by Dave Hazel
Mykal un-keyed the microphone when Kurt and the others started to laugh at his lie. “Knock it off,” he murmured.
Edwards started to respond but stopped. After a brief pause he replied, “In the future, I will make the command decisions. Second question. Why are we traveling so fast?”
“We have to Sir. We want to get there before night fall. It’ll be alright. We’ve been traveling fast for the past couple of days and we haven’t had any problems. The ground is pretty smooth Sir,” he said. He knew Edwards would be angry for his admission of speeding on unpaved roads. “Just follow us and make sure everyone keeps their eyes open.”
“Keep our eyes opened for what, Sgt Graves?” Mansfield’s contentious voice came through the speaker.
“If you happen to see a few thousand crazy looking people with swords, axes and clubs, you may wanna pass that on.”
Mykal bit his lip in preparation for the tongue lashing he thought he would receive for being disrespectful. No response came from either vehicle. The two Broncos dropped behind them and followed in single file. Mykal looked back and saw Lt Edwards reprimanding Jake.
“Looks like Jake is getting chewed out by that lousy little weasel,” Kurt scoffed while he looked in the rear view mirror. “Why do you think all five of our top guys came along?”
“To have witnesses if we do something,” Mykal speculated.
“Why’s he so worried about driving fast?” Roy Jr. asked.
“Military vehicles are only allowed to do 25 miles an hour on dirt roads,” Boris replied. “Since there’re no roads he’s going nuts cuz he doesn’t know what to do. It’s a safety thing. Vehicle abuse is a big thing in the Air Force.”
Kurt shrugged. “He acts like we’re school kids. But he’s a pimple in the armpit of humanity.”
Sam clapped his hands. “Come on Kurt, lighten up. You’re talking about our fearless leader. The bright, intelligent, ‘smarter than everyone else in the room’ Boy Wonder. I’m going to have to ask you to take it back.”
“Gimme a break,” Rich moaned. “Y’all keep talkin’ like this I think I’ll end up pukin’.”
“Whadda ya talking about Rich, you hillbilly ass kisser,” Kurt fired back.
“I know you dit’in just call me an ass kisser. You’re the one who’s always sucking up to him when you want something.”
“That’s right,” Kurt admitted over their amusement. “But I always get everything I want. You southern hillbilly hick,” he added with an imitation southern accent.
“I would never stoop that low,” Sam cut in. “It just goes to show what a real low life ass kisser you are, Kurt.”
“Preech it brudder,” Rich snorted and high fived Sam.
“Kurt, do you ever get along with anyone?” Roy Jr. asked, amused by their cutting remarks.
“No, not with these morons. Who the hell needs creeps like these guys anyway?” He joked.
“D’ya’ll see this big ol’ brown ring aroun’ his neck?” Rich pointed to an imaginary ring around Kurt’s neck. “Shows what an ass kisser he really is. He’s got his head right up in dat boy’s ass,” he added which caused a raucous laughter.
“Real funny, hillbilly boy,” Kurt laughed.
Towbar looked puzzled by their conversation. “I do not understand why they attack each other verbally and then laugh.”
“It’s just our sense of humor,” Mykal said and snickered at the verbal banter. “It’s a way they show they like each other.”
“What’s the deal with that Edwards dude?” Roy Jr. asked.
“In all seriousness,” Boris answered. “I think he’s really miserable and he wants everyone to be miserable with him.”
“He does a hell of a job in accomplishing that,” Kurt said.
“And his butt buddy, Mansfield isn’t any better,” Sam said.
6.
Within a couple of hours they saw Denny’s vehicle in the near distance. Denny and the Dosch family were traveling at a slower speed so that Towbar’s men on horseback could keep pace with them. They moved in single file. Denny’s vehicle first, then the Dosch station wagon and Towbar’s men followed in two columns on the supersized horses.
“I do not understand why it has taken so long to cover the ground they traveled,” Towbar said as he studied the hills. “They should have been much farther than they are.”
“Hey Myk, is that you?” Denny’s voice came through the speaker of their radio.
“Yeah, it’s us and I have Lt Edwards, Sergeants Mansfield, Finn, Irwin, and Miller behind us,” he said hastily to prevent Larry or Denny saying anything normally prohibited over the air waves.
“What? They’re all lost too? So there’s no rescue team?”
“Right. Our whole Crew is here and some civilians are lost as well,” Mykal replied. Though separated only a short time, he realized how much he missed Denny and Larry. He even missed Franklin’s annoying idiosyncrasies.
“Why such a big welcoming party?” Larry asked.
“This isn’t a welcoming party. This is a fact finding mission because some of them seem to think our story is a bunch of bullsh--- crap,” he caught himself and kept from cursing.
“Maintain radio discipline, Sgt Graves,” Lt Edwards’ voice ripped through the speaker as if waiting to say something.
“Yes Sir. But there is no one out here to hear us, Sir.”
“I can hear you, Sgt Graves,” Edwards snapped sharply.
“Yes Sir,” he replied and un-keyed the microphone. “Screw you, you friggin moron.” He caused the others in his vehicle to laugh. “Break, Sgt Felps, we’re on our way to Jamison to give the FSO and FSS’s an idea of what we’re up against out here.”
“Well, you’re about an hour away from Jamison,” Denny said.
The vehicles stopped when they joined together. Everyone met in the middle to greet each other. Mykal watched with envy as Roy Jr. rushed to join his family. Mykal knew Roy Jr. gladly left to get away, but now was overjoyed uniting with his family.
“I see Myk had to bring you two nit wits with him,” Denny gave a humorous smile when he saw Sam and Rich. His smile disappeared quickly when Edwards and Jake rushed to join their little gathering. Denny looked drained and tired.
“What took you guys so long to get this far?” Kurt asked.
“Baby Ray died yesterday,” Larry said. The news hit like a bomb. “The poor kid died during the day.”
“Roy didn’t want us to say anything. He didn’t want Roy Jr. to find out over the radio,” Denny said.
“Awh man,” Mykal moaned. A deep sense of sorrow came over him as he watched Roy and Randy hug onto Roy Jr. when they broke the news to him. “That’s really too bad,” he added. Jake and Edwards stepped back at the show of emotion. “He was a good kid.” Tears welled in Mykal’s eyes as he watched the Dosch family grieve together.
“Shay-lonk,” Kotan said sadly. “Soso Death arrows.”
“Shay-lonk, always kill,” Towbar said as a warning to them. “Always!”
Kurt slumped back against the vehicle. Boris and Mykal bowed their heads in sadness.
“Are we going to stand around here all day or what?” Mansfield barked out unsympathetically when he joined the group. “I don’t want to be away from camp all night.”
“What a friggin asshole,” Mykal cracked back.
“Whoa, what was that Sgt Graves?” Mansfield’s head snapped in his direction.
Before Mykal responded Denny grabbed his arm and squeezed tight. “It’s not worth it Myk,” he whispered. “He doesn’t even know what happened.”
“I asked you a question, Sgt Graves,” Mansfield asserted his authority but looked to Lt Edwards for approval.
Lt Edwards seemed to understand the raw emotions coupled with the strange pressure they were all under. To Mykal’s surprise Edwards halted Mansfield. “We were not aware of the young man’s passing. We apologize for our insensitivity,” he said on behalf of Mansfield who huffed at his words.
Man
sfield abruptly returned to the vehicle sulking. It was obvious he wanted to lay into Mykal for being disrespectful.
“Sgt Irwin,” Edwards turned to Jake. “We do need to get a move on. I’ll leave this to you.” Turning to his vehicle he eyed Towbar who glared from Mykal’s side like a protective guard dog.
“Yes Sir,” Jake replied. “I’ll tell you what, with the LT being such a stickler for respect of authority and rank, never tolerating disrespect, I thought it was gonna get ugly here.”
“I think the LT knew he had to compromise or the situation would’ve gotten out of control,” Denny said. “Myk, I don’t think Mansfield knew what happened. He wasn’t trying to be a jerk.”
“Yeah, I know. It just caught me off guard.” Mykal replied.
“I still wished that damn little weasel would have tried something,” Kurt said.
“Tried something?” Denny asked. “Like what?”
“Anything! We’re out in the middle of friggin nowhere and now we’re gonna have to be stuck with him? I’ll put his ass in line real quick,” Kurt answered.
Larry slammed his fist into his own palm. “I agree.”
“I don’t wanna hear it. I knooow nut-tin, I seeee nut-tin.” Denny’s poor imitation of Sgt Schultz from the Hogan’s Heroes TV show made them all laugh. Denny’s levity broke the tension.
“Alright, listen up.” Jake got their attention. “I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know how long this is gonna last. But one day we’re gonna be home, and we’ll have to face up to all the stupid stuff that goes on here. So let’s put a tight rein on our little tongues and let’s control ourselves. Don’t put me in the middle of any stuff between them and you. I don’t need, and I don’t want, the friggin headaches. Got it?”
“I agree, Jake,” Mykal said politely. “But I’m not gonna allow a couple of piss poor leaders to lead me into harm’s way.”
“Y’all are crazier ‘an hell.” Rich chuckled. “Whatever happens, I’m with y’all.”
Towbar took his men aside to brief them on the current situation. Mykal left to give his condolences to the Dosch family. He approached the three grown men who were hugging and crying together over the passing of Baby Ray. “…I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye,” Roy Jr. sobbed into his father’s chest. The sight and sounds hit Mykal hard and almost made him cry. “I thought he was getting better or I woulda never left.”
Mykal ached inside and wished he could help. “I’m really sorry, Roy,” he spoke to the father. “I can’t imagine what you guys are going through,” he added and placed a hand on the shoulders of both Roy and Roy Jr. He patted them gently. He knew his words couldn’t comfort them and he regretted speaking.
“We’re grateful for all you’ve done.” The older Dosch turned to him with puffy red eyes. “Please don’t take this as unkind Myk, but we’d like to be alone right now.”
“I understand.” He gave a friendly nod and backed away.
“…and it’s a real mess Jake,” Denny said when Mykal joined them. “You guys aren’t gonna believe the kinda people we’re dealing with here. These are hard core bad guys. You’ll get the full impact when you check out that little village.”
“Okay. I’m glad to see that you guys are no way connected,” Jake said and shook his head. “Not that it ever entered my mind. I can’t believe anyone would seriously think you could do this.”
Towbar joined them. “We should leave, my friends. Darkness will be upon us before long.”
7.
The remains of Jamison came into view. Mykal wanted the ranking leadership to get the full impact of the Soso brutality. The horrors of the obliterated village tattooed fresh in his brain. It would shock their senses, but he felt they needed the experience so they could fully appreciate the dangers ahead.
Mykal looked away from the bodies so as not to re-injure his mind, but he couldn’t get the images from his cranium. He could taste the sour of sadness the more he fought not to think about the sorrows that had been burned into his head forever. He refused to re-enter Jamison. Kurt and Boris stayed with him.
“Go ahead and take a look around,” Mykal said when the Crew leadership exited their vehicles. The stench of death felt stronger than the first time. “I don’t need to see it again.”
“This is not for the squeamish or girlie,” Kurt said. “So Sam, you better get back in the vehicle.”
Kurt’s vain attempt at humor would normally make Sam retaliate with a smart comment. The horror in plain view shocked Sam into silence.
“Since it’s not dark yet, the Sosos could still be a threat. We’ll keep watch,” Mykal said as an excuse and kept his eyes away from the village.
Towbar stood beside Mykal. The giant continued to eye the ghostly remains of the village. Mykal saw Towbar’s eyes tighten and his lips fight a frown. This expression was the deepest display of emotions he witnessed since he met Towbar.
“My people should not have to endure such cruelty.”
Mykal, Boris and Kurt turned to Towbar, but the three responded with dead air. Mykal knew he didn’t comfort Roy with his words, so he remained quiet with Towbar’s sorrow.
The five higher ranking personnel, Lt Edwards, TSgt Mansfield, TSgt Finn, TSgt Irwin and TSgt Miller briefly inspected the village with Sam and Rich in tow. As a group they cut short their survey. Their stomachs couldn’t handle it. Miller looked the closest to vomiting and he lost more color in his face than the others. His hand never left his mouth.
“I never saw anything like that.” Jake said. He rubbed his forehead as if trying to physically wipe away the images.
Edwards looked angry and sick. He fidgeted and struggled to formulate a statement. “What was your purpose here?” He huffed.
“What’s my purpose here?” Mykal said in stunned amazement as if accused. “Sir, it proves what I said. We’re in danger! We’re not in our cozy little world anymore. We’re dealing with people who don’t play games. There’s thousands upon thousands of these crazy murderers running around wanting to kill anyone they come across. We gotta be ready. They’ve tried to kill us a few times already. They killed Nelson and now… Baby Ray Dosch.”
“And they killed some of Towbar’s men,” Boris added.
“Sir, did you take a look at what they did to the women and children?” Kurt spoke out in frustration. “If they’d do that stuff to women and children, whadda ya think they’d do to us?”
Edwards looked like a trapped animal. He seemed frazzled. Mykal couldn’t tell if Edwards felt anger or fear or both.
In a fit of frustration Edwards slapped his sides as if giving up. “How do you know Nelson wasn’t killed by his people?” He turned and pointed an accusatory finger to the giant. “We don’t know anything about this Towbar and his people.”
Towbar looked as if he had been sucker-punched. An alarming silence fell over the group as Towbar strolled to Edwards. His light blue eyes bore into Edwards with a fiery red anger. His massive fists looked like boulders that could easily crush Edwards with one thump.
“You are a fool,” Towbar snarled and bore in on Edwards. “You make me very angry. These are my people! My people and I do not kill like this. If you accuse me of being a Soso again, I will kill you with my bare hands.” He followed the back stepping Edwards. “You have insulted me to no end.”
The terror in Edwards’ eyes showed he regretted voicing his unfounded charge. He backed away until stopped by a vehicle and almost fell over. The giant stood over the stumbling Edwards, his massive, rock hard, fists ready to pummel. “Stupid man!”
When Towbar didn’t strike him, Boris, Kurt, Rich and Sam snickered and chuckled. Lt Edwards looked foolish.
Edwards saw the moment of death or bodily harm pass when the giant backed up. He rose to his feet, visibly trembling. His red-faced pout revealed his embarrassment. He glared at his airmen snickering at his close encounter and rage took over.
Mykal sensed the rage, and Edwards’ expression that seemed to scream, ‘Y
ou dare mock my authority?’
“Write them up. Write them up,” he screeched to Mansfield. “I want them all on report.” His jowls tightened and his teeth clenched tightly while waving his finger like a mad conductor.
“Sir, what did they do?” Jake asked.
“Don’t cover for them, Irwin! I am an officer! I will not tolerate their disrespect. And this man,” he pointed to Towbar and backed up further, “this man is crazy! He’s dangerous! We can’t have any alliance with him. Let’s go back to camp. We’ll do fine on our own.” His fearful glare never left the giant.
Mykal knew he had to be careful in what he said. He looked at Jake and shook his head. ‘Stop him!’ He mouthed his words.
“Sir, let’s calm down,” Jake said. “I don’t understand--”
“Calm down? I am calm! This man can’t be trusted.”
“Mykal! Sosos!” Towbar warned. He unsheathed his long sword and pointed to the hills surrounding them.
The tops of the hills were lined with armed warriors, standing, watching them. The numbers increased and lines grew thicker and longer quickly.
Mykal’s stomach dropped. The scene reminded him of old TV westerns he watched as a child. On the ground he saw Sosos moving into the village from the far side of Jamison. They were sitting ducks for the archers but the Sosos didn’t attack.
Mykal, Boris and Kurt instinctively raised their rifles ready to shoot. They knew what to expect. Sam and Rich quickly followed their example despite any reservations they may have had. “Is that them?” Rich and Sam asked together.
“That’s them!” Mykal answered and he aimed his front sight to the head of a Soso on the hill. “When I say shoot you make every damn shot count. They don’t play around.”
“Don’t you dare shoot!” Edwards demanded. “I want to see what they want. Maybe they will agree to a mutual arrangement. They may be able to help us find our way home.”