37 Days In A Strange World

by Dave Hazel

  When the creature crumpled to the floor it whined, gasped for air twice and died. Its legs kicked out and stiffened. On the floor the head that had not been shot, reflexively bit air as if attacking, but then it moved no more. Blood slowly began to pool around the wound from the chest and the wound from the one head. When the animal snapped at air Doninka pulled her short sword and thrust it into the dead animal’s chest to ensure it would not get up and attack. Both tongues flopped on the floor.

  Just as Doninka thrust her sword into the dead beast both doors flew open and several small stocky bearded men rushed in. They all looked like the one who fled the room. Obviously blonde beard went to get help. The mob yelled in their strange native tongue and their primary focus turned to Doninka since her hand was wrapped around what appeared to be the killing weapon.

  Mykal’s initial thought of the men was they were characters from a Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roll playing game. The bearded men were all short and stocky, dressed and armed like Dwarves from the fantasy game. These people were not pretend figures to be manipulated by a Dungeon Master. They were real people armed with real axes, swords, war hammers and crossbows. All seemed to be angry, most were yelling and threatening the intruders. The crossbows were pointed at both Mykal and Doninka. The bolts of the crossbows were pointed with razor sharp arrow heads. The only thing Mykal saw as positive, the shafts weren’t black like the shafts of Shay-lonk, Soso death arrows.

  The quickly assembled mob of little people looked like they wanted to take the intruders alive. Mykal believed if they resisted they would be killed on the spot. More of them entered the room and the noise became extremely loud. The little people yelled and relayed information to others outside the door.

  Mykal had already holstered his revolver and held his hands in the air. With his rifle strapped over his back he hoped they wouldn’t take his weapons, since they didn’t look like weapons. Doninka left her sword sticking in the dead animal and drew close to Mykal. Those who saw Doninka’s hand on the sword yelled angrily while pointing at her. Mykal knew they blamed her for killing the ugly beast.

  “I am frightened, Mykal,” she whined.

  One Dwarf in particular roared at her, his stubby finger pointed in her face. He stood taller and was much bigger than all the others. Mykal could only imagine what threats this big Dwarf hurled at her. Mykal assumed him to be the leader due to his size and the way he carried himself. The leader stood near 5’5” whereas the others were from 3’10” to 4’10”.

  The leader paced around the room shouting at Doninka while pointing to the dead animal. He ranted with sounds and words foreign to both. The little man who fled the room returned and humbly bowed before the leader. He then dropped to the floor and hugged the dead animal. He kept looking up at the leader as if filled with sorrow. Mykal assumed the mourner was responsible to care for the animal for the leader. Mourner seemed fearful of the leader. Mourner threw his hands in the air with loud moans.

  The little griever jumped to his feet and began to accuse Doninka, so it appeared, but she clung tightly to Mykal’s body, and fought breaking down. Mykal wrapped his arm around her to ease her fear. Mykal couldn’t understand anything being said but the actions and tones spoke volumes. He picked up one word that he thought the little man tried to say, “Soso”.

  “No, no, not Soso,” Mykal yelled loudly pointing at himself and Doninka and shook his head wildly to get the point across. “No Soso. They might think we’re Sosos,” he whispered and continued to shake his head. “If they’re hostile toward Sosos, we might be able to use that to our advantage.”

  The leader ignored Mykal’s words and poked at Doninka with a wooden rod. It appeared the leader tried to provoke Doninka to lash out at him. “I fear they will kill us,” she said and started to cry and buried her face into Mykal’s chest. The angry bearded leader continued to jab at her with his stick.

  “Try to hold on and don’t cry. Do you know anything about these people? Have you heard of these little people before?” Mykal asked and ignored the ranting of the angry leader.

  The little superior didn’t like being ignored. He whacked Doninka on the leg with his wooden shaft. She screamed.

  “Hey, what’s your friggin problem?” Mykal yelled and pushed the little man with his hand. The little man stumbled back and tripped over Klacken’s body. Almost immediately three armed with crossbows jumped in close and pointed their quarrels at him. “Leave her alone. I killed that ugly ass thing,” Mykal shouted and pointed to the dead animal and back to himself.

  The leader jumped to his feet and whacked Mykal on the thigh with his stick. He shouted at Mykal and pointed to Doninka. He thwacked her thigh with the stick again and yelled at Mykal. He pointed his stubby finger at him as if daring him.

  “Leave her alone,” Mykal yelled taking the leader by surprise. “Come on, you ugly little bastard,” Mykal shouted and tried to block the next attack. It hit his thigh with a sting. “Come on,” Mykal yelled and used his hand to challenge him and rubbed his leg with the other. “I’ll waste you little creeps.”

  “Mykal, no,” Doninka cried out. She grabbed on to him. “They will kill us,” she begged.

  “I’m not gonna let this little freak keep hitting me with that damn stick.”

  The leader seemed surprised that the intruder would dare raise his voice with so many weapons pointed at him. He threatened Mykal verbally and raised his stick again.

  Mykal pointed his finger in the leader’s face. “I’ll shove that stick up your ass and turn you into a midget popsicle.”

  The leader argued back angrily, just as another Dwarf walked into the room. The room suddenly became silent. He looked like all the others but he obviously carried rank or position over them. Even the loud angry hitter became silent. All of the little people backed away to give the new Dwarf space. Crossbows stayed leveled at Mykal and Doninka.

  The new Dwarf with authority approached the stick wielder. Though the angry hitter stood taller and looked bigger, his head dipped in a submissive gesture. The new arrival spoke, probably asked for a report. The conversation sounded like garbled gibberish, just noise. It became clear, with finger pointing at Doninka and back to the dead animal that the angry Dwarf accused Doninka of killing the two-headed beast. The original Dwarf, blonde beard Mourner, was called over. He gave his version of how the events transpired. He didn’t stand at attention but seemed respectful to the new arrival.

  While the angry bully accused Doninka and Mykal of their various crimes, the new arrival kept a curious focus on the strangers. He seemed surprised, like he had never seen a normal sized human before. He listened and nodded. He had a quiet command and control with his almost gentle demeanor.

  The angry Dwarf raised his voice and raised his stick as if to declare what his plan of punishment should be. The quiet leader held up a hand and squashed the proposed plan. The bully grew agitated and raised his voice to make another request. One word response negated the request. The bully fumed that he didn’t get the one with authority to agree with him.

  Mykal hoped the one with authority made it clear that no harm was to come to the outsiders. The bully armed with the stick didn’t seem happy about it. He pointed to the dead animal and tried to win his case by raising his voice, but the one with authority would have none of it.

  “What do you think will happen to us?” Doninka asked while she cuddled closer to her protector.

  “I’m not sure, but this one guy seems to be the leader and it looks like he’s not gonna allow this little clown to hurt us. As long as they don’t try to take my weapons away we’ll play it cool and we’ll see what they’re gonna do. We’ll fight our way out if they’re gonna try to harm us. It’ll be a surprise if I start blasting away with my M-16.”

  The ranking Dwarf spoke and pointed to the dead animal. Two others quickly picked up the slain two headed creature with Doninka’s sword still protruding from it. He spoke again and most of the other bearded people filed out of the room.r />
  The bully seemed to be angered by what happened. He called two others in the strange language and pointed to Doninka and they moved toward her. Mykal feared they were going to take her away and separate them. Mykal quickly grabbed hold of Doninka’s arm and pulled her to his rear, putting himself between them and her. He didn’t allow them to grab her. The angry bully hesitated since the stranger showed he wasn’t afraid to lash out.

  “Do not allow them to take me,” Doninka whimpered.

  “I’m not,” he said while he kept moving his body between the Dwarves and her body. “Screw you,” he yelled and turned as one tried to go around him. He held his fists up to show he was ready to get physical with them.

  The ranking Dwarf started to laugh at the comical sight. He stopped laughing when the bully raised his stick and started to move in as if to attack. The leader spoke and the bully stopped instantaneously. Mykal wanted to make sure they stayed in the presence of the leader and not left alone with the bully.

  Mykal watched the bully try to argue his case to separate them so he could punish Doninka for the death of the two headed animal. While they discussed the situation of the captured intruders, Mykal acted quickly and pulled his military issue handcuffs from the pouch on his web belt, attaching the metal bracelets to Doninka’s right wrist and to his left wrist.

  “There dip shit,” Mykal mumbled defiantly. “Now try to split us up.”

  Those in the room all looked at Mykal with a puzzled look. Even Doninka wasn’t sure what he just did. Mykal held their hands up to show they were locked at the wrists and bound together. The Dwarf with the stick remained silent while he inspected the handcuffs and tried a couple of times to pull them apart. He grew angry and Mykal couldn’t keep from giving a smug smile. The one with authority gave out a hearty laugh and touched his head as if to say the bully had been defeated by wits.

  The bully threw their cuffed wrists down in defeat and quickly punched Mykal in the stomach. He doubled over with his breath knocked from him. It shocked Mykal more than it hurt. The leader barked an order. The bully backed up with an angry scowl.

  “Your mother, you ugly little creep,” Mykal fired back since they couldn’t understand him. “That jerk is pissing me off,” he groaned and bent over to hold his stomach.

  The leader raised his voice and pointed to the door. The two others filed out of the door.

  To Doninka’s surprise she found that she had to stay beside Mykal or it would be painful on her delicate wrist. It made her happy to be secured to Mykal. “What is this?” She asked.

  “They’re called handcuffs. Normally we use them to put bad guys hands behind their back so they can’t do anything bad. They’re secured and you can’t break them off. I have a key that will unlock them. If I can find them,” he chuckled. “If I can’t find the keys we’re gonna be stuck like this for good.”

  “That would not be so terrible.” She gave a shy smile.

  “If only my wife could see me now,” he said as both sets of doors closed to lock them in. “I don’t know if I’d be able to explain my way outta being handcuffed to a beautiful woman.”

  She blushed. “You love your wife, do you not?”

  “Yes I do,” he said and sighed with sadness. “I miss her more than words can describe.”

  “Mykal, your wife has a great treasure in you. I hope someday I may find a treasure such as you. You speak of her when the two of you are apart. That says much about your love. I desire that kind of love.”

  “You’ll find it. I was the one who got the great treasure out of the deal.” He smiled and they moved to the bed to sit.

  There were guards posted at each set of doors outside the room. They heard the rumbling noise that made it clear there were many curious people filling the hallway.

  “What will you do if you are not able to return home?”

  “I don’t know. It’d kill me to never see my wife and sons.”

  “If you are never able to leave here to go back to where you are from,” she paused for a moment. “I would like to take the place of your wife.”

  He smiled at her boldness. “I appreciate that, but no one would ever be able to take the place of my wife,” he said. “I think you’re special and I really like you, but my heart is committed to one woman.”

  “You have made me happy saying I am beautiful. No one has told me that except for my father.”

  “You are beautiful. My wife’s beautiful too. Wanna see my wife?” He asked and pulled out his wallet. “Look, here’s my wife and two sons.” He smiled proudly as he handed a photo to her.

  “I do not understand. Is this a painting?”

  He explained photography the way he explained it to Towbar.

  “She is a lovely woman,” Doninka sighed in defeat. “Now I can place a face to your affections.

  “She’s lovelier in real life,” he said while replacing the two rounds he shot the animal with. He put the empty casings in his pocket so as not to leave anything for the Dwarves to find.

  “I would like you to meet my father,” she said to change the subject. “He would like you…”

  CHAPTER TWELVE – Day 14

  1. Wednesday, July 6th 1983

  0309 hours, Prisoner Inside the Mountain.

  Mykal woke up and realized he had been dreaming about Doninka. In his dream she started to remove her clothing and he woke up. He looked at her, then around the room. There was no one in the room besides Doninka and Klacken who still lay on the floor unconscious. Mykal and Doninka were still attached by handcuff. They had fallen asleep on the short bed as they talked for some time. The time on his watch showed it 3:09AM. What did time matter being stuck inside a mountain in a strange world? Why would a sense of time matter for the mole like Dwarven people who never get to see the sunlight?

  Mykal looked at her lying on the bed. Not only was she a very pretty woman with a nice shapely body, but she was willing to give herself to him any time he would desire. The physical act would be great, the emotional connection would be strong after all they have been through. In minutes he could be just like Larry by cheating on his wife, but he’d never be able to undo such an act of betrayal. ‘If I did it just as a physical act I’d have to start lying. Then how strong would my love for Pam really be?’

  He caught himself looking at Doninka’s body lustfully and it took him by surprise. ‘No! I’d never do that to Pam. My desire for Pam is what’s keeping me going. I’m not going to throw it away for a few moments of pleasure. I’d be breaking Doninka’s heart too, cuz I’m not gonna be with her. I can’t do that. How the hell could I even think this stuff in this situation? What the hell is the matter with me? They could kill us any minute.’

  Mykal sat up and wished he could take a cold shower to clear his head. He feared the little people were working on their punishment for invading their underground lair and for killing the strange two headed creature. He gave Doninka a fake smile when she stirred and woke from her sleep. He didn’t want her to have any idea of the selfish stupid thoughts that had gone through his mind. He also didn’t want to worry her about their present situation. He feared they would probably die some time during the day at the hands of the Dwarves.

  “Have they returned?” She whispered.

  “I just woke up so I’m not really sure.”

  A weak moan came from the mouth of Klacken. “Ohhhh, my leg. Please remove the rock from my leg,” he begged in quiet misery.

  Mykal and Doninka rushed to his side and pulled each other, thus they inflicted pain to each other’s wrists from the handcuffs. Doninka patted the back of Klacken’s head to let him know they were there. Mykal examined the open wound of the severed leg. It was covered in filth and dirt. In the raw lighting Mykal couldn’t tell if Klacken’s leg turned black due to infection or if it was just the crusty dried blood. Mykal watched Klacken’s leg twitch with every throb of pain.

  “Oh man,” he sighed with pity to Doninka. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do. I don’t know
if he’s gonna make it,” he whispered. “The poor guy needs help bad.”

  Suddenly the doors burst open and several of the small bearded men rushed in. The first four were armed with crossbows and the quarrels were pointed at Mykal and Doninka. Others entered were armed with battle axes, swords and war hammers at the ready. The bully followed in behind them. He tapped his stick onto his open palm. Mykal watched for the one who had authority over the bully, but he didn’t enter the room. Mykal didn’t like how things looked for them.

  Mykal and Doninka stood to their feet and put their hands into the air to show they surrendered and would be submissive. The bully rushed over and punched Mykal in the stomach which forced him to double over and drop to his knees. Mykal grabbed for the pain to his gut and the bully pounded Mykal’s exposed back with his powerful forearm. The blow sent him to the floor easily. Doninka in turn had been yanked down with him. When she had been pulled down it made it easy for the bully to whack her exposed leg with his stick. Doninka screamed which spurred the bully to yell at her.

  The bully’s strength startled Mykal, but he jumped up at Doninka’s scream with the intent of ending this abuse once and for all. When he jumped up he jerked Doninka’s arm and bruised her dainty wrist. Restrained by her cry of pain he drew back and didn’t pull his pistol to shoot the bully as he intended. He realized his foolish pride would have killed them both. There were far too many of them and the crossbow bolts would have nailed him before he killed them all.

  The bully looked at Mykal as if he waited for him to strike back. Mykal controlled his emotions and held himself in check. Mykal listened to the bully rant while he helped Doninka to her feet. The bully complained to his men and pointed to Mykal. Again Mykal thought he heard the word “Soso”.