by Dave Hazel
“Alright, that’s fine. I don’t wanna get way off track. But you do think that God could have brought us here?”
“It’s possible. I have to believe that, because nothing is too big for God and if He didn’t want us to be here, He would have never allowed us to go into the green fog. To make a long story short, I think I’m here to be a missionary to share the Gospel with these people. At least, for however long I’m here.”
“But these people never heard of the Gospel stuff you’re talking about,” Mykal said and looked confused.
“Yes, but you could say the same thing about the unreached people groups in our world. God uses us to take the Gospel message to those people groups. I feel it’s the same thing here. I don’t know if you remember, Myk, but the day we got lost, before we left the base, I came up to you and I told you I felt that God wanted me to support you. Do you remember?”
“I remember. Honestly I thought you were kinda crazy.”
“Well, this may sound even stranger to you, but during my prayer time, the night before, I felt God was trying to tell me to trust in Him because something was going to happen. Then I really believe God told me to support you in whatever was to happen. Why? I really didn’t know why. But if we wouldn’t have followed you, in teaming up with Towbar, then we’d all probably be dead right now. Either the Sosos would have killed us off or we would have all starved to death. God knew all this was going to happen and it wasn’t a surprise to God. As I’ve been praying about it, I really think I’m supposed to be here to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to this lost world.”
“Look Ski, I gotta tell ya, this is some crazy shit. Oh I’m sorry. I meant to say stuff,” Mykal quickly caught himself.
“I appreciate your apology,” Ski said. “I’m not offended. I accept you for the person you are. But I think these people are ready to hear the truth about the One and only True Creator of our worlds.”
“Okay, that’s fine. What I really came here to ask you is, because I know you know your God stuff. Is it possible,” he paused because he knew his question was going to sound bizarre. “Is it possible that I’m dead?” Mykal asked. His face expressed uncertainty and desperation. “I know it sounds crazy, but--”
“Mykal, you have to understand that I base everything on what the Bible says,” Ski said and didn’t flinch. “I believe the Bible is the written Word of God and I’ll stake my life on it.”
“Okay, okay, but is it possible that I’m dead and I’m like a ghost or a zombie waiting to drop?”
“No, not at all. I believe that you could be spiritually dead, or rather, not spiritually alive. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ then you’re not spiritually alive, but you can change that right now.”
“Look Ski, I need to know, cuz with all this strange stuff of different worlds, me being hit with a death arrow that no one ever survives, is it possible that I’m dead? But waiting to--”
“No! Not at all,” he responded to Mykal’s desperation with a strong confidence. “I’m talking to you. You’re not a zombie, ghost, or undead being in a body. In the Bible it tells us in Hebrews 9:27 ‘It is appointed unto man to die once and then the judgment.’ There’s no lingering around as ghosts. After we die we either go to heaven or hell. There’s no waiting, there’s no purgatory, no earning our wings so to speak, and so on.”
“And that’s in the Bible?” Mykal asked as if there had been a tremendous weight lifted from his shoulders.
“Yes. You are not dead. I’m looking right at you,” Ski said. “And we’re communicating. Is there any particular reason why you’re asking me this? I can see you’re somewhat stressed out by something.”
“No. Well, keep this between you and me. When Towbar saved my life from the poison, he said I actually died. He’s afraid that if I make it back to our world that I’ll really be dead,” he answered. “No one can survive death arrow poison.”
“Myk, please don’t take this the wrong way, because I’d never say anything bad about Towbar. He’s been super helpful to us and we owe him a lot. But learning of their background, they have a lot of superstitious fears tied to false religious beliefs. How many times have we heard of people dying on the operating table, but coming out alive? You’re alive cuz Almighty God says so!”
“Alright, thanks a lot Ski. You’ve been a big help to me.”
“Do you want me to clarify being spiritually dead versus being spiritually alive? I can help you get your life right.”
“I really appreciate it, Ski, but right now I just have a lot of things I need to take care of.”
“Alright, I won’t push. I’m here if you need me,” Ski said and turned to re-join Gary Rogers and Mark Dickerson.
“Hey Myk.” Rich ran up to him. “We can’t take any of the vehicles. There’s not enough gas to take a chance. I don’t think we’ll make it back. We’ll have to go on horseback if we go.”
“Did you tell Black and Putman?”
“Oh yeah,” Rich laughed. “At first they were saying they didn’t really wanna go, but I said Jake said it’s an order cuz they are the only ones who know where Kurt and Boris are at. And I said they’re going even if we have to walk.”
“Good, after we find their bodies we’re gonna come back and have a heart-to-heart with Edwards.”
“I hear ya Sarge,” Rich smiled with a big toothy smile.
“Go tell Larry and Roy Jr. to get ready,” Mykal said and walked back to Towbar’s location. He felt relieved after talking with Ski. He knew he couldn’t really be dead. He couldn’t be angry or upset with Towbar because Towbar only told Mykal what he thought he knew. Nothing was going to stop him from going home to be with his wife and two boys.
2.
Mykal’s thoughts were interrupted by Larry’s cheerful voice calling to him. “Whadda ya so happy about?” Mykal asked. Gloom surrounded Mykal because of all the close friends he lost like Denny, Boris, Kurt and Sam. He couldn’t help but feel sorrow for all those who died and who had families back home.
“I finally get to get outta the Pass for a little bit,” Larry said as he approached Mykal with a couple of horses. “These damn mountains feel like they’re closing in on me.”
“Yeah, but these mountains are what is keeping us safe from the Sosos sneaking in around us.” He paused when sadness struck. “You should have seen the first time Boris rode one of these.”
“I remember you, Sam and Boris laughing about it after you guys came from the mountain.” Larry smirked. “But listen, I’m happy cuz I just gotta get outta here for a little bit. Hey look at that,” Larry nodded to Mousy Black and Shit Eater Putman. Edwards conversed with them as they made their way to the rendezvous point. “He’s probably telling them how to haul ass.”
They watched as Edwards patted them both on the shoulder and turned away before he had to come in contact with Mykal and Towbar. “I wonder what he told them.”
“Probably something to screw us over,” Larry chuckled.
“Hey guys, thanks for coming along,” Mykal greeted them and got the impression they didn’t want to be there. “The main thing I want to do is have you guys show us where the Sosos killed Boris and Kurt. The four of them had a lot of ammo. Plus I wanna get their dog tags if we can.”
“Sure,” Black replied. They gave each other an odd look.
“Is there something wrong?” Mykal asked just as Towbar and three of his soldiers approached them. Mykal guessed it had to do with Black out ranking him, yet Mykal acting as leader.
“It just feels we’re being forced to go,” Putman replied.
“You guys were the last ones with them and if anyone would know where to find their bodies, it would be you guys,” he replied calmly though inside he wanted to explode. At just the thought of them balking, Mykal wanted to pull his revolver and exact revenge here and now. He fought to remain calm.
3.
The group of ten departed the Pass and stayed close to the mountain edge. They rode in single file.
One of Towbar’s men led as the point man, Towbar, Mykal, Larry, Roy Jr., a second soldier, SSgt Mousy Black, Shit Eater Putman, Rich, and the third of Towbar’s Soldiers. They hoped Sosos wouldn’t notice so they wouldn’t have to start off on a hard run.
The green grass to the north looked dark with thousands upon thousands of Sosos waiting to go to war. All the colors of their clothing, weapons, supplies and banners seemed to be dark ominous colors. They were prepared for the game of death.
Hours later they were still traveling west along the foot of the mountain. After slight bickering between Black and Putman they turned north. A few hours later they reached the base of the hills. They rode in between hills and they traveled in silence. Signs all around them pointed to Sosos having been in the area. They didn’t know if Sosos were on the other side of either hill, but they weren’t going to look for fear of being detected. Vigilance was on high. They watched and listened for anything that would alert them to Sosos in the immediate area.
At the rate of travel they were moving Mykal felt it would take two or three days to find the crashed helicopter. His first priority was to find the remains of his friends. He wondered how he would react upon finding them. Horrible images bombarded his mind. He knew how Sosos deal with their foes. He thought back to the shock of first discovering the mutilated bodies of Sommer and Taylor a month ago. Every time he thought of it in relation to his friends his breathing increased and his eyes welled up.
Every so often Mykal asked Mousy Black if they were even traveling in the right direction. He got the impression Black and Putman were leading them on a wild goose chase. They didn’t seem to care where they were going. Mykal grew frustrated at their seemingly lack of concern. Increasingly his anger rose. He wondered if this was what Edwards told them prior to departing.
“I think we shoulda brought Knox with us,” Mykal whispered to Larry. “I think these idiots are just screwing with us.”
Larry shook his head in disgust. “I agree. They don’t seem to know their asses from a hole in the ground. Morons! I’ll bet Edwards told them not to show us where they are.”
“That’s what I thought too. It sounds like that friggin--”
Suddenly several loud gun shots cut Larry’s words short. “That’s for Kurt and Boris,” Rich yelled over Putman’s screams.
Mykal turned immediately to see a crazed look on Rich’s face. Rich pointed his rifle and both Black and Putman had been blown from their horses. The shocking break in silence stunned them. Mykal couldn’t believe Rich attacked the guides.
Mousy Black took two or three shots to the head. He laid dead, face first in the grass where he fell. A large piece of flesh and cheek bone rested two feet from his head. Black never knew what hit him.
Putman took a round to his throat and one to the back of his shoulder. He lay on his back he tried to hold the fountain of red shooting from his neck. Putman tried to call for help but only made a gurgling sound. With a red hand on his throat he reached the other hand out to Roy Jr. begging for help. Putman tried to get to his feet.
Rich jumped off his horse and ran to Putman’s side. Rich pointed his rifle into Putman’s face despite the protest of the others. Rich squeezed the trigger twice before anyone could stop him. “That’s for Sam and Stinky Feet,” he yelled.
“What the hell did you do?” Mykal shouted now that silence had been broken. Putman had clearly been shot dead. “How are we gonna find their remains you friggin idiot?”
“We weren’t gonna find them anyway, Myk,” Rich replied and chuckled triumphantly. “Dem boys was just jerkin’ us around. You couldn’t see dat? Now we can go back. I didn’t really wanna go on some long ass trip anyway.”
“No, damn it! I wanted to find them! Now we’ll never find them you stupid ass.” Mykal sounded upset more than angry.
“If you didn’t wanna come then why did you?” Larry yelled.
“Just to kill dem two knobs. Dem boys had it coming to ‘em an’ now dem boys got it,” he laughed. No one else saw his humor.
“That was a stupid friggin thing to do,” Mykal yelled.
“C’mon Myk, don’t be mad. I didn’t think you’d mind. I didn’t think it would make much difference,” he said and tried to justify his actions.
“The noise is dangerous for us,” Towbar spoke angrily.
“Not only did you screw our plans to find their remains, but now we can’t even go looking for the helicopter. We’re probably gonna have every damn Soso breathin’ down our necks in no time. You friggin screwed up Rich. I’m pissed off at you.”
“We should be quick to return to the Pass,” Towbar said and turned his horse in the opposite direction. He looked angry.
“Damn it Rich, why couldn’t you wait?” Mykal’s words left his mouth carrying the ache inside him. He painfully wanted to find the remains of his closest friends. Now, he would never have closure. Their loss hurt more knowing he’d never find them.
“Hey dipshit,” Larry turned on Rich. “Get their friggin ammo and let’s get outta here,” he ordered and turned his horse to join Mykal and Towbar and Roy Jr.
The three soldiers joined Rich to inspect the two bodies. They found it hard to grasp the power the thunder sticks were capable of. Rich pointed to the wounds as if showing off a deer kill. The three soldiers were amazed at the damage the strange weapons inflicted.
“Between the two of them I got four mags,” he announced as he and the three soldiers climbed back onto their horses. “C’mon guys, don’t be mad at me,” Rich begged but kept laughing. “Just think, really, I did us a favor. Now all we gotta do is take care of that yellow ass coward Edwards.”
No one answered him. They continued riding slowly through a narrow valley between two steep hills.
“C’mon guys, we really didn’t wanna go on a long journey to maybe come up empty handed.”
“Then you shouldn’t have come,” Mykal snapped back without looking at Rich. “Cuz we really needed their ammo.” Mykal fumed angrily at Rich’s selfishness more so than the act of murder. He hated the idea of going back to the real world and not having ID or dog tags to give their parents. He ached with sadness now that he could never say good-bye to his two best friend’s remains.
“Okay, I get it,” Rich conceded. “We’ll try in a couple of days. We’ll bring Knox. That ‘ol boy should know where to go.”
“By then it could be too late,” Roy Jr. broke his silence. “I know you guys didn’t like them all that much, but to me, Putman wasn’t a bad guy. I actually liked Putman. I still can’t get over that trick you guys pulled on him with the chocolate cake.” Roy Jr. shook his head with disgust.
Roy Jr.’s words pierced Mykal’s heart. He felt a tremendous amount of guilt. He remembered good times he had with Putman back on Minot Air Force Base and out at the sites in the missile field. Putman really wasn’t a bad guy. The only crime Putman and Black were guilty of is they were afraid to go against Edwards and sided with him on everything. It was Rich who had a problem with them and hated them.
Emotionally Mykal wanted to give up. Rich stooped to murder their own people because they disliked and hated each other. A voice from the past tormented him. “Karma’s a bitch dude, and you’ll get yours.” Mykal wondered if he’d be trapped in Towbar’s world as punishment from God. ‘Maybe I really don’t deserve to ever see my family again. No! Rich killed them! Not us.’
While working through his thoughts, he realized emotions over the loss of his friends were taking a heavy toll. Suddenly something whizzed by his face. Before he turned to see what it was, he heard something hit his horse. The horse bolted upright on its hind legs and threw Mykal backward. While being slammed to the ground he thought he heard one of Towbar’s soldiers yell out in pain. The sound seemed to stop when his head hit the ground.
“Sosos!” Larry yelled while Mykal fell back off his horse.
Mykal hit the ground hard and felt dazed. The wind had been knocked from him resulting in shortness of breath. The distant sou
nd of the Soso war cries jolted his brain into action. He couldn’t force his breathing back to normal yet, but he knew great danger to be at hand. He tried to force himself up, but the pain surprised him.
He saw hundreds of Sosos cresting the hill on their left side. They rushed down the hill at them angrily. The Sosos shook their weapons above their heads violently making their intentions clear. There would be no negotiating with them.
Mykal dove to retrieve his rifle just as another volley of arrows fired. All missed. His horse lay on its side kicking its legs violently. Mykal ran to one of the two free horses and he saw one of Towbar’s soldiers had been struck. The arrow protruded from his thigh. Larry held the free horse in place while Mykal climbed onto it. Towbar reached down and lifted Mykal by his arm to the horse like an adult with a little child.
Gun shots rang out. Rich and Roy Jr. shot any of the Sosos who posed a threat. When all eight were mounted Towbar gave the command and they rode off swiftly. In a matter of moments the Sosos were far enough behind them to no longer be a threat to them. Now they weren’t sure what to expect for the remainder of their journey to the Pass.
“Oh man, that was crazy,” Larry sighed now that they were safely away. “I almost got hit with one of those damn arrows. That was too close.”
“One shot by my face and another hit my horse,” Mykal said. “The poor thing was still kicking.”
“The Sosos will make sure your beast is dead,” Towbar relayed with no emotion. “When we get away from the hills we will look at your leg,” Towbar yelled back to his wounded soldier without turning his head.
Though no one spoke it, everyone knew the wounded soldier was living on borrowed time. New to the ranks, this was the soldier’s first encounter with Sosos. His blood loss seemed minimal but he moaned his tremendous pain. He voiced his fear of dying. His continuous moaning and groaning became annoying, but everyone understood and felt bad for the new, young, soldier.
