Mykal's Second Deadly Journey

by Dave Hazel

  “Right on brother,” Roy Jr. laughed with him. “Hey, turn around and look who’s coming this way.”

  Mykal and Towbar turned to see Marine Captain Diaz and Green Beret Lieutenant Finley approaching them. They seemed to be deep into their discussion though they made their way to Mykal and Towbar.

  “Hey guys, what’s up?”

  “We volunteered to go with your team,” Diaz said.

  “What about your injuries?”

  “I’m healed Myk. Completely! One hundred percent healed by the hand of God,” Diaz said with a happy laugh.

  “What about all you went through on the other side of Towbar’s world? Are you sure you wanna risk going through that again?”

  “Mykal, I’m being obedient to God. God laid it on my heart to go. Look at it like I’m going with you to protect you from you,” he laughed playfully. “The truth is, I felt God put it on my heart to go, and I don’t have any concerns. God is my protector and besides, Major Chick said you plan to come back whenever it is warranted so it won’t be like it was when we were trapped under the mountain.”

  “You’re right and I’d love to have you guys come cuz you know what we went through and I know you guys are great leaders.”

  “Thank you,” Diaz responded.

  “Thanks Myk,” Lieutenant Finley replied with a happy smile. “I really want to go also,” he added. Finley’s large frame looked like he could have played professional football. His face was similar to Phil Simms of the New York Giants but Finley’s hair was brown whereas Phil Simms hair was blonde. “I’m really curious to see what other freaks of nature are out there,” he chortled.

  “Well good. I’m so glad to have you guys come along. I told Major Chick that any of the guys who were a part of the Lost Patrol are first picks,” Mykal said and gave a slight laugh. “Cuz they all have an understanding of what we could face.”

  “Well then you should be happy to hear that almost everyone who returned from that side of the world with us have volunteered to go,” Diaz said.

  “Really?” Mykal asked with a stunned expression. “I didn’t think any of them, except for Sergeant McTaggert would wanna go.

  “All of them except for Lee-Lon of the Koreans and Staff Sergeant Nelson, who returned to the real world due to his injuries, will be coming with us Myk,” Finley replied. “Counting me and Captain Diaz nineteen of the Lost Patrol will be returning. That includes Gunnery Sergeant Ratner. He said he had to come along to keep us young officers in line,” Finley said with a light hearted laugh. “The truth is, with me being a Green Beret I have to keep all those Marines in line.”

  “Now now,” Captain Diaz said playfully. “But Gunny Ratner will be our senior enlisted person.”

  “Don’t they know this could be just as dangerous as the last time?”

  “Not only do they all know and understand that, they want to go to prove they’re the baddest warriors of our world,” Lieutenant Finley explained.

  “Weren’t Hall, Winnie, um I mean Winfield and Azarski all injured when we came back?” Mykal asked.

  “And so was Private First Class Flesch,” Diaz replied. “Their injuries were somewhat minor except for Flesch. He is still waiting to be cleared by medical. He and the rest of them all seem up to it.”

  “You don’t know how much that makes my day. The three Elves, Starling, Leeno and Blair as well as Nordad and his two men are coming along. So we will pretty much have the team we had plus all the extras we will bring along.”

  “I would like to make a suggestion Myk,” Diaz said.

  “Sure. You know I trust your judgment and yours too Lieutenant Finley.”

  “I would suggest we travel light, just the men, their weapons, ammo and minimal supplies. As you said we can keep coming back here any time we need to. That will enable us to move quickly,” Diaz explained. “Then as soon as we do find that palace we can travel back here to get tanks, helicopters, artillery, more troops or whatever items we will need to help us achieve our objective.”

  “You’re right,” Mykal said with a laugh and a wink though he had already had the same plan in mind. “That’s why I’m glad you guys are coming along. I need some good brains in this outfit.”

  4.

  “Mykal, you’re not really going to believe this,” Major Chick said when Mykal walked into his tent. Major Chick started to laugh and showed a happy expression. Major Innes and Captain Taylor showed the same sense of amusement as Mykal joined them and the four of them sat around the planning table in the enlarged tent. “The number of men who volunteered to go with you is near one hundred per cent of the personnel we brought here to Towbar’s world.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No I’m not, which is very good. You will always have a deep well to draw from when it comes to volunteers.”

  “There are even people from the non-combatant group who would like to volunteer their services,” Major Innes said.

  “Wow. At first I thought it was going to be like pulling teeth to get a good size group of men to be available,” Mykal said and shook his head in disbelief.

  “Most of them want to join you Mykal,” Captain Taylor said. “I’ve heard many of them say they want to help you and support you any way possible and they really want to help Towbar’s people. There may be a few who are in it for selfish reasons, that is they want to sell their story or write a book. There will always be some who want to capitalize on the situation for selfish reasons.”

  “That’s understandable,” Mykal snickered. “And as long as they do their job and do a good job, I don’t care.”

  “Have you given thought to bringing the media with you?” Major Innes asked.

  “Wow, I didn’t even think about that,” Mykal said and looked to the top of the tent to give it some thought. “That could be both good and bad. We might as well bring them along. If they screw things up I can return them here and not take them back. Yeah, I guess we will. Are they still working in pairs?”

  “Yes. A reporter and camera man,” Taylor answered.

  “Sure, I guess we can take two teams. But tell them I don’t want any little sissies who refuse to fight. Protecting the team has to be top priority and their media job is secondary. If they don’t like that then they are not going. They don’t know the stuff we put up with the last time we were trapped on the other side of Towbar’s world.”

  “They may not like that,” Taylor replied. “But I will ensure it is a take it or leave it proposition.”

  “Great. Now the hard part. We have to whittle this down to a manageable size team. I know the first nineteen I’m taking. Captain Diaz said all but two want to go back…”

  5.

  “Okay, it looks like we have our team,” Mykal said while he stretched back on his chair as if he put in a long hard day at the office. “It was so tough cuz there are so many good people here,” he added while nodding. He looked at the list of names on a couple of legal pads. All the names had been written in ink on legal pads. Most had been crossed out but then re-written on other pads.”

  “You better go get some sleep Myk,” Innes said as he blew a sigh.

  “I’ll be fine,” he replied while fighting back a yawn. He looked at his watch. “It’s only after eleven.

  “Counting you and Towbar you have a grand total of seventy-two going on this journey,” Chick said after he counted the names a second time. “Seventy-six if you count the two reporter teams. The first question I have for you, do you think that will be enough?”

  “I sure hope so,” Mykal replied and counted the men one last time. “Let’s see, fifty military, a forty-eight man platoon, with Lieutenant Finley being the Platoon leader and Captain Diaz being the C.O. The only civilians I’m taking with me are the two Dosch brothers. Me and Towbar of course. We’re taking six Elves, four Dwarves, Nordad and his two men and five of Towbar’s soldiers. One of which is Rogal who was a part of Doninka’s twenty-one man team that was protecting her when the dragons attacked and
captured her. Towbar says Rogal desperately wants to come with us to help rescue her. When I asked Towbar of his injuries, Towbar said his injuries were the least of the six who survived that attack. Towbar feels he’s well enough to go and he wants to bring him so I’m okay with it. I trust Towbar’s judgment on this guy. Besides I was with him when we entered the Dwarven mountain during my first stay here. He is a good warrior.

  “And then we have the four worthless media types,” he joked to get a laugh. “Seriously though, I am just so damn afraid I’ll beat myself up with guilt if any of these guys die, cuz I was the one who handpicked them or gave the okay for them to come with us. Including any of the ‘worthless’ media people,” he tried to force a laugh.

  “Don’t do that Myk,” Chick said forcefully. “Every single one of them volunteered. Don’t blame yourself should something happen that you have no control over.”

  “You’re right. And I know that. I appreciate all your help. But if it looks like we’ll need more men we’ll come back and take what we need. Well, I guess you’re right and I better turn in cuz we’re leaving first thing in the morning.”

  CHAPTER FIVE 01/08/1984

  1. Sunday, January 8th 1984

  0740 hours, Inside the Pass, Preparation to Depart (1st Day)

  “Hey Myk, you are up right?” Roy Jr. asked when he stuck his head inside Mykal’s tent.

  “Oh yeah, I’ve been up. I’m just making sure I have all my stuff,” he said while he physically touched all his weapons. ‘Rifle, .357 magnum, Glock 17 with silencer, magic sword and magic dagger with my ice pick dagger,’ he thought as he made sure each weapon and plenty of ammo for each was in his possession. ‘My two little figurines,’ he contemplated with a wide smile when he touched the side pocket of his camouflage trousers. The two figurines were magic items that turned into two large creatures that were very powerful and destructive. He wiggled in place to ensure he didn’t feel too weighted down with his weapons and ammo. He was amazed that the two magic weapons, the sword and the dagger Jake returned, didn’t feel to have much weight to them. He attached the green canvas harness that had four hand grenades attached to it. He listened to the brothers while he moved around again to ensure he didn’t feel weighed down. He knew he could always give the hand grenades to others if he felt too encumbered.

  “Did you give the okay to bring along two reporter teams?” Roy Jr. queried with an unpleasant expression.

  “Yeah, I did,” Mykal answered without looking up from his little mission of getting prepared.

  “Damn,” Roy Jr. huffed and scoffed.

  “Pay up,” Randy demanded and held out his hand while he laughed at his older brother. “Pay up bro, don’t stiff me.”

  “What’s going on?” Mykal laughed at the brothers.

  “Randy said he thought there were some reporters going and I told him sure as hell they weren’t going. Cuz I know you wouldn’t allow it. He argued with me until we finally bet twenty bucks,” Roy Jr. grumbled and moaned angrily.

  Mykal stopped and looked directly at Randy and Randy quietly shook his head.

  “What? What’s going on?” Roy Jr. demanded.

  “Well to be honest,” Mykal said and started to laugh. “I told Randy last night and I told him to tell you.”

  “Oh you sneaky little bastard,” Roy Jr. huffed at his conniving brother. “You tricked me into betting when you already knew. I ain’t paying you shit bro.”

  “Why? You owe me,” he laughed at his brother’s forced anger. “We bet fair and square.”

  “I don’t owe you crap man,” Roy Jr. huffed. “Damn, if anything, you owe me for trying to pull a fast one on me,” he scoffed at his younger brother.

  “You’re the one who wanted to bet,” Randy declared and laughed again.

  “Yeah, but you din’ give me all the facts. See this Myk? I gots ta worry about my little brother trying to sneak some damn money from me. What the hell is this world coming to?”

  “Besides, this is just payback for all the sneaky stuff you did to me when we were kids.”

  “But hey, just so you guys know, the reporters seem like some good guys,” Mykal said while he continued to gather the items he was going to bring along. “The first pair is Vick something. It sounds dangerous like it’s a stage name,” he snickered. “He’s from Australia from what I heard and he’s been in combat before. He carries a couple of 9 millimeter pistols and he’s not afraid to use them. Which is what I want in a reporter. I’m not sure about his cameraman other than he’s supposed to be an older guy. The only thing I know about the other team is the reporter has been a long time reporter and been to trouble spots all around our world. He’s done his thing for a while. His cameraman is really inexperienced but the experienced guy wants him to come along.”

  “Probably cuz he’d be a lot easier to push around and to tell him what to do,” Roy Jr. laughed.

  “But I was told the kid wouldn’t be a problem. Let me rephrase that. I was guaranteed he wouldn’t be a problem cuz I told them I don’t want any problem ‘childs’,” Mykal said with air quotes and then picked up his rifle.

  “Oh so you did decide to take one of the smaller GAU rifles instead of your regular M-16?” Randy asked.

  “Yeah. Diaz and Finley talked me into it. They said real leaders don’t carry the big bulky M-16,” he joked. “I never really liked these that much but I can see where they are beneficial. Remember the day Kurt first got his hands on one?” He asked and gave a sad laugh.

  “Oh yeah, he was like a kid in a candy store,” Roy Jr. said.

  “Yeah. I miss the big galoot,” Mykal chuckled sadly. “But they put a nice scope on this GAU and we spent some time this morning sighting it in for me. So I guess I’ll force myself to like this thing,” he kidded.

  “We miss him and them old boys too,” Roy Jr. replied when Mykal clearly displayed a true sense of grief. “Boris, Rich and Denny and we liked Shit Eater Putman. I know you guys had some problems with Putman, but I liked him. He was a good ‘ol boy in my book.”

  “And we also miss the guys who are back home like Larry, Jake and Sam,” Randy added.

  “Hey, are you guys sure you wanna come along?” Mykal asked the brothers.

  “Yeah, sure. Why do you ask?” Roy Jr. probed. “Don’t you want us to come?”

  “Oh no, it’s not that at all. I want you guys to come more than all the others cuz you guys have been through the shit with me from the start, from day one. I’m just worried that something might happen and I don’t wanna feel guilty for asking you to come.”

  “First of all Myk, you didn’t ask,” Randy replied. “We asked you if we could come along. Don’t worry about us. We chose to come here and if it’s our time to die, it’s our time to die. Can’t run from it.”

  “My ‘lil brother is right Myk. We’re grown ass men,” he joked. “We chose this.”

  “I just wanna to make sure.”

  “My friend,” Towbar’s loud booming voice interrupted them when he stuck his large head into Mykal’s tent. “Everyone is waiting for you.”

  “Thanks Towbar,” Mykal said and took a deep breath. So many emotions suddenly hit him. Fear and anxiety were strong, but the desire to rescue Doninka overpowered any doubts or reservations he might have had. Deep inside he knew it was more than just trying to rescue Princess Doninka, the daughter of King Loankore III of Towbar’s people. It was more about rescuing Doninka, the girl he had strong feelings for, though he knew he would never betray his wife Pam. ‘This is so friggin hard,’ he thought. “Oh damn,” he gasped. “Do you have your stuff?” Mykal asked and turned to Towbar who knew he was referring to the magic powder that would be used to create the green fog.

  “Of course I do,” the giant said and patted the leather pouch attached to his side.

  “Yeah, I have mine too,” he said after rolling his eyes in an exaggerated motion and reached for his leather pouch. He had forgotten it and felt foolish to admit it. “Where are Nordad and the three E
lves?”

  “They are with all who await your arrival so that we may depart,” Towbar answered.

  “Alright, let’s go,” Mykal said and slung his rifle over his shoulder. “They’re the ones who are gonna know where to find this palace.”

  They all boarded helicopters to be flown to the rear of the Pass. The helicopters landed in a wide open area away from the start of the Pass opening. A few others not a part of the search and rescue party flew with them to see them off. Captain Taylor went on behalf of Major Chick and Major Innes.

  “So let me make sure I understand Mykal,” Captain Taylor restated. “When you return to this area, you will always have the green fog appear to the east,” Taylor said and pointed to the area outside of the Pass. “So what we will do then, while you are gone, we will set up a little detachment here inside the Pass. We’ll leave vehicles, medical personnel and a couple of choppers with pilots. This way if you come back under emergency conditions we can get you back to the front pretty quick.”

  “Good. That will work out great.”

  “It will be a normal duty rotation we will have worked out with different groups and organizations. Don’t even think about it,” Taylor ordered playfully. “We’ll have it all worked out here and there will always be a group of people here until the February 7th deadline. You guys just do what you have to do and more importantly, you guys stay safe.”

  “Sure will. Thanks,” Mykal said and joined the others.

  Mykal and his team waited until all those not going on this journey had departed. “Where would be the best place for us to go?” Mykal asked. “It would have to be some place that me or Towbar have already been to prior so we can picture it in our minds. Would your home land be the place since Towbar has already been there?”

  “No. That would be much farther away from where we need to travel,” Starling said. “Let me first introduce you to the three Elves we brought along with us Mykal,” he said as Diaz and Finley joined their small group. The rest of the men checked all their equipment and supplies once more to kill time. “This Elf is Egoneal,” he introduced Egoneal who bowed his head. “Egoneal is the best archer of all the Elves in our land. He has been near the palace where we seek to find your princess.”