by Dave Hazel
“I do not know,” Towbar replied with a genuinely puzzled expression. “I never witnessed such creatures, nor have I ever heard others speak of such creatures. It concerns me that such beings are so close to my people.”
“Where did they come from?” Roy Jr. asked and turned off the red lights and siren.
“I don’t have a clue,” Boris answered. He patted his empty pockets for the umpteenth time, as if cigarettes would magically appear. “But it sounded like the back wall of that mountain was opened up. I think they came from inside.”
“When I checked that mountain wall, it seemed pretty solid to me,” Roy Jr. said. “Towbar, do you think those things live inside the mountain?”
“It is possible. It has been said for ages that Dwarven peoples lived inside the mountains. However, I do not think those creatures are Dwarven people.”
Kurt gave a mocking sigh. “Here we go again with the Dwarves and Elves and ghosts and Goblins.”
“Hey Kurt, keep that negative crap to yourself,” Boris fired back. “I wanna hear what Towbar has to say. Bottom line is, something was there, be they Dwarves, freaks or monsters.”
“If you don’t think they’re Dwarven people, whadda you think those red-eyed creatures could be?” Roy Jr. asked.
“I do not know. I have never seen the burning eyes before.”
“Do you think we should go back there when it gets light out and check it?” Kurt asked.
“Inside the mountain it will always be dark. I fear some of us, or all of us, would not return if we ventured into the mountain. We could not be sure of what we would find, or what would find us.”
“Yeah guys, let’s scratch that idea.” Boris shook his head with a nervous laugh. He slapped his thighs loudly. “But I need a damned cigarette,” he hollered making them all laugh except for Towbar who didn’t understand his nicotine craving.
“I think we should stop ‘til the sun comes up,” Mykal said.
“I’ll tell ya Towbar, your world is something else,” Roy Jr. said as he slowed to a stop. “It’s filled with one surprise after another. Where we’re from, we don’t have any red-eyed creatures living inside of mountains and we don’t have Elves and Dwarves or the other stuff you told us about.”
“I’m curious to know where your world is in relation to ours,” Boris said. “As far as we know, from where we’re from, this place doesn’t exist. How do we know any of this is real?”
“As you can all see, my friends, my world is real,” Towbar replied. “I believe the gods brought you here at this specific time to help us defeat the Sosos during this surprise invasion.”
Boris seemed agitated. “How do we know the military isn’t experimenting with some new drugs and this is some sort of strange hallucination?”
Kurt looked at Boris and shook his head. “This again? Dude, I think you’re having a crack-up cuz of your need for nicotine.”
“I know this is real, because the four of you are sitting here with me, my friends.”
“Nelson getting killed wasn’t my imagination,” Kurt added.
“The fact is we’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Mykal said. “But if we were transported here, then there must be some way for us to be transported back, right?”
Roy Jr. sighed. “I hope so, and very soon, cuz my little brother was hurting pretty bad.”
“I do not know the answer to that question, or the solution to your problem. After I have the matter of the Pass controlled I will take you back to the Great Walled City. My friend Nidious, is one person who might have the answer you seek.”
They fell silent and drifted off into their own thoughts. Mykal stared into the darkness around the vehicle and wondered how Pam and the other families viewed their disappearance. One by one they dozed off, waiting for the sun to rise.
2.
Daylight woke Mykal. It surprised him how cold it became. Compared to the extreme heat of the past few days it seemed like winter without the snow. Grey clouds filled the sky and it looked like it would rain at any moment.
He saw everyone sleeping. “Oh no! Damn it!” Mykal yelled. “Wake the hell up! Who’s supposed to be on guard right now?”
“Oh damn,” Kurt moaned. A look of guilt covered his face.
“It is my fault,” Towbar said, but he didn’t look like he told the truth. “It was I who told Boris and Kurt they could sleep. I could not sleep after our encounter with the red-eyed beasts. I must have fallen asleep. Do not be angry with them.”
Kurt’s look of surprise made Mykal think that Towbar lied to cover for him. Mykal couldn’t understand why the giant would protect him after all the grief Kurt had been giving him.
“Well, I know I don’t have to say what could’ve happened if Sosos would’ve found us, or if any other strange creatures would’ve found us,” Mykal said in a calm tone. “Let’s not let it happen again.” Mykal felt just as much at fault as anyone.
Boris looked at his watch. “It’s almost 7:30 Myk, I think we should go back to the convoy. Somebody’s gotta have smokes.”
Mykal looked at his hand drawn map of the land of Labins. “We went far enough west along the mountains to avoid the Sosos. But instead of going straight north to meet up with Denny coming outta the hills, we’ll do a diagonal straight line north-west across the plains to meet up with Lt Light and his convoy so Boris doesn’t die,” he joked. “Hopefully the tracks yesterday were from a rescue team. And hopefully they found Light and his men. And hopefully they’re waiting ‘til we all get back.”
“Dang, Sarge, that’s a whole lot of hoping you’re doing there,” Kurt said after moving into the driver’s seat.
The rain started soon after they resumed driving. The water poured fast and heavy. Kurt allowed the windshield to be covered so it was impossible to see. “Towbar, watch this,” Kurt said and snapped his fingers and turned the windshield wipers on.
Towbar looked amazed.
“Kurt, quit screwing with him,” Mykal said. “Towbar, it’s not magic. This car is prepared for bad weather.”
“This is fascinating.” Towbar smiled. His head moved back and forth as if he watched a fast paced tennis match. “You never cease to amaze me.”
“You should come back to our world when we go,” Kurt said. “You’d never imagine how we live. There’s things in our world that fascinate me and I’ve lived there all my life. So for you, it would knock your socks off.”
“Knock my socks off?” Towbar looked confused. “You have used that term one time before and I do not understand it.”
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Boris said. “It’s just a saying we have. Kurt, Towbar doesn’t wear socks you goof.”
The farther they traveled the harder the rain fell. The deluge hurt their travel time. Kurt drove half the speed he did the day before. Every time he would increase the speed, the car seemed to slip on the wet grass.
They all grew tired. The dreary, cold, grey, weather made it hard for them to stay alert. Kurt’s head kept bobbing forward. He started falling asleep while driving. Boris had to yell at him twice to wake up and pay attention. He refused to allow someone else to take over his important role as driver.
“Whadda ya doin’?” Boris yelled, bracing against the dash.
“It’s just a puddle,” Kurt said in response to not slowing down. He pressed his foot heavier on the gas.
Mykal jumped up to see the car rush into what looked like a pond, splashing waves on both sides. He saw that Kurt could have easily traveled a couple of hundred feet in either direction and could have gone around the small body of water.
“What the hell? You friggin dumb ass.” Boris scolded Kurt when the car stopped.
“Aw damn it,” Kurt huffed and slapped the steering wheel.
Mykal felt the car got stuck. “What the hell’s the matter with you? What’d you do that for?”
“Damn it, damn it, damn it,” Kurt said and slapped the steering wheel again when he couldn’t rock the vehicle free.
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nbsp; “Smooth move, idiot.” Boris shook his head.
“It’s a good thing this water ain’t deep,” Roy Jr. chuckled. “I’m trying to look at the bright side, cuz it sure as hell looks cold out there boys.”
“I didn’t think it’d be too deep,” Kurt said. “I thought for sure we’d make it through.”
“Way to freakin’ go Einstein,” Boris huffed. “You’re doing this on purpose to keep me from getting any smokes, aren’t you?”
“Now what?” Mykal asked when Kurt gave up rocking back and forth. Mykal knew he would have to get cold and wet.
“Well, the water isn’t that deep. It’s gotta be mud we’re stuck in,” Kurt sighed. “I guess… I’ll get out… and see if I can get her unstuck,” he said and pouted and stepped out in the foul weather.
“Well, let’s get out and help this knucklehead,” Mykal moaned while looking at the pelting rain. He shivered and quickly regretted stepping out into calf-high ice-water. The frigid downpour, pushed by the strong wind made it much worse.
“You really did it this time,” Boris barked at his best friend. “I oughta stick my boot right up--oh damn it Kurt,” he said and shivered. “It’s too damn cold and wet for this.”
“What if the Sosos come?” Roy Jr. asked while licking the rain as it ran down his lips. His shoulders closed together when he tucked his hands into his armpits.
“Not to fear, my friends,” Towbar said as the rain streamed down his face and bare chest. The cold didn’t seem to bother the giant. “The Sosos do not travel in foul weather. They will not fight or make war during foul weather, unless they are forced.”
Kurt got on his knees to feel the mud around the tires. “I think it’s sinking,” Kurt yelled. “Damn, my hands feel like ice. We better try to push it out or we may get really stuck.”
“Boris, get behind the wheel. We’ll push,” Mykal ordered.
“Why does he get to get behind the wheel?” Kurt protested.
“Cuz you’re bigger.”
“Yeah, I’m bigger, but he weighs more than I do,” Kurt complained while shivering.
“Yeah, but you got us into this mess,” Boris said from the driver’s door. “Make sure you push real hard,” he taunted. “I wanna see you get your goofy ass outta the rain as quick as possible. No sense in getting yourself all wet,” he goaded Kurt.
Kurt flipped him off in the mirror. “When we get done here, I’m gonna bury your fat ass in this mud puddle,” he yelled.
Towbar stood back to watch. The three tried to push the car but it stubbornly remained in place. “I understand what you are doing,” he said and planted his feet firmly in the mud, gritted his teeth and gave one big tremendous shove. The car easily pulled from its position and raced forward which caused Mykal, Kurt and Roy Jr. to fall face first into the numbing water.
Mykal jumped up, shocked by the frigid submersion.
“I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” Kurt panicked with a choking cry for help. He nearly drowned in the shallow water. Kurt unexpectedly took in a big gulp of the water.
“Just sit up, Kurt,” Roy Jr. said as he jumped up out of the shocking cold. “It’s like a baby pool,” he started to laugh with his arms pinned to his chest.
Towbar burst out with a rare, hearty, energetic laugh that matched his size and strength. Humored by the shocked looks of his friends flailing in the water, he couldn’t contain himself.
Mykal watched Boris drive the car out of the watery mess. The car almost stopped a second time, but Boris skillfully maneuvered to keep from getting stuck again. The giant continued laughing and still didn’t appear to be bothered by the cold and wet.
“Real funny Towbar,” Kurt stood up and had to laugh with him. “Real funny. I bet you did that on purpose.”
Towbar continued to laugh without denying Kurt’s playful accusation. They all turned to the car and galloped as fast as they could, splashing water in all directions.
“Crank the heat. Crank the heat,” Mykal said to take his mind off the cold. Kurt went flying into the water a second time. It looked as if he dove down face first. He came up choking again, and Mykal couldn’t understand why he would want to play around in the frigid water.
Kurt jumped up moaning and holding his elbow. “I lost my glasses,” he yelled frantically. “I gotta find my glasses. I can’t see a damn thing without them. Help me, please,” he begged while fishing around with his bare hands.
“What the hell are you always screwing around for?” Mykal yelled. He wanted to get inside the warm car with the heater blasting on full. He didn’t want to fish the icy water for Kurt’s spectacles.
“I’m not. I tripped,” he said. “I gotta find ‘em. They’re the only pair I have here.” He splashed in desperation. “I can’t face the Sosos without my glasses.”
The four of them squatted in the freezing water feeling around for Kurt’s glasses. “I do not understand how they help you Kurt, but I will assist you,” Towbar said and got down into the water with them.
“I found them,” Roy Jr. yelled with excitement as he pulled the muddy bifocals from the water.
“I found what I tripped over,” Kurt said and pulled a piece of wood from the water. The wood was a handle of a war axe, the same type carried by Sosos. The axe blade was stuck in the face of a severed head. The blood had long since been dried out, and the wound was on the right side of the face. The heavy blade had been imbedded into the forehead, through the eye socket, down into the jaw bone. The mouth was frozen open in a silent scream. One eye gone, some teeth missing and most of the flesh rotted away. A ghastly sight that shocked them despite all the death and suffering they witnessed over the past couple of days.
“Oh shit,” Kurt gawked. He quickly dropped the axe into the water. “What a grim reminder of what we’re dealing with out here,” he said, and suddenly their mirth ceased.
“That’s a nice little slap back to reality,” Roy Jr. said.
They would have to be vigilant once again because Soso warriors were all around them. Those same Soso warriors wouldn’t hesitate to bury an axe into their heads.
Without another word spoken, they all turned and sloshed to the vehicle, hoping no one else would be tripped up by a body or severed head. Running through the water seemed to take forever. Mykal’s hands felt numb. The wet and cold was miserably painful.
Once inside the car, with the heater fan on high, Boris drove off. Within an hour the rain stopped. The clouds passed quickly. After the sky cleared the temperature rose rapidly. Within a short period of time they felt worse than before. The air felt muggy and humid. Their clothing stuck to their bodies and filled the car with a moist, musty odor.
Mykal thought of home and felt homesick again. He wanted all the madness to end and to return home. Mykal just wanted to continue the dull routine of his boring life. He wondered if he would ever go back or would his fate be the same as Nelson? Dead in an empty field, killed by some crazed Soso.
“Boy this weather is ridiculous,” Kurt complained and wiped his forehead. He stuck his head out the window to catch as much of the breeze as he could get.
“Just to let you know Myk, we’re getting a little low on fuel,” Boris announced. “I know no one wants to hear that. But we got right about half a tank left.”
Mykal tried to be optimistic. “We got enough to get us back to the others and then some. For now, that’s all that matters. Thanks though, for giving me one more thing to worry about.”
“As long as the rescue team didn’t take off we should be okay,” Kurt said. “We’ll just ride with someone else.”
“I do not understand,” Towbar said with one eyebrow raised.
“These vehicles need gas to keep them going,” Boris said.
“Just like your horses need food and water to keep them going,” Roy Jr. chimed in and tipped his cowboy hat back. “Our cars have their own kind of food called gas-o-leen.”
Kurt nodded. “That’s a good way to explain it. Leave it to the country boy.�
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“Where can we find food called gas-o-leen?” Towbar asked.
“At a gas station. And I haven’t seen any in the area,” Kurt joked impersonating Groucho Marx with an imaginary cigar.
“Gasoline has to be manufactured,” Boris explained. “So when our gas is gone, our car will be dead.”
“This is sad. I have a strong appreciation for this craft.”
“Keep going in this northwesterly direction toward the hills. Lt Light’s convoy was positioned in the plains on the western side of the hills when we left,” Mykal said.
They passed the time by telling Towbar of their world and described some of the everyday luxuries they left behind. They talked about the many items they took for granted. Things that would make life easier in their present situation.
Towbar looked amazed. “Some of these things you speak of sound too wonderful to be true. It sounds like a magical place where magic is used by everyone, everywhere, every day.”
“It’s not magic,” Roy Jr. said. “We’re a blessed people.”
“Could such wonders be created here in my world?”
“Yes, but this stuff just didn’t happen overnight. It all…”
3.
More than half a day passed by the time they reached the hills. They guessed they were about forty miles to the west of where Denny and the others would exit the hills. They saw no indication that Denny and Roy’s vehicles had come this far.
“Kurt, try to get them on the radio.”
“Hey Denny, good buddy,” he called into the microphone playfully. “I actually missed those guys,” he said and turned back to the microphone. “Hey Denny, you got your ears on good buddy? Breaker, breaker, good buddy,” he chuckled. “Denny hates it when I do that.” He spoke into the microphone. “Hey Denny, you better wake your friggin ass up and answer me.”
Boris laughed with him. “I can hear one of them by-the-book-pencil-neck geeks now, ‘You are violating proper radio etiquette and discipline. Refer to regulation such and such’,” he mocked.
“I hear you Kurt,” replied the faint, annoyed, voice of Denny. “And I’ll deal with you later.”