by Dave Hazel
The long corridor dragged on. There were no side passages and no doors to enter other rooms. It had been about one mile before it started to change from smooth delicately cut blocks for the walls to roughly tunneled dirt and rock passageway. The tunnel narrowed and became rougher to walk over.
Mykal wanted out of the mountain. He felt an overwhelming sense of dread being closed in for such an extended period of time. Most of the men seemed to be growing anxious. Mykal believed some felt the same claustrophobic strangling sensation he battled with. For the most part the men kept their anxiety and fear quietly to themselves. Towbar had been forced to spend most of his time hunched over to keep his head from hitting the ceiling.
“Hey Myk, do you think we made a mistake coming this way?” Finley asked quietly so the men couldn’t hear.
“Na, not really. Our only other option would be to go back and fight it out with the Goblin nation wanting to take us out. I honestly don’t like where we’re at, but I don’t wanna see those little creeps even more than I don’t like being here. At least we’re not running.”
“I agree. I just wanted to see if you were still confident in the decision to hike this path. I have no desire to go back and fight our way out of that maze.”
A short time later they came upon a large open cavern with large and small rock formations scattered all throughout. There were three openings to tunnels that branched out from the grotto. The burrows were dark and seemed to have less work done on them than the tunnel they just exited.
“Damn it,” Mykal said with a quiet sigh. “I don’t wanna make any more decisions,” he said to himself.
Jake approached Mykal from behind. “Hey Myk, what are you thinking? Which way should we go?” He asked before all the men caught up to them.
“This is how we got lost before,” Mykal answered while he eyed the three openings. He turned to Captain Diaz and whispered. “Whatever we do, this time I want someone to be in charge of making a map so if we come back here to pick a different exit we’ll be able to find this place again.”
“I will volunteer myself for that task,” Starling said softly. “We Elves are known for being very good trackers when we are actively doing so.” He looked down as if shamed. “We should have done a better job when we first entered this mountain.”
“Which way would you think Towbar?” Mykal asked.
“I do not know where the path will lead us. I will leave that decision to you, my friend.”
“Thanks,” Mykal replied sarcastically and rolled his eyes. “Hey Diaz, do you wanna take a rest for a couple of hours? The men all look exhausted.”
“That sounds good. The men are in need of a much deserved rest and a meal. I’ll pass it along.”
When the men entered the underground hollow no one had to be directed to be set up as sentries. They took it upon themselves to set up guard duty at the three openings. They knew they would be relieved and have time to rest before moving out. The men were professionals and knew their lives were on the line and they were interdependent on each other.
Mykal plopped himself down and leaned against a large rock and rubbed his aching thighs. He feared he could get too comfortable and not be able to get back to his feet. It suddenly struck him how hungry, tired and dirty he felt.
He turned to say something to Boris when it struck him hard that Boris was gone forever. His friend would never return. Mykal ached on the inside and fought hard not to show it by crying on the outside. He couldn’t get the image of his dead friend out of his mind. He wished he would have killed William just to get revenge. ‘If only I woulda allowed Boris to kill that piece of shit,’ he thought to himself and shook his head in anger. His anger was growing now that he couldn’t get the same thoughts out of his mind.
He wondered if he was starting to lose control mentally since he couldn’t stop thinking about the same things. He looked down at the ring and wondered if being invisible for an extended period of time would have bad consequences. He knew that being exposed to certain chemicals over a period of time would be bad, and he knew smokers who smoked cigarettes for long period of time would suffer bad effects. Alcoholics suffer from prolonged use of alcohol and the same with drug addicts. Could using magic, such as being invisible for several hours have done some damage to his mental faculties?
But he had been friends with Boris long before coming to Towbar’s world. Just like Kurt and Denny who died during the first trip to this strange world. His mind was haunted by the memory of Boris, Kurt and Denny, his three best friends. He wondered if the constant sorrow and the constant mourning meant he would be joining them any time soon.
He wanted to break down and cry like a baby. He wanted to cry out of sadness and loss. He wanted to cry out of anger and frustration. He wanted to cry out of fear and wondered if this was ever going to end. Tears were not the answer. He stopped for a moment and wondered why he felt so emotional. He knew he had always been an emotional person and he understood his deep sadness of Boris’s death, but the sadness seemed stronger since he wanted to cry so much. He felt super depressed. There was something more at play than just the deep hurt and the loss of his close friend. He glanced down at the gold band on his finger and wondered if the magic of the ring had something to do with it. He remained invisible, covered in the magic, for several hours.
‘Could the magic have something to do with my emotions being on overload?’ He wondered and thought back to Diaz’s warnings about real magic. ‘It doesn’t matter. I need this ring. I need this more than ever when I go back and face Jill and the President, cuz if they are gonna try to take me out then I’ll--’
“What’s the matter Myk?” Jake asked when he and Towbar joined him and sat beside him.
“I don’t know. I’m spent I guess. I’m drained physically, mentally and emotionally.” He looked at his hands and realized how battered his body was physically.
“Do you think we’re gonna get outta here Sir?” Jake asked without looking up when Diaz and Finley joined them.
Diaz and Finley looked at each other. Since Jake used “Sir” they weren’t sure who he was addressing.
“I believe we’re going to be delivered,” Diaz responded. “I have faith in God that He will get us out of here.”
“That hasn’t helped so far, Sir,” Jake quipped and refused to look up to the Captain.
“I beg to differ with you on that Jake. Towbar is here and our situation could have been much worse than it is. I truly believe in my heart that my LORD and Savior Jesus Christ will get us out of this mess.”
“I’ve been praying through this whole damn ordeal and I don’t think God can hear us,” Jake added with a bite of sarcastic anger. “We are under this big ass mountain, and we’re in a different damn world.”
“I’m not going to respond to that Jake,” Diaz said and laid back. “I can sense your hostility.”
“Can you blame me Sir? Damn it. Sir.”
Diaz remained silent as if he pretended not to hear him. “I do understand what you’re going through Jake.”
“I’m sorry Cap’n,” Jake said and lowered his head. “I’m just frustrated. I should keep my thoughts to myself.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I really do understand. There are times we need to get it off our chest and I don’t have a problem with that provided others will not be unduly affected. I don’t have a problem with you getting your thoughts and emotions off your chest behind closed doors, so to speak,” Diaz said and fanned his arm around the cavern referring to the younger men being out of earshot. “There are times when I want to question my faith, and I need to get things off my chest as well. But I know, deep down inside, I know that it comes down to it being a trick of my enemy the devil. At those times I really have to guard my heart and be careful not to allow my human thinking to get in the way of the Truth.”
“Let me ask you a question.” Mykal said and sat up. “I’m not trying to be funny. I’m being serious. It’s just that I’m not a religious man.”
“Just so you know Myk,” Diaz quickly replied. “I’m not a religious man either.” Diaz said with raised eyebrows and that took them by surprise.
“What? You’re Mister Religion,” Mykal said on behalf of the small group.
“No, I’m not ‘Mister Religion’ I have a personal, one on one, relationship with Jesus Christ. I have a personal relationship with God. I’m not religious. Anyone can be religious about anything and that could be good, bad or indifferent. One could be religious about the military, about reading books, taking care of your home, work, sports and one could be religious about religion. Religion is something that man does to try to make himself good enough to be accepted by God. That isn’t going to get you anywhere. None of us could ever be good enough to be right with God. Because then people are trying to earn their way with God and it’s just not possible. I’m a devout born again Christian who has a personal one on one relationship with God. Religion in itself is dead. I’m not different than anyone else. I’m a sinner just as anyone else is.”
“Then what’s the point? How can we ever make it right spiritually?” Jake asked.
“See it’s impossible for man to do that so God sent his Son Jesus to come to die on the cross to take our place of punishment. Since Jesus took our punishment, for our sins, we don’t have to pay the penalty, provided we put our trust into Jesus and build that relationship with God through Jesus. And though I said I’m just as much a sinner as anyone else, the only thing that makes me any different is that I accepted the free gift of salvation from God and I’m covered in the precious blood of His Son Jesus Christ. He died in my place and took my punishment so I don’t have to be punished.”
Towbar looked totally confused. He looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say. “I have never heard such talk.”
“Towbar, some time when we are back at the Pass and have a little bit of time to talk I would like to really explain to you what I’m talking about,” Captain Diaz said and started to smile. “I can see by the look on your face that this is new to you.”
“Yes, I would be curious to hear what you say. This sounds like a strange teaching. Strange in that it is new,” Towbar said so as not to offend Diaz.
“That’s the kinda stuff Ski has said to me before,” Mykal said and turned to Jake who would know the person he was referring to. “But my question is,” Mykal said firmly to get it across that he wanted his question answered. “If God is real, can He really hear us? I mean like Jake said, not only are we under this mountain in the middle of nowhere, but we’re in another world.”
“Yes. I would say most assuredly yes,” Diaz said and shot up with a jolt of excitement. “God is real, but because you are uncertain, let me say it like this. If, God is real, and I know that He is, but if God is real and if He is who we say He is, that He created everything in existence, not just the things of our world, but everything in existence. Though we never knew of this world or anything in this world, God knew about it and He created it or He wouldn’t be God.”
“But how?”
“Myk, when you were a child, before you knew anything, just because you didn’t know about China didn’t mean that China didn’t exist. Once you went to school and learned about it you realized China was a real place, even though you’ve never been there. We can say the same thing about Towbar’s world. Just because we didn’t know about it doesn’t mean it didn’t exist. Towbar can prove to us that he’s been alive a lot longer than we knew of him and the existence of his world. Just because it doesn’t fit into our finite little minds doesn’t mean that God didn’t create it. Once again it comes back to what we believe. I know that God knows all, sees all, and He understands all. I truly believe God created everything in existence or God is a liar, and He’s not a liar.” Diaz gave a confident smile. “So yes, I believe God can hear us, and why He hasn’t delivered us from this yet, I don’t know. He is God and He is sovereign. He knows what’s best and I know He will never give me second best. I will trust in Him and know that in His timing, for whatever reason, His will, will be done. I can’t answer why Boris, Captain Roberts and Wickey were killed by the enemy back there. My heart is broken and I’m filled with many questions over that. I’m not going to say God had a reason to allow that to happen, but God is in control and I have to say he wants what is best for each and every one of us.”
Something about Diaz’s words struck home to Mykal. If Boris wouldn’t have been killed the way it played out, then Mykal would never have found out about William’s plan to kill him and to silence him for The President and Jill. He could honestly say, from a selfish point of view, that it was a good thing Boris was killed the way he was.
“What the hell are we doing about getting outta here?” Jake’s frustration showed he didn’t want to talk about religion any longer.
“What should we do?” Finley asked.
“I say we give it a shot with the green fog.” Jake was quick with his answer. “I can’t take much more of this being stuck in this damn mountain.”
“I was nearly killed coming here,” Towbar reminded them. “I am not sure the men could survive what I felt.”
“Yeah, but maybe leaving would be safer than coming in,” Jake suggested with a snap of his finger. “We’ll be going into an open area and not a closed in area like this. So maybe that pressure and pain you and Mykal both felt will last just a moment and not the entire time the green fog was condensed inside that small room.”
“That’s a great point,” Mykal said and looked to the top of the cavern while he thought it through.
“Besides, we’re all hurting,” Jake added. “We’re running out of food and water. I think we’re down to our last resort.”
“I will do what everyone will choose for me to do,” the giant said. “I would like to do whatever will make the men happy. I fear it may cause the deaths of some of the men.”
“That may be true Towbar, and I appreciate your concern,” Jake said and stood to his feet. “But I’m worn out. I’m willing to risk my life cuz staying here isn’t helping the men any. And to think, we thought we were gonna go track down that Ziggy Stardust character as Mykal calls him and try to take him out.”
“That was kinda silly on our part,” Mykal snickered. A wave of emotion rolled over him since it was Boris’s idea to begin with.
“Seriously though, I’m beat and wore out and I know the rest of the men are too,” Jake continued. “We need to get outta here and if we don’t try, I think we’ll all die anyway. Should we put it to a vote Sir?” Jake looked at Diaz and then back to Finley.
“Attack! Attack!” One of the Marines yelled and suddenly the room was filled with yells and war cries. Men began rushing for cover. Some yells made it clear some had been injured.
Mykal heard and felt many hushed whistling sounds and the thuds that followed. He swiftly dropped prone. He stayed behind a rock and stayed close to the ground as possible. There seemed to be hundreds of crossbow bolts raining in on them.
Staying low he saw many of the missiles after they hit the wall and fell to the ground. They were not crossbow bolts that had been used against them by the Goblins. These missiles were a little shorter and slender. They were more like long darts twelve to fourteen inches in length. They were streaming in from the three entrances.
“Where the hell is the return fire?” Mykal yelled while pulling his rifle around. More yells rang out.
Suddenly weapons fire erupted. Machine guns and rifles blasted away making the storm of darts to cease. Mykal raised his rifle over the rock he hid behind. He fired but couldn’t see his targets. He shot blindly into the open tunnels.
Mykal looked to his side and saw Diaz had been struck with two of the slender darts. He took one in his shoulder and one in his abdomen. The one in his belly looked painful, and he seemed to be losing a lot of blood to that wound.
Suddenly hand grenades and M-203 grenades exploded into the tunnels. One of the burrows caved in after the explo
sions. The noise became deafening. The flying shrapnel seemed devastating. Mykal still didn’t see the attacking foe.
Mykal looked down at Diaz who was tugging on the dart in his belly and he seemed angry more than fearful. “Diaz, are you alright? Is it serious?”
“I can’t believe I allowed myself to get injured,” Diaz yelled and slapped his hand on the ground. “This will not hold me back,” he declared loudly as if in defiance. Diaz rose to his feet and pointed his GAU to the point of attack. He held his weapon ready, but he breathed heavily. The slender shaft moved with his breathing.
The gunfire ceased. Mykal heard men reloading weapons. Some called for help. Others called the names of friends to make sure they were alive and alright.
“Where the hell are they?” Mykal yelled.
“I can hear them,” a voice called out. “I think they’re getting ready to attack again,” the voice shouted.
“60s, be ready,” Finley ordered. “I don’t want one more arrow coming into this area. That’s an order!”
“Aye-aye Sir,” a couple of Marines shouted back.
“I can’t believe it,” Diaz said with a moan as he looked at his blood covered hand. “I’m fine,” he said when he caught sight of Mykal watching him. “It’s just I’ll run the risk of getting an infection. I don’t want to be a burden to the men.”