn fast,” Towbar said while two soldiers helped Boris get onto the saddle.

  “Wow, these horses are pretty big,” Mykal agreed. “They’re at least two feet taller than anything I ever rode back in our world. I’ve only gone horse-back riding a couple of times.”

  “Me too,” Sam said. He struggled to mount a huge black stallion for the third time. “I need help,” he admitted and moaned. Sam looked embarrassed.

  Towbar’s men tried to hide their amusement. Some looked dumbfounded. Towbar gave these men the highest praise. According to Towbar, these men were great warriors, experts at killing, capable of killing swiftly and at long distances. Yet, they could not mount a beast, a task most children could do.

  Mykal managed to get atop his beast without the help of Towbar’s men pushing him upward. His animal was gray and spotted with black blotches. It surprised him how small the saddles were for such large horses. All the saddles he ever saw in the movies were much larger than these. These saddles were slightly smaller than both racing saddles and English saddles. Mykal didn’t feel secure on a small piece of leather atop such a great big animal.

  “Be sure to hold tightly.” Towbar cracked a smile at the sight of the three Visitors on the beasts. “If we must move swift you may fall. Some have fallen off, never to ride again.”

  “Oh, that’s real helpful,” Boris huffed. He clung tightly to the leather reigns. “These things don’t have seat belts on them, do they?”

  “Seat belt?” Towbar looked puzzled.

  “He’s joking,” Mykal chuckled at Boris’s look of terror.

  “We move,” Towbar announced. “Day light dwindles.”

  “Oh no,” Boris gasped frightfully after his horse jerked forward when one of the soldiers slapped the rear of the horse. Boris bounced with every step the horse took. Boris hung tightly to the leather straps wrapped around his hands and tucked his elbows into his ribs.

  Mykal and Sam overcame their nervousness and they caught on quickly. Riding the large animal came relatively easy. “Boris, just relax and loosen up some,” Sam suggested.

  “I can’t,” he yelled back but couldn’t stop laughing. “My feet… are too far… from the ground… I’m scared shitless,” he blurted between fits of laughter.

  “Let us quicken the pace,” Towbar called back and turned slightly in the saddle to see how his inexperienced friends were doing. “You must kick the beast Boris,” Towbar said. His broad smile revealed his amusement at Boris’s entertaining riding technique. Comically Boris bounced with every step due to his wooden posture. Towbar’s men tried not to be seen laughing.

  Boris didn’t kick his horse very hard but suddenly his steed bolted. He sped past everyone and bounced uncontrollably from side to side in the small saddle. He held on for dear life and despite the overwhelming fear he couldn’t stop his terrified laughing. His hard laughter prevented him from calling for help. The soldiers could no longer contain their laughter when they watched his rigid form bounce from side to side atop the beast.

  Regardless of the humor, Towbar shouted a command and all the soldiers raced after Boris to get his animal under control before he got hurt. Mykal and Sam pulled up the rear slowly. They were laughing at Boris’s high-pitched scream mixed with non-stop laughter as he gasped for air.

  “Stop it, stop it. I’m gonna piss my pants,” Boris cackled with fright as one of the soldiers grabbed the reigns. He finally caught his breath when his animal had been halted.

  “When you desire animal to stop, you pull like so,” Rogal, one of the soldiers instructed. He demonstrated by pulling the reigns back. “Beast will obey. You ride beast. Beast not ride you. You understand?” The soldier couldn’t hide his humor while Boris huffed and puffed in relief. “You funny man. Me like you.”

  “Whew boy, I’m alive,” Boris said after he caught his breath. “Let’s do that again,” he joked when slowed to a walk.

  4.

  When they reached their destination they all dismounted with ease, but as Boris tried, his foot got caught in the saddle and he fell to
the ground. Amid new laughter, Towbar’s men assumed Boris to be a natural showman who tried to be comical. No one could possibly have such difficulty riding a horse.

  Boris had the wind knocked from him when he thudded to the ground. “Oh crud,” he moaned while gasping for air. He jumped up and tried to walk off the pain under their laughter. “Now I know why they invented cars,” he gasped. He did his best to hide his pain.

  “You funny man,” Rogal repeated. “Me like you.”

  “Who is that?” Sam asked. He was the first to notice a lone rider nearing their position.

  “It is a female,” one of Towbar’s men announced. “The form is smaller in the saddle and rides like that of a woman.”

  Towbar’s jaws tightened at first glance. “It is Doninka.”

  “How can you tell?” Boris squinted through his glasses.

  “Whadda ya think she wants?” Mykal asked.

  “I do not know,” he answered in a hushed tone. “She is becoming a royal thorn in my side.”

  Doninka easily turned to the side on the saddle and bounced off the beast. “Greetings.”

  Embarrassed, Boris looked down. “Show off,” he whispered playfully to Sam. “I’m glad she didn’t see me get down.”

  “What are you doing here, Doninka?” Towbar’s uninviting tone came across as harsh. He folded his muscular limbs across his massive chest and planted his feet to take a hard stand.

  “I would like to come along and help,” she offered softly.

  “No! We do not need help. We have enough men here. Go back to the others,” Towbar suggested forcefully. “Or go back to Gartolin. You can not come with us.”

  “Lord Towbar, I would like to offer my assistance,” she said and refused to give any ground to the giant. “I have as much right to help as any other. You are leaving one of your soldiers here to tend to the horses, are you not?”

  “That is correct.”

  “I will gladly take his place,” she said.

  The soldiers turned their heads, incredulous that a young woman would be so bold with Lord Towbar.

  “These are brave warriors. You are a girl. The mission may be a dangerous mission.”

  “Lord Towbar, I am a woman, not a girl,” she said with pride. “I can take care of myself.”

  The soldiers looked at her with skepticism. They were obviously surprised that he tolerated her.

  “Your words are hard to believe,” Towbar scoffed. “I confess though, I admire your heart.” Towbar’s hard face softened.

  “She’s got spunk.” Mykal smirked.

  “I will admit I may not be the best warrior. However, I am smaller than everyone here. You may need someone to enter a very small space. I would be perfect for such a task.”

  “You would blindly go into small darkened crevices where unseen creatures could use you as the next meal?”

  “I would do it,” she said boldly, though her eyes widened.

  Mykal watched Towbar while he considered her offer. Mykal understood Towbar’s dilemma. He didn’t want to argue with her and end up giving into her in front of his soldiers. That would raise questions and possibly unveil her true identity. Mykal also knew if Towbar forced her away Doninka was stubborn enough to follow on her own which would be more dangerous than if he kept her close at hand to keep an eye on her.

  “I accept your offer to be my little rodent for the dark dank holes I may need explored,” he said. “However, you will obey my every command or I will leave you behind. Agreed?”

  “Yes, Lord Towbar,” she smiled and looked to Mykal for his approval of her presence.

  “Boris, please take the men to the path,” Towbar pointed to the location they entered the previous day. “Mykal, my friend,” the giant held him back with Doninka. “I may need your help in keeping an eye out for this one.”

  “I will be no trouble,” she promised and batted her eyes.

  “Do not think that you are too old for me to take across my knee and deliver a well-deserved spanking that is past due. I assure you, your father will be informed of your blackmailing, manipulating ways. Do not try that in front of my soldiers ever again. I will not be bullied by a girl in their presence.”

  “Can you not see that I am no longer a little girl? I am a woman,” Doninka said, and pulled her clothing tight to her body and turned to show off her womanly curves. “Do you agree, Mykal?”

  “Ah, ah, uhm. Don’t get me involved,” he replied. She held her pose and waited for an answer. “Yeah, you don’t look like a girl. That’s for sure.” Mykal smiled and felt his face redden.

  “Get over to where the men are,” Towbar ordered sternly. “My friend, I may need your assistance in watching over her again. If that does not inconvenience you.”

  “Nah, that’s alright. Why is she like that?” Mykal shook his head but admired her feistiness.

  Towbar looked to ensure she walked out of hearing. “At times such as this I do not want her to know how proud I am of her.” Towbar broke the scowl he presented. “She would like to be queen one day, should her brothers not ascend to the throne. One of her brothers has a good heart like her. He is not strong enough to rule this land. The other brother has the strength and intelligence to rule. His heart is not good like Doninka or her father. Doninka loves her people and would like to demonstrate that love. However, with all that said, I believe this mission is one of self-interest. She has her eye on you.”

  “Ah well I’m flattered, but I’m happily married. Do you really think it’s a good idea for me to spend time with her? I wouldn’t want to lead her on, cuz if she has her eye on me as you say, I’ll end up breaking her heart.” He felt awkward.

  5.

  Once inside the clearing where Mansfield died they surveyed the area. A couple of Towbar’s soldiers spotted the dried blood on the flat rock but Towbar shrugged it off and told them to keep their mind on the mission at hand.

  They trained their focus on the rock wall in the area where Towbar detected the strange scent. Towbar and his men studied the area for any clues to gain entrance. Time passed slowly. They scanned, inspected, and scrutinized the mountain wall over and over for any possible way that something could have gone in or out. The smell didn’t just appear there.

  Boris and Sam chatted by themselves. Mykal sat down on the rock slab beside Doninka so she wouldn’t feel isolated. “So why do you wanna be here?” He asked to start a conversation.

  “I wish to help my people,” she replied defensively.

  “Oh, I was just curious. It’s just that if something does happen and if we have to get into a fight, this really isn’t the place for a woman to be.”

  “You think that just because I am a woman that I am not capable of defending myself? That is typical male pigheaded logic,” she snapped with a fiery response that took him by surprise. “I have killed several Sosos and I shall kill many more. I may not be as big or as strong--”

  “Whoa, whoa, hold on,” Mykal cut her off. “Calm down. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just making conversation. Yikes, I didn’t think I’d get my head bit off,” he chuckled. “I wasn’t saying anything about your battle record or anything about your size or anything. I was just saying that if you wanna help your people, that’s great. But how are you gonna help them if you get yourself killed? I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sorry,” he said with his hands in the air as if he surrendered.

  She softened. “You did not offend me.” She looked deep into his eyes. “I apologize for taking such a severe tone with you. I always encounter those who say I can not do much for my people because I am a young woman.”

  “I would think you could probably do a whole lot more for your people if you stayed in the King’s palace in the Big Walled City or whatever it’s called. Make rules and laws that help your people. I don’t have a problem with a woman leader if she’s capable. As a matter of fact, where I’m from women are treated as equal. We have a big women’s movement thing. I’m all for the women’s movement… especiall
y when walking behind it.” He laughed out loud.

  Doninka gave him a confused look. “I do not understand.”

  “Ah, it’s a joke. Obviously a bad joke.” He smirked knowing back home it would’ve earned him a slap. “But seriously, do what you feel you gotta do, but if you care about your people, don’t get yourself killed and don’t put yourself in risky situations.”

  “I appreciate your concern.”

  “See where I’m from, all the people who have political power, and all those who have political ambition keep themselves and their family members from the front lines. Do you understand what could happen if Sosos, or enemies of your father, got their hands on you and knew who you really are?”

  “I understand,” she nodded in agreement.

  “I’ll tell you one thing Doninka. I tip my hat to you.” He smiled at her quizzical expression. “It means I think highly of you, cuz where all the big shots try to run from the front lines you’re constantly trying to get chest deep into the crap.”

  She giggled at his words. “I would not say that I do that, but I do not think it is right to--”

  “Towbar found it,” one of the soldiers yelled excitedly, cutting their conversation short.

  “We’ll talk later,” Mykal said and rushed to the gathering around the rock wall.

  “There is a well concealed secret passage into the mountain rock wall,” Towbar said. “That explains the odor yesterday,” he turned to Mykal. “This means it or they are intelligent beings.”

  “Where is it? I don’t see anything,” Boris said when he stared at the rock wall.

  “You must have a keen eye to detect it,” Towbar replied. “I am going into the mountain. You are all volunteers, so I will give you one more opportunity to turn away. We do not know what it is, or who it is we may encounter. We are obviously dealing with something that has great intelligence,” he repeated.

  The soldiers looked at each other. “We are one with you Lord Towbar,” Rogal spoke for all.