by Dave Hazel
“I’m stunned beyond belief,” Mykal gawked. “But in a great way, cuz I was worried about you.”
“I appreciate that Myk, but the only thing I’m having a problem with is the one that hit me in my thigh. The one that hit me in the shoulder just aches a little. God protected me, Myk,” he repeated. “I’m not trying to get all preachy,” Diaz said and looked to Chick to make sure he wasn’t offending his superior. “But I told you that God spoke to me and told me I wasn’t going to die there. God made a miracle happen. I know I was hurt and in a normal situation it was a life threatening ordeal. God healed me,” he boasted to give God all the glory. “I know my injury was severe and life threatening, so not only were the arrows sitting inside my body as uninvited guests,” he snickered. “But the real damage that had been done to me was healed by the hand of God. And Myk, I know you need to hear that. Think about this. While that arrow struck and passed through my body, either in that instant my insides moved aside and parted like the Red Sea so the arrow couldn’t do any serious damage to me,” he repeated for Mykal’s benefit. “Or! When we returned here God miraculously touched and healed my broken body. Either way, it’s a miracle of God! Proof that God is real, and that God is real here in Towbar’s world. I say that because of questions you had asked.”
“I’m speechless. In a good way,” Mykal said and shook his head. “I saw how hurt you were. I know it was a serious injury. You and Ski both said it. Wow, that just floors me. And I mean that in a good way too.”
“So what’s the status with Towbar’s soldiers that are in route?” Chick questioned and changed the subject. “We were just discussing the possibility of the big attack taking place any time,” he added and nodded out to the north where the land appeared dark with Sosos.
“I’ll tell you what, Sir. I would like to talk with you and Towbar in private. I need to inform you of some information.”
“Sure. Listen up men, I would like everyone to disperse but stay close by because I would like to continue this conference after we conclude our briefing. Major Innes and Captain Taylor,” he turned to his two Battalion Commanders. “Please ensure all essential personnel will be ready to continue when we’re done.”
“Yes Sir,” they replied simultaneously after they snapped to attention and rendered a salute together.
“Carry on,” Chick said and returned their salute. “Let’s go to my tent. They don’t have to do that,” Chick said quietly when all the military personnel snapped to attention. “I know they are both doing that to lead by example. We have a bunch of outstanding men under us Mykal.”
“I agree with you one hundred percent Sir,” Mykal said and Towbar acknowledged that he agreed.
The three of them made their way to the large eight-man tent that housed only Major Chick. The senior rank had its privileges with more space for his personal living area. “I’ve told them that while we’re here in Towbar’s world we’ll leave all the formalities alone.”
“Sir, it’s obvious they respect you,” Mykal replied.
“Just to get you up to speed Myk,” Chick said while looking over his shoulder as they walked. “Towbar and I believe the Sosos are going to attack any day now. We’ve sent the choppers up a couple of times during the past two days to get a feel for their size. I could be wrong because we don’t have the right photographic equipment at our disposal,” he said as the three of them entered his tent. He pointed to some folding chairs. “But I think there could be anywhere from two to three million Sosos and their allies out there. That’s one hell of an army to feed.”
“Two to three million?” Mykal asked and looked stunned.
“I know that’s steep, but between Towbar’s soldiers that are present, and the Dwarven people that we know are present we think we have a force of six to eight hundred thousand,” Chick explained. “From our aerial reconnaissance we’re guessing, and the key word here is ‘guessing’, that they have three to four times as many as we have. Honestly, they could have more. Towbar enlightened me to the fact they have never faced forces other than the Sosos, but now the Sosos have allies from around the world. So I don’t know what the numbers could be. What I would like to know is how such a primitive army is being fed and supplied when there is nothing out there,” he pointed to the north. “There is not a city close by and there is not an airstrip to fly supplies in nor a railroad system with the means to--”
“I’d say magic, Sir,” Mykal offered as his best guess.
“Magic?”
“Yeah,” Mykal sighed and wished he wouldn’t have said anything. “It’s really a long story. But magic is real here in Towbar’s world. Let me get to what I wanted to tell you.” Mykal smiled when the giant dropped to one knee. He was too big to sit on one of the folding chairs. “I need your word that this will stay between the three of us.”
“I’m a man of my word,” Chick said. His expression of seriousness seemed ever present. “Whatever is said in these quarters will stay in these quarters. When it comes down to it, I’m under you Mykal, so I would never violate a trust between us.”
“Even once we go back to our normal lives Sir, this is something that you will have to take to the grave with you.”
“Consider it done. And Myk, you don’t have to call me Sir.”
“I know that, but there are some officers I respect, and you’re one of them, Sir,” he added with a broad smile and a wink. “I’m here on a specific mission by order of the President. I lied when I said that I was running to check on Towbar’s men a couple of days ago. I actually returned to the real world,” he said and paused to let Chick take in what he revealed. “Don’t take me wrong, the mission of Towbar One was to come here to rescue the people who disappeared from Washington DC. But there were also some secret factors involved that only I, Towbar and William, Captain Roberts, knew about. Captain Roberts wasn’t an Air Force captain, but that is Top Secret so that can’t leave this tent. As you know he died while we were lost.”
“I had my suspicions about him, but I knew it was never my place to question anything,” Chick replied. The sudden look of disappointment showed he felt somewhat cheated. Secrets were kept from him as the commanding officer of Towbar One.
Mykal wanted to make it appear that he and William were on the same mission. “To get to my main point, I’m to assess the situation and report back one more time and make recommendations as to what we will need to defeat the Sosos. The President will give us whatever we need to make sure that Towbar’s people, and Towbar’s land do not fall into the hands of the Sosos.”
“That’s great, but can you answer why?” Chick asked and looked to both Mykal and Towbar.
“Some of that goes beyond my need to know. I know they are looking at the untapped resources Towbar’s world has to offer and since me and Towbar are the only ones with the capability to travel back and forth, we’re the vital link. But all that is for another time. What’s important now is that the Pass does not fall into the hands of the Sosos. I’ve heard a couple people asking about when we will be going back. That’s where you have to make sure the reporters don’t get wind of any of this, but yet make it clear that we’re not leaving any time soon. I’m just a grunt, a foot soldier, a nobody when it comes down to it, but you’re the commanding officer.”
“You are far more than that my friend,” Towbar finally spoke.
“Yes you are,” Chick agreed. “Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I’m not trying to minimize my position in all this,” Mykal said and shyly turned away. “But you’re experienced at being a leader. I became a leader out of survival and I’ll do whatever I have to do to survive. I need you to tell me what you think we need and I’ll go back and get it.”
“First of all, we’re in a great position,” Chick said and tapped his fingers together. “Though our numbers are very small comparatively, we hold a great piece of real estate.” He turned his attention to Towbar. “The enemy’s numbers are overwhelming. Fortunately for us, the advantage the
y have is severely reduced attributable to the factor of the bottleneck the Pass creates. Now if we had to face them out in the open,” he nodded toward the plains. “We wouldn’t be able to withstand such a force particularly with the mental mindset ingrained into their being. They don’t back down and they fight to the death.”
“It would be a much larger version of Little Bighorn,” Mykal scoffed. “I’ll explain it later,” he said when Towbar gave a confused expression, unaware of Custer’s last stand.
“I agree. The pits we have built are great for slowing down the enemy, our fire power and explosives will do tremendous damage and then Towbar’s soldiers and the Dwarven people will be able to hold them off for a time. Hopefully it will be enough to break their will and make them give up. If we have the time, I’d suggest we build a massive wall across the entire width of the Pass.”
“A wall?” Towbar asked.
“Yes. After we arrived here, Mykal told me he traveled to the key city, Beramus, during his first visit. Mykal explained the fortifications of the Great Walled City.”
“Yes. The walls are vast,” Towbar said. “Soldiers and some merchants live in the walls that surround the city.”
“I was amazed by Mykal’s description of the massive walls around your key city,” Chick continued. “What I’m suggesting is something like that but even larger,” Chick said expanding his hands and arms to demonstrate a great size. “Imagine this.” He waved his hand out to paint his imaginary canvas. “A wall the entire width of the Pass, fifty feet thick, and maybe a hundred feet high. The dimensions we can determined later. But the entry or exit would be controlled by the people on this side.”
“That would be great,” Mykal said and hesitated. “But--”
“What? Would there be an issue with environmentalists here? Would there be people here who would object to building?” Chick chortled sarcastically. Chick understood the type of opposition they would face back in the world.
“No, we’re not in America where the friggin nut cases are,” Mykal snickered with him. “I was wondering how it’d be done?”
“We do it all the time,” Chick scoffed. “Skyscrapers and cities go up in no time. With the right equipment and the personnel we could have that done relatively fast. That wall would eliminate most of the wars until they, the Sosos, develop the wherewithal to counter that defensive measure. I’m not just suggesting a big wall and leave it at that. Defense measures would have to be added also.” He changed direction. “Would your people object to having a wall erected in the Pass to stop the Sosos from roving through?”
“No. I would think not. Our survival is at stake. It would not matter what a few think,” Towbar declared. “If any would object I would have to question their reasoning. Their objections would be aiding the enemy.”
“Another thing to contemplate,” Chick said and turned to Mykal. We could actually get a proper military installation, an air base with runway, fuel tanks and planes set up relatively quickly.”
“Really?” Mykal asked. “I didn’t think that would happen quickly.”
“Oh yeah,” Chick said and nodded. “We did it in Vietnam and that would be our stumbling block. Our opposition would be those who fear we would be starting, thus falling into, another Vietnam. But with the enemy we’re facing here we could annihilate them in days,” Chick declared confidently. “By bringing a squadron of B-52s we could have this war over and done with in no time. Then with the same B-52s we could fly into the Soso countries and bomb them back to the Stone Age. Well,” he paused and started to laugh. “I guess they’re already in the Stone Age. But we could destroy them so it would take a hundred years before they would ever think of trying to take your land again,” Chick said and turned to Towbar.
“Is this true? Or do you jest?”
“No, he’s serious Towbar,” Mykal answered. “I explained some of the things we have to you before. The big problem we have, are some of the politicians we have to deal with. And no,” Mykal started to laugh. “We can’t just go there and lob their heads off.”
“As far as building the wall across the Pass, that is one thing I would like to see come to fruition,” Chick said. “We may have to attempt an escalation of our presence,” he added more as a mumble when he turned to Mykal. “I will have to think this through. Setting up an airstrip, the fuel, the maintenance, the supplies, the actual planes and crews et cetera, et cetera really wouldn’t be all that difficult. The real difficulty would be getting past the appearance that we are trying to conquer another nation, because you know how the left, the media and the anti-military would twist this. But if they really want to tap the resources here in Towbar’s world, they would be able to make any of it happen to secure the Pass.”
“Oh yeah I agree,” Mykal sighed. “But we could probably get some heavy artillery before the big battle takes place,” Mykal suggested. “That would make a hellova big difference.”
3.
“…and so then the President and Jill, I mean Percy, had to make an agreement with me,” Mykal explained to Towbar while they walked off and made their way back to their own quarters. “I’ll tell you Towbar, this ring works great,” he whispered while eyeing the shiny gold band around his middle finger. “But I’m afraid that while I’m invisible I start to have evil thoughts. I notice I become meaner and I’m filled with more rage than ever. And then at times I get so emotional like I could start crying at the drop of a hat. So some of the things that have happened here and some of the friends I’ve lost just cause me to become super depressed. I mean really depressed. Do you think there is an evil power tied to the ring?”
“I do not know my friend, however I would not be surprised,” Towbar answered and stared at the ring. “With items of magic anything is possible.”
“It didn’t happen right away and it’s slowly crept up on me. At first I noticed I was real emotional kinda like a school girl and then I was kinda sad and depressed. But then the anger and rage started and when the anger and rage takes over it makes me vicious. And if I’m being honest I would have to say I can feel it tugging at me.”
“In what way my friend?”
“I’m tempted to use it all the time even when I don’t need to use it. I think it’s trying to control me,” he admitted.
“Then you must rid yourself of it,” Towbar said forcefully.
“I can’t. I’d be a sitting duck when I go back to my world. It’s my protection right now.”
“You say that you desire to use the ring when there is no danger?” The giant asked and stared off into space as if trying to discover the cause of Mykal’s magical ailment.
“At times. Well, yeah, I can say I’ve noticed that growing more and more that I should just make myself invisible for the hell of it,” Mykal answered and gave a nervous laugh.
“Then you must part with it while you have the strength my friend. It may very well be trying to consume you. It can not be a good thing if you recognize that it pulls you to it. For your own safety I would suggest that you part with it.”
Mykal studied the look on the giant’s face and tried to gage his motive. “Why? So you can take it?” Mykal snapped harshly. His sudden anger rose from the fear of Towbar’s greed to take his magnificent ring from him. “It’s mine, damn it.”
“My friend,” Towbar stopped walking and looked at Mykal with a sad pitiful face. “I would never take anything that belongs to you. You mean more to me than any possession. You are my friend. You are my brother. Had you been anyone else and you falsely accused me as such, I would have taken the ring for such words just to be vindictive. However, I am loyal to you because you have saved my life and for all you have done for my people. My bond with you is stronger than blood. I told you that I would lay down my life for you for all you have done on behalf of my people. I will never turn on that. I am taken aback that you would think such thoughts of my motives.”
“Then why the hell are you telling me to get rid of it?” Mykal barked and instinctively pulle
d his ring hand closer to his body.
“Because I care for you my friend. I want no harm to befall you. If you truly distrust my motives I will return these magic wands,” Towbar said while starting to untie a leather pouch attached to his waist. “I am disappointed my friend that you would think I would turn on you or take something from you.”
“Towbar, I’m sorry,” Mykal said and lowered his head with guilt and shame. “I know you wouldn’t. Stop,” he said referring to Towbar’s actions of untying the large leather pouch that contained the magic wands. “I really am sorry. I got so much stuff on my mind and it’s this damn ring. I’ll keep in mind what you said, but I can’t get rid of it yet. They’d kill me if they knew I didn’t have the power anymore,” he said with a sigh and tilted his head back to look skyward. “I’m so sorry I snapped at you and accused you of wanting it. I ask your forgiveness. Besides my family, you are the most important person in my life.”
“You need not apologize to me my friend. I forgive you. I am sorry that I did not warn you there could be dangers in using such a powerful magic. I will keep my eye on you and inform you if I think the danger is increasing. You must be the one to end the control that is gaining on you.”
Mykal thought hard and realized the power of the ring was growing on him. “So it’s like an alcoholic who has to first admit he has a problem with drinking, right?” Mykal chuckled, but Towbar didn’t appear to understand what he was getting at. “I’m just kidding. What do you think the end result would be if I never get rid of it, and keep using it?”
“I know not my friend. I have never seen such a powerful magic before. It is possible you may lose your mind. You may lose your life. There may be unseen spirits, or demons as your friend Ski would say, that will accost you mentally and they may control you. I do not know my friend. I do not want to see any harm come to you.”