by Dave Hazel
William had an odd look stretch across his face as if an idea formed in his mind. “I’ll stay behind too,” William said to everyone’s surprise.
“What?” Mykal looked at William to make sure he heard correctly. “I said for people to stay behind.”
“I heard you,” William lowered his head. “I want to redeem myself after what you said. I would like an opportunity to make things right with you and Boris.”
“Sure, I’m cool with that,” Boris nodded, winked and raised his hand for William to give him a high five. “I’m happy as all hell that we might be able to get out of here.”
There was a sudden hushed murmur. Everyone found it hard to believe that William would volunteer to stay behind and that he would stay behind with Boris.
“Would anyone else like to--”
“No, we’ll be fine,” William stopped Mykal from adding to their post. “I don’t expect we’ll be encountering the Goblins.”
“Now make sure you understand what we’re asking,” Diaz stepped forward. “Your lives could be at grave risk here. If they get through the door we don’t want you to go into the secret passage and give away our position.”
“I understand that,” William said and nodded confidently as if he wanted all the men to see the sacrifice he just made. “I want to make my name right,” he added and would not look up. “After thinking over your harsh rebuke, I realize I have stepped over the line and I need to clear my name if I never do anything else,” he said with deep humility.
“Mykal,” Leeno called out from the door. “The one you named Cat-man is calling. He says he would like to receive the gifts we have to offer them.”
“What a greedy little bastard,” Mykal chuckled. “He’s planning on killing us, but he wants us to give him gifts.”
“Whadda ya gonna do Myk?” Jake asked. “What can we give them?”
“We’re gonna give them a gift. Gimme some hand grenades. I want five of them,” Mykal said and most of the men started to laugh. “Someone hand me one as well.”
Starling and Blair reappeared from the secret passage way. “Mykal, it looks safe. As far as we traveled there was no indication that the Goblins would know the passage exists,” Starling explained. “The owner of this labyrinth must have wanted a secret kept from the foul evil creatures. We do not know how far it extends or where it leads to.”
“It would appear there must be an exit from this underground complex,” Blair added.
“Good, after we give them a little surprise we’ll head out. Leeno, tell Cat-man to have six of his people come to the door and to hold their hands open. Tell them they have to hold onto our gift tightly so they don’t drop them. All you men who pulled out a grenade, yes, I want you to pull the pin,” Mykal said and many started to laugh. “I want you to place it in the Goblin’s hand and make sure they hold the spoon down so it doesn’t go off until we close the door,” Mykal said and laughed with his men. “I know I shouldn’t be laughing, but if this wasn’t so friggin serious, this would be a great prank,” he added and others continued to laugh with him. Towbar, the Elves, Nordad and his men didn’t understand. They didn’t see the humor.
“Myk, do you think we can trust them when we open the door?” Jake asked and his face showed concern.
“Yeah, that greedy little Cat-man wants the valuable goods we’re gonna give him,” he continued to laugh. “I can’t help it guys, I can just imagine the look on their faces when the grenades go off.”
“Mykal, Cat-man has put his people at the door,” Leeno announced. “Do you think it is wise to put yourself at risk?”
“I think it’ll be alright. Grenades ready? Pull the pin and obviously hold the spoon in place. Let me make sure I’m clear on this, once the spoon flies off the grenade will explode in three seconds, am I right?”
“That is correct,” Diaz answered with a frown on his face.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing Myk. I just, I, I just don’t like the idea of toying with them because they already want to kill us,” Diaz said.
“It’ll be alright,” Mykal laughed. Boris was laughing wildly with him as if they were pulling a harmless prank on a friend. “Once we put the grenade in their hand, make sure they wrap their hands around it to hold the spoon in place. You know when they walk away one of them is going to look at it, the spoon will fly off and three seconds later, ka-boom,” he laughed wildly. “Then the others will have the shit scared outta them so they’ll drop their grenades and there will be more explosions.”
“I wish we had a window to watch,” Boris laughed between gasps of air. “You know, if Cat-man survives this, he is gonna be pissssssssed off.”
Many others were laughing just as raucously. Nordad smiled at their expression of humor, but didn’t understand what the joke was. The Elves saw no humor in the situation because they understood the danger of toying with the evil Goblins.
“Why don’t they think it’s funny?” Wickey cackled looking at the Elves. “Are we just sick and crazy?”
“No, we’re not sick,” Mykal quickly replied. “We grew up on Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and the Three Stooges,” Mykal snorted. “We understand slapstick comedy, but they’ve never seen it.”
“Or it could be we’ve become a sick race of people,” Diaz replied. He felt his Christian response must be different. “I don’t have an issue with killing for self-defense and war is self-defense, but I can’t laugh and have fun at the expense of those I know I’m going to kill. That’s what the Romans did when they fed Christians to lions.”
Mykal ignored Diaz’s words and moved to the door. He pulled the pin from the grenade and kept his index finger wrapped tightly around the ring, just in case he had to put the pin back. “Open it slowly.”
“Are you sure about this?” Jake asked and took a couple of steps back. “What if the Goblin drops it?”
Mykal quickly looked behind the Goblin at the door to make sure there wasn’t going to be a sneaky attack waiting for him. When he looked at the Goblin up close it surprised him. The Goblin flesh looked dark green. The face reminded Mykal of a bulldog with a severe under bite. He stood just shy of four feet. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on the little frame. His solid frame ripped with muscles. His pupils were black and his eyes looked muddy and evil. His grin bared more of his yellowish under bite teeth.
Mykal flopped open his free hand as a demonstration of what he wanted the Goblin to do. The Goblin followed Mykal’s example and held out both hands. He placed the grenade in the Goblin’s hands so the spoon would be pressed against his palm. Mykal grabbed the Goblin’s other hand which felt extremely large for his body and he wrapped the second hand around the grenade. He patted the Goblin’s hands as if to explain he had to hold the precious gift tightly.
Mykal was surprised at how strong and leathery the Goblin’s hands felt. The size of his hands should belong to a body twice his size. The Goblin flesh was rough and cold to the touch. The Goblin gave a grunt and his dark green expression reminded Mykal of a slow dim-witted child. He didn’t seem very bright. But all the Goblins were supposed to be lower intelligent creatures. This one seemed a little slower. Cat-man probably put his dimwit up front just in case Mykal’s people attacked.
Mykal suddenly felt odd. The dimwitted, child-like creature gave what Mykal took as a slight smile. There seemed to be a twinkle in his droopy muddy eyes. Mykal suddenly filled with regret. ‘This goofy kid is just a pawn for Cat-man,’ he thought. He knew it to be too late to turn back. He was sure if he pulled the grenade back it would start a battle, but it didn’t matter. These Goblins, despite how dim-witted this one appeared, were all out to kill them. He really believed he put a live grenade into the hands of a mentally challenged child and was suddenly remorseful. ‘Cat-man did this,’ his mind yelled with guilty regret and tried to shift the blame. ‘Cat-man and his greedy selfishness is gonna kill this dim-witted pawn.’ Mykal’s emotions suddenly took a nose dive. He truly felt bad for the c
reature that came across as a slow child.
The dim-witted, childlike, Goblin grunted and gave what Mykal took as a smile when he received the gift. The Goblin held tightly to the ‘gift’ and nodded as if to say ‘thank you’. The slow Goblin seemed to say something to the next Goblin as if he boasted over his position to receive the special treasure.
Mykal quickly stepped out of the way and allowed the other five to step in front of the door one at a time and follow his procedure in handing off the grenades. Mykal eyed each grenade and the hands as they swapped positions. Once the last had been handed off he ensured they closed the door and secured it. Time dragged for eternity from the moment he released his grenade until the sixth was handed off. He realized he was playing a dangerous game. He started to laugh though inside he was a mass of different emotions.
“I do not understand what had just taken place,” Leeno said after the door had been secured. “Or why your men are laughing?”
“You’ll know in a minute,” Boris said and continued to laugh. He doubled over and slapped his thigh.
After the door was closed twenty seconds passed, and then thirty seconds passed. The first explosion ripped through the corridor. Yells and screams filled the air. Between the next five to ten seconds five more dreadful blasts followed the first explosion. More yells and screams erupted like the explosions earlier that killed many in the corridor. Most of the men broke out in laughter knowing the Goblins must have looked at the special gift.
Mykal felt bad. Deep inside he knew the dimwitted kid of a Goblin he handed his grenade to must have been ripped apart and killed. They heard an all-out assault on the wooden door take place. A couple of dozen cross bow bolts slammed into the door. Several other thuds sounded as Goblins tried to chop the door.
“Ooo-weee, they’re pissed,” Boris laughed when the voice of a Goblin yelled and screamed at the door.
“It is the Cat-man,” Leeno turned to Mykal. “He is hard to understand. Clearly he is very angry.”
“This friggin guy really does have nine lives,” Boris shook his head in disbelief. “He should have been killed.”
“Tell him we didn’t mean it,” Mykal laughed and high-fived Boris. “Stall him. Tell him it was an accident, cuz we’re taking off. Are you guys sure three of you will be enough to hold down the fort?”
“I’m fine with it if they are,” William answered first. He loaded a new magazine into his GAU and chambered the first round.
“Yeah, we’ll be alright,” Boris nodded and repositioned his handgun in his waistband for quicker access. “We’ll head out in an hour,” Boris said and looked at his watch. “Correct?”
“Yes, but if they get in here you guys can’t come through the secret door because that would give us away. Do you understand that?” Mykal asked and was worried because he was asking them to commit suicide if the Goblins breached the room before they had the opportunity to escape through the hidden passage. Something inside pricked Mykal’s heart. He was leaving one of his best friends to possibly give up his life. He suddenly wanted to tell Boris to come with him and allow someone else to stay. He felt like he had to look out for his little brother.
“I understand that, but I’m not too worried about it,” Boris said and smiled confidently. “With Wickey on the 60 we’ll be able to stop them before they get in here.”
Mykal realized his emotions were getting the best of him. Boris was a grown man, and he could never return to the real world because of his horrible crime and this was one of the things Boris wanted to do as an act of repentance. It would help Boris make him feel better about himself.
“Just let me make sure I know what we’re doing,” Wickey spoke up. He looked like a nervous teenager. “We’re waiting about an hour just so that you guys make sure the coast is clear down the secret passage, right?” He asked while positioning his two cans of ammunition closer to the machinegun.
“Exactly,” Mykal smiled and held out his hand to the kid. “We don’t want to give up this room if they’re down there as well,” he nodded in the direction of the secret door. “I’m proud of you. You’re a brave young man,” he shook his hand to encourage him. He didn’t feel he had to encourage Boris or William because they were older and more experienced.
“Just make sure you keep the way clear,” Boris smiled and winked as he placed one of his legs up on a chair.
“Allow me to give you this,” Nordad said and handed William one of the chair legs after Agnor broke it from the chair. Nordad had performed magic on the wooden leg so that it lit up like his staff. “It will not be as strong and bright as my staff. It will last only three or four hours, but it will keep the room lit.”
“Thank you very much,” William gladly accepted the glowing wood. “I thought we were going to wait in the dark. You’re going to have to show me how to do that sometime,” William said and smiled.
“This is one secret I will have to take to the grave with me. I can never divulge my secrets,” Nordad replied in all seriousness. He didn’t understand William to be joking.
“In one hour if you don’t hear from us, follow us but make sure you close and secure this secret door. Let’s go,” he turned to the others.
“My friend, I would like you to carry this,” Towbar said and handed him the leather pouch that contained his magic powder. Towbar eyed one of the large pockets on Mykal’s trousers. “I would like my hands free should we engage the Goblins.”
“Sure, come here,” Mykal pulled Towbar’s arm down to bring the giant’s head closer to whisper in his ear. “You’re not gonna believe all the magic I’ve found. I’ll show you later,” he said and looked a final time around the room. The three doors appeared to be secured tightly which made him a little more comfortable leaving only the three men behind. He wouldn’t have left Boris behind if he thought there was a real chance of the Goblins getting into the room.
Mykal, Towbar and Nordad were the last to leave the room. Mykal felt relieved that William wanted to make up with Boris and put all their bickering behind them. He only wished it would have happened sooner. With Towbar in their presence it was only a matter of time before they would be back at the Pass, which in turn meant it would only be a matter of time before he could deliver the “package” and have the government hooks taken out of his life.
Mykal clearly felt upbeat and happy. It meant so much to have Towbar there with him. It put him at ease.
They traveled at a slow pace in order to make it easier on the wounded men and to be careful not to walk into a trap. Mykal felt he had an idea what point men in Vietnam must have dealt with when they traveled paths in the jungle, despite the path they traveled was long and straight. The corridor seemed to go on without an end in sight. The only variation they felt was in the grade. At times they could feel they were walking downward and at other times they could tell the path headed up.
3.
They had traveled about twenty-five minutes when Mykal heard the faint sound of three gunshots. It wasn’t machine gun fire, but three rifle shots.
“Damn it, I knew I should have left a couple of more men back there,” he said as he turned to see if the light source would start down the tunnel toward them.
“If it’s only a couple shots they should be alright,” Jake said. “I don’t know what could’ve happened, but if it would have been serious I think Wickey would have opened up with the 60.”
Suddenly the louder report of Boris’s .44 magnum erupted twice. A much different noise, more manly thuds verses the pops of the M-16 assured Mykal Boris must have taken out a Goblin at close range. “Why would they open the door to shoot single shots?” Mykal asked and watched to see if the light source would enter the tunnel and follow them. “Maybe some tried to enter through one of the other doors.”
“They must be alright Myk,” Jake said. “They wouldn’t allow themselves to be taken over and only shoot five times.”
“Whether they need it or not, I’m going back,” Mykal said and he wished he woul
dn’t have allowed Boris to stay behind. “Sergeant McPherson, pass it up to Towbar and Diaz that I’m going back. I’ll probably stay there until they head out.”
“Do you want some more men to go with you?” McPherson asked before he carried out his orders.
“No, I’ll be fine, just let them know what’s going on.”
“I’ll stay in the rear and watch for you,” Jake offered.
“Thanks Jake,” Mykal said and started to run back. Suddenly the pounding sounds of the rat-a-tat-tat of the M-60 machinegun discharged. It wasn’t a long burst, but short choppy three to five round bursts. The echoing of machine gun fire down the hidden corridor felt frightful, but Mykal knew as long as weapons were being discharged Goblins didn’t have control of the room.
Mykal stopped just before opening the secret door and was ever so thankful for his increased hearing, passed on to him from Towbar. When Towbar saved his life from a Shay-lonk, a death arrow, he blessed Mykal with increased hearing, smell, sight and the ability to use magic. If the Goblins were in the room he wasn’t going to reveal the hidden location. The gun fire ceased.
“I promise I won’t say anything,” the muffled voice of Wickey said. The kid sounded scared. “It’ll stay just between the two of us, I promise. I know he was a bad apple.”
‘Oh no,’ Mykal moaned inward. ‘Damn it, Boris,’ he pondered the idea of Boris killing William. He opened the door and was stunned by the shocking horror he discovered.
“Keep firing,” William snarled while he pointed Boris’s .44 magnum at the back of Wickey’s head.
Wickey had the barrel of the machine gun stuck into the opening of the corridor where Cat-man and his Goblins were. Wickey kept shooting while William stood over him with a rifle slung over his shoulder and Boris’s Red Hawk revolver in his hand.
Boris’s body was slumped against a wall, twisted to where he lay on one side but his face turned toward the floor. His legs were crossed at the ankles. His right arm was under his belly holding one of the exit wounds and his left arm was lifelessly stretched to the side. Boris had blood seeping through his right hand and there were two bullet holes in his face. One exit hole was in his left cheek, the other exit hole took out his left eye. The lower half of his jaw was twisted away from his head and part of it was missing.