37 Days In A Strange World

by Dave Hazel

  “Something happened with the Sosos and Towbar’s soldiers took off on horseback outside the Pass,” Larry said. “We didn’t know what was going on or why. They only left a small number of Towbar’s soldiers here.”

  “And dem lil mountain dudes didn’t get down here yet,” Rich’s southern accent sounded comical when he spoke of the Dwarven people. “We were kicked back takin’ it easy.”

  “Then outta nowhere them Soso bastards attacked us,” Larry resumed the story. “No one noticed it until they were almost on top of us. There were thousands of them. Everyone’s low on ammo to begin with. So we started shooting away like crazy to save our asses, but they just kept pouring in on us. I honestly thought everyone of us was gonna get killed. And wouldn’t you know it, that damn idiot Kurt wasted two mags on full auto,” Larry chuckled sadly. “So I literally kicked him in the ass and I told him if he didn’t stop I’d take his rifle and ammo away.”

  “That friggin Kurt,” Mykal said and gave a sad laugh. “So Boris and Kurt were here when the Sosos attacked?”

  “Yeah,” Jake replied. “The Sosos attacked the day after you guys left for the Great Walled City. They didn’t leave for the ammo till a little more than a week later. They talked about the extra ammo at the helicopter after that attack, but no one really wanted to go get it. When the Sosos kept building up, everyone thought maybe it’d be a good idea to try and get that ammo.”

  “See I thought the Dwarves were supposed to be down here right after we left,” Mykal sighed.

  “Krink told us they got tied up with something inside the mountain,” Jake replied. “When the attack took place the little people come flooding out of the mountain and they kicked ass on the Sosos. The Sosos didn’t know what hit them. But if the little people wouldn’t have come out we would’ve all been killed. That’s a fact.”

  “You wouldn’t believe the look on the Sosos faces when they saw the Dwarves,” Larry laughed. “They didn’t know what hit ‘em. They all looked like they shit their pants.”

  “While dem 'lil dudes was serving up a big ol’ ass whooping on the Sosos,” Rich laughed. “Towbar’s soldiers came ridin’ back into the Pass and beat the tar outta dem boys from behind. Towbar’s cavalry came to the rescue just like in dem old western movies. I almost got killed a couple of times in dat battle.”

  “Did any of our people get killed?”

  “Overall we took some casualties. The Dwarves and Towbar’s people lost a bunch of people, but it was all small compared to what they did to the Sosos,” Larry said.

  “Eric Sanders got killed,” Rich said. “He was just one of them little people with that little man attitude. Black Jones and Kenny Hart got killed too.”

  “Man, all three of them were from Dum Shit Dobson’s squad.”

  “Then two of Light’s people got killed,” Larry recounted. “What was his name? Bradford? That guy from your home town, he got killed. And Flemour finally died from his injuries.”

  “Yeah, Bradford, what a friggin idiot. I don’t care what happened to him after all the grief he gave me back home cuz my cousin killed his half-brother. I know I shouldn’t be like that but you wouldn’t believe all the nonsense he had thrown my way all those years ago. I didn’t think Flemour was gonna last long,” Mykal sighed and shook his head. “That poor guy was another one who ended up dying cuz of that spineless jerk Edwards. If Edwards wouldn’t have hid in the pit when the Sosos attacked he might have been able to fight off the Sosos and Light and Flemour could still both be alive.”

  “Oh yeah, Clark got killed too,” Jake remembered.

  “Yeah that’s right,” Larry chuckled. “Old bald headed Clark the Crew information center. Or as some people say, the ‘Gossip Girl’ cuz he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.”

  “Yeah, his bald head always stuck out like a sore thumb,” Mykal said and didn’t mean any disrespect by it. “He wasn’t a bad guy. That’s a shame guys like him get killed but those other low life scumbags keep getting by.”

  “They messed Clark up,” Larry said and shook his head. “I’m still shocked by what I saw. Some Soso must have thought his bald head was a nice target because there was honestly nothing left of his head. They bashed his head away to nothing.”

  “Rich, go get Mousy Black and Shit Eater Putman. I’m gonna go see if Towbar wants to come with us. I’m gonna go try to get that ammo, but also, I wanna see if we can find Kurt and Boris’s bodies. We’re gonna need their ammo too, but hopefully we can get their dog tags,” he stopped because his heart sank when he said those words.

  “I’ll be glad to go tell them,” Rich smiled.

  “If they give you any grief about coming with us,” Larry inserted. “Tell them Jake said it’s an order.”

  “Not a problem Sarge,” Rich laughed with a mock salute.

  “So what did you find out in that city?” Larry asked as he, Mykal and Jake walked to their normal camp location.

  “Well, I found out it was definitely the green fog that brought us here. And the old man who told me this also told me…” Mykal explained to them all he knew about the green fog and everything Nidious briefed him on.

  “You mean to say that you guys were only in that city for a day? I thought you guys were living it up for about a week there. I honestly thought you were enjoying the good life with that Doninka chick and maybe was having second thoughts about coming back here.”

  “No. It was a friggin nine day hard ass ride to get to Beramus. I was lucky I got to sleep for a couple of hours. Have any of you guys ever rode a friggin horse for nine days straight. It’s literally a pain in the ass. I think I got calluses on my butt right now,” he expressed amusement at his own suffering. “I know for several days I had some blisters.”

  “Myk,” Jake’s tone turned serious. “How much ammo do you have?”

  “Why?” He started to laugh because he knew he had far more than everyone else.

  “I’m just curious. We’re all real low and I was wondering if you could share some. There are some guys who don’t have any ammo at all. Me, I only have one magazine left. Mr. Dosch gave me Kurt’s .357 cuz they have a bunch of rifles with a lot of ammo for them. He said he didn’t really need the pistol. I have forty-four rounds for the pistol. And one thirty round magazine left and that’s it.”

  “Rich has four mags left,” Larry said. “I have five. I also have about twenty rounds for the .45 Boris let me hold onto.”

  “I’ll tell you guys how much I got,” he snickered. “But don’t you breathe a word of it to anyone. I don’t want everyone and their brother coming around beggin’ me for ammo,” he said and made a quick count through his ammo pouches. “I have seventeen magazines and fifty-seven rounds for the pistol.”

  “How’d you get so much?” Jake questioned with surprise. “I know you have been doing a whole lot more shooting than I have, and I have been shooting my ass off.”

  “Cuz while everyone ran around helping the wounded or doing whatever they did after the battle, I went around taking ammo from the dead.” He handed Jake three magazines.

  “Well, if that green fog is the only way home, I wish it would hurry up and get here,” Larry sighed as he stared out to the opening of the Pass. “We’re low on ammo and something big is gonna go down soon. There’s so damned many Sosos out there that I don’t wanna be caught in the middle of it when the shit hits the fan. Especially being low on ammo.”

  “I thought you were talking about staying here even if we found our way home. What, you changed your mind already?” Mykal teased Larry, but Larry didn’t respond. “Well, hey, I know what you mean. I’ll be back shortly. I’m gonna see if Towbar wants to come with us.”

  “Hey Myk,” Roy Dosch called out to him. His two sons were standing with him by the yellow station wagon. “I see you finally decided to come back to us.” The older man smiled.

  “Yeah, and hey, I found out some information that should be able to help us get home. We just gotta wait for the right time. I’ll be back
shortly,” he said as he continued to walk.

  “Oh that’s great,” Karen Kraft said and smiled happily. She hugged her youngest son Brian. “How long do you think we’ll have to wait? Do you know?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll explain everything to all of you when I get back. I gotta go take care of something.”

  “I take it you heard about Kurt, Boris, Sam and Stinky Feet?” Roy asked as Mykal continued to walk away.

  “Yeah, I just can’t get over it. I wish I woulda been here. We’re gonna take a couple of guys and see if we can find their bodies and hopefully the crashed helicopter too.”

  “Still gonna try to get that ammo?” Randy asked.

  “Yeah, we need it pretty bad. “If we can find their bodies, they had a bunch of ammo on them.”

  “I’m not saying you shouldn’t go Myk,” Roy offered. “But I really don’t think you’ll ever find that helicopter from here. There’s just too many Sosos out there. If you do happen to find it and get that ammo, you’ll have to worry about making it back here. It sounds like a lot of risk for little in return.”

  “I hear ya Roy, but I really wanna find their bodies,” he said but couldn’t mention their names. “I wanna get their dog tags if I can, and it would be great to get their ammo too.”

  “Do you need anyone to come along?” Roy Jr. asked.

  “Sure. I’m not sure how many will be going. So far it’s just me, Larry, Rich and hopefully Towbar.”

  “Do you mind if I come along?” Roy Jr. asked. “I’m bored just sitting around waiting in the Pass. I feel like a prisoner and the boredom is driving me crazy.”

  “Sure. I’ll be back in a little bit,” Mykal spoke as he walked backward. “I gotta go find Towbar.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” Roy Jr. replied and then argued with his father who said he shouldn’t go on such a risky mission. Roy Sr. conceded Roy Jr. is a grown man and able to make his own choice.

  “Hey Towbar,” Mykal called out to the giant who stood in the presence of his generals and leaders of the Dwarven army.

  “Mykal my friend, come,” Towbar waved for him to join the group. “I trust you have all met my friend Mykal,” he introduced him to the group of his distinguished leaders. “It is because of Mykal and his people that we have not lost the Pass to the Sosos. We are all indebted to him,” he said to those leaders.

  Mykal started to blush. He didn’t want to argue with Towbar because that would make him look unappreciative for the kind words. “Thanks Towbar, I really appreciate it.”

  “This he who defeat Metz so easy?” One of the new Dwarven translators asked in the common tongue.

  “Yes.” Krink nodded and smiled at Mykal. “Good you back.”

  “Norg wasn’t too happy about all the horseback riding,” he snickered. “So it’s a good thing you didn’t go with us. Hey, do you still have my, what are they called, Quecktarbs?”

  “Yes. Correct. Quecktarbs,” Krink nodded and tugged gently on his thick beard. “We have waiting. You get when ready.”

  “Good, I’ll get them soon. Towbar, can I speak to you alone for a few moments?”

  “You men go about your business, and ensure the soldiers are prepared. I sense the Sosos may try to take the Pass soon.”

  They walked away from the others. “Did you hear about Boris and Kurt?” When he spoke those words a wave of emotion rolled over him and he almost broke down. He stopped himself to remain strong in front of the giant.

  “Yes I did and I am saddened by it. I understand that Sam and the one with the stinky feet also perished.”

  “Yeah, but I found out it was because that coward Edwards and his buddies left them there to die. They could have saved them but they deliberately let the Sosos get them.”

  “Ah, this I did not know. This is grave news indeed. It does not surprise me concerning Edwards. He is a terrible leader of fine men.”

  “Well look, what I came over here for is me and a couple of other guys are gonna try to find the ammo they were after. Plus I wanna see if we can find their bodies so I could get their ammo and their identification tags to take back home. I was wondering if you would wanna come with us? But if you’re too busy I understand.”

  “Yes, I will go with you my friend. This will give me an opportunity to scout out the Soso forces.” Towbar paused, a troubled look washed over his tight face. “For the past three days of our travel there has been something on my mind I have been meaning to speak to you about. You may not like this.”

  “What is it?”

  “I am fearful for you returning to your home, my friend.”

  “What? Why? It’s all I’m living for.” He gave way to shock.

  “You do remember when I took you into the mountains and I saved your life?”

  “Yeah. How the hell could I ever forget that?”

  “Do you remember that I had to cut your body open and drain the poison from you?”

  “Yeah, kinda. Why?” Shock gave way to apprehension. “Whadda ya getting at Towbar?”

  “I fear you may not be able to return to your world.”

  “Why? Nidious said he--” Apprehension gave way to concern.

  “It has nothing to do with the act of going back to your world,” Towbar stopped him with his large hand held up.

  “Whadda ya talking about?” Concern gave way to distress.

  “My friend, do not be angry. I only wish for you to know the truth. You went beyond the wall of sleep that day. You died in my arms. I did my best to save your life. However you died,” the giant said flatly, staring directly into his eyes so Mykal understood him. “You died up there on the mountain.”

  “What? Is this some kinda joke?” Mykal asked when distress gave way to irritation. He knew a punch line wouldn’t come because Towbar doesn’t tell jokes or pull pranks. “What the hell are you saying?”

  “My friend, it hurts me to say this, but you are dead.”

  “What, I’m a friggin zombie?” Irritation gave way to anger.

  “My friend, your breathing stopped. Your heartbeat stopped. I still poured my blood into you and then I breathed my breath into you. I told you my blood is magical. I believe the only reason you are alive now is because of magic. So my fear is if you go back to your world and we are separated, your body will die. I also believe that when I die that you too will die.”

  “What the hell kinda shit is this?” Mykal raised his voice.

  “This has been going through my mind for the past three days. I’ve tried to think this through to make sense of it. This is the only logical conclusion I am able to come to.”

  “Are you telling me that I’ll never see my wife and kids again?” He asked in anger, but anger gave way to fear.

  “I do not know for sure my friend. Before you rush to your world I wanted you to be aware of this. When Nidious arrives here we must bring this before him to get his perspective.”

  “Wait a minute.” Mykal shook his head. “This doesn’t make any sense. Not that I’m doubting you, but I’m alive Towbar,” he disagreed vehemently. “I know this is me. My thoughts, emotions, my ideas, it’s all me. I’m not a friggin lifeless zombie. I get hungry and thirsty, I feel pain.” Fear gave way to denial.

  “My friend, my intention is not to hurt you, but to inform you. Understand, with my blood in you, you will live for a very long time. My fear is being separated by different worlds.”

  “No! Towbar, I gotta go home. If I’m gonna die, then I’m gonna die. If I can’t get back to my wife and kids, than I don’t wanna go on living anyway. I’d rather be dead than be separated from them for good. Look, I’m gonna get some people together,” he said and turned away from Towbar and started to walk.

  “Do not be angry my friend.”

  “I’m not angry. I just feel like I can’t win for losing around here. Mentally, it’s a friggin non-stop battle here.”

  “I will gather a few soldiers and join you,” Towbar called out as Mykal walked off but Mykal didn’t respond.


  ‘I can’t be dead,’ Mykal thought. Denial gave way to doubt. ‘I still feel pain. I get hungry, thirsty and tired just like everyone else. Why the hell would he say something like that to me?’ Doubt gave way to panic. ‘Maybe he just thinks I’m dead. What the hell am I thinking? This is crazy! All my friends are gettin killed and now he tells me I’m dead.’ He shook his head. “I can’t be dead,” he said aloud. He didn’t realize there were people standing near him who heard him. Panic gave way to hopelessness.

  “What was that Myk?” Ski asked. Ski stood with Gary Rogers and Mark Dickerson. Ski and Mark were explaining to Gary the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ for the salvation of his soul.

  “Huh? Just the friggin person I need to see,” he pointed a finger in Ski’s face. He couldn’t believe his luck to have Ski, the expert on religion standing there when he needed him. “Come here I really need to talk to you,” Mykal said and walked away. He didn’t want the others to hear for fear they would think he sounded crazy.

  “What’s up Myk?” Ski looked as if he could read the fractured emotions on Mykal’s face. “Did you just find out about Kurt, Boris, Sam and Smith?”

  “Yeah, but that’s not what I need to talk to you about,” he said as they continued to walk so they would be farther away from everyone. “I need you to answer a couple of religious questions for me, okay?”

  “Sure, what can I help you with?” Ski came to life.

  “Let me back it up, cuz I’m gonna ask you a few questions and they may seem off the wall, but just bear with me. First of all, Towbar seems to think we were sent here by some gods to help with his war. What do you think about that?”

  “Well Myk, first let me make something perfectly clear, there is only one God. And that is the God of the Bible.”

  “So does God even know about this place since we’re in a different world?” Mykal asked.

  “Yes. However it happened that we ended up in this strange world, God knows about it and I still believe He is in total control of our lives. Just because we never heard of this world before doesn’t mean that it’s not real. I mean take a look, we’re here. I have to believe this is part of God’s plan, and for whatever reason we’re here. God knew about this place because everything in existence was created by God.”