by Dave Hazel
“Oh hell yes I remember,” Finley answered and dropped to one knee. “Are we sure?”
“No. I didn’t see anything I only heard the sound.”
Starling rushed to the group of leaders. “They think the creature had left the area,” Starling whispered.
“Alright, is it okay to continue?” Diaz asked Starling.
“Yes. It should be safe. Egoneal believes it was a smaller snake. That is why he believes it ran away.”
“Smaller?” Mykal gasped. He heard the sound of the creature and it was very large.
“Yes. There are much larger snakes in this forest,” Starling said.
“Ratner and Lemon,” Finley whispered their names harshly.
“Yes Sir,” Ratner said but looked in all directions rather than the face of Finley.
“Tell the men we’re going to move out but they need to be extra careful and be extra alert,” Finley said. “It could have been a giant snake. Tell the men to watch the ground and watch above. Especially those who didn’t see the shed skin we saw the last time we were here. After we get about an hour from here we’re going to stop and have a quick rest and a small bite to eat.”
“Yes Sir. Will do,” Ratner said and tapped Lemon’s elbow to get him to follow. Ratner explained what Finley was talking about while they walked off to brief the men.
4.
Forty-five minutes after their break Freeman came back to Mykal who walked beside Towbar and Diaz. “Sir, we have a wide open clearing--”
“If children are in there shoot ‘em all down,” Mykal said before Freeman finished his sentence which took some of the men by surprise. “I’m joking,” he laughed. Those who were part of the Lost Patrol, who had been here the first time laughed with him. Mykal referred to the group of seventy plus toddlers they encountered who looked like two to four year old children. The sweet looking little children turned into werewolves and attacked the men.
“You gots that right Sir,” Freeman laughed at Mykal’s words. “I ain’ts trusting nobody. But Sir, we has a wide open clearing. The ground is rocky and there will be no cover if we walk through the open area. About two miles out there seems to be a rocky hillside or the start of a rocky mountain side. If’n we’re looking to stay under the cover of the trees it will take us miles to the west to go around the open ground. The two Elves on point with me and Winnie seems to think it’ll be cool. Just depends what you wants to do Sir.”
“If they’re okay with it, let’s go,” Finley said.
“They said they never been here, but they don’t think it’s gonna be a problem,” Freeman declared.
“That’s fine. Let’s go and tell everyone to keep their eyes open,” Diaz said.
While they proceeded through the rocky terrain they walked slower. The ground was rough and at times it made the footing unstable. The temperature felt to have risen since they were no longer under the canopy of the forest but directly under the sun. Mykal didn’t know if it was laziness or the fact that he had gotten himself used to being under the trees, but he couldn’t wait to get out from under the sun and back into the forest.
The men walked slowly and the noises of equipment rattling mixed with footwear slipping on loose rocks were the only audible sounds. The men watched in all directions, primarily the forest at the opposite ends around them. Mykal would love to use the green fog to put them right at the door of the palace but he didn’t know where it was. They would have to trek it out step by step.
“Towbart. Towbart,” Norg called to the giant after the column had traveled about a half an hour in the open.
Mykal knew Norg the Dwarf was the one calling Towbar because he was the only one to add a ‘t’ to the end of Towbar’s name. They had come along the rocky hill side. Farther ahead of them the hills grew higher and the ground remained rough and rocky.
“Towbart, come to here,” the Dwarf stopped with his three other Dwarven comrades while they inspected the ground. Mykal rushed back to see what was so important for Norg to stop the formation snaking through the rocky land.
Mykal looked in all directions to detect any danger Norg may have discovered but saw none. Norg rested his muscular arms on his big two headed battle axe while he waited for Towbar to join him. Diaz and Finley returned to where they stopped at the rear of the column. Blair and Gwellon, the Two Elves at the very rear rushed to see what the disturbance was.
“What is it my little friend?” Towbar asked just as Ratner, Lemon and the Dosch brothers arrived.
“Rocks not normal,” Norg said and pointed to a number of large rocks. “Not right.” Norg’s long thick beard had been braided into two long tails on either side of his chin. The thick coarse hair looked like rope hanging from his hard face.
The Dwarf named Grimace who spoke less of the common tongue than the other three rattled something off in their native language.
“Grimace say not natural formation,” Norg explained.
“What do you mean my friend?” Towbar asked and looked at all the rocks that littered the rocky terrain.
“Fall sky,” Norg pointed up. “Fall hard.”
Mykal watched while the Dwarves tried to explain. He noticed a great deal of the rocks looked like they could have fallen from the sky. Under each of the large rocks was a slight crater where they impacted the earth. Mykal also noticed most of the rocks in question where rounder in shape. Some were as small as a beach ball but most were larger, up to the size of a fifty gallon drum. The more he looked the more he began to realize there were hundreds of rocks that pockmarked the earth. ‘Could it have hailed rocks?’ Mykal wondered while the others discussed what the meaning or the cause could be. “This really is odd since there isn’t anything around here that could point to the source.”
“Do you think there is a volcano around here that blew?” Sergeant First Class Lemon asked.
“That’s a good idea,” Mykal answered. “It’s better than what I was thinking,” he laughed at himself. “I was thinking maybe they just fell like hail but then that would have to have been one hell of a storm to lift those that high into the sky only to drop them.”
The others laughed with him.
“My only concern about the volcano idea,” Roy Jr. said and paused while he rubbed his chin. “Would be how all these rocks are rounded in a circular shape. Did the volcano only spew out rounded rocks?”
“That’s a good point bro,” Randy said and looked closer to the large rocks. “They look like they’ve been here for a while anyway.”
“Well, let’s hope the weather don’t change,” Mykal joked referring to horrifying hail storm of stones instead of ice. “Seriously though,” Mykal paused and looked to the hill side to their east. “Do you think there could be a mountain or rather a volcano on the other side of this rough hill side we’re looking at?”
“It is very possible,” Diaz said while gazing at the landscape. “Let’s move out. Keep eyes open.”
Gwellon whispered to Blair. “Do some of the men walk with their eyes closed?”
Mykal couldn’t help but laugh. “No Gwellon. It’s a term we use that means to be extra alert. I could see where that might sound funny.”
The men continued their silent trek and moved closer to the rising hill side. The hill side grew higher the farther they traveled a north easterly direction. There was barely any vegetation on the rocky slope and the hill itself would seem hard to climb since it was covered in loose rock and dirt.
Mykal’s thoughts drifted to Doninka, but quickly shifted to Pam. He would never violate his trust with Pam but the present situation made him realized he cared for Doninka as more than a friend. He desperately wanted to rescue her not only because he blamed himself and felt guilty for her situation but because he didn’t think he could live without her. ‘But how the hell? I can’t be with her. I won’t screw up my marriage for any woman. I love Pam too much.’ He looked down at the magical ring that caused his emotions to fly out of control. He knew the magic ring was playing a part in
his thoughts and feelings going where they shouldn’t go. ‘After I rescue her and get her back to the Pass I’m gonna have to put an end to this emotional, mental, affair that I’m having,’ he thought and felt guilty again as if he had done something wrong. ‘But wait a friggin minute! I’ve never done anything to her. I haven’t even kissed her. I’ve never cheated on Pam. I haven’t done anything wrong,’ he declared as if he had been accused. ‘Oh damn, am I going nuts or what?’
“Look out! Look out,” a voice screeched. Suddenly the ground shook and thudded like a drum was being banged. “We’re being attacked.”
Mykal dove to the ground and looked in all directions but he couldn’t see the enemy, any enemy. He realized his thoughts, the constant worry, the consuming guilt, and the ongoing mental arguments kept him from being alert. He had been so distracted by worrying about Doninka and fearful that he was cheating on Pam that he didn’t know they came under attack until it was too late. ‘I need to get my friggin head in the game or it may cost me my life.’
When he looked up from the prone position all he saw were hundred pound boulders dropping all around the men. Large rocks were pounding the ground as if his men were being targeted. Mykal couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw a large rock the size of a fifty gallon drum land on top of Towbar’s soldier named Wellsson. The force of the boulder slammed the man to the ground crushing his head, shoulder and part of his chest. The corpse’s top half disappeared but Mykal saw Wellsson’s legs stiffen and his left hand jerked and trembled violently.
To Mykal it felt like they came under a mortar attack without the incoming whistle and loud explosions. The slamming thuds to the ground were loud enough. Men ran in all directions. Mykal remained prone and he hoped the giant rocks wouldn’t find him. He heard Diaz and Finley yell to the men to run to the rocky hillside. He looked up and saw several of the boulders flying over the other side of the hill. He didn’t know how the enemy firing them could see where they were because he couldn’t see the enemy at all.
Just as Mykal prepared to get up his heart nearly stopped when he saw another very large rock slam down where Norg and Grimace were running. Mykal feared the pair of Dwarves was flattened by the same boulder. He laughed out joyfully to see the two little long beards run out from either side of the small boulder that made a crater like dent in the hard ground. All the men made it to the foot of the rocky hillside, but the terror of raining rocks continued to pour down though the men were no longer in any immediate danger as the nearest rocks were landing out of their reach.
The men were all yelling one thing or another to ascertain who the enemy was. “Watch out. Heads up men,” Ratner yelled as boulders began to roll down the hillside in an attempt to crush them at the foot of the hill. “Grenadiers,” he yelled to the men armed with M-203 grenade launchers. “Lob a couple 40 mike mike rounds up there. See if we can get their attention.”
Within seconds several men fired off their grenade launchers. The rapid succession of explosions forced the rolling boulders to cease. The top of the hill seemed to be about two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet high.
“What the hell is going on people?” Ratner yelled. “Is everyone alright?”
“One of Towbar’s men had been killed,” a voice yelled.
“Stay close to the foot of the hill. It’s pretty steep and they must be firing from the top or from the other side,” Finley shouted. “They can’t hit us along the foot of the hill, but be watchful for the enemy to top the hill to shoot down on us and watch for more of them to continue with the large rolling rocks.”
Mykal eyed the top of the steep rocky hill to spot the enemy but he couldn’t see anyone. The farther the hill was in the distance the higher the knoll rose. In the far distance it turned the north east. He couldn’t see how large the hill grew or where it went to. “Did anyone else get hurt?” Mykal yelled.
“No Sir. Just a couple of minor injuries,” Staff Sergeant Valante yelled. Valante was from the Army 82nd Airborne and was one of the four squad leaders. “Men were hit with flying debris of rock when the large boulders shattered other rocks.”
“Let’s make sure our weapons are ready and we’re going to try to maneuver out of here,” Finley yelled.
“I hate that we can’t see this damn enemy,” Mykal yelled.
“Whoa, look at that,” Private First Class Chandler shouted as if on cue in response to Mykal. He pointed to the top of the hillock.
Mykal looked straight up and couldn’t believe his eyes. “Are you friggin kiddin’ me?” On top of the tor was a giant of a man. He guessed from the distance the giant stood between twenty to twenty-five feet tall. The giant held a large boulder over head in both monstrous hands to hurl it downward. The giant, clad in rags of material to cover its gargantuan body, had long straggly hair that fell in its long thick face. It yelled a loud roar and hurled the bolder. The rock hit the ground with a loud thud. The mini-boulder had to weigh several hundred pounds but no one was struck. It seemed to be the size of a Volkswagen Beetle.
The titan stood atop the edge of the hill and shouted. He flexed its muscles and shook his head giving it a demented appearance that threatened those below. “Sixties, take that ugly thing out,” Ratner yelled. “Aim for its damn head.”
Within moments four of the M-60s pointed up to the giant and they opened fire. Several rounds struck the giant. It tried to swat away the pain but as four streams of automatic fire of 7.62mm rounds drilled into it, the giant stumbled backward out of sight. Suddenly several men of regular size lined the top of the hill to see what could have possibly taken out such a large foe. The normal size men began to throw weapons. They hurled axes, clubs, spears and hand size rocks. Some arrows flew down to the ground but none of Mykal’s men were struck. The men on the M-60s continued with their rapid fire, tracing the rounds through the puffs of dirt to track down the men and killed several of them. The Elves took aim with their bows and struck three of the men before they retreated out of sight.
“We need to get outta here,” Mykal yelled. “Towbar, did you see that friggin giant?”
“Yes my friend,” Towbar said while eyeing the top of the rocky hill.
“That friggin dude made you look normal,” Roy Jr. laughed though he looked nervous.
“Hell no,” Mykal argued. “That damn thing made Towbar look small,” he joked to make light of the danger.
“I think I would be faster than he,” Towbar said as if he didn’t understand they were trying to lighten the mood with humor. “I would not fear that creature,” Towbar said with confidence.
“Good, that’s what I wanna hear,” Mykal laughed. “Let’s just get the hell outta here,” he added and looked back at the crushed body of Wellsson under the large boulder. Mykal hated the idea of leaving Wellsson where he died but there was nothing they could do for the man.
All the men followed the lead of Diaz and Finley and started along the foot of the large hill. While making their way along the hard rocky ground the men looked forward but continually looked upward so as not to be caught by surprise again. Whether it was normal size men or giants they weren’t going to be struck from above if they could help it.
“We have problems,” Freeman shrieked from the point position.
Coming from around their blind spot where the hill turned to the north east were easily a couple hundred normal looking men armed with swords, clubs, axes and spears. They weren’t dressed in the uniform of the army they cut down the day before. They were similar to Sosos in appearance in that they dressed in dirty raggedy clothing. They looked dirty and unkempt. Coming around the blind spot with them were three giants with them. They looked like the one who had been at the top of the hill and hurled a boulder at them.
Mykal couldn’t believe his eyes. The couple hundred men were of normal size, but they only came to about the thigh of the three who lumbered along with them. The three carried large weapons that looked very crude in their workmanship. One carried a large club that had many eighteen
to twenty-four inch spikes coming out all the sides of the weapon. A second carried a large axe, but the axe head was made of stone and tied into the center of a tree branch. The third carried a large spear; the spearhead was almost half the size of a normal man’s body. In his other hand he carried a sling and the rock inside the pouch had to be at least fifty pounds.
*******
The three giants walked nonchalantly as if they had dealt with such nuisance problems in the past. Obviously from their point of view they had the intruders outnumbered three to one with their normal sized companions and they were Anarts - giants. Whatever problems their normal sized friends may have, the three of them knew they would be able to eliminate the threat rather quickly, because they were Anarts and normal sized men can’t compete with Anarts. The three Anarts knew their clan was feared the world over.
*******
One of the humans in the front began to yell and stood his ground as if making demands before they were within a hundred yards of Freeman and Winfield, the two point men.
“What do they want?” Mykal yelled. “You men,” he shouted to those behind him. “Keep your eyes above us and make sure they don’t start dropping bombs on us from up there.
“Egoneal says they want us to surrender in order to spare our lives,” Freeman shouted.
Mykal rushed to the front with Towbar, Diaz and Finley as well as most of the men. “Do you understand them?” Mykal shouted to Egoneal and Uminair. Who stood beside Freeman and Winfield.
“We understand some of their speech,” Egoneal shouted without looking back. He didn’t want to take their eyes off the enemy. “They desire to take us as slave labor.”
“They say since they have us greatly outnumbered they will spare our lives if we do not resist,” Leeno added.
Mykal watched as the three giants slowly made their way to the front of the little army. They barked out orders in their foreign language. “Do they make any sense to you?” Mykal yelled to the Elves.