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Speaker 1: Dog soldier an apex predator story. Make a simple plan,

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inform everyone involved with it, don't change it, kick it

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in the ass. Colonel Charlie Beckworth, first Special Forces Operational Detachment, Delta,

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thirteen hundred hours, Zulu, June twelfth, twenty ten, Nearesstan Province, Afghanistan.

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First Sergeant William Graygill crouched behind a boulder and began

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scanning the mountain pass ahead with the scope of his

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MK seventeen scar H rifle. The sweat ran down his

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face in rivulets, dripping from the tip of his nose

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and chin. He was walking point for his rifle squad.

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It wasn't uncommon for him to take point, since the

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team had learned that his instincts were almost superhuman when

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looking for insurgents. He slowly swept the pass ahead, looking

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for any sign of ambush or IED's. He slowed his

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breathing and let the calm spread over his body. Despite

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the shimmering waves of heat, he was able to see

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crisp details along both sides of the pass. They had

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to go through this section of the mountains if they

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were going to make it to the rendezvous with the

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rest of the platoon. What do you see, top, whispered

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Staff Sergeant Jacob Mumbles. McKinney. Gray Eagle didn't answer. He

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just held up one finger from his non firing hand

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and continued to sweep the pass. The jagged rock formations

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on these mountains left so many places to hide, and

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it was almost impossible to find them all. The sides

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of these mountains were also riddled with caves sufficient size

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to hide a large force of insurgents. Looking for them

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was like finding a needle in a haystack. Are we

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clear to proceed, ask McKenny. I don't know yet, whispered Gregel.

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But if you're in a hurry, go ahead and stand up.

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If you get killed, we'll know it's not safe. Uh No, thanks, Top,

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love you too. Gregel froze when he saw a glen

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of light reflecting from a shiny surface. It was likely

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the scope of an enemy sniper. Contact, whispered Gregel. Get

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ruez up here, got it, top, whispered McKenny, sliding back

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from the position and motioning for another man to move up.

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He crawled toward where Gregel still crouched beside the rock,

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and slowly got into position and pushing his boony hat

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back on his head. Ruez brought his M twenty four

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SWS rifle up into position. Carefully, he removed the lens

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covers from a skin go, and he readied the rifle.

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Show me the way, top, said Ruiz softly. Far sight

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of the ravine, said Gregel. Six hundred meters approximately halfway

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up the side. Look for the boulder that looks like

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a horse's head. Got the boulder, said Ruez. Thirty meters

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left in ten up, said Gregel. Jagged fork in the rocks,

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dark brown lines on the rock formation. Got it, top,

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said Ruez. Where's he at? He's in that gap, said Gregel.

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Wait for him to move. He's painting this side of

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the ravine looking for us. Got him, said Ruez. Am

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I clear of fire? Fire when ready, said Gregel. Holy Father,

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whispered Ruez. Let my aim be true and my bullet

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be swift, so that I may defend my brothers from harm.

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Gregel had heard the prayer many times before. It was

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how Ruez, as a devout Catholic, justified killing, and he

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said it kept his conscience clear. Amen, whispered Ruez, as

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he excelled softly. The sharp crack of the seven six

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two by fifty one millimeters round shattered the stillness. Gregel

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watched through his scope as the insurgent sniper tried to

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turn toward the sound, only to have the side of

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his head blown apart by the precision shot from Ruez.

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Confirmed hit, said Gregel. Tango down. Ruez and Gregel continued

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to watch that section, waiting for another insurgent to take

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their place. After a few minutes, there were no more

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signs of movement. Do you think he was alone? Asked Ruiz,

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looks that way, replied Gregel. I'm going to do another

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sweep before we move, just in case. After several minutes,

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Gregel leaned back from his rifle in motion for the

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rest of the squad to move up. I think we're clear,

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said Gregel. Contact said Ruez, I've got movement up near

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the sniper position grey. Egel immediately motioned for the others

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to get down and returned to his scope. Zeroing in

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on the position, he found the exact spot and began

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to search the area. What did you see, Ruiz, I'm

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not sure it was movement. Could you be a little

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less helpful, asked Gregel. Well it looked like Ruiz, said

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and then trailed off. It looked like what, asked Gregel.

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You're gonna think I'm nuts, top, said Ruez. Well just

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tell me what you saw, said Gregel. It looked like

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a big gorilla. It was carrying off the dead sniper.

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A few chuckles came from the group behind them, but

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Gregel didn't laugh. Tell me exactly what you saw, said Gregel,

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turning to look at Ruez. Well it was big, said Ruis,

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like seven or eight feet tall, had the dead guy

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slung over its shoulder like a back of potatoes, only

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the guy looked like a kid compared to this thing.

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Ruez thinks he saw bigfoot in Afghanistan, said McKenny, laughing.

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I didn't say it was a bigfoot, snapped Ruez. Are

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you sure that's exactly what you saw, asked Gregel. Yeah, top,

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said Ruiz. I didn't see the face, but I saw

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the side of its head. I saw the ear and

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the profile of its nose. It was flat like a

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gorilla in the head sloped back like a comb, and

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it was a moving on two legs. What color was it?

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It's dark brown, said Ruez. Shaggy hair and all see

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it's a bigfoot, said McKenny. Gregel gave McKenny a sharp

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look and he quit laughing. Don't be so quick to

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dismiss this, said Gregel. I didn't know creatures like that

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existed here, but I can tell you with certainty they

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do exist. I've tracked them, and the Rockies have been

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close to one four times. They can be dangerous. We'd

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better use caution when we bet down for the night.

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Now we got bigfoot insurgents to worry about. Sisquatch taliban,

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said McKinny. A few of the team members chuckled with

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any luck, said Gregel. It'll be content with the meal

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that just carried off and leave us alone. If you

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don't bother them, they won't bother you. At least that's

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how the ones in America act crap, whispered McKinny, looking

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anxiously at the rocks around them, as if this stuff

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wasn't bad enough already. Gregel slid back from the rock

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and did a quick head count. His nine man team

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was just where they were supposed to be. He was

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a squad leader, with McKinny as his assistant. Sergeant. Emelio

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Ruckus Ruez was the team sniper sergeant Nico Knuckles Montenegro

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was a team medic with Corporal David big Mac McMasters

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and Sergeant Liam Garrison on the squad automatic weapons. The

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remaining three were riflemen carrying the same rifle Greyagel carried.

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They were Sergeant Keegan Johnson, Sergeant Hadeki Fuji Fujikawa, and

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Corporal Ronan bear Bronson. Let's move, said Gregel. I want

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to get through this pass before nightfall. That's going to

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be a tough schedule to keep, said McKinny. That's ten

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clicks through some nasty terrain. The alternative is to spend

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the night in the pass with the insurgents and the monsters,

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said Gregel. Right, said McKinny. A brisk walk. We'll do

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us some good. Gregel chuckled and motioned for the team

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to follow him as he headed into the pass. They

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moved silently, falling into their assigned positions and covering every direction.

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The tension level was high since they weren't sure if

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they were walking into an ambush. Greagel was in constant motion.

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Step look left, step, look right, step, sweep the ground

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and step look up, and then he'd start the whole

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thing over again. His head was on a constant swivel

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as he led the team into the pass. The air

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felt oppressive, and he imagined eyes on them from every

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shadow and behind every boulder, but the entire area was

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eerily silent. Time seemed to pass as if each second

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were an eternity. They were all on high alert, listening

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for any sound that might betray the location of their enemy.

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Moving through a boulder field where an avalanche had buried

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part of the trail, they were surprised to see something

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glistening among the rocks. What the hell is that, asked McKinney.

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Gregel shot him a dirty look for breaking the silence,

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and then he sighed they'd been pushing hard for hours.

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They might as well take a break. For them to

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take a break, Gregel scanned the area as he took

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a long pull from the mouthpiece of his camel back

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water bladder. Hey top, said, Ruez, check this out. What

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is it? Asked Gregel, not turning around. Is this what

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I think it is? Ruez said, his voice taking on

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an odd quality. You know about rocks and stuff, right.

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Gregel turned to look at him and saw Ruez holding

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a crystal about the size of a fist. It was

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rough and had jagged edges with a brownish tint to it.

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What are you asking me for, said Gregel. Just because

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I'm a Lakota doesn't mean I know every rock and

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weed on the planet top. I think it's a diamond,

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said Ruis. No damn way, said Fujikawa. It's way too big.

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That thing is massive. It's got to be a quartz.

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I don't think so, said McKinney. I think he's right.

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This stuff is everywhere. It busted out of these boulders

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when they fell. I seriously doubt it's a diamond, said Gregel.

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Tossed me a chunk. McKinny picked up a piece about

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the size of a silver dollar and tossed it to him.

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Gregel caught it and began examining it. He turned it

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over in his hand and held it up to the light.

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I have no idea, he said, looks like any other

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crystal I've ever seen. I don't know anything about gems

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or crystals. He reached into his vest and unsheathed his knife.

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The seven and three quarter inch blade gleamed in the

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sunlight as he sat the crystal on a rock. Using

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the handily smacked it against the crystal with enough force

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to knock it flying. He reached over and picked up

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the crystal and found it didn't have a mark on it.

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He tried scratching it with the tip of his blade,

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but it left no mark. You might be right, mumbles

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said Gregel, grinning. He tossed the stone back to McKinny.

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You're not going to keep it, top, asked McKenny. No,

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said Gregel. I'll pass. This place doesn't feel right, as

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my people would say, this place has bad medicine. Well,

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as my people would say, replied McKenny, you could effing

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retire off a handful of these rocks. Well, if they're

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real diamonds, countered Gregel. But if they're just quartz, you're

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just adding significant weight to your packs and we still

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have a long way to go. I'm not going to

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notice a few pounds, said McKenny, stuffing several large pieces

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into his pack. Everyone on the team was doing the same,

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finding large chunks and slipping them into their rucksacks. Gregel frowned,

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but he didn't stop them. Do you really think it's

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bad juju? Asked Ruez. I do, said Gregel. I can't

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say why. It just feels wrong. Ruez seemed to consider

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it for a moment. Are you going to listen to

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his mumbo jumbo crap? Asked McKenny. You could have enough

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money to put your great kids through college with half

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of what I've gotten my pack. Ruez frowned and selected

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several large stones, and he started placing them in his pack. Sorry, top,

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said Ruiz. I don't want to raise my kids in

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the same crappy Southeast La neighborhood. I grew up in.

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My girl's pregnant back home, and I want to get

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us a nice house away from all the gangs and drugs.

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I get it, said Gregel. I totally understand. Do what

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you feel is best for you, Ruiz. Just remember, once

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you get it back to the FOB, you still got

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to figure out how to get it back to the States.

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The Army isn't exactly happy about you collecting souvenirs, especially

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valuable ones. We're allowed to die here, but we're not

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allowed to profit from it. I've got that covered, said McKinney.

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I'm in a relationship with a specialist in supply. She'll

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help us get it all back. Hell, she probably won't

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even want to cut the action. Now, why would she

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do thats, Gregel. She could get in a lot of

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trouble if she gets caught. Well, she's kind of under

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the impression we're getting married when we get back to

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the world, said McKenny. And how did she get that impression,

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asked Gregel, shaking his head. Let me guess you led

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her to believe that that was going to happen. Well,

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I kind of ask her, said McKenny. Grinny, but it

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was the only way to get her in bed. She

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wasn't going to give it up otherwise. Gregel scowled and

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shook his head. That's not right, mumbles, he said. You

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shouldn't treat people like that. Come on top, she's a

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desert queen. Here she's like a nine, but back in

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the world she's a three at best. You can bet

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your butt a minute we hit the world, she's pregnant

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and a spandex wearing dependopotamus, ruining my life. One Kuntanka

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will not look favorably on you, mumbles, muttered Gregel, turning

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back to the trail. Well, it's a good thing I'm

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a Baptist, then replied McKenny. That drew a few chuckles.

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Mcgregel just ignored them and motioned for them to move out.

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Ruck up and get your heads out of your fourth

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point of contact, edmondish Gregel. We're still in enemy territory.

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We need to move quietly and keep your voices down.

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Moving forward, Gregel set the pace as quickly as he

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could while maintaining a safe footing in the broken terrain.

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The team was quietly doing their jobs, moving cautiously while

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constantly sweeping for signs of threats. Contact hissed Gregel, going

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to one knee behind a rock while motioning for the

236
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team to take cover. Bringing up his weapon, he began

237
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scanning the area where he'd seen movement. Ruez brought up

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his rifle and joined Gregel, searching for any sign of insurgents.

239
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What'd you see, top, asked McKenny. It's just a flash

240
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of movement, replied Gregel. But it was moving fast. Got

241
00:16:00,279 --> 00:16:04,480
a glimpse of it in coming, shout at Ruez, pointing.

242
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Gregel turned and saw a massive rock about the size

243
00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,000
of a basketball, arching through the air and heading right

244
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for them. Take cover, roared Gregel, scrambling out of the

245
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way of the heavy projectile. They all dove behind boulders.

246
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The rock slammed into the boulder where McKinny had just

247
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been standing moments before, and exploded into razor sharp shrapnel.

248
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Shards went flying in every direction, and they could hear

249
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them impacting with the surrounding boulders. Does anyone hurt, snapped Gregel.

250
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One by one they all checked in. No one had

251
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been hit by the flying slivers of rock. What in

252
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the hell was that, roared McKenny. I think it was

253
00:16:50,919 --> 00:16:53,480
one of those things that carried off that dead sniper,

254
00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,840
said Ruis. I saw a big, hairy arm extend over

255
00:16:56,879 --> 00:16:59,200
that boulder about one hundred meters up that side of

256
00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,919
the ravine. Find that sum of a bitch and smoke

257
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his ass, shouted McKenny. Ruez looked at Gregel for confirmation.

258
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See if you can get a shot, affirmed Gregel. I'm

259
00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:11,839
going to see if I can get a shot too.

260
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Ruez aimed in the direction where the rock had been

261
00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:23,559
thrown incoming roared Fujikawa, it's behind us. Gregel spun around

262
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in time to see a rock about the diameter of

263
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a bowling ball slam into mckenny's leg when he tried

264
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to dive out of the way. McKenny screamed in pain,

265
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and they heard the cracking of bone. It was obvious

266
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that the leg was broken. McKenny went down, hitting the

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ground and striking his face on the side of the

268
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boulder and knocked him unconscious, and they could see blood

269
00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:51,400
seeping out onto the ground around his head. Knuckles roared Gregel.

270
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Get to McKenny on that top, replied Montenegro, making his

271
00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,440
way to the fallen ranger. Montenegro kept a wary eye

272
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on the mountain above them. Ruez, watch that side, ordered Gregel.

273
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I'll cover this side. Everyone else watch for movement. Weapons

274
00:18:10,559 --> 00:18:13,319
were brought up and people began sweeping the rocks above

275
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them for signs of movement. Top shouted Montenegro. Mckinnie's gonna

276
00:18:18,559 --> 00:18:22,279
need a dust off. He's hurt bad. Can you stabilize him,

277
00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,359
asked Gregel, without taking his eyes off the spot where

278
00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:28,920
the rock had been thrown. I put a tourniquet on

279
00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,799
the leg, said Montenegro. He's got compound fractures of the

280
00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:36,039
left tib and FIBB. He's also got a nasty cut

281
00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:39,359
on his forehead and he could have a concussion. He's

282
00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,200
out cold, but his pupils are screwed up. He needs

283
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a doctor, not a medic. There's no way we can

284
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get a chopper in here to extract him, said Gregel.

285
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We're in the middle of nowhere. Do your best to

286
00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:53,440
get him patched up. We're going to have to move

287
00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,640
if we want to get him to an extraction point.

288
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Where's the closest possible spot, asked Montenegro. I'll check my

289
00:19:01,319 --> 00:19:04,200
map in a sec said Gregel. We can't stay here.

290
00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,480
Those things are just going to keep pelting us with

291
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the rocks unless we get out of range. Boom, Ruez's

292
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,960
rifle thundered out and echoed around the pass. I got him,

293
00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,759
hissed Ruez. I didn't hear you pray, replied Gregel. I

294
00:19:19,839 --> 00:19:23,240
only pray before I shoot men, replied Ruez. That thing

295
00:19:23,279 --> 00:19:26,559
ain't no man. That face is going to give me nightmares.

296
00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,960
Did you kill it, asked Montenegro. Well, if I didn't,

297
00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,440
it's having a really bad day, replied Ruez. I shot

298
00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:36,400
it in the left eye, and I saw a bone

299
00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:39,279
and blood fly. If that didn't kill it, I don't

300
00:19:39,319 --> 00:19:43,920
know what will. Above them, they heard the shrieking roar

301
00:19:44,039 --> 00:19:48,160
that echoed off into the distance. It sounded part gorilla

302
00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,880
and part lion, and it lasted far longer than expected.

303
00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:57,200
Whatever made the call had massive lung capacity. What the

304
00:19:57,279 --> 00:20:01,400
hell was that, hissed Fujikawa. I don't know, said Ruez,

305
00:20:01,519 --> 00:20:03,920
but I see several of those things moving off into

306
00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,680
the deeper parts of the mountains. I think we scare

307
00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:11,359
them off. I don't think so, whispered Gregel. They'll be back.

308
00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,559
I sure hope not, said Ruez. I saw at least

309
00:20:14,599 --> 00:20:17,480
six of those things. They were moving way too fast

310
00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:21,640
for me to get a shot on one knuckles, said Gregel.

311
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,279
Get mckennie ready to move. We got to get out

312
00:20:24,279 --> 00:20:28,720
of here before the sun goes down. Montenegro nodded and

313
00:20:28,759 --> 00:20:31,640
went to work on McKenny. He pulled out a pressure

314
00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,359
bandage and poured a little water on it and covered

315
00:20:34,400 --> 00:20:38,960
the exposed bone. Next, he started a pair of ivs,

316
00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:42,400
one with an antibiotic drip and the other a unit

317
00:20:42,519 --> 00:20:46,240
of the FDP or freeze dried plasma. He carried it

318
00:20:46,279 --> 00:20:49,960
in its kit. He rolled up his poncho and put

319
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:53,799
it beneath mckinnie's head to keep it elevated and cleaning

320
00:20:53,839 --> 00:20:55,799
the head wound. He put a bandage over it and

321
00:20:55,799 --> 00:20:59,799
then wrapped it with several layers of galls. Checking his

322
00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,519
he made sure McKinney's breathing was unobstructed. That's the best

323
00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:08,079
I can do in the field top, said Montenegro. We've

324
00:21:08,079 --> 00:21:10,240
got to get him to a field hospital as fast

325
00:21:10,279 --> 00:21:13,000
as we can. I don't have a clue how bad

326
00:21:13,079 --> 00:21:15,640
that head wound is or if there's trauma to the brain.

327
00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:20,519
He's not in good shape. Thanks Knuckles, said Gregel. Get

328
00:21:20,559 --> 00:21:22,559
him ready to move and watch him. We're going to

329
00:21:22,599 --> 00:21:27,359
get him out of here. Gregel removed a folded map

330
00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,799
from one of the pouches on his vest and began

331
00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:33,839
studying it. Taking out his compass, he began looking around

332
00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:37,759
the area and consulting the readings. After a moment, he

333
00:21:37,799 --> 00:21:41,279
looked up. The closest place where we can get a

334
00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,559
chopper in is a village about four clicks away, he said,

335
00:21:44,599 --> 00:21:47,599
glancing at his compass. We'll have to take a different

336
00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:52,519
part of the pass. What's the problem, asked Rues. It's

337
00:21:52,559 --> 00:21:56,440
away from our rendezvous point, said Gregel. We need to

338
00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:00,240
advise command, said Montenegro. Maybe get us some help in here.

339
00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:05,640
I'll try, said Gregel. Reaching for his radio, he checked

340
00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,519
to make sure the unit was functioning before activating the

341
00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,920
mic ghost answer to Jackal, he said, releasing the mic

342
00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,319
static hissed back to him and he got a barely

343
00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:21,319
readable reply. It was crackling, but he could understand the words.

344
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:26,039
This is Jackal said the voice. Send it over. We

345
00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:30,039
have a man down, said Gregel. Broken leg and possible concussion.

346
00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:35,680
Requesting nearest extraction point for medevac over copy ghosts Ancer,

347
00:22:35,839 --> 00:22:39,359
said Jackal. What is your current position over? We're ten

348
00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:43,680
clicks north by northeast of the assigned rendezvous point, said Gregel.

349
00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:48,599
In the pass over, that's no good for extraction, said Jackal.

350
00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:50,400
There's no way to get a bird in there to

351
00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:55,920
get you out. Can you move him over? Affirmative, replied Gregel.

352
00:22:56,079 --> 00:22:59,680
We're preparing to move him now over solid copy ghost

353
00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,599
Dancer said Jackal. Nearest extraction point is the village of

354
00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:06,799
Why not be advised You are to proceed with caution.

355
00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:10,920
Status of the village is unknown at this time. Say again,

356
00:23:11,119 --> 00:23:14,640
status of the village is unknown at this time. Over

357
00:23:16,039 --> 00:23:19,519
copy Jackal said Gregel. Consider us advice. We're moving out

358
00:23:19,599 --> 00:23:24,519
in two mikes over understood, ghost dancer said Jackal. How

359
00:23:24,519 --> 00:23:27,759
did your man get hurt? Over. He was hit by

360
00:23:27,759 --> 00:23:30,799
a large rock in a boulder field, said Gregel, not

361
00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:35,680
wanting to explain further on the radio. Have you engaged hostiles,

362
00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:40,640
asked Jackal. Over affirmative, said Gregel. We engage one tango

363
00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:45,000
and have one confirmed kill. Over Copy that, ghost dancer,

364
00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:49,160
said Jackal. Looking forward to reading your report. We'll advise

365
00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:52,599
Base to send an extraction chopper for your wounded. What's

366
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:57,480
your estimated ETA over It's four clicks away, said Gregel.

367
00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:03,160
Two hours possibly more over understood, said Jackal. Try to

368
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,880
keep us updated. Radio contact might be impossible when you

369
00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,799
get closer to the village. Over copy that, said Gregel.

370
00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:15,680
Ghost answer out solid copy, ghost answer, said Jackal. Good

371
00:24:15,759 --> 00:24:20,359
luck Jackal out damn muttered grew as if we get

372
00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:23,119
caught in these mountains after dark, then we'arin a lot

373
00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:27,759
o trouble, finished Gregel. We need to get moving. Montenegro

374
00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:32,079
had assembled the emergency stretcher and Fujikawa helped him move

375
00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:35,200
mc kenny on to it. They tied him to the

376
00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:40,160
stretcher and did their best to immobilize his leg. Replacing

377
00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,599
the poncho, he elevated mc kinny's head again, and then

378
00:24:43,599 --> 00:24:47,720
he rechecked the airway. Keep him doped up, said Gregel.

379
00:24:47,839 --> 00:24:50,599
If he wakes up, that leg's going to be excruciating

380
00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,839
with every step we take. I did top, said Montenegro.

381
00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:58,400
He's feeling no pain. He's got a boatload of special

382
00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:01,359
ka on board. I should have enough to keep him

383
00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:05,400
out until we reach the village. Good, said Gregel. Let's

384
00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,680
get moving. Daylight is dwindling fast, and we don't want

385
00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,400
to be in this past when it's gone. They spent

386
00:25:12,519 --> 00:25:16,240
the next two hours moving as quickly as they safely could.

387
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:21,720
Gregel was watching the shadows grow steadily longer, even though

388
00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,000
it was only sixteen hundred hours. The sun was dipping

389
00:25:25,039 --> 00:25:30,319
behind the mountains and plunging the pass into darkness. Above them,

390
00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:33,799
they could hear movement in the rocks. Although they couldn't

391
00:25:33,839 --> 00:25:36,119
see them, they knew it had to be the creatures

392
00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:40,559
getting bolder now that it was nearly dark. Gregel glanced

393
00:25:40,559 --> 00:25:42,599
to his left and caught a glimpse of a dark,

394
00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:47,440
hairy head duck behind a large boulder top, said Ruez

395
00:25:47,599 --> 00:25:51,880
concerning his voice. I see it, said Gregel. Keep moving.

396
00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,920
We're almost to the village. If we took a wrong turn,

397
00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:59,319
said Fujikawa, we could be lost in these god forsaken

398
00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:04,119
mountains for it. We didn't take a wrong turn, assured Gregel.

399
00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:08,839
We're going the right way. Oh hell, moaned McKenny. What

400
00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:13,079
the hell happened to me? Stay calm, McKenny, said Gregel.

401
00:26:13,119 --> 00:26:18,240
You're almost out of here. Knuckles keep him quiet. Ruez

402
00:26:18,279 --> 00:26:21,119
took the handles of the stretcher from Montenegro as he

403
00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:25,839
put another dose of ketamine into mckenny's IV. That should

404
00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:30,920
do it, said Montenegro. H moan McKenny, trailing off and

405
00:26:31,039 --> 00:26:36,359
passing back out. He's feeling no pain, said Fujikawa. He's

406
00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,039
the lucky one, said Gregel. If we don't reach the

407
00:26:39,119 --> 00:26:42,039
village before night falls, he won't be awake when those

408
00:26:42,079 --> 00:26:46,319
things come for us. As they began to round a

409
00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,960
bend in the trail, Gregel caught a glimpse of a

410
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:53,680
man made structure. They had reached the village. There was

411
00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:56,759
a crude wall around the entire settlement, made of odd

412
00:26:56,799 --> 00:26:59,759
bits of junk and tires and dirt and large rocks

413
00:26:59,759 --> 00:27:03,200
and anything else they could find. A bill with a

414
00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:06,960
crude wall was close to ten feet tall. There was

415
00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:09,599
a rough gate that faced this part of the trail,

416
00:27:10,079 --> 00:27:12,039
and there was no other way to enter the village

417
00:27:12,079 --> 00:27:15,119
from this side without climbing the sheer mountain sides that

418
00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:19,400
surrounded them. As they grew closer, they could see that

419
00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,640
one of the gates was off its hinges and hung

420
00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,440
loosely in the door frame. There was no noise coming

421
00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:29,079
from the small village. This is not a good sign,

422
00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:33,039
said Bronson. I thought this place was inhabited. It looks

423
00:27:33,079 --> 00:27:38,400
like it's deserted to me too, said Fujikawa. Grego brought

424
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:40,680
his rifle up and scanned the wall and the gate.

425
00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,839
There was no sign of movement, and it looked like

426
00:27:44,039 --> 00:27:46,480
it had been quite a while since anyone had been there.

427
00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,039
What do you think happened to the village, asked Montenegro.

428
00:27:51,079 --> 00:27:54,119
I don't know, replied Gregle, but I wouldn't rule out

429
00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:59,000
the creatures that are following us. So what now, asked Fujikawa.

430
00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:03,319
Get inside and find shelter, said Gregel. I'm going to

431
00:28:03,359 --> 00:28:06,720
try to make radio contact and advise Jackal that we're

432
00:28:06,759 --> 00:28:11,000
on station and ready for extraction. You heard the man,

433
00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:14,119
said Ruiz. Let's get inside and get some cover. It's

434
00:28:14,160 --> 00:28:19,279
almost dark. They moved cautiously toward the gate and still

435
00:28:19,319 --> 00:28:23,240
saw no signs of movement. Gregel slipped through the gate

436
00:28:23,279 --> 00:28:27,039
and looked the small village over. It consisted of about

437
00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:30,359
twenty huts and one larger building made of brick and mud,

438
00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:33,640
and it looked like the central meeting hall, which likely

439
00:28:33,759 --> 00:28:38,000
also served for calls to prayer. On the roof was

440
00:28:38,039 --> 00:28:40,799
a small minaret with a bell where the calls to

441
00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:44,680
prayer were made. Head for the big building, said Gregel.

442
00:28:44,759 --> 00:28:48,160
Looks like the most solid and defensible on it. Top

443
00:28:48,359 --> 00:28:55,519
said Ruez. Where is everyone? Asked Mantenegro. Gregel didn't answer. Instead,

444
00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:58,720
he pointed at the dried blood and abandoned AK forty

445
00:28:58,799 --> 00:29:01,640
sevens that were laying near the entrances of some of

446
00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:06,759
the huts. There were no signs of bodies uh top,

447
00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,000
called Ruez. I just saw a face and the little

448
00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:15,359
bell tower thing it's called a minaret, said Gregel. Whatever

449
00:29:15,519 --> 00:29:18,519
said Ruez, I saw a movement. Was it one of

450
00:29:18,559 --> 00:29:23,720
the creatures, asked Gregel, bringing up his rifle. No, replied Ruez.

451
00:29:23,759 --> 00:29:26,480
It was a human looked like a kid around fifteen

452
00:29:26,599 --> 00:29:31,160
or so. Top. The big building is still secure, said Fujikawa.

453
00:29:31,559 --> 00:29:33,880
It's the only one that is. I think there might

454
00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:37,720
be survivors in there, all right, said Gregel. It's time

455
00:29:37,759 --> 00:29:40,240
to make nice with the locals. We need to get

456
00:29:40,279 --> 00:29:45,119
inside that building in fast. Why don't speak farsier Pashtu,

457
00:29:45,279 --> 00:29:50,599
said Fujikawa. Any chance they speak English, you're Japanese. It's doubtful,

458
00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,839
said Gregel. I speak a little Pashtu. Hope I can

459
00:29:53,920 --> 00:29:58,960
make myself understood. Moving closer to the door, Gregel could

460
00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:02,759
hear a voice from in side. Sounded like a younger male,

461
00:30:03,279 --> 00:30:05,599
likely the same one that Ruez had seen on the

462
00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:10,480
minor route. Gregel was relieved to hear him speaking Poshtu.

463
00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:15,519
Go away, said the voice. We seek the hospitality of

464
00:30:15,559 --> 00:30:19,759
the village, said Gregel, switching to Poshtu. What did you

465
00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:24,240
just say, asked Ruiz Well. I either asked for sanctuary

466
00:30:24,519 --> 00:30:28,680
or I propositioned a mother, said Gregel. We'll find out which.

467
00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:32,079
In a moment. After a long pause, they heard a

468
00:30:32,160 --> 00:30:36,039
large wooden beam being removed from the door. Slowly opened,

469
00:30:37,039 --> 00:30:39,839
they were greeted by an elderly man, likely one of

470
00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:44,160
the village leaders, who asked for our hospitality, said the

471
00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:48,240
man in Poshtu. We do, said Gregel. We're with the

472
00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:52,400
United States Army. We need shelter and hospitality. I have

473
00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:57,279
a wounded man. Reaching slowly to his vest, he released

474
00:30:57,279 --> 00:31:01,720
the grimlock clip that held his bayonet to his presenting

475
00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,039
it to the older man. He held it out as

476
00:31:04,079 --> 00:31:07,519
an offering offer, a gift to show our respect and

477
00:31:07,599 --> 00:31:12,920
good intent, said Gregel slowly and postu The old man

478
00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:15,839
met his gaze, surprised that an outsider would know the

479
00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:21,480
rules of hospitality, especially an American. Taking the gift, he

480
00:31:21,559 --> 00:31:25,440
nodded and gestured for them to come inside. Quickly, said

481
00:31:25,519 --> 00:31:29,319
the old man, the night is coming. Gregel motioned for

482
00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:32,000
the team inside and watched their backs until they were

483
00:31:32,039 --> 00:31:35,480
all safely in, and only then did he walk backward

484
00:31:35,519 --> 00:31:39,119
through the door. Beyond the wall, he could hear movement

485
00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:42,920
and grunting calls going back and forth between the creatures.

486
00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:46,759
Once he was inside, the door was immediately shut and

487
00:31:46,839 --> 00:31:51,440
a large wooden crossbar was dropped into place. The doors

488
00:31:51,440 --> 00:31:54,480
were thick and reinforced with metal bands that had been

489
00:31:54,559 --> 00:31:57,519
nailed to the door with crude square nails about the

490
00:31:57,559 --> 00:32:01,480
size of a dime. Turning a Gregel saw that there

491
00:32:01,480 --> 00:32:05,400
were six people in the room, two children, three women,

492
00:32:05,599 --> 00:32:09,119
and the old man. They had closed off the windows

493
00:32:09,119 --> 00:32:12,160
and nailed them all shut, preventing anything from getting in.

494
00:32:13,599 --> 00:32:16,880
The three women had AK forty sevens in their hands,

495
00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:20,759
but they were not pointing them at anyone. They gently

496
00:32:20,799 --> 00:32:25,119
placed the stretcher on the ground. McKinney didn't stir, but

497
00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:29,880
they could see sweat was beated upon his forehead. Montenegro

498
00:32:30,039 --> 00:32:33,400
crouched beside him and began checking his vitals in an airway.

499
00:32:34,319 --> 00:32:38,920
How is he, asked Gregel. He's got a fever, said Montenegro.

500
00:32:39,279 --> 00:32:42,480
He's not responding to the antibiotics. We need to get

501
00:32:42,519 --> 00:32:46,079
him out of here. I'm on it, said Gregel, reaching

502
00:32:46,119 --> 00:32:48,599
for his radio. Why don't you guys break out some

503
00:32:48,759 --> 00:32:51,680
MRIs and see if our hosts are hungry. I don't

504
00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:56,119
see any food here. That's a great idea, top, said Ruiz.

505
00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:00,000
While the team began distributing food and bottles of water,

506
00:33:00,559 --> 00:33:03,920
Gregel stepped away from them and checked his radio. It

507
00:33:04,039 --> 00:33:09,039
was still showing power and wasn't damaged. Ghost answer to Jackal,

508
00:33:09,279 --> 00:33:13,240
he said, do you copy over? Static filled the speaker

509
00:33:13,279 --> 00:33:17,000
for a moment and then cleared up. Read you, ghost dancer,

510
00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,960
said Jackal, his voice sounding tiny and distant. Send it over.

511
00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:26,200
We've reached the extraction point, said Gregel. We're in the

512
00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:30,000
main building of the village. Over, can you hold that position,

513
00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:35,359
asked Jackal over affirmative, he replied, what's the eta on

514
00:33:35,480 --> 00:33:40,559
our metavac Over? It's not coming, ghost Dancer, said Jackal,

515
00:33:40,799 --> 00:33:44,279
at least not until the dust storm clears. It blew

516
00:33:44,319 --> 00:33:47,720
in out of nowhere about an hour ago. All birds

517
00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:51,400
in our area of operation are grounded. You're on your

518
00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:56,680
own until the morning. What's your status, over, Gregel grimaced.

519
00:33:57,119 --> 00:33:59,680
He knew that McKinney needed a doctor and the delay

520
00:33:59,759 --> 00:34:03,799
mic kill him before morning. We can hold, said Gregel.

521
00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:09,559
My wounded man's condition is deteriorating. We need a matavac over, understood,

522
00:34:09,599 --> 00:34:12,880
Ghost Dancer, said Jackal. There is no chance of us

523
00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:15,960
getting one to you until morning. The weather geeks at

524
00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:19,039
the fob are saying this storm won't clear before zero

525
00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:22,920
six hundred hours. Over. We'll do our best, said Gregel.

526
00:34:23,119 --> 00:34:27,199
Any other good news over. The last bit had been

527
00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,559
pure sarcasm, and he regretted saying it as soon as

528
00:34:30,599 --> 00:34:35,000
it left his mouth. Jackal was Captain Devin Mackie, and

529
00:34:35,039 --> 00:34:37,760
he didn't have much of a sense of humor. That's

530
00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:41,639
a negative, Ghost Dancer, said Jackal. The pattern is full over.

531
00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:46,920
Gregel stifled a laugh at the unexpected joke from Captain Mackie.

532
00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,519
Copy that said Gregel, We'll hold until you can buzz

533
00:34:50,519 --> 00:34:54,880
the tower over. Copy that said Jackal, hold tight. We'll

534
00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:57,800
get there as fast as we can. I'm sorry, will

535
00:34:57,880 --> 00:35:00,480
it's a shit show with a storm. I don't like

536
00:35:00,599 --> 00:35:03,800
leaving you out there with the wounded. We'll manage, sir,

537
00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:08,360
said Gregel. We'll hold ghost answer out. Turning back to

538
00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:12,639
the others, Gregel frowned. We're on our own until the morning,

539
00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:15,840
said Gregel. There's a dust storm near the fob and

540
00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:18,639
they can't get the choppers to us. Can you keep

541
00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:23,320
McKinnie stable for that long? I think so, top, said Montenegro.

542
00:35:23,639 --> 00:35:25,840
I'm going to use every bit of medical supplies I

543
00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:28,880
have doing it, so none of you better get hurt.

544
00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:33,159
Montenegro turned and started cleaning and replacing the dressing on

545
00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:37,159
mckenny's leg and head. Gregel watched him for a moment

546
00:35:37,239 --> 00:35:41,039
before turning and heading for the old man. He began

547
00:35:41,159 --> 00:35:44,119
speaking to him slowly, unsure if he would have the

548
00:35:44,199 --> 00:35:47,400
fluency and poshtu to say everything he needed to say.

549
00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:52,679
My name is William Gregel, he began, we're us army.

550
00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:57,440
Thank you for extending your hospitality to us. The man

551
00:35:57,519 --> 00:36:00,480
nodded gravely and motioned for Gregel to take a seat

552
00:36:00,519 --> 00:36:03,920
beside him on the floor. Gregel did as he was Beckon,

553
00:36:04,199 --> 00:36:09,320
and he joined him. I am Iban alhamad Allah, he said.

554
00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:12,039
I am the last of the surviving elders of the

555
00:36:12,159 --> 00:36:17,440
mallah for this village. What happened here, asked Gregel. A

556
00:36:17,480 --> 00:36:20,199
week ago there was the terrible shaking of the mountains,

557
00:36:20,199 --> 00:36:24,400
said Aban. A rock slide blocked part of the pass well.

558
00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:27,320
I saw the rock slide, said Gregel. That's where my

559
00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:32,079
man was injured. When the rock slide happened, explained Abon,

560
00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:35,199
it opened several large caves high up on the mountain,

561
00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:40,199
and from those caves emerged the BARMANO. What's a barmano,

562
00:36:40,559 --> 00:36:44,199
asked Gregel. Creatures that I have not seen in this

563
00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:48,400
area since I was a young man, said Aban. He

564
00:36:48,480 --> 00:36:51,440
then began describing the same creatures that they had seen

565
00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:54,840
in the past. They were similar to the creatures that

566
00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:59,199
Gregel knew as Chaya Tunka or Bigfoot, but they differed

567
00:36:59,239 --> 00:37:03,039
in size and temperament. They were also alleged to have

568
00:37:03,119 --> 00:37:07,880
mystical powers. When the old man finished speaking, Gregel nodded.

569
00:37:08,920 --> 00:37:12,440
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Mala, said Gregel respectfully.

570
00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:16,639
How do we stop the Barmano? Your guns will be

571
00:37:16,679 --> 00:37:19,360
of no use to you, said Aban, just as they

572
00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:21,440
were of no use to the men of our village.

573
00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:25,039
By the time I realized what we were facing, the

574
00:37:25,119 --> 00:37:28,440
damage had been done. I took what people I could

575
00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:32,559
save and sealed ourselves inside this building. You did the

576
00:37:32,639 --> 00:37:35,599
right thing, said Gregel. But why haven't you tried walking

577
00:37:35,639 --> 00:37:38,480
out of here when the sun is up. You're not

578
00:37:38,639 --> 00:37:41,440
safe even with the sun up, said Aban. It is

579
00:37:41,559 --> 00:37:45,559
less safe at night, but they're always dangerous. Besides, there's

580
00:37:45,559 --> 00:37:47,679
nowhere we can walk that would not take us a

581
00:37:47,719 --> 00:37:52,039
week to reach on foot. The Barmano killed all our lives.

582
00:37:52,039 --> 00:37:56,800
Stock I'm an old man, I could not make the walk. Well,

583
00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:01,199
why did the Barmano attack you, asked Gregel. Because they

584
00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:05,000
eat man flesh, explained Abon. But their wrath was brought

585
00:38:05,039 --> 00:38:07,400
down on this village by the greed of two of

586
00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:11,800
our young men. The rock slide unearthed large quantities of

587
00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:15,159
brown diamonds. Any One who takes them from the mountains

588
00:38:15,159 --> 00:38:19,719
will reap the vengeance of the Barmano. Gregel closed his

589
00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:22,880
eyes for a moment, remembering that it was mc kenny

590
00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:26,960
who had found the diamonds and insisted that they take them.

591
00:38:27,320 --> 00:38:30,079
It had also been mc kinny who was struck first.

592
00:38:30,840 --> 00:38:33,800
He didn't tell Abon about the gems his men were carrying.

593
00:38:34,079 --> 00:38:36,480
It would likely get them thrown out of the building.

594
00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:40,760
If our guns won't work against them, said Gregel, then

595
00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:44,599
how do we fight them. Only a blade blessed by

596
00:38:44,599 --> 00:38:47,840
a mullah of pure faith will hurt them, said Aban.

597
00:38:48,239 --> 00:38:51,719
And it must be wielded by a warrior of virtue.

598
00:38:52,119 --> 00:38:54,480
I don't know how virtuous I am, but I have

599
00:38:54,559 --> 00:38:58,039
a blade, said Gregel, and he drew his bowie style

600
00:38:58,159 --> 00:39:02,599
brock blades our dens. The old man took Gregel by

601
00:39:02,599 --> 00:39:05,159
the hand and held it between both of his and

602
00:39:05,199 --> 00:39:08,599
then looked him in the eyes. He held the gaze

603
00:39:08,599 --> 00:39:12,760
for a long moment. Gregel felt Aban was gazing into

604
00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:18,239
his soul. After a long moment, he broke the gaze.

605
00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:21,880
My faith is pure, said Aban, and I can sense

606
00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:25,480
you are a warrior of strong faith and virtue. I

607
00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:29,760
will consecrate your blade, but know this before you face

608
00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:32,960
the Barmano. You must return all of the diamonds your

609
00:39:32,960 --> 00:39:37,800
men are carrying. How did you know, asked Gregel. I

610
00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:41,119
can sense the power of the gem, said Aban. The

611
00:39:41,199 --> 00:39:44,519
Barmano are drawn to them like a moth to a flame.

612
00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,280
Only after their stain is removed from this holy place,

613
00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:52,039
can I consecrate your blade. I'll take them up to

614
00:39:52,079 --> 00:39:56,079
the minaret and toss them out, said Gregel. Good, said Aban,

615
00:39:56,639 --> 00:39:58,840
I will perform the cleansing of the blade and begin

616
00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:03,480
the purification preser. He took the blade from Gregel and

617
00:40:03,599 --> 00:40:08,239
examined it closely. This is a well crafted blade, said Abon.

618
00:40:09,519 --> 00:40:12,599
It will serve you well. You gather the gems while

619
00:40:12,599 --> 00:40:17,440
I prepare myself for the blessing. Gregel removed his back

620
00:40:17,519 --> 00:40:21,679
up blade, called a street weasel and crafted by Brock Blades,

621
00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:25,079
and set it on the floor. Then he removed his

622
00:40:25,119 --> 00:40:28,880
winkler knives say out Tomahawk, and placed it beside the knives.

623
00:40:30,039 --> 00:40:33,159
Nodding to Avon, he returned to his men in motioned

624
00:40:33,159 --> 00:40:36,480
for them to gather around. I need all of the

625
00:40:36,559 --> 00:40:41,159
gems you gathered, he said. Why is that top, asked Ruiz.

626
00:40:42,039 --> 00:40:45,000
The Malla tells me that they're sacred to these creatures,

627
00:40:45,159 --> 00:40:48,280
said Gregel. The reason they're following us is that they

628
00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:52,960
want them back. No offense, top, said Garrison. But how

629
00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:56,679
the heck would they even know? Besides that, said McMasters,

630
00:40:56,760 --> 00:40:59,679
We're safe in here, well extract in the morning, Why

631
00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:03,719
bab we can hold this place? Did you not notice

632
00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:07,639
the buildings in this village? Asked Gregel. The villagers took

633
00:41:07,679 --> 00:41:09,639
some of the gems, and the creatures came to get

634
00:41:09,639 --> 00:41:12,840
them back. That's when they wiped out most of the village.

635
00:41:13,559 --> 00:41:16,880
Top's right, said Ruez. I felt like taking them was

636
00:41:16,880 --> 00:41:21,360
wrong in the first place. Look man, said McMasters. Those

637
00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:24,679
gems could set us all up for life. You really

638
00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:27,000
want to give that up for some bedtime story the

639
00:41:27,039 --> 00:41:32,079
locals tell to scare their kids. As soon as McMasters

640
00:41:32,119 --> 00:41:36,039
finished speaking, something slammed into the door with tremendous force.

641
00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:40,760
The wood creaked and dust fell from the roof. Everyone

642
00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:44,159
turned to face the door. Then there was another powerful

643
00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:46,719
hit on the door, and this time it rattled. They

644
00:41:46,760 --> 00:41:50,320
heard the crossbar crack. They're going to come through that door,

645
00:41:50,519 --> 00:41:55,119
whispered Ruez. It's not gonna hold forever. We've got nowhere

646
00:41:55,159 --> 00:41:57,639
to run, said Gregel. We either keep them out of

647
00:41:57,679 --> 00:42:01,119
here or we all die. Do you really believe that

648
00:42:01,159 --> 00:42:05,440
they're after those gems? Asked McMasters, looking at Gregel. Do

649
00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:09,000
you have a better explanation, replied Gregel. If they don't

650
00:42:09,039 --> 00:42:10,800
want the gems, you can pick them up when we

651
00:42:10,840 --> 00:42:13,400
go outside in the morning, and if they want them,

652
00:42:13,599 --> 00:42:16,719
maybe they'll leave. Well, what do we have to lose,

653
00:42:17,000 --> 00:42:19,480
asked Ruez. If it works, we might just make it

654
00:42:19,519 --> 00:42:22,400
out of this place alive. If they ignore the gems,

655
00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:26,840
then our situation isn't changed. It's worth a shot. Lamla

656
00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:30,480
says that our guns won't stop them, said Gregel. I

657
00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:32,599
don't know if that's true or not, but I saw

658
00:42:32,639 --> 00:42:35,119
a lot of aks out there with blood around them.

659
00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:39,039
I didn't see any bodies, human or otherwise. I think

660
00:42:39,039 --> 00:42:42,480
that's good enough reason to believe them. What about the

661
00:42:42,480 --> 00:42:46,079
one I hit in the head, asked Ruez. Maybe at drop,

662
00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:49,639
said Gregel. Maybe it healed. I don't know. We couldn't

663
00:42:49,679 --> 00:42:52,519
confirm the kill. We have no idea if it died

664
00:42:52,639 --> 00:42:56,039
or not. Another beast slammed into the wall near the

665
00:42:56,079 --> 00:43:01,199
small window. Dust fell and the children started crying. The

666
00:43:01,239 --> 00:43:04,280
woman tried to comfort the children, but another impact struck

667
00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:08,239
the back door, shaking the floor beneath their feet. The

668
00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:11,239
door held, but they could see small cracks forming in

669
00:43:11,320 --> 00:43:16,599
the mortar around the doorframe. Decide now, said Gregel. Is

670
00:43:16,599 --> 00:43:19,559
it worth trying. They'll be inside and a few more hits.

671
00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:22,679
Even if it just slows them down, It's worth trying.

672
00:43:24,119 --> 00:43:27,760
After exchanging glances, they all began gathering up the gems

673
00:43:27,800 --> 00:43:30,239
they'd stuffed into their packs, and they placed them in

674
00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:33,880
a pile on the floor. Ruez gathered the ones that

675
00:43:33,960 --> 00:43:36,639
McKinny had in his pack and added them to the pile.

676
00:43:37,639 --> 00:43:41,760
Is that all of them? Asked Gregel. McMasters grimaced and

677
00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:45,480
took another one out of his pocket. That's all I swear,

678
00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:49,719
he said, in a guilty tone. So much for early retirement,

679
00:43:49,840 --> 00:43:55,599
said Fujikawa, tossing another piece onto the pile. Gregel glanced

680
00:43:55,639 --> 00:43:58,719
around and found no other holdouts. Then he placed all

681
00:43:58,719 --> 00:44:02,719
the gems in a cloth. All right, he said, I'll

682
00:44:02,719 --> 00:44:04,920
take them up to the minaret and toss them out.

683
00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:07,920
Get your gear and cover the doors, just in case

684
00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:11,880
if those things get inside. We have to protect the civilians.

685
00:44:13,599 --> 00:44:16,760
Avon set out his prayer, rug careful that he was

686
00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:21,400
facing Mecca while he was making his preparations, Gregel found

687
00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:25,159
a small staircase that led to the minaret. There was

688
00:44:25,199 --> 00:44:28,000
a thick board sealing off the axis, which had been

689
00:44:28,039 --> 00:44:33,079
bolted in place with two long wooden cross pieces. Gregel

690
00:44:33,119 --> 00:44:35,280
listened to make certain that there was nothing on the

691
00:44:35,320 --> 00:44:37,920
other side, and when he was sure it was clear,

692
00:44:38,360 --> 00:44:41,320
he removed the cross pieces as quietly as he could.

693
00:44:42,719 --> 00:44:46,000
Lifting the board, he climbed out to the minaret, careful

694
00:44:46,039 --> 00:44:50,239
to avoid hitting the bell. There was a radiant orange

695
00:44:50,280 --> 00:44:54,280
glow over the mountains to the west. Beyond those peaks,

696
00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:57,679
it would still be daylight for another few hours, but

697
00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:00,800
here in the past it was deep twilight, with deep

698
00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:05,679
shadows cloaking nearly everything. In the shadows, he could see

699
00:45:05,719 --> 00:45:09,280
subtle movements as the creatures carefully moved around the building

700
00:45:09,440 --> 00:45:13,760
looking for weak points. Gregel took the bag and tossed

701
00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:17,039
it out toward the front of the building. In the darkness,

702
00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:22,280
he could hear several creatures moving toward him. Ducking back inside,

703
00:45:22,320 --> 00:45:24,920
he locked the door back in place, just as large

704
00:45:25,039 --> 00:45:27,519
rocks began raining down on the spot where he had

705
00:45:27,599 --> 00:45:31,360
just been. That was close, he thought, as he locked

706
00:45:31,360 --> 00:45:36,480
the crossbar back into place. Gregel walked back down the

707
00:45:36,519 --> 00:45:39,119
stairs and stopped when he saw a large piece of

708
00:45:39,239 --> 00:45:42,440
metal near the back of the room. It was a

709
00:45:42,519 --> 00:45:47,559
chunk of aircraft fuselages that had been salvaged from a crash.

710
00:45:47,920 --> 00:45:51,280
As he inspected it closer, it had Soviet markings on

711
00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:53,800
the back. It had to be a piece of an

712
00:45:53,800 --> 00:45:56,280
old MiG jet that had been shot down during the

713
00:45:56,360 --> 00:46:02,079
Russian invasion of Afghanistan. I used this, asked Gregel, nodding

714
00:46:02,159 --> 00:46:05,559
at the others, of course, said Aban, If it will

715
00:46:05,559 --> 00:46:08,159
help us survive, feel free to use anything we have.

716
00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:12,679
Gregel checked the small toolbox on the shelf and found

717
00:46:12,800 --> 00:46:16,320
exactly what he was looking for. Grabbing a set of

718
00:46:16,320 --> 00:46:19,079
metal shears, he began cutting shapes out of the piece

719
00:46:19,159 --> 00:46:22,800
of aircraft aluminum. It only took him a few minutes

720
00:46:22,880 --> 00:46:25,559
to cut out a dozen small pieces of sharp metal

721
00:46:25,639 --> 00:46:29,199
that came to a point, and taking them over to Abon,

722
00:46:29,320 --> 00:46:32,920
he placed them with the other weapons. Can you bless

723
00:46:32,960 --> 00:46:37,440
these as well, asked Gregel. Of course, said Aban, What

724
00:46:37,519 --> 00:46:41,559
are they for? They're arrowheads? Said Gregel. I need to

725
00:46:41,559 --> 00:46:44,400
find a few other things so I can make arrows.

726
00:46:45,800 --> 00:46:49,920
Ruz helped Gregel search after he quickly explain what he wanted.

727
00:46:50,639 --> 00:46:53,679
They made arrow shafts from numerous wooden dows that they

728
00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:58,119
were using to make cages for their chickens. Gregel showed

729
00:46:58,199 --> 00:47:00,679
Ruz how long they needed to be, and then went

730
00:47:00,760 --> 00:47:03,880
back to work finding something suitable to use as fletching.

731
00:47:05,239 --> 00:47:09,599
He smiled when he saw the empty mre containers, taking

732
00:47:09,639 --> 00:47:12,360
them and spreading them out on the floor. He slit

733
00:47:12,440 --> 00:47:15,079
the bags open and then used the shears to cut

734
00:47:15,079 --> 00:47:19,519
the shapes he needed. By the time he finished, Abon

735
00:47:19,639 --> 00:47:24,119
had finished blessing the weapons. Gregel took the blades and

736
00:47:24,159 --> 00:47:27,599
returned them to their sheaves. Then he took the arrowheads

737
00:47:27,599 --> 00:47:30,239
and laid them on the floor beside the fletching material.

738
00:47:31,559 --> 00:47:34,280
Using the edge of his ard end's knife, he began

739
00:47:34,360 --> 00:47:39,000
carefully splitting the ends of the dowels. Once they were ready,

740
00:47:39,239 --> 00:47:42,360
he slipped an arrowhead in one end and the fletching

741
00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:46,599
material in the other. He found a piece of crude

742
00:47:46,679 --> 00:47:49,119
leather that had been used for padding on a chair,

743
00:47:49,119 --> 00:47:52,719
and he pulled it free and cutting small strips from

744
00:47:52,760 --> 00:47:55,840
the leather, he placed them into an mr bag and

745
00:47:55,880 --> 00:48:00,000
poured water on them. After the leather had soaked up

746
00:48:00,079 --> 00:48:02,480
up the water, he began tying them around the cut

747
00:48:02,599 --> 00:48:06,920
ends of the dials, securing the fletching and arrows. When

748
00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:09,880
the leather dried, it would shrink and make it almost

749
00:48:09,920 --> 00:48:15,440
impossible to remove the material. Once the arrows were drying,

750
00:48:15,480 --> 00:48:18,159
he began looking for something to build a bow out of.

751
00:48:18,840 --> 00:48:22,000
He found several pieces of slender ash used to build

752
00:48:22,000 --> 00:48:24,880
a shelf, and he took it apart and he picked

753
00:48:24,880 --> 00:48:27,559
a piece that was about the right length and then

754
00:48:27,679 --> 00:48:32,800
tested it for its elasticity. It still had plenty of flexibility,

755
00:48:32,880 --> 00:48:35,320
so he began using the tomahawk to cut to the

756
00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:39,840
right length and remove the bark. After a while, he

757
00:48:39,880 --> 00:48:42,559
had the wood cut to the desired length and shape,

758
00:48:42,920 --> 00:48:45,480
and while it wasn't ideal, it was good enough to

759
00:48:45,519 --> 00:48:49,800
do the job. Using a piece of parachord from his pack,

760
00:48:49,840 --> 00:48:52,320
he cut the new string to the proper length and

761
00:48:52,360 --> 00:48:56,639
then fashioned the ends into loops. Hooking one loop over

762
00:48:56,639 --> 00:48:58,960
the bottom of the bow, He stepped around the bow

763
00:48:59,039 --> 00:49:01,559
and used his legs as a fulcrumb to bend it.

764
00:49:02,239 --> 00:49:06,199
He held his breath in anticipation, but the wood didn't break.

765
00:49:07,360 --> 00:49:10,480
With a smile, he flexed the wood even farther and

766
00:49:10,519 --> 00:49:12,679
hooked the loop of the bow string over the end

767
00:49:12,719 --> 00:49:17,239
of the bow. Releasing the tension. The bowstring went taut

768
00:49:17,400 --> 00:49:22,000
and held in place. Pulling the string back, he heard

769
00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:25,159
the wood creek, but it didn't break or crack, and

770
00:49:25,199 --> 00:49:30,719
the pull on the bow was easily eighty pounds. Ruez

771
00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:34,159
handed him a quiver for the arrows, crudely made from

772
00:49:34,159 --> 00:49:37,320
the sleeve that his sniper rifle was carried in and

773
00:49:37,480 --> 00:49:42,400
more paracord. It was hooked together with several grimlock connectors

774
00:49:42,440 --> 00:49:46,199
and more para cord here top, said Ruiz, this is

775
00:49:46,239 --> 00:49:49,920
for your arrows. What are you planning to do? The

776
00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:52,840
only thing that makes sense, said Gregel. I'm going to

777
00:49:52,880 --> 00:49:55,719
go hunting before they decide they're coming in here with us.

778
00:49:56,280 --> 00:49:59,239
It's only nineteen hundred and thirty hours. We have a

779
00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:02,800
long way to go before morning. Well where are you going,

780
00:50:03,039 --> 00:50:06,119
asked Ruez. I'll coverage you. I need to find a

781
00:50:06,159 --> 00:50:10,280
couple more things, said greg O, grinning. He stripped off

782
00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:13,480
his combat gear, taking everything off down to the waist.

783
00:50:14,119 --> 00:50:18,239
Then he gathered ash and soot from the firepit. Once

784
00:50:18,280 --> 00:50:21,000
that was done, he used a brick, dust and clay

785
00:50:21,039 --> 00:50:23,800
from the walls to begin mixing two types of paint

786
00:50:24,920 --> 00:50:29,000
one black and one like gray. When they were mixed,

787
00:50:29,000 --> 00:50:33,639
he began applying them to his face and chest. He

788
00:50:33,679 --> 00:50:36,639
applied the lighter material as a base, and then again,

789
00:50:36,800 --> 00:50:40,719
making dark shapes with the black paint, and soon he

790
00:50:40,800 --> 00:50:43,559
stood before them covered in the war paint of his

791
00:50:43,639 --> 00:50:49,280
Lakota heritage. He used the images his grandfather Jametuska had

792
00:50:49,320 --> 00:50:53,800
taught him as a guide. While the paint would help

793
00:50:53,840 --> 00:50:56,960
break up his form in the darkness outside, it also

794
00:50:57,199 --> 00:51:00,440
served another purpose. If he was going in the war

795
00:51:00,519 --> 00:51:03,760
against these creatures, he was going as a dog soldier

796
00:51:03,920 --> 00:51:07,880
of his people. He was calling on the spirits of

797
00:51:07,960 --> 00:51:14,440
the Hotel Mataneo. Softly, he began singing in Lakota. He

798
00:51:14,559 --> 00:51:19,000
was asking his ancestors for their strength and guidance. He

799
00:51:19,119 --> 00:51:22,039
was asking them to guide his course and give him

800
00:51:22,039 --> 00:51:24,639
the power of the dog soldiers so that he might

801
00:51:24,679 --> 00:51:30,000
defeat this creature called the Barmanaux. Somewhere in the darkness,

802
00:51:30,119 --> 00:51:33,719
the spirits heard his call, and he felt something stirring

803
00:51:33,800 --> 00:51:37,840
inside him. He felt the spirit of the wolf calling

804
00:51:37,880 --> 00:51:41,880
to him. He felt the power in his veins. The

805
00:51:41,920 --> 00:51:47,559
dog soldiers had heard his call. As he gathered his weapons,

806
00:51:47,599 --> 00:51:50,960
he continued to let the chant flow through and over him,

807
00:51:51,480 --> 00:51:53,559
and he knew the only chance he had against the

808
00:51:53,599 --> 00:51:56,920
creatures was to use the old magic that his grandfather

809
00:51:57,000 --> 00:52:01,519
had assured him was part of everything. The strength he

810
00:52:01,639 --> 00:52:05,440
felt allowed him to sense things beyond his normal abilities,

811
00:52:06,039 --> 00:52:09,840
and he knew that the creatures were coming. Get away

812
00:52:09,840 --> 00:52:14,639
from the windows, he said forcefully. Everyone started to move

813
00:52:14,719 --> 00:52:18,559
when the boards over one window exploded inward. Before they

814
00:52:18,599 --> 00:52:21,760
could react, Sergeant Johnson was grabbed by the head and

815
00:52:21,880 --> 00:52:26,280
dragged back through the window. They heard his screams cut

816
00:52:26,360 --> 00:52:31,559
violently short with the cracking of bone. You sons of bitches,

817
00:52:31,760 --> 00:52:36,239
roared McMasters. His saw opened fire and began chattering its

818
00:52:36,360 --> 00:52:39,239
death song as he poured rounds through the open window.

819
00:52:39,960 --> 00:52:42,760
A few of the creatures shrieked in pain, but none

820
00:52:42,800 --> 00:52:46,360
of them fell. Get the women and children away from

821
00:52:46,360 --> 00:52:51,519
the windows, roared Gray Eagle. Another window exploded inward, and

822
00:52:51,599 --> 00:52:54,679
a creature grabbed one of the women by the arm.

823
00:52:55,280 --> 00:52:59,559
Bronson drove his bayonet into the beast's bicep and it roared.

824
00:52:59,599 --> 00:53:03,320
Released the woman, and Bronson shoved her away from the window.

825
00:53:03,320 --> 00:53:06,320
As another creature reached through and dragged him through the gap.

826
00:53:07,280 --> 00:53:12,079
His screams were quickly silenced. Is there a back room,

827
00:53:12,280 --> 00:53:16,599
Gregel yelled to Abon. There is a small cellar, he replied,

828
00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:20,360
get them in there and lock it, said Gregel, Everyone

829
00:53:20,440 --> 00:53:22,840
get into the cellar and hold it. I'll do what

830
00:53:22,920 --> 00:53:27,119
I can from out here. Abon opened the door that

831
00:53:27,280 --> 00:53:29,679
led to the cellar, where they stored food and other

832
00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:36,039
items that needed to be kept cool. Everyone began rushing inside.

833
00:53:36,280 --> 00:53:40,000
Ruez and Montenegro began moving McKinny toward the small opening

834
00:53:40,039 --> 00:53:43,679
that led into the cellar. The front door exploded inward,

835
00:53:43,719 --> 00:53:47,440
and before the creatures could come pouring inside, McMasters and

836
00:53:47,519 --> 00:53:51,159
Garrison opened fire with both saws, raining fire and death

837
00:53:51,199 --> 00:53:55,559
through the open door. They maintained their volume of fire

838
00:53:55,800 --> 00:54:00,000
as the others carried McKinney into the cellar. The Fujikawa

839
00:54:00,159 --> 00:54:02,000
turned to yell at them to fall back and was

840
00:54:02,079 --> 00:54:05,599
grabbed through an open window. He tried to fight back,

841
00:54:05,920 --> 00:54:08,800
but the creature tore his head off instead of dragging

842
00:54:08,840 --> 00:54:13,000
him through the window. Fuji's down, screamed Garrison. Get in

843
00:54:13,079 --> 00:54:19,280
the cellar, screamed Gregel. McMaster's saw fell silent as the

844
00:54:19,320 --> 00:54:22,639
belt ran out. Before he could fall back, one of

845
00:54:22,679 --> 00:54:25,719
the creatures rushed through the gunfire from Garrison and grabbed

846
00:54:25,760 --> 00:54:30,039
McMasters by the arm. It bit down on his fore

847
00:54:30,239 --> 00:54:33,320
arm and easily bit through the bones, severing the arm

848
00:54:33,519 --> 00:54:37,639
just below the elbow. Take this, screamed Garrison, firing point

849
00:54:37,679 --> 00:54:42,440
blank into the creature. It released its hold on McMaster's

850
00:54:42,480 --> 00:54:46,400
and turned toward Garrison. Before it could attack him, an

851
00:54:46,519 --> 00:54:49,760
arrow streaked across the room and buried deeply into the

852
00:54:49,800 --> 00:54:54,079
beast's left ear. It fell to the ground instantly, and

853
00:54:54,119 --> 00:54:59,039
its eyes rolled back into its skull. Getmasters to the cellar,

854
00:54:59,360 --> 00:55:04,360
roared gray Eagle. Garrison saw went silent as the last

855
00:55:04,400 --> 00:55:07,360
of his AMMO was expended, and he dropped the empty

856
00:55:07,440 --> 00:55:10,599
weapon and grabbed McMaster, shoving him into the opening to

857
00:55:10,679 --> 00:55:16,400
the cellar. Get the hell inside, roared Garrison. McMasters was

858
00:55:16,440 --> 00:55:19,440
in shock, but managed to get to the cellar, falling

859
00:55:19,480 --> 00:55:22,679
most of the way. Garrison turned to knot at Gregel

860
00:55:22,719 --> 00:55:24,840
and was dragged backward out of the door. Before he

861
00:55:24,880 --> 00:55:29,119
could react, Gregel rushed to go after him, yanking the

862
00:55:29,320 --> 00:55:31,800
arrow from the head of the beast as he ran past.

863
00:55:32,639 --> 00:55:34,719
Rushing through the door, he yelled a la Coat of

864
00:55:34,800 --> 00:55:39,239
battle cry, and through his Saiak tomahawk, it struck one

865
00:55:39,239 --> 00:55:42,079
of the beasts in the forehead and buried into the

866
00:55:42,119 --> 00:55:47,000
cross piece. The beast released its hold on Garrison and

867
00:55:47,039 --> 00:55:50,119
Gregel yanked him away, shoving him back into the building.

868
00:55:50,800 --> 00:55:52,719
He didn't have time to see if he made it.

869
00:55:52,920 --> 00:55:55,760
He had to move quickly before the creature swarmed him.

870
00:55:57,400 --> 00:56:00,880
Snatching up the tomahawk, he ran across a narrow alleyway

871
00:56:01,000 --> 00:56:04,400
and dove into a dark hut that had partially collapsed.

872
00:56:05,199 --> 00:56:07,519
He prayed that the others had made it into the

873
00:56:07,599 --> 00:56:11,559
cellar and were sealing it. It was now his job

874
00:56:11,639 --> 00:56:13,840
to get the attention of the creatures away from the

875
00:56:13,880 --> 00:56:18,239
building and to focus on him. He knocked an arrow

876
00:56:18,280 --> 00:56:21,079
and ready the bow, and he waited, and when one

877
00:56:21,079 --> 00:56:24,000
of the creatures headed for the building, Gregel let the

878
00:56:24,119 --> 00:56:27,480
arrow fly in It streaked across the distance, punching through

879
00:56:27,519 --> 00:56:32,320
the monster's spine and into his heart. The creature staggered

880
00:56:32,320 --> 00:56:36,760
a few steps before collapsing to the ground. The other

881
00:56:36,800 --> 00:56:40,559
creature began looking for the source of the attack. Gregel

882
00:56:40,639 --> 00:56:42,960
took that as a queue to move and headed out

883
00:56:43,000 --> 00:56:47,159
the back of the hut, using the back entrance. Using

884
00:56:47,199 --> 00:56:49,599
the shadows, he ran to the edge of the village

885
00:56:49,599 --> 00:56:52,920
and hid behind a large boulder. He studied the darkness,

886
00:56:53,119 --> 00:56:57,440
searching for signs of movement. It suddenly occurred to him

887
00:56:57,519 --> 00:56:59,840
that he had no idea how many of the creatures

888
00:56:59,840 --> 00:57:03,280
were out there in the darkness. He could only hope

889
00:57:03,280 --> 00:57:05,079
that he could pick off enough of them to make

890
00:57:05,119 --> 00:57:08,960
them reconsider the attack on the village. Otherwise he'd be

891
00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:12,760
fighting a gorilla fight against the creatures until morning arrived

892
00:57:12,960 --> 00:57:18,360
and their relief came for them. Making a quick mental inventory,

893
00:57:18,639 --> 00:57:20,880
he knew that he would have to recover as many

894
00:57:21,000 --> 00:57:23,400
arrows as he could if this was going to work.

895
00:57:24,199 --> 00:57:27,239
A dozen arrows, two knives, and a tomahawk were not

896
00:57:27,360 --> 00:57:30,679
going to win this bitle. He had to fight smarter

897
00:57:30,960 --> 00:57:35,280
and faster than ever before, otherwise these creatures would tear

898
00:57:35,320 --> 00:57:38,880
them apart, just like they had done to Johnson, Fujikawa,

899
00:57:39,000 --> 00:57:43,239
and Bronson. The thought of his men being torn apart

900
00:57:43,320 --> 00:57:45,679
made him angry, and he felt the spirit of the

901
00:57:45,719 --> 00:57:50,039
wolf howling inside him. It was time to take vengeance

902
00:57:50,119 --> 00:57:53,880
upon these creatures and make them rude. The day they crossed,

903
00:57:53,920 --> 00:57:58,440
a La Cota dog soldier in the darkness near the

904
00:57:58,480 --> 00:58:02,280
side of the small hut just vacated a shadow was

905
00:58:02,320 --> 00:58:06,519
moving quietly along the outer wall. It was too big

906
00:58:06,559 --> 00:58:08,440
to be a human, so it had to be one

907
00:58:08,480 --> 00:58:13,239
of the barmano. As his vision adjusted to the darkness,

908
00:58:13,280 --> 00:58:16,119
he could see the beast. It was sniffing the air

909
00:58:16,199 --> 00:58:20,880
along the side of the hut, searching for his scent. Carefully,

910
00:58:20,920 --> 00:58:23,599
he drew the bow and readied an arrow, and as

911
00:58:23,639 --> 00:58:27,159
the beast came within fifty feet, he let the arrow fly.

912
00:58:28,480 --> 00:58:32,559
It buried deep into the monstrous throat. It fell, gurgling

913
00:58:32,599 --> 00:58:36,119
to the ground. It feebly attempted to move, but the

914
00:58:36,159 --> 00:58:39,960
sharp piece of alumin had severed its spinal cord. It

915
00:58:40,000 --> 00:58:45,159
could only lay there in wheeze as it slowly die.

916
00:58:45,400 --> 00:58:48,039
No sooner had the beast fallen than Gregel was on

917
00:58:48,079 --> 00:58:51,119
the move again. He was down two arrows and knew

918
00:58:51,159 --> 00:58:53,840
he'd have to collect them soon, But now he had

919
00:58:53,840 --> 00:58:56,960
to get away from the area. The twang of his

920
00:58:57,039 --> 00:59:00,880
bowstring would undoubtedly draw the beast to him, so he

921
00:59:00,960 --> 00:59:03,800
duck low, and he crouched and hid beneath the toppled

922
00:59:03,840 --> 00:59:08,159
wall of another hut. He blended into the deep shadows,

923
00:59:08,199 --> 00:59:11,679
looking just like another chunk of debris. One of the

924
00:59:11,679 --> 00:59:14,079
beasts crept along the back of the hut, sniffing the

925
00:59:14,119 --> 00:59:17,239
air and looking around. It could smell him, but it

926
00:59:17,280 --> 00:59:22,239
couldn't find him. Gregiel slipped the bow over his shoulder

927
00:59:22,519 --> 00:59:26,079
and drew the ard end's blade, Waiting for the right moment.

928
00:59:26,599 --> 00:59:30,559
He held his breath as the creature moved closer. When

929
00:59:30,599 --> 00:59:32,760
it was less than ten feet away, he let out

930
00:59:32,800 --> 00:59:36,599
an undulating war cry, and he dove forward, But before

931
00:59:36,639 --> 00:59:39,880
the creature could react, he rolled between its legs and

932
00:59:40,039 --> 00:59:44,519
slashed out with the blade. The creature saw the blur

933
00:59:44,679 --> 00:59:47,400
move beneath it and tried to catch it, and then

934
00:59:47,440 --> 00:59:51,519
it felt something tug at its leg. Reaching down, he

935
00:59:51,599 --> 00:59:55,360
felt the spot and brought back its hand, wet with blood.

936
00:59:56,360 --> 01:00:00,639
It stared in confusion for a moment, uncomprehending the fact

937
01:00:00,639 --> 01:00:04,960
that it was already dead and didn't know it. Gregel

938
01:00:05,159 --> 01:00:08,280
had severed the femoral artery in the leg and rolled

939
01:00:08,320 --> 01:00:13,360
away into the darkness. Gregel didn't look back as he ran,

940
01:00:13,400 --> 01:00:15,920
and he dove through the broken window of another hut.

941
01:00:16,000 --> 01:00:19,800
Hiding in the darkness behind him, the beast fell to

942
01:00:19,880 --> 01:00:23,159
its knees, still confused about what had happened, as it

943
01:00:23,199 --> 01:00:28,519
fell onto its face and died, holding his position in

944
01:00:28,559 --> 01:00:31,800
the dark hut, Gregel readied the bow and knocked an arrow.

945
01:00:32,559 --> 01:00:36,000
He waited patiently until another creature arrived to check on

946
01:00:36,039 --> 01:00:41,199
its fallen comrade. When it leaned over the fallen beast,

947
01:00:41,360 --> 01:00:44,760
Gregel let the arrow fly It streaked across the distance.

948
01:00:45,719 --> 01:00:48,119
The creature was alerted by the sound and turned to

949
01:00:48,199 --> 01:00:51,000
look just as the arrow buried itself through the bridge

950
01:00:51,000 --> 01:00:54,039
of its nose and sank to the back of its skull.

951
01:00:55,159 --> 01:00:58,360
Nine arrows left, thought greg Eagle as he slept out

952
01:00:58,400 --> 01:01:00,519
the back of the hut and moved aside, silent as

953
01:01:00,559 --> 01:01:05,079
a mouse, to his next hiding point. Sliding past a

954
01:01:05,199 --> 01:01:08,199
large boulder, he stopped short when the hairs on the

955
01:01:08,199 --> 01:01:11,800
back of his neck stood up. He felt the flash

956
01:01:11,960 --> 01:01:14,920
of warning pass through him, and he knew there was danger.

957
01:01:16,280 --> 01:01:18,840
Movement caught his eye and he slid to the side

958
01:01:19,039 --> 01:01:22,159
just as a snake struck at him. He was able

959
01:01:22,199 --> 01:01:24,920
to avoid the strike and then pin the snake's head

960
01:01:25,000 --> 01:01:29,079
down with the end of his bow. Grabbing the snake

961
01:01:29,159 --> 01:01:32,559
behind the head, he picked it up. Even in the darkness.

962
01:01:32,559 --> 01:01:36,119
He identified the snake from the briefings they'd received on

963
01:01:36,280 --> 01:01:40,840
which a wildlife to avoid it was a common crate snake.

964
01:01:41,760 --> 01:01:45,920
It was aggressive and venomous, and responsible for numerous deaths

965
01:01:46,079 --> 01:01:51,280
in Afghanistan every year. Smiling, he tightened his grip on

966
01:01:51,360 --> 01:01:55,000
the snake and slid behind the boulder. He slapped his

967
01:01:55,039 --> 01:01:57,159
hand on the boulder to make some noise, and he

968
01:01:57,239 --> 01:02:01,719
crouched low and waited. After a moment, he heard the

969
01:02:01,800 --> 01:02:05,239
stealthy approach of one of the creatures coming to investigate

970
01:02:05,280 --> 01:02:08,760
the slap, and when it leaned over the boulder, Gregel

971
01:02:08,840 --> 01:02:11,599
jammed the snake into the beast's left eye and released

972
01:02:11,599 --> 01:02:15,800
his grip. The snake sank its fangs into the beast,

973
01:02:17,079 --> 01:02:20,360
shrieking in pain. The beast stumbled back and was trying

974
01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:22,880
to get a grip on the squirming serpent that was

975
01:02:22,960 --> 01:02:27,039
now a lats firmly to the soft tissue of his eye.

976
01:02:27,119 --> 01:02:30,679
The venom was already injecting almost directly into its brain,

977
01:02:30,920 --> 01:02:33,639
and the snake continued to pump more into it as

978
01:02:33,679 --> 01:02:37,960
it was being struck by the beast. Gregel raced off

979
01:02:38,000 --> 01:02:41,400
into the darkness, moving past the last creature he had killed.

980
01:02:41,920 --> 01:02:44,599
He snatched up the arrow and slid back behind a

981
01:02:44,639 --> 01:02:48,719
collapsed wall of the hut. There was just enough light

982
01:02:48,800 --> 01:02:51,280
for him to see the creature beginning to sway as

983
01:02:51,320 --> 01:02:55,800
the powerful venom flooded into its bloodstream, and seconds later

984
01:02:56,000 --> 01:02:59,400
it toppled over and fell flat on its back, dying

985
01:02:59,440 --> 01:03:02,519
in the dust. That the snake finally released the bite

986
01:03:02,639 --> 01:03:07,079
and slithered off into the night. Hiding in the darkness,

987
01:03:07,119 --> 01:03:09,400
he held his breath as two more of the creatures

988
01:03:09,440 --> 01:03:12,679
walked right past him. One of the beasts had a

989
01:03:12,719 --> 01:03:16,320
crude bag over its shoulder. It was similar to the

990
01:03:16,360 --> 01:03:19,960
bags made by Gregel's people for carrying tools or food.

991
01:03:21,199 --> 01:03:24,079
For a moment, he wondered what was inside the pouch,

992
01:03:24,679 --> 01:03:27,679
and then an old custom of his people came to mind.

993
01:03:29,480 --> 01:03:32,440
Sneaking out from his hiding spot, he slipped up behind

994
01:03:32,480 --> 01:03:37,000
the creatures and carefully slit the strap. Slowly, he slipped

995
01:03:37,000 --> 01:03:39,679
it away from the creature and backed away, and then

996
01:03:39,840 --> 01:03:43,320
crept into the open doorway of a hut. He had

997
01:03:43,360 --> 01:03:48,119
just successfully counted coup on the beast. He considered looking

998
01:03:48,119 --> 01:03:51,000
in the bag, but thought better of it. It didn't

999
01:03:51,000 --> 01:03:53,880
matter what it was in it. It only mattered that

1000
01:03:54,000 --> 01:03:58,519
he'd taken it without being caught. He felt like screaming

1001
01:03:58,519 --> 01:04:01,880
out his victory, but thought better of it. Any cry

1002
01:04:01,920 --> 01:04:04,960
would draw them right back to him, so instead he

1003
01:04:05,039 --> 01:04:07,199
picked up a small rock and threw it off into

1004
01:04:07,199 --> 01:04:10,320
the darkness, and when it struck a boulder, the two

1005
01:04:10,360 --> 01:04:14,760
creatures split up and headed for the sound. Gregel knocked

1006
01:04:14,760 --> 01:04:18,000
an arrow and prepared to release it, but movement from

1007
01:04:18,039 --> 01:04:20,280
the corner of his eye alerted him to an attack,

1008
01:04:20,599 --> 01:04:22,760
and he jumped away from the powerful swing of the

1009
01:04:22,800 --> 01:04:26,719
beast that had crept into the hut with him. Dropping

1010
01:04:26,719 --> 01:04:29,039
the bow, he pulled the art ends blade and ready

1011
01:04:29,119 --> 01:04:32,599
for a fight. The beast snarled and reached for him.

1012
01:04:33,159 --> 01:04:35,760
Gregel dove to the side and then grabbed the beast's

1013
01:04:35,840 --> 01:04:39,519
arm and vaulted over it. As he did, he slit

1014
01:04:39,559 --> 01:04:42,440
the brachial artery in the beast's upper arm and then

1015
01:04:42,559 --> 01:04:46,199
rolled on to its back. As the creature reached for him,

1016
01:04:46,239 --> 01:04:49,559
he sliced the razor sharp blade across the jugular vein

1017
01:04:49,639 --> 01:04:54,119
in its neck and then leapt away, staggering. Now, the

1018
01:04:54,119 --> 01:04:58,239
beast turned toward him, confusion on its ape like face,

1019
01:04:59,079 --> 01:05:01,440
and then it fell to it its knees and pitched

1020
01:05:01,480 --> 01:05:04,199
forward into the dirt and twitched as the last of

1021
01:05:04,239 --> 01:05:09,360
its blood poured out onto the ground. Snatching up his bow,

1022
01:05:09,440 --> 01:05:12,119
he brought the arrow back up and aimed, and he

1023
01:05:12,199 --> 01:05:14,800
let the shaft go, and it streaked through the darkness,

1024
01:05:14,800 --> 01:05:17,400
striking the beasts at the base of the skull and

1025
01:05:17,519 --> 01:05:21,800
sliced through the vertebra and spinal cord. The beast fell

1026
01:05:21,880 --> 01:05:27,519
like a marionette without strings. Slinging the bow over his shoulder,

1027
01:05:27,559 --> 01:05:30,159
he raced off into the darkness and slid behind an

1028
01:05:30,199 --> 01:05:33,440
overturned ox cart. And he waited for a moment and

1029
01:05:33,519 --> 01:05:37,960
forced himself to slow his breathing. After a few seconds,

1030
01:05:37,960 --> 01:05:40,760
as heart rate came back down and he listened to

1031
01:05:40,840 --> 01:05:45,639
the night sounds around him, he could hear several creatures

1032
01:05:45,679 --> 01:05:49,800
moving through the small village searching for him. He'd already

1033
01:05:49,840 --> 01:05:52,800
lost count of the number of creatures he'd killed, but

1034
01:05:52,880 --> 01:05:55,880
he didn't put much thought into that. He could count

1035
01:05:55,920 --> 01:06:00,519
bodies later. There were plenty of enemies left, and counting

1036
01:06:00,599 --> 01:06:03,719
meant nothing if you didn't win in the end, and

1037
01:06:03,800 --> 01:06:07,960
Greygill planned on winning. Keep it together, he thought, this

1038
01:06:08,159 --> 01:06:13,679
is a marathon, not a sprint. He continued to remain motionless,

1039
01:06:13,800 --> 01:06:17,480
breathing slowly and letting his body rest, and he knew

1040
01:06:17,480 --> 01:06:20,000
he couldn't remain here for too long, or they would

1041
01:06:20,039 --> 01:06:24,360
track him. He wasn't certain, but he felt confident that

1042
01:06:24,400 --> 01:06:27,599
they were able to track by scinth. It was also

1043
01:06:27,760 --> 01:06:31,079
apparent that their night vision was considerably better than his.

1044
01:06:32,960 --> 01:06:35,800
He prepared to move, and he listened for any sound

1045
01:06:35,800 --> 01:06:39,519
of movement around him. It was eerily silent, and the

1046
01:06:39,559 --> 01:06:41,920
only sound he could hear was the whispering of the

1047
01:06:41,960 --> 01:06:45,960
wind through the dead village. The thought occurred to him

1048
01:06:46,000 --> 01:06:48,280
that they were doing the same thing that he was doing,

1049
01:06:48,679 --> 01:06:53,199
listening for movement. Picking up a rock about the size

1050
01:06:53,239 --> 01:06:56,199
of his fist, he leaned slowly out from behind the

1051
01:06:56,199 --> 01:06:58,960
cart and he threw it. He didn't wait for it

1052
01:06:59,000 --> 01:07:02,360
to hit. He slipped back and out the other side

1053
01:07:02,400 --> 01:07:04,760
of the ox cart and crouched low as he ran

1054
01:07:04,840 --> 01:07:07,480
for the broken shell of a hut thirty yards away.

1055
01:07:09,280 --> 01:07:12,280
When the rock hit, it clattered among the boulders and

1056
01:07:12,360 --> 01:07:18,000
dislodged several smaller stones. The area immediately swarmed with creatures,

1057
01:07:18,039 --> 01:07:21,679
emerging from the shadows and screaming their vicious war cries.

1058
01:07:23,039 --> 01:07:26,400
Their cries turned to roars of fury when they found

1059
01:07:26,559 --> 01:07:31,239
they'd been tricked. Gray Egil rolled into the ruined hut

1060
01:07:31,280 --> 01:07:35,440
and low crawl beneath the partially collapsed roof and shimming

1061
01:07:35,639 --> 01:07:38,639
onto a rafter, he slid up near the top of

1062
01:07:38,719 --> 01:07:42,679
one of the walls that remained standing. He was able

1063
01:07:42,719 --> 01:07:45,719
to lift the crude roofing material and peer out into

1064
01:07:45,760 --> 01:07:51,119
the night. As he watched, the creature emerged from the shadows.

1065
01:07:51,760 --> 01:07:54,000
He was using the edge of the building to sneak

1066
01:07:54,039 --> 01:07:57,639
from one spot to another. It had its back against

1067
01:07:57,679 --> 01:07:59,960
the outside of the wall and was oblivious to Grave

1068
01:08:00,000 --> 01:08:04,800
Eagle's presence. He waited until the beast stood mere inches away,

1069
01:08:04,840 --> 01:08:06,719
with the back of his head close enough that he

1070
01:08:06,760 --> 01:08:10,360
could touch it. Drawing his art End's blade, he brought

1071
01:08:10,400 --> 01:08:13,079
it up and placed the tip a few millimeters from

1072
01:08:13,119 --> 01:08:15,440
the back of the creature's neck. It was right at

1073
01:08:15,440 --> 01:08:19,199
that point where the spine met the skull. Once the

1074
01:08:19,239 --> 01:08:22,359
blade was in place, Gregel said a quick prayer that

1075
01:08:22,399 --> 01:08:25,439
the beast would remain motionless for just a moment longer.

1076
01:08:26,920 --> 01:08:30,319
His prayer was rewarded as he summoned all of his

1077
01:08:30,520 --> 01:08:34,239
strength With a mighty shove, he drove the blade through

1078
01:08:34,239 --> 01:08:38,079
the spinal cord and into the brain stem. With a twist,

1079
01:08:38,479 --> 01:08:40,880
he yanked the blade free as the beast fell to

1080
01:08:40,960 --> 01:08:45,079
the ground immobile. The only thing the beast could move

1081
01:08:45,279 --> 01:08:49,560
was its eyes, which moved around in fear, uncomprehending of

1082
01:08:49,600 --> 01:08:53,640
what had just happened. Even that moment was short lived,

1083
01:08:53,800 --> 01:08:58,840
as the light faded quickly from its eyes, sliding back

1084
01:08:58,880 --> 01:09:02,199
down the rafter, Gregel lowered himself to the dirt floor

1085
01:09:02,279 --> 01:09:05,880
with almost no sound. As he started to move back

1086
01:09:05,920 --> 01:09:09,319
to the small opening in the wall, his instinct screamed

1087
01:09:09,319 --> 01:09:13,920
a warning. Unfortunately, it was far too late to avoid

1088
01:09:13,920 --> 01:09:17,239
the massive, hairy arm that swung out from the shadows.

1089
01:09:18,600 --> 01:09:21,720
The blow drove him back through the partially collapsed wall

1090
01:09:21,760 --> 01:09:25,920
and exploded out into the alleyway beyond it. The force

1091
01:09:25,960 --> 01:09:28,960
of the strike had smashed his bow to kindling and

1092
01:09:29,079 --> 01:09:32,960
scattered his arrows. He felt like he may have broken

1093
01:09:33,039 --> 01:09:35,279
his ribs as helow on his back in the dirt,

1094
01:09:35,319 --> 01:09:39,319
gasping for air. Before he could get up, the beast

1095
01:09:39,399 --> 01:09:41,760
roared as it smashed through the opening in the wall

1096
01:09:41,800 --> 01:09:45,720
and dove on top of him, wrapping its hands around

1097
01:09:45,720 --> 01:09:48,720
his neck. Gregel knew it intended to rip his head off.

1098
01:09:49,920 --> 01:09:53,239
The ard End's blade slashed back and forth across the

1099
01:09:53,279 --> 01:09:57,720
beast abdomen, spilling its guts all over Gregel, and the

1100
01:09:57,760 --> 01:10:00,960
grip on his neck loosened immediately, and Kragel was able

1101
01:10:00,960 --> 01:10:03,720
to shove the beast to the side as it collapsed

1102
01:10:03,720 --> 01:10:07,720
in a heap. Rolling onto his side, he forced himself

1103
01:10:07,800 --> 01:10:11,000
up onto his knees. His breath was still hard to

1104
01:10:11,079 --> 01:10:13,439
draw and his chest felt like it was on fire,

1105
01:10:13,760 --> 01:10:17,000
but he was alive. He had to get clear of

1106
01:10:17,000 --> 01:10:22,520
this area before the others arrived. Staggering, he lurched down

1107
01:10:22,560 --> 01:10:25,279
the alleyway and ducked into a small building that was

1108
01:10:25,359 --> 01:10:28,520
mostly intact, and it looked like it had been used

1109
01:10:28,520 --> 01:10:32,600
for storage. The blood of the beast was quickly cooling

1110
01:10:32,720 --> 01:10:35,520
on his skin, and he could smell the foul stench

1111
01:10:35,560 --> 01:10:39,079
of the beast enveloping him like a cloud. At least

1112
01:10:39,119 --> 01:10:41,880
they won't be able to find my scent, now, he thought.

1113
01:10:42,000 --> 01:10:44,920
Leaning against the wall and feeling along his ribs with

1114
01:10:45,000 --> 01:10:50,880
his fingers, he felt three of them move beneath his fingertips. Damn,

1115
01:10:51,039 --> 01:10:56,279
he muttered, wincing in pain. Down the alley, he could

1116
01:10:56,319 --> 01:10:59,119
hear the creatures screeching when they found their dead brother.

1117
01:11:00,359 --> 01:11:02,640
Gregel hoped that they wouldn't be able to track him

1118
01:11:02,640 --> 01:11:05,680
by the blood of the dead beast. He'd shaken off

1119
01:11:05,680 --> 01:11:07,720
the worst of it, but wasn't sure if he'd left

1120
01:11:07,800 --> 01:11:11,159
drops in the dirt. It was dark enough that they

1121
01:11:11,279 --> 01:11:14,199
might not see them, but they would certainly smell them.

1122
01:11:16,239 --> 01:11:19,000
He closed his eyes and took shallow breasts as he

1123
01:11:19,039 --> 01:11:22,239
strained to hear any signs of movement outside the shack.

1124
01:11:23,119 --> 01:11:25,720
He could hear one of the beast's heavy footsteps growling

1125
01:11:25,800 --> 01:11:28,840
closer as it came down the alleyway, and it stopped

1126
01:11:28,880 --> 01:11:33,600
outside the shed and began sniffing at the doorway. Gregel

1127
01:11:33,640 --> 01:11:36,880
moved silently to the side of the door. The shack

1128
01:11:37,000 --> 01:11:40,800
was much too small for the beast to walk inside.

1129
01:11:41,000 --> 01:11:43,319
The roof was low enough that Gregel had to watch

1130
01:11:43,359 --> 01:11:46,560
his head so he didn't strike the wooden beams. If

1131
01:11:46,600 --> 01:11:48,880
the beast came in, it was either going to have

1132
01:11:49,000 --> 01:11:52,159
to smash its way inside or dunk through the door.

1133
01:11:53,800 --> 01:11:56,880
The door was yanked outward and torn from the crude

1134
01:11:57,119 --> 01:12:01,520
rope hinges. Gregel heard it strike a building some distance away.

1135
01:12:02,680 --> 01:12:04,760
He waited for the beast to rip the roof off

1136
01:12:04,800 --> 01:12:07,800
and peer inside, but smiled when he saw the beast

1137
01:12:07,920 --> 01:12:11,279
leaning in through the doorway to look around. It was

1138
01:12:11,359 --> 01:12:15,399
peering at the back of the shed and hadn't seen him.

1139
01:12:15,840 --> 01:12:19,199
When the beast's neck was extended, Gregel drove the art

1140
01:12:19,319 --> 01:12:22,600
ends blade deep into the exposed throat and severed both

1141
01:12:22,720 --> 01:12:27,239
jugglar vein and the corded artery. The spray of blood

1142
01:12:27,279 --> 01:12:29,840
fountained out and sprayed the back wall of the shack,

1143
01:12:30,239 --> 01:12:33,560
and the creature's knees buckled as it collapsed to the floor.

1144
01:12:35,000 --> 01:12:37,960
Gregel stepped over the body and moved as quickly as

1145
01:12:37,960 --> 01:12:39,920
he could around the back of the shack and duck

1146
01:12:40,000 --> 01:12:43,960
behind a large boulder. His ribs were sending waves of

1147
01:12:44,039 --> 01:12:49,319
pain through his body, nearly making him nauseous. Each intake

1148
01:12:49,359 --> 01:12:53,640
of breath sent white hot agony through him in powerful waves.

1149
01:12:55,359 --> 01:12:57,640
Glancing around the edge of the boulder, he didn't see

1150
01:12:57,680 --> 01:13:01,119
any sign of the creatures. Moving as quickly as he could,

1151
01:13:01,560 --> 01:13:03,800
he slid through the back door of the hut that

1152
01:13:03,960 --> 01:13:08,800
was mostly undamaged. He leaned against the wall and glanced around.

1153
01:13:09,399 --> 01:13:11,920
He saw a long scarf hanging from a nail on

1154
01:13:12,000 --> 01:13:14,600
the wall, and he grabbed it and began wrapping it

1155
01:13:14,640 --> 01:13:18,840
tightly around his rib cage. He tied it as tightly

1156
01:13:18,880 --> 01:13:21,359
as he could and then wrapped one end around a

1157
01:13:21,359 --> 01:13:26,159
wooden beam and leaned back. It pulled the fabric even tighter,

1158
01:13:26,319 --> 01:13:29,279
and it hurt like hell. But once it was tied off,

1159
01:13:29,600 --> 01:13:34,159
he felt better. The ribs were no longer moving around freely.

1160
01:13:34,800 --> 01:13:40,319
There was still pain, but it wasn't that bad. Stealing himself,

1161
01:13:40,600 --> 01:13:43,439
he pulled on the knot once more, making sure it

1162
01:13:43,479 --> 01:13:46,680
was secure, and once he was content that it wasn't

1163
01:13:46,720 --> 01:13:51,640
going to release, he took a few steady breaths before

1164
01:13:51,640 --> 01:13:54,119
he headed back out into the night. He whispered the

1165
01:13:54,159 --> 01:13:58,520
Great Spirit prayer and lakoda. He finished in English, just

1166
01:13:58,560 --> 01:14:03,560
barely audible. So when life fades, he whispered, as the

1167
01:14:03,600 --> 01:14:07,359
fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame.

1168
01:14:09,279 --> 01:14:12,000
Taking a deep breath, he went slightly as the pain

1169
01:14:12,079 --> 01:14:15,399
spread through his rib cage. It wasn't as bad as

1170
01:14:15,439 --> 01:14:18,920
he had expected, and he smiled grimly, knowing he could

1171
01:14:18,960 --> 01:14:25,399
bear the pain without difficulty. Oh kahay, he whispered. Slipping

1172
01:14:25,479 --> 01:14:28,439
back out into the darkness, he began creeping along the

1173
01:14:28,479 --> 01:14:30,840
back row of huts at the edge of the village.

1174
01:14:31,520 --> 01:14:34,119
He passed a gap between two small huts when he

1175
01:14:34,159 --> 01:14:37,920
felt more than heard a rush of motion coming rapidly

1176
01:14:38,039 --> 01:14:42,079
behind him. One of the creatures was rushing him from

1177
01:14:42,079 --> 01:14:47,039
the deep shadows. Sprinting away. Gregel jumped on to a

1178
01:14:47,119 --> 01:14:50,199
boulder and then ran up the sheer rock face off

1179
01:14:50,239 --> 01:14:54,640
the cliff. Three steps up. He twisted backward and leaped

1180
01:14:54,680 --> 01:14:58,000
over the rapidly moving creature, and it reached for him,

1181
01:14:58,319 --> 01:15:02,039
but it was too late. It hadn't expected such a

1182
01:15:02,079 --> 01:15:07,640
bold move from the tiny human. Drawing his Sayak tomahawk

1183
01:15:07,760 --> 01:15:10,720
while in the air, he flipped it over and slammed

1184
01:15:10,720 --> 01:15:15,640
the spiked in into the beast's temple. The tomahawk remained

1185
01:15:15,640 --> 01:15:19,680
embedded in the monstrous skull as Gregel landed behind it.

1186
01:15:20,920 --> 01:15:25,199
The creature shook in shock as electricity ran through his body.

1187
01:15:26,159 --> 01:15:28,880
The blade was sticking into the side of its brain,

1188
01:15:28,960 --> 01:15:33,000
and the beast began to tremble uncontrollably. However, it wasn't

1189
01:15:33,199 --> 01:15:37,840
enough to immediately kill it. As the beast shook, Gregel

1190
01:15:37,920 --> 01:15:40,720
drew his art ends blade and quickly severed the femoral

1191
01:15:40,920 --> 01:15:45,840
arteries in both legs. Blood poured out in gray gouts

1192
01:15:45,960 --> 01:15:49,960
and sprayed across the rocky ground. The trembling increased, and

1193
01:15:50,039 --> 01:15:55,039
the beast dropped to its knees. Gregel slapped the handle

1194
01:15:55,159 --> 01:15:57,920
of the tomahawk with his free hand, striking it with

1195
01:15:58,079 --> 01:16:01,319
enough force to knock the spike free from the creature's skull,

1196
01:16:01,720 --> 01:16:05,279
and as the beasts fell forward onto its face, Gregil

1197
01:16:05,399 --> 01:16:11,600
raced off into the darkness. Breathing still caused him considerable pain,

1198
01:16:11,880 --> 01:16:15,960
but he pushed through it. More creatures were stalking him

1199
01:16:16,119 --> 01:16:19,479
in the ruins of this tiny village. It was his

1200
01:16:19,600 --> 01:16:22,119
job to keep their attention on him so they didn't

1201
01:16:22,159 --> 01:16:25,640
go after his men and the other survivors. He had

1202
01:16:25,640 --> 01:16:29,439
to continue to fight a gorilla war against these strange creatures.

1203
01:16:30,159 --> 01:16:34,760
He couldn't quit until they all fled or their reinforcements arrived.

1204
01:16:36,239 --> 01:16:39,760
Rounding a corner, he saw two other creatures just ahead.

1205
01:16:40,359 --> 01:16:42,960
They had their backs to him and hadn't heard his approach.

1206
01:16:44,279 --> 01:16:46,840
Glancing around, he saw that there was a narrow gap

1207
01:16:46,880 --> 01:16:49,359
between two huts that was too small for the creatures

1208
01:16:49,399 --> 01:16:52,520
to follow, and he slipped into the gap and slid

1209
01:16:52,560 --> 01:16:56,720
away from the opening and hid in the shadows. Holding

1210
01:16:56,720 --> 01:16:59,560
his breath, he listened for any sign that they had

1211
01:16:59,600 --> 01:17:03,840
heard him. At the far end of the narrow gap,

1212
01:17:03,960 --> 01:17:06,840
he could see another creature moving slowly along the front

1213
01:17:06,880 --> 01:17:10,439
of the huts. He held still and forced himself to

1214
01:17:10,479 --> 01:17:15,760
breathe quietly to not alert the beast. It began sniffing around,

1215
01:17:15,880 --> 01:17:18,640
but it looked away from him. It had its back

1216
01:17:18,680 --> 01:17:23,880
to the opening. Slowly, he began creeping closer to the beast.

1217
01:17:24,800 --> 01:17:27,159
It seemed to be looking around, but Gregel thought it

1218
01:17:27,199 --> 01:17:30,840
wasn't looking for him. His thoughts were confirmed when the

1219
01:17:30,840 --> 01:17:35,119
beast squatted with its back against the wall. It widened

1220
01:17:35,159 --> 01:17:38,359
its stance and began to drop the largest turd Gregel

1221
01:17:38,439 --> 01:17:42,600
had ever seen on anything smaller than an elephant. The

1222
01:17:42,640 --> 01:17:45,920
smell was horrible as he forced himself to breathe through

1223
01:17:45,920 --> 01:17:51,479
his mouth. The beast was completely focused on relieving himself.

1224
01:17:51,680 --> 01:17:54,760
It didn't hear his approach, and when he'd closed to

1225
01:17:54,840 --> 01:17:59,600
within three feet, he prepared his attack. The beast was

1226
01:17:59,640 --> 01:18:01,960
crowded low enough that its head was on the same

1227
01:18:02,119 --> 01:18:05,359
level as grey eagle's and its hands were braced on

1228
01:18:05,439 --> 01:18:10,560
its knees as it continued to evacuate its bowels. Gregel

1229
01:18:10,600 --> 01:18:12,760
couldn't help but wonder what the thing had been eating

1230
01:18:12,840 --> 01:18:16,920
until he saw human teeth in the stool. Anger rose

1231
01:18:17,000 --> 01:18:20,560
within Gregel as he considered the possibility that it might

1232
01:18:20,640 --> 01:18:25,199
be the teeth of one of his men. Reaching over

1233
01:18:25,239 --> 01:18:28,319
the beast's head, he stuck his fingers in the creature's

1234
01:18:28,319 --> 01:18:32,439
eye sockets and yanked the head violently back. Before the

1235
01:18:32,479 --> 01:18:36,079
beast could react, he slashed across its throat with the

1236
01:18:36,159 --> 01:18:40,920
long bladed art ends and knife. The razor's sharp edge

1237
01:18:41,119 --> 01:18:44,640
cut to the spine, sending a fountain of fetid blood

1238
01:18:44,760 --> 01:18:50,039
arcing into the air, releasing the beast's head. Gregel slipped

1239
01:18:50,079 --> 01:18:54,119
back into the deeper shadows. The beasts splider emptied, and

1240
01:18:54,159 --> 01:18:58,399
he knew that it was dead. It remained upright, leaning

1241
01:18:58,439 --> 01:19:01,399
against the wall of the hut. That's head lulled forward

1242
01:19:01,439 --> 01:19:04,560
onto its chest, and it could easily be mistaken for

1243
01:19:04,680 --> 01:19:07,560
sleeping until they got close enough to see the blood.

1244
01:19:09,399 --> 01:19:12,520
Gregil slipped back down the narrow passageway and peered out

1245
01:19:12,560 --> 01:19:15,520
the back. There was no sign of the two creatures

1246
01:19:15,520 --> 01:19:18,600
that had been there before. He knew they wouldn't be

1247
01:19:18,680 --> 01:19:22,199
far away, but he couldn't stay where he was. It

1248
01:19:22,279 --> 01:19:24,399
was only a matter of time before the body was

1249
01:19:24,439 --> 01:19:30,079
discovered and the alarm raised. Cautiously, he exited the gap

1250
01:19:30,119 --> 01:19:32,520
and headed away from the spot where he'd seen the

1251
01:19:32,560 --> 01:19:36,760
creatures and ducking into the hut with the partially collapsed roof,

1252
01:19:37,159 --> 01:19:40,079
He crawled beneath the rubble and slid on his stomach

1253
01:19:40,119 --> 01:19:42,239
to the narrow opening at the front of the hut,

1254
01:19:44,119 --> 01:19:47,760
Watching in silence, he smiled grimly, and he saw that

1255
01:19:47,840 --> 01:19:51,119
there were far fewer creatures prowling the streets than there

1256
01:19:51,159 --> 01:19:55,000
had been when he began. There were also moving with

1257
01:19:55,159 --> 01:20:00,039
much greater caution. He was now well concealed in and

1258
01:20:00,119 --> 01:20:03,399
he decided to risk resting here for a few minutes.

1259
01:20:04,479 --> 01:20:07,119
His ribs were killing him and he needed to gather

1260
01:20:07,199 --> 01:20:09,720
his strength if he was going to keep up the fight.

1261
01:20:11,119 --> 01:20:14,000
Closing his eyes, he slowed his breathing and relaxed his

1262
01:20:14,119 --> 01:20:19,199
sore muscles, and the pain began to slowly subside. Never

1263
01:20:19,399 --> 01:20:22,159
estimate the power of one man with a knife, he thought,

1264
01:20:22,239 --> 01:20:26,079
smiling darkly as the feeling of calm washed over him.

1265
01:20:27,199 --> 01:20:31,000
Now you're thinking like a Lakota. Another voice whispered in

1266
01:20:31,079 --> 01:20:35,720
his mind. It was the voice of his grandfather, and

1267
01:20:35,760 --> 01:20:38,479
it echoed through his memory, and it was the words

1268
01:20:38,520 --> 01:20:42,159
his grandfather had spoken when he'd successfully tracked and killed

1269
01:20:42,159 --> 01:20:46,439
his first deer he was nine. He'd hunted it and

1270
01:20:46,479 --> 01:20:49,199
taken it down with a traditional bow and used a

1271
01:20:49,239 --> 01:20:53,119
bone handled knife that had belonged to his father. It

1272
01:20:53,159 --> 01:20:58,439
was meant to honor him. Greygel had very few memories

1273
01:20:58,479 --> 01:21:01,199
of his father, since he lost lost both his parents

1274
01:21:01,199 --> 01:21:04,000
when he was very young, but the knife was a

1275
01:21:04,039 --> 01:21:06,399
good one, and his father had given it to him

1276
01:21:06,399 --> 01:21:10,479
not long before he'd been killed. He still remembered the

1277
01:21:10,560 --> 01:21:13,520
feeling when he'd taken the deer, and it had been

1278
01:21:13,720 --> 01:21:18,560
a good day. Now, many years and many thousands of

1279
01:21:18,600 --> 01:21:22,039
miles away, he thought of that first kill and he smiled.

1280
01:21:22,800 --> 01:21:25,279
It was the skills taught to him by his grandfather

1281
01:21:25,399 --> 01:21:29,479
that had saved his life tonight. It was those same

1282
01:21:29,600 --> 01:21:32,159
skills that he hoped would keep him alive until the

1283
01:21:32,239 --> 01:21:36,680
evac chopper arrived in the morning. What are you doing

1284
01:21:36,880 --> 01:21:42,880
so far from home, Lakota, asked a strange voice speaking Lakota.

1285
01:21:43,279 --> 01:21:47,600
Gregel looked around in surprise. At first, he didn't see anything.

1286
01:21:48,319 --> 01:21:50,720
He was beginning to think he'd imagined it, when it

1287
01:21:50,800 --> 01:21:54,960
spoke again. I asked you a question, boy, it said,

1288
01:21:55,119 --> 01:22:00,359
sounding irritated. Panic started to fill him as occurred to

1289
01:22:00,479 --> 01:22:03,880
him that if he could hear it, the creatures could too.

1290
01:22:04,079 --> 01:22:07,640
Oh don't worry about them, chiuted the voice. They can't

1291
01:22:07,640 --> 01:22:12,479
hear me. I'm not here for them. Hopping out of

1292
01:22:12,520 --> 01:22:16,680
the darkness, he saw an oddly familiar form. It was

1293
01:22:16,720 --> 01:22:19,800
a tall raven, as black as the darkness it had

1294
01:22:19,840 --> 01:22:24,159
emerged from. It danced back and forth before pecking at

1295
01:22:24,199 --> 01:22:28,439
something on the ground. What's the matter, it asked, cat

1296
01:22:28,520 --> 01:22:33,159
got your tongue? Boy, who are you? Whispered Gregel, replying

1297
01:22:33,199 --> 01:22:37,640
in Lakota. Who do you think I am? It asked?

1298
01:22:38,560 --> 01:22:43,560
Are you raven? Asked Gregel softly, Lie many things, replied

1299
01:22:43,560 --> 01:22:48,359
the raven. One name is as good as another, I suppose. Well,

1300
01:22:48,399 --> 01:22:53,159
what do you want, asked Gregel, glancing around nervously. Why

1301
01:22:53,239 --> 01:22:56,439
to give you a message, boy, said the raven indignantly.

1302
01:22:57,600 --> 01:23:01,000
I thought Raven was a spirit of chaos, said Gregel.

1303
01:23:01,840 --> 01:23:05,479
That is true, said the raven. But I'm also a messenger,

1304
01:23:06,600 --> 01:23:10,560
like an omen, asked Gregel. Do I look like an

1305
01:23:10,600 --> 01:23:15,680
owl to you? Demanded Raven angrily. No you don't, said Gregel.

1306
01:23:16,159 --> 01:23:18,880
Well good, said Raven. Now shut up and let me

1307
01:23:18,960 --> 01:23:20,800
give you a message so I can get out of

1308
01:23:20,840 --> 01:23:25,680
this place. Gregel nodded gravely, and then went back to

1309
01:23:25,720 --> 01:23:29,239
looking for the creatures. Oh will you stop that for

1310
01:23:29,319 --> 01:23:32,479
a second, demanded raven, hopping back and forth on its

1311
01:23:32,520 --> 01:23:37,159
feet and flapping its wings rapidly. Sh whispered Gregel. They'll

1312
01:23:37,199 --> 01:23:41,000
hear you. You can make as much noise as you like,

1313
01:23:41,159 --> 01:23:46,199
squawked the raven. Those stupid things can't hear you will.

1314
01:23:46,319 --> 01:23:51,680
Gregel was beginning to grow irritated. What's your message, asked Gregel,

1315
01:23:51,760 --> 01:23:56,560
focusing on the irate bird. That's better, said Raven, preening

1316
01:23:56,640 --> 01:24:02,039
a few feathers before continuing. Gregel stared at the bird,

1317
01:24:02,079 --> 01:24:04,119
who seemed to be in no hurry to pass on

1318
01:24:04,239 --> 01:24:09,079
whatever message it supposedly had for him. His irritation passed

1319
01:24:09,119 --> 01:24:12,680
when he realized how ridiculous this scene talking to a

1320
01:24:12,720 --> 01:24:17,279
bird in the first place, see, said Raven. Now even

1321
01:24:17,359 --> 01:24:22,880
you doubt I'm here, excellent, Gregel took a steady breath

1322
01:24:23,000 --> 01:24:28,199
and released it slowly. You feelin crazy yet, asked the raven. Mockingly.

1323
01:24:29,640 --> 01:24:33,399
Gregel bit his lip and he said nothing. That's better,

1324
01:24:33,560 --> 01:24:37,399
said the raven. You're listening instead of speaking. You should

1325
01:24:37,439 --> 01:24:41,760
do that more often, Gregel. The bird paused for effect

1326
01:24:41,760 --> 01:24:48,880
before continuing. That's the message, said Raven. Just listen. Listen

1327
01:24:48,960 --> 01:24:53,359
to what, asked Gregel. Did you miss what I just said?

1328
01:24:53,399 --> 01:25:00,840
Demanded Raven. Stop talking and listen. Gregel did as instructed. Now,

1329
01:25:00,880 --> 01:25:03,680
if you will kindly shut up and listen, said the raven,

1330
01:25:04,159 --> 01:25:08,680
you might just hear it. Greegel resisted the urge to

1331
01:25:08,800 --> 01:25:11,920
ask what he would hear, but thought he'd better indulge

1332
01:25:11,960 --> 01:25:16,960
the enigmatic bird. Closing his eyes, he strained to listen.

1333
01:25:17,920 --> 01:25:21,680
At first, there was nothing, but then he heard it.

1334
01:25:21,680 --> 01:25:24,439
It was just at the limit of his hearing. So

1335
01:25:24,600 --> 01:25:28,279
faint it was, and was no louder than his heart beat,

1336
01:25:29,000 --> 01:25:32,159
slowing his breathing. He let his thoughts go silent and

1337
01:25:32,239 --> 01:25:35,680
let the sound come to him, And then it began

1338
01:25:35,760 --> 01:25:40,560
to grow clearer. In the distance was the howl of

1339
01:25:40,640 --> 01:25:44,600
a wolf. It wasn't a wolf native to these lands.

1340
01:25:45,159 --> 01:25:48,760
It was the howl of a timber wolf, sunk magnitud

1341
01:25:48,760 --> 01:25:53,640
tunka in his language. Just beyond the howl, he heard

1342
01:25:53,680 --> 01:25:58,159
another sound. It was the steady, rhythmic drumbeats of Lakota

1343
01:25:58,239 --> 01:26:01,560
war drums. It was a sound he could not help

1344
01:26:01,600 --> 01:26:04,319
but feel deep down in his core. It was the

1345
01:26:04,359 --> 01:26:07,279
sound of the drum circle that his grandfather held during

1346
01:26:07,319 --> 01:26:12,399
important festivals around the fire. Now you hear it, don't you, boy,

1347
01:26:12,680 --> 01:26:15,840
said the raven. It calls to you. It's the voice

1348
01:26:15,880 --> 01:26:19,680
of your people, the call of the Lakota warrior. But

1349
01:26:19,800 --> 01:26:22,880
not just any warrior, son, it's the call of the

1350
01:26:22,920 --> 01:26:28,439
Hata Montano the dog soldiers, thought Gray Eagle. It's in

1351
01:26:28,520 --> 01:26:31,439
your blood, boy, said the raven. You'll need to listen

1352
01:26:31,479 --> 01:26:35,159
to it if you plan to survive tonight. Gregel looked

1353
01:26:35,159 --> 01:26:37,880
at the odd birds staring back at him with its dark,

1354
01:26:37,960 --> 01:26:43,600
obsidian eyes. Your destiny lies in those drums, gray Eagle, said,

1355
01:26:43,600 --> 01:26:47,439
the raven. Follow the path of the Hata Mataneo. Whenever

1356
01:26:47,560 --> 01:26:51,159
time seemed the darkest, you called on the power of

1357
01:26:51,199 --> 01:26:55,479
your ancestors. Boy, Now you must accept the responsibility that

1358
01:26:55,600 --> 01:26:59,479
comes with it. The path of the Hata Montaneo is

1359
01:26:59,520 --> 01:27:02,600
not some thing you turn away from, not that you

1360
01:27:02,720 --> 01:27:07,000
had a choice. It's in your blood, boy, ask your grandfather.

1361
01:27:08,800 --> 01:27:11,960
Before he could reply, the wind picked up and raven

1362
01:27:12,119 --> 01:27:15,960
vanished before his eyes, drifting away like dust on a

1363
01:27:16,000 --> 01:27:19,840
cool breeze. The sound of the wolf and the drums

1364
01:27:19,880 --> 01:27:23,319
faded as well, but he could still feel them inside

1365
01:27:23,319 --> 01:27:28,479
of him. Glancing around, Gregel felt at ease. There was

1366
01:27:28,600 --> 01:27:31,840
no sign of Raven and no indication that the creatures

1367
01:27:31,840 --> 01:27:36,039
had heard anything. They were still skulking through the shadows,

1368
01:27:36,079 --> 01:27:39,000
searching for the killer that had been thinning their ranks.

1369
01:27:40,680 --> 01:27:44,039
Gregel wondered how much time had passed during his conversation

1370
01:27:44,239 --> 01:27:47,439
with Raven. He glanced at his watch and saw that

1371
01:27:47,479 --> 01:27:50,159
it had been more than four hours since he'd crawled

1372
01:27:50,159 --> 01:27:55,720
beneath the rubble. Somehow he'd fallen asleep, and that explained

1373
01:27:55,720 --> 01:28:00,079
the Raven. It was a strange stream, yet somehow he

1374
01:28:00,119 --> 01:28:05,039
suspected it was more than that. Oddly, he felt the

1375
01:28:05,119 --> 01:28:08,159
pain in his chest had subsided to a dull eight,

1376
01:28:08,840 --> 01:28:12,600
and he felt refreshed and rested. He was shocked that

1377
01:28:12,680 --> 01:28:16,239
the creatures hadn't found him while he'd been asleep. The

1378
01:28:16,279 --> 01:28:18,720
thought suddenly occurred to him that they may have gone

1379
01:28:18,720 --> 01:28:22,520
after his men while he was out Crawling back out

1380
01:28:22,560 --> 01:28:25,279
the way he'd entered, He stood up and looked around

1381
01:28:25,399 --> 01:28:28,319
at what was left of the hut, and, taking a

1382
01:28:28,359 --> 01:28:30,960
moment to get his bearings, he prepared to move out

1383
01:28:31,079 --> 01:28:34,279
into the night. He knew which way he needed to

1384
01:28:34,279 --> 01:28:37,000
go to return to the central building where his men

1385
01:28:37,079 --> 01:28:40,319
were waiting, and he gazed into the darkness, and he

1386
01:28:40,399 --> 01:28:45,880
focused on the shadows. He was searching for movement. Hunters

1387
01:28:45,920 --> 01:28:50,319
of all species searched for movement. That was what always

1388
01:28:50,359 --> 01:28:53,520
gave away the prey, and this time would be no different.

1389
01:28:55,039 --> 01:28:58,239
Something seemed to separate itself from the shadows and move

1390
01:28:58,279 --> 01:29:02,279
away from the wall. That hadn't seen Greygel, and it

1391
01:29:02,319 --> 01:29:06,439
was going to move right past his position. He resisted

1392
01:29:06,439 --> 01:29:10,359
the urge to strike on pure instinct, and moments later

1393
01:29:10,680 --> 01:29:16,720
he was glad that he had waited. Another figure emerged

1394
01:29:16,760 --> 01:29:19,960
from the deep shadows. It was moving slower than the

1395
01:29:20,000 --> 01:29:24,119
other creatures, smelling the air as it moved. The beasts

1396
01:29:24,119 --> 01:29:26,760
had learned to be cautious, and the bodies of so

1397
01:29:26,880 --> 01:29:29,520
many of its comrades had taught it that this was

1398
01:29:29,600 --> 01:29:34,079
no normal prey they were stalking. This one was dangerous.

1399
01:29:35,960 --> 01:29:39,359
Grey Eagel held his breath and remained as motionless as

1400
01:29:39,399 --> 01:29:43,079
a statue. The beast had far better night vision than

1401
01:29:43,119 --> 01:29:45,439
he did, and he knew if it looked his way,

1402
01:29:45,479 --> 01:29:49,960
it would see him. Fortunately, it didn't turn its head.

1403
01:29:50,640 --> 01:29:54,359
It continued after the first creature, oblivious to his presence,

1404
01:29:55,800 --> 01:29:58,920
creeping out into the narrow alleyway. He looked in both

1405
01:29:58,960 --> 01:30:02,359
directions before moving stealthily around the back of the building.

1406
01:30:03,239 --> 01:30:05,239
Staying low and near the base of the wall of

1407
01:30:05,279 --> 01:30:08,640
the hut, he began picking his way toward the main building.

1408
01:30:10,479 --> 01:30:12,479
Near the edge of the building, he found a wooden

1409
01:30:12,479 --> 01:30:15,760
pole with one end that tapered to almost a point.

1410
01:30:16,560 --> 01:30:19,840
Grabbing the pole, he slipped into the next hut and

1411
01:30:19,880 --> 01:30:25,239
began quietly sharpening it with his ardend's knife. After several minutes,

1412
01:30:25,239 --> 01:30:27,199
he had the tip of the pole sharpened enough to

1413
01:30:27,239 --> 01:30:31,520
pierce the skin. He took a moment and found a

1414
01:30:31,560 --> 01:30:35,159
discarded burka lying in the dirt, and using it with

1415
01:30:35,239 --> 01:30:37,359
a few sticks, he set it up to look like

1416
01:30:37,439 --> 01:30:42,159
a person facing the door. Then he concealed the sharpened

1417
01:30:42,159 --> 01:30:45,279
pole behind it, with the end anchored at the bast

1418
01:30:45,319 --> 01:30:47,720
of the wall and the tip concealed near the middle

1419
01:30:47,760 --> 01:30:51,199
of the burka. It wasn't a great likeness, but it

1420
01:30:51,319 --> 01:30:55,840
might fool the creatures climbing up into the rafters of

1421
01:30:55,880 --> 01:30:58,359
the hut. He waited until he heard one of the

1422
01:30:58,359 --> 01:31:02,920
beasts skulking nearby. As the dark shadow of the beast

1423
01:31:03,039 --> 01:31:06,199
covered the door, Gregel threw a small stone at the

1424
01:31:06,199 --> 01:31:10,199
wall beside the door. The creature turned immediately and peered

1425
01:31:10,199 --> 01:31:13,640
into the hut, and Gregel could see the beast's eyes

1426
01:31:13,720 --> 01:31:18,920
and narrow as it saw the decoy. Tensing for the charge,

1427
01:31:19,000 --> 01:31:22,479
Gregel prepared to move, but the creature did something unexpected.

1428
01:31:23,079 --> 01:31:25,800
It leaned its head back and started to draw in

1429
01:31:25,880 --> 01:31:29,680
a deep breath. Gregel knew it was about to call

1430
01:31:29,720 --> 01:31:33,079
the others to it. With a snap of his wrist,

1431
01:31:33,119 --> 01:31:35,600
he threw the art ends blade and buried it into

1432
01:31:35,640 --> 01:31:39,880
the creature's throat. The cry was instantly choked off into

1433
01:31:39,920 --> 01:31:44,319
a gurgling, raspy snort. As the beast clawed at the

1434
01:31:44,319 --> 01:31:47,439
blade in its throat. Gregel dropped down from the rafters

1435
01:31:47,439 --> 01:31:52,000
and grabbed the sharpened pole. Rushing forward with all its strength,

1436
01:31:52,359 --> 01:31:54,800
he drove the tip into the beast just below its

1437
01:31:54,880 --> 01:31:58,720
rib cage. It pierced deep into the beast at an

1438
01:31:58,800 --> 01:32:02,680
upward angle and tore through the left lung. The beast

1439
01:32:02,800 --> 01:32:06,640
went rigid and then began to fall. Embracing the end

1440
01:32:06,640 --> 01:32:09,079
of the pole on the ground, Gregel let the weight

1441
01:32:09,119 --> 01:32:13,479
of the beast impale it on the pole. The wood

1442
01:32:13,520 --> 01:32:16,680
became slick with the beast's fetid blood as it sank

1443
01:32:16,760 --> 01:32:20,239
further onto the pole. Its own weight forced the tip

1444
01:32:20,279 --> 01:32:22,960
to emerge from its back, pulling the lung with it.

1445
01:32:24,079 --> 01:32:27,520
The beast locked eyes with Gregel. It was dying, but

1446
01:32:27,640 --> 01:32:30,399
it still reached for him, determined to finish him off

1447
01:32:30,439 --> 01:32:34,760
with its dying breath. Gregel released a grip on the

1448
01:32:34,800 --> 01:32:38,800
pole and ducked to the side, avoiding the monster's outstretched arms.

1449
01:32:39,600 --> 01:32:42,920
Deftly slipped past the arm. He grabbed the handle of

1450
01:32:42,960 --> 01:32:47,000
his knife and yanked it free. He considered finishing off

1451
01:32:47,039 --> 01:32:49,920
the beast, but new others were likely coming his way.

1452
01:32:51,600 --> 01:32:54,800
Turning away, he raced down another alleyway and slipped into

1453
01:32:54,840 --> 01:32:57,439
a hut that was just across from the main building.

1454
01:32:58,239 --> 01:33:02,159
Crouching in the darkness as far back into the corner

1455
01:33:02,199 --> 01:33:06,119
as he could, and he watched. From his vantage point,

1456
01:33:06,199 --> 01:33:09,479
he could see the dying creature still impaled on the pole.

1457
01:33:11,039 --> 01:33:13,840
Two more creatures arrived and saw the dying beasts and

1458
01:33:14,039 --> 01:33:18,600
stared at it with confusion on their strange faces. They

1459
01:33:18,600 --> 01:33:22,479
glanced around before hurrying off into the night. They were

1460
01:33:22,520 --> 01:33:25,760
moving quickly, but Gregel was pleased to see they were

1461
01:33:25,800 --> 01:33:30,279
going in the wrong direction. Slipping out of the shadows,

1462
01:33:30,319 --> 01:33:32,039
he checked to see if any of the beasts were

1463
01:33:32,079 --> 01:33:34,800
close enough to see him, and when he found the

1464
01:33:34,840 --> 01:33:38,079
coast was clear, he sprinted across the narrow gap and

1465
01:33:38,119 --> 01:33:41,680
slept back into the main building. It was just as

1466
01:33:41,720 --> 01:33:44,039
he had left it, and he saw no sign that

1467
01:33:44,119 --> 01:33:46,800
the creatures had discovered the hidden door that led to

1468
01:33:46,880 --> 01:33:51,399
the cellar. For a moment, he considered knocking and joining

1469
01:33:51,399 --> 01:33:54,479
his men, but he knew even that small amount of

1470
01:33:54,560 --> 01:33:58,439
noise would likely bring several other monsters down upon them all.

1471
01:33:59,039 --> 01:34:01,159
Then it would only be a matter of time before

1472
01:34:01,199 --> 01:34:06,760
they found the cellar and killed everyone inside. Looking quickly

1473
01:34:06,800 --> 01:34:09,159
around the room, he found his pack right where he'd

1474
01:34:09,239 --> 01:34:11,880
left it. He opened it and he checked the gear

1475
01:34:11,880 --> 01:34:15,439
that he'd left behind. He took out several grenades and

1476
01:34:15,479 --> 01:34:18,520
he placed them into his cargo pockets, and he also

1477
01:34:18,640 --> 01:34:21,079
grabbed a roll of fishing line he kept for making

1478
01:34:21,159 --> 01:34:26,199
trip wires. It would be practically invisible in the darkness.

1479
01:34:27,520 --> 01:34:29,800
The last thing he grabbed was a block of sea

1480
01:34:29,960 --> 01:34:33,720
four plastic explosives that they kept for destroying the enemy

1481
01:34:33,800 --> 01:34:38,720
vehicles or large weapons. Tucking a few detonators in his pocket,

1482
01:34:38,920 --> 01:34:41,880
he began making plans of the best way to utilize

1483
01:34:41,920 --> 01:34:46,079
the explosives. He moved back to the door and saw

1484
01:34:46,119 --> 01:34:49,319
that three creatures were coming his way, and he moved

1485
01:34:49,359 --> 01:34:51,640
over to a side window and slipped out through it,

1486
01:34:51,720 --> 01:34:55,479
and then headed away from the main building. He moved

1487
01:34:55,560 --> 01:34:58,359
quickly until he was near a large boulder where he'd

1488
01:34:58,399 --> 01:35:03,560
found the snake. Slipping behind it. He crouched low, watching

1489
01:35:03,600 --> 01:35:07,159
for signs of pursuit. When he was confident he wasn't

1490
01:35:07,199 --> 01:35:10,279
being followed, he slept out from behind the boulder and

1491
01:35:10,359 --> 01:35:14,720
placed two grenades on the ground. Straightening the pins, he

1492
01:35:14,840 --> 01:35:17,239
tied the fishing line to the rings, and then placed

1493
01:35:17,359 --> 01:35:20,319
large stones around the grenades to keep them from moving,

1494
01:35:21,319 --> 01:35:23,279
and then he played out the line until it was

1495
01:35:23,319 --> 01:35:27,880
back behind the boulder. Crouching in the deep shadows of

1496
01:35:27,960 --> 01:35:31,239
the boulder, he estimated the distance from the grenades to

1497
01:35:31,319 --> 01:35:35,199
be thirty yards. The boulder would be plenty big enough

1498
01:35:35,199 --> 01:35:38,960
to shield him from the blast. The thing was, he

1499
01:35:39,079 --> 01:35:41,439
knew he'd have to be moving as soon as the

1500
01:35:41,560 --> 01:35:44,560
dust cleared to get clear of the area. The sound

1501
01:35:44,680 --> 01:35:47,439
was going to bring all the others down on the spot.

1502
01:35:48,680 --> 01:35:51,800
He watched the alleyway for signs of movement, and it

1503
01:35:51,880 --> 01:35:54,520
wasn't long before two of the creatures rounded the corner

1504
01:35:54,560 --> 01:35:58,800
and headed toward him. They were both carrying crude spears

1505
01:35:58,840 --> 01:36:01,960
and kept them at the redge. They were doing more

1506
01:36:02,039 --> 01:36:05,800
than just searching for him. They were actively hunting him,

1507
01:36:08,039 --> 01:36:11,800
Waiting until just before they reached the grenades. Gregel timed

1508
01:36:11,800 --> 01:36:15,760
their arrival with a strong yank on the line. He

1509
01:36:15,800 --> 01:36:18,439
felt the pins come free, and he heard the metallic

1510
01:36:18,479 --> 01:36:22,439
clink of the spoons popping off of the grenades. The

1511
01:36:22,479 --> 01:36:25,479
creatures looked down in confusion at the pile of rocks

1512
01:36:25,520 --> 01:36:29,319
below them. Gregel closed his eyes and shoved his fingers

1513
01:36:29,399 --> 01:36:32,000
in his ears, and then got as close to the

1514
01:36:32,039 --> 01:36:36,039
base of the boulder as possible. The two grenades went

1515
01:36:36,119 --> 01:36:41,600
off almost simultaneously and ripped the monsters apart. One lost

1516
01:36:41,600 --> 01:36:43,920
the leg at the knee and the other was tossed

1517
01:36:43,960 --> 01:36:48,640
into the air, landing in a bloody heap. Both creatures

1518
01:36:48,640 --> 01:36:53,399
were mortally wounded and began shrieking in pain and rage.

1519
01:36:53,600 --> 01:36:56,560
Gregel jumped from behind the boulder and raced off down

1520
01:36:56,600 --> 01:36:59,840
the alley, diving into a darkened hut. He put his

1521
01:37:00,279 --> 01:37:04,039
against the wall, pulling another grenade from his pocket. He

1522
01:37:04,079 --> 01:37:06,640
straightened the pin and held it tightly in his hand,

1523
01:37:07,199 --> 01:37:09,960
and when he heard several of the creatures arrive. He

1524
01:37:10,039 --> 01:37:12,640
pulled the pin and tossed it in the middle of them.

1525
01:37:14,119 --> 01:37:16,359
Racing out the front of the hut, he ran across

1526
01:37:16,399 --> 01:37:20,319
the main thoroughfare and dove into another hut. Behind him,

1527
01:37:20,520 --> 01:37:23,520
he heard the grenade detonate and the screams of several

1528
01:37:23,560 --> 01:37:27,840
more creatures. He doubted that he'd killed many of them,

1529
01:37:27,920 --> 01:37:30,920
but it was enough to make them cautious and possibly

1530
01:37:31,000 --> 01:37:34,279
take a few of them out of the fight. He

1531
01:37:34,359 --> 01:37:37,600
straightened the pin on another grenade and placed it beside

1532
01:37:37,600 --> 01:37:40,560
the door, and then he made a tripwire with a

1533
01:37:40,560 --> 01:37:43,920
fishing line across the door. And then he looked around

1534
01:37:43,920 --> 01:37:47,439
for something to use as a lure. Not finding anything

1535
01:37:47,479 --> 01:37:51,239
that would attract the beasts, he decided to try something else.

1536
01:37:53,159 --> 01:37:55,279
Moving into the darkness at the back of the hut,

1537
01:37:55,359 --> 01:37:59,800
he opened his fly and urinated into one corner. Then

1538
01:37:59,840 --> 01:38:03,600
he quickly replaced his fly and slipped out the back door.

1539
01:38:04,840 --> 01:38:07,760
He moved low and fast, finding himself next to the

1540
01:38:07,800 --> 01:38:12,479
overturned ox cart he'd hidden behind before, and slipping beneath

1541
01:38:12,520 --> 01:38:15,359
the cart, he pulled his legs up against his chest

1542
01:38:15,640 --> 01:38:19,920
and he waited. After a moment, he heard one of

1543
01:38:19,960 --> 01:38:23,479
the beasts moving close to his position. He peered out

1544
01:38:23,520 --> 01:38:26,279
and he saw one of the monsters was right beside him.

1545
01:38:27,239 --> 01:38:30,279
It wasn't aware of his position, and he noticed the

1546
01:38:30,279 --> 01:38:34,399
beast was also carrying a crude parfletchi and he got

1547
01:38:34,399 --> 01:38:39,239
an idea. He realized he could count coup and still

1548
01:38:39,319 --> 01:38:43,199
eliminate a target at the same time. Taking out the

1549
01:38:43,239 --> 01:38:46,800
plastic explosives, he rolled a chunk into a ball about

1550
01:38:46,840 --> 01:38:50,479
the diameter of a baseball. Then he stuck a detonator

1551
01:38:50,520 --> 01:38:52,760
in it, and he set the timer for two minutes.

1552
01:38:54,119 --> 01:38:57,720
He activated the countdown and then slowly reached for the pouch.

1553
01:38:59,479 --> 01:39:04,560
He was able to open it and slip the explosives inside. Slowly,

1554
01:39:04,640 --> 01:39:07,840
he retracted his hand and crouched back behind the cart,

1555
01:39:08,359 --> 01:39:11,439
and then he began counting down in his head. He

1556
01:39:11,520 --> 01:39:14,359
knew that the timer was running and the creature was

1557
01:39:14,399 --> 01:39:18,640
still right beside him. When his mental counter told him

1558
01:39:18,760 --> 01:39:21,960
it was closing in on thirty seconds, he began to worry.

1559
01:39:23,560 --> 01:39:26,279
Across the court, you already heard and fell the grenade

1560
01:39:26,319 --> 01:39:30,319
trap explode, and another beast began screaming, and the creature

1561
01:39:30,359 --> 01:39:34,920
beside him raced toward the bleeding beast. Greygil slipped out

1562
01:39:34,920 --> 01:39:37,600
from beneath the ox cart and ran around the back

1563
01:39:37,640 --> 01:39:42,079
of the building. He ran directly into the chest of

1564
01:39:42,159 --> 01:39:46,079
a beast. The creature looked as shocked as he felt,

1565
01:39:46,439 --> 01:39:51,039
and the momentary hesitation was all he needed. Dropping to

1566
01:39:51,119 --> 01:39:54,760
his knees, he dozed between the monster's legs and slashed

1567
01:39:54,800 --> 01:39:59,159
its hamstring as he went. The beast dropped to one

1568
01:39:59,239 --> 01:40:02,199
knee and tried to turn and face him, and the

1569
01:40:02,199 --> 01:40:06,119
boom of the detonation from the plastic explosives shook the building,

1570
01:40:06,319 --> 01:40:10,720
and the creature looked in that direction. In surprise, Gregel

1571
01:40:10,800 --> 01:40:14,079
darted in close and slashed the beast across the throat,

1572
01:40:14,159 --> 01:40:18,079
sending a fountain of blood erupting from the wound. The

1573
01:40:18,079 --> 01:40:20,800
beast hands went to his wound in its neck, and

1574
01:40:20,880 --> 01:40:24,640
Gregel raced away. He knew that the beast was doomed,

1575
01:40:24,640 --> 01:40:27,199
so he didn't wait to see it fall. There were

1576
01:40:27,239 --> 01:40:29,600
still more of these creatures and he couldn't afford to

1577
01:40:29,600 --> 01:40:33,800
get caught out in the open. As he ran down

1578
01:40:33,840 --> 01:40:36,159
the alley, he saw one of the creatures emerge and

1579
01:40:36,199 --> 01:40:39,479
immediately throw a speir at him, and it flew fast

1580
01:40:39,560 --> 01:40:43,279
and true, coming right at him. Gregel spun to his

1581
01:40:43,439 --> 01:40:45,960
left and felt the sharpened tip of the spear cut

1582
01:40:46,000 --> 01:40:49,680
a long line across the stomach, sending blood flying onto

1583
01:40:49,720 --> 01:40:54,600
the ground. Gregel launched himself backward into a hut, out

1584
01:40:54,640 --> 01:40:57,600
of sight of the beast, and grabbing a grenade, he

1585
01:40:57,680 --> 01:41:00,680
tossed it out into the alleyway, directly at the spot

1586
01:41:00,800 --> 01:41:05,119
where the beast had been. It detonated a few seconds later,

1587
01:41:05,199 --> 01:41:08,079
and he heard the screaming of the beast, indicating he

1588
01:41:08,119 --> 01:41:12,000
had gotten at least a piece of it. He inspected

1589
01:41:12,039 --> 01:41:14,800
his wound and it was bleeding, but it hadn't been

1590
01:41:14,840 --> 01:41:19,359
deep enough to disembowel him. From the depth of the cut,

1591
01:41:19,399 --> 01:41:22,199
he knew it hadn't missed doing just that by more

1592
01:41:22,239 --> 01:41:26,600
than a few millimeters. Around him were a few articles

1593
01:41:26,640 --> 01:41:30,159
of clothing that had belonged to the previous occupants, and

1594
01:41:30,239 --> 01:41:32,439
finding a row, he cut a long strip from it

1595
01:41:32,720 --> 01:41:36,199
applied it to the wound, tying it off tightly. That's

1596
01:41:36,199 --> 01:41:39,000
got a hole for now, he thought, wincing in pain.

1597
01:41:40,600 --> 01:41:43,039
Ducking out into the alley, he turned to run when

1598
01:41:43,039 --> 01:41:45,199
he saw one of the beasts a few yards away,

1599
01:41:45,800 --> 01:41:49,039
and Gregil quickly pulled a grenade and yanked the pin free,

1600
01:41:49,159 --> 01:41:51,760
tossing it to the beast, and he smiled when he

1601
01:41:51,800 --> 01:41:56,439
saw it catch the grenade. Looking at it quizzically, Gregel

1602
01:41:56,439 --> 01:41:59,439
didn't wait for it to detonate. Instead, he used the

1603
01:41:59,479 --> 01:42:02,239
time to put some distance between him and the beast,

1604
01:42:02,960 --> 01:42:06,039
and as he slid into another collapsed hut, the grenade

1605
01:42:06,079 --> 01:42:09,560
detonated in the distance. He could hear the shrapnel hitting

1606
01:42:09,640 --> 01:42:11,840
the sides of the hut, but he didn't hear the

1607
01:42:11,880 --> 01:42:16,840
monster screaming. What he didn't see was the creature had

1608
01:42:16,880 --> 01:42:19,159
bent down on their grenade as it tried to figure

1609
01:42:19,199 --> 01:42:22,800
out what it was. It had detonated in the monster's

1610
01:42:22,880 --> 01:42:27,359
mouth and blown its head completely off. Its headless body

1611
01:42:27,439 --> 01:42:30,520
fell to the ground, fountaining gore into the dirt of

1612
01:42:30,560 --> 01:42:35,079
the narrow alleyway. He could hear several of the beasts

1613
01:42:35,079 --> 01:42:38,840
screeching out a warning. Une sure of what they were doing,

1614
01:42:39,119 --> 01:42:43,079
Gregel ducked out of the hut and glanced around. He

1615
01:42:43,159 --> 01:42:45,199
needed to get above the creatures to get a look

1616
01:42:45,239 --> 01:42:48,800
at what they were doing. Glancing around, he saw that

1617
01:42:48,840 --> 01:42:52,479
he was still close to the main building. Racing back

1618
01:42:52,520 --> 01:42:55,399
through the front door, he slipped into the stairwell that

1619
01:42:55,560 --> 01:42:59,359
led to the minaret, Pulling the locking mechanism out of

1620
01:42:59,359 --> 01:43:01,439
the way, he opened in the hatch and climbed out

1621
01:43:01,479 --> 01:43:05,359
into the small platform. He crouched low and began looking

1622
01:43:05,399 --> 01:43:08,479
around the ruined village, and he smiled when he saw

1623
01:43:08,600 --> 01:43:11,800
light on the horizon. The sun was going to be

1624
01:43:11,920 --> 01:43:16,640
up soon. Reaching into his cargo pocket, he took out

1625
01:43:16,680 --> 01:43:20,439
his last grenade. He slapped the remaining sea forth to it.

1626
01:43:20,560 --> 01:43:23,000
He pulled the pin and lobbed it at the group.

1627
01:43:24,119 --> 01:43:26,279
It sailed through the air and landed at the feet

1628
01:43:26,359 --> 01:43:29,560
of the nearest creature the beast. All turned to see

1629
01:43:29,600 --> 01:43:33,800
what had hit the ground. They all stared in confusion,

1630
01:43:33,920 --> 01:43:37,640
except for one creature. It looked directly at Gregel with

1631
01:43:37,720 --> 01:43:42,000
hatred burning in his eyes. As Gregel duck low, the

1632
01:43:42,039 --> 01:43:44,880
beast leaped into the hut next to them, and the

1633
01:43:44,960 --> 01:43:50,520
explosion shook the buildings, partially collapsing two huts. The bees

1634
01:43:50,600 --> 01:43:55,720
standing close to the blast were torn apart. Gregel looked

1635
01:43:55,760 --> 01:43:58,039
over the edge of the minaret to see the creature

1636
01:43:58,119 --> 01:44:00,600
that had looked him in the eyes. Urging from the

1637
01:44:00,680 --> 01:44:04,279
rubble of the hut. It turned to him and roared

1638
01:44:04,399 --> 01:44:08,239
a challenge. It was so loud Gregel could feel it

1639
01:44:08,319 --> 01:44:12,199
resonating in his chest and hear it echoing through the mountains.

1640
01:44:13,600 --> 01:44:16,960
Drawing his art End's knife, Gregel waited for the charge

1641
01:44:17,039 --> 01:44:20,520
that he knew was about to come. The beast wasted

1642
01:44:20,560 --> 01:44:23,920
no time, racing toward him and leaping onto the roof

1643
01:44:23,960 --> 01:44:28,399
of the building with ease. As it ripped the minaret apart,

1644
01:44:28,520 --> 01:44:32,399
Gregel slashed it across the upper arm, revealing bone with

1645
01:44:32,520 --> 01:44:36,800
the depth of the slash. The beast ignored the wound,

1646
01:44:37,000 --> 01:44:41,359
feeling no pain in its fury, It backhanded Gregel and

1647
01:44:41,439 --> 01:44:44,439
sent him flying across the roof, and he slid to

1648
01:44:44,520 --> 01:44:48,960
a stop, blood pouring from his mouth and nose. He

1649
01:44:49,039 --> 01:44:52,520
knew his jaw was fractured and his nose was broken.

1650
01:44:53,039 --> 01:44:55,479
The ringing in his ears told him he likely had

1651
01:44:55,520 --> 01:45:00,239
a concussion as well. Forcing himself to his feet, he

1652
01:45:00,279 --> 01:45:03,239
looked at the beast and began singing his death song.

1653
01:45:05,079 --> 01:45:07,680
He held the art Ends blade in one hand in

1654
01:45:07,720 --> 01:45:10,880
the say Yak tomahawk in the other, and the beast

1655
01:45:11,079 --> 01:45:16,039
roared and crouched for the attack. Greegel readied his weapons,

1656
01:45:16,199 --> 01:45:19,159
knowing this was to be his final moments. He was

1657
01:45:19,199 --> 01:45:24,319
prepared to die as a Lakota warrior, singing at the

1658
01:45:24,359 --> 01:45:27,720
top of his lungs. He readied his weapons and crouched.

1659
01:45:28,800 --> 01:45:31,359
He intended to do as much damage to the beast

1660
01:45:31,439 --> 01:45:35,479
before it killed him. Visions of his grandfather swam before

1661
01:45:35,520 --> 01:45:39,920
his eyes. He was going to die as a dog soldier.

1662
01:45:40,840 --> 01:45:44,520
He would hold until the last breath escaped his lungs.

1663
01:45:46,000 --> 01:45:48,920
As the creature started to spring toward him, the roar

1664
01:45:49,079 --> 01:45:52,680
of a heavy machine gun erupted, shattering the tableau that

1665
01:45:52,840 --> 01:45:57,159
was unfolding. Gregel watched as a full barrage of high

1666
01:45:57,239 --> 01:46:01,880
velocity machine gun fire ripped the creature apart, and Gregel

1667
01:46:01,960 --> 01:46:04,560
looked to the sky to see who had rescued him.

1668
01:46:06,319 --> 01:46:10,039
As the creature fell over backward, an Apache helicopter raced

1669
01:46:10,079 --> 01:46:14,079
overhead and banked over the village. Behind it, two black

1670
01:46:14,119 --> 01:46:17,039
Hawk helicopters came in low and landed at the edge

1671
01:46:17,039 --> 01:46:21,239
of the village. Soldiers began to pour out and heading

1672
01:46:21,319 --> 01:46:25,920
into the village. Gregel looked around and didn't see any

1673
01:46:25,960 --> 01:46:29,119
of the creatures remaining, but he did see a considerable

1674
01:46:29,239 --> 01:46:33,199
number of bodies. There would be no denying what had

1675
01:46:33,239 --> 01:46:37,520
happened here. There were more than twenty Barmano lying in

1676
01:46:37,600 --> 01:46:42,239
the dust of this dead town. Heading down the stairs,

1677
01:46:42,239 --> 01:46:44,720
he emerged into the main room to find his men

1678
01:46:44,880 --> 01:46:48,239
opening the door to the cellar. The two men entered

1679
01:46:48,239 --> 01:46:50,680
the main door and looked around and their weapons still

1680
01:46:50,680 --> 01:46:54,359
at the ready. Gregel turned and looked at them, swaying

1681
01:46:54,399 --> 01:46:58,439
slightly on his feet. Holy shit, Gregel, said one of

1682
01:46:58,479 --> 01:47:02,199
the men. This is getting to be a habit. Gregel

1683
01:47:02,239 --> 01:47:06,439
smiled when he recognized his friend, Carrie Pocket Doc Davis.

1684
01:47:07,279 --> 01:47:09,359
Looks like the air force got here too late for

1685
01:47:09,439 --> 01:47:12,920
the party, said Doc Doc. How the hell are you,

1686
01:47:13,079 --> 01:47:16,760
asked Gregel, quoting a line from a famous movie. Why

1687
01:47:17,039 --> 01:47:21,520
I'm rolling, replied Doc in his thick Mississippi accent. It's

1688
01:47:21,560 --> 01:47:24,359
good to see you, brother, said Gregel, as the Doc

1689
01:47:24,439 --> 01:47:28,119
slipped beneath his arm to support his weight. Looks like

1690
01:47:28,159 --> 01:47:32,239
you need my services, said Doc. My men, said Gregel.

1691
01:47:32,319 --> 01:47:36,159
Some of them need it more than me. Don't worry, Brochacho,

1692
01:47:36,479 --> 01:47:39,439
said Doc. We brought more than one medic. I'll take

1693
01:47:39,479 --> 01:47:41,399
care of you and let the others check your men.

1694
01:47:42,039 --> 01:47:45,319
Let's get you looked at and blow this popsicle stand.

1695
01:47:46,399 --> 01:47:49,600
One by one, the wounded were evaluated and escorted to

1696
01:47:49,640 --> 01:47:53,720
the waiting choppers. Even the local survivors would be taken

1697
01:47:53,760 --> 01:47:57,720
from the area. No one wanted to remain behind in

1698
01:47:57,800 --> 01:48:01,880
this village of death. What the hell are those things,

1699
01:48:02,079 --> 01:48:06,159
asked Doc. Well, the locals call em barmano, said Gregel.

1700
01:48:06,720 --> 01:48:10,279
It's some kind of bigfoot creature. Well that's for people

1701
01:48:10,319 --> 01:48:13,399
above my pay grave to figure out, said Doc. Let's

1702
01:48:13,479 --> 01:48:18,439
unask this place post haste. As they headed for the chopper,

1703
01:48:18,479 --> 01:48:20,720
Gregel could see that all of his men were being

1704
01:48:20,800 --> 01:48:23,640
taken care of. They were being moved to the two

1705
01:48:23,640 --> 01:48:26,840
black hawks, and above them a pair of Apatche attack

1706
01:48:26,960 --> 01:48:31,439
choppers circled the area, providing protection. You forgot your pack,

1707
01:48:31,640 --> 01:48:36,880
said Aban, handing Gregel his rucksack. Gregel accepted it and

1708
01:48:36,960 --> 01:48:40,359
slid the strap over his shoulder. Thank you, he said,

1709
01:48:40,399 --> 01:48:44,560
nodding to Aban, Thank you, said Aban, you saved us all.

1710
01:48:45,640 --> 01:48:50,159
Gregel said nothing. I didn't know you spoke posh to you,

1711
01:48:50,319 --> 01:48:54,520
said Doc, nodding at the pilot. Gregel shrugged. I do

1712
01:48:54,600 --> 01:48:58,920
a bit, he replied. Once they were on board the choppers,

1713
01:48:58,960 --> 01:49:02,159
they lifted into the air. Gregel leaned back against the

1714
01:49:02,159 --> 01:49:04,680
cool metal of the chopper and he closed his eyes.

1715
01:49:05,399 --> 01:49:08,399
Doc began checking his wounds as they lifted into the air.

1716
01:49:09,760 --> 01:49:13,119
While Doc was working, Gregel noticed something hard in his pack.

1717
01:49:13,800 --> 01:49:16,439
He slid it off and glanced inside and found a

1718
01:49:16,479 --> 01:49:20,359
bag that he didn't recognize. He opened it and found

1719
01:49:20,520 --> 01:49:24,520
it was full of diamonds. Glancing over at Abon, the

1720
01:49:24,600 --> 01:49:28,560
old Mulla smiled and nodded. You earned it, said aban

1721
01:49:29,680 --> 01:49:33,079
Gregel leaned back and tied the bag shut. He knew

1722
01:49:33,119 --> 01:49:35,439
what he would do with it. It was all going

1723
01:49:35,479 --> 01:49:37,880
to the families of the men who had been killed.

1724
01:49:38,760 --> 01:49:41,520
He'd even give some to McKenny on the condition that

1725
01:49:41,560 --> 01:49:45,119
he married the girl he'd promised, and under the circumstances,

1726
01:49:45,199 --> 01:49:48,159
McKinny was probably going to be damn glad to see her.

1727
01:49:49,159 --> 01:49:52,199
If there was anything left, he'd find something worthwhile to

1728
01:49:52,319 --> 01:49:55,920
invest it in, hey said Doc. Well, I've got you

1729
01:49:56,000 --> 01:49:58,560
as a captive audience. Let me tell you about this

1730
01:49:58,720 --> 01:50:01,000
idea I have for a company when I get back

1731
01:50:01,039 --> 01:50:05,640
home one moment, said a man in a completely sanitized uniform.

1732
01:50:06,760 --> 01:50:09,760
There was no rank displayed, no unit patch or even

1733
01:50:09,800 --> 01:50:13,760
a name tape. I need a moment with first Sergeant, Gregel,

1734
01:50:13,840 --> 01:50:16,800
said the man. What can I do for you? Sir,

1735
01:50:17,039 --> 01:50:21,039
asked Gregel. The rest of Your team will be debriefed

1736
01:50:21,079 --> 01:50:23,399
when we land, said the man. But I needed to

1737
01:50:23,439 --> 01:50:26,680
speak to you before then. How should I address you,

1738
01:50:26,720 --> 01:50:31,319
Sir asked Gregel, fishing for details. My name and rank

1739
01:50:31,359 --> 01:50:35,000
are not pertinent to this discussion. First Sergeant said the man.

1740
01:50:35,199 --> 01:50:38,600
There is something I need you to understand. Yes, Sir,

1741
01:50:38,760 --> 01:50:42,760
said Gregel, what's that? I know what you think you

1742
01:50:42,840 --> 01:50:45,800
just saw in that village, said the man, But you

1743
01:50:45,840 --> 01:50:49,079
will not be allowed to tell that story. Your unit

1744
01:50:49,279 --> 01:50:53,359
was attacked by insurgents, nothing more, nothing less. There will

1745
01:50:53,399 --> 01:50:57,319
be no mention of the creatures. Do you understand me, why,

1746
01:50:57,439 --> 01:51:00,840
Sir asked Gregel. Their bodies all over the place down

1747
01:51:00,880 --> 01:51:04,279
there if you want them for proof. You're not listening

1748
01:51:04,279 --> 01:51:08,159
to me. First Sergeant said the man impatiently. You were

1749
01:51:08,239 --> 01:51:13,520
attacked by insurgents. That is a direct order. Do you understand.

1750
01:51:14,920 --> 01:51:17,039
I don't know who you are or how you fit

1751
01:51:17,079 --> 01:51:21,479
into my chain of command, said Gregel, frowning. The man

1752
01:51:21,520 --> 01:51:24,680
produced a folded piece of paper and handed it to Greagel.

1753
01:51:25,439 --> 01:51:29,600
Read this, said the man angrily. The top of the

1754
01:51:29,680 --> 01:51:33,079
letter read from the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

1755
01:51:34,239 --> 01:51:37,279
It authorized the man to act on behalf of sect

1756
01:51:37,399 --> 01:51:40,840
death and instructed whoever read it to afford the bearer

1757
01:51:40,920 --> 01:51:43,760
of the letter to be given the full authorization of

1758
01:51:43,800 --> 01:51:48,000
the office of the Secretary in no uncertain terms. That

1759
01:51:48,159 --> 01:51:52,840
meant Gregel had to accept his orders without question. Yes, Sir,

1760
01:51:53,000 --> 01:51:57,840
said Gregel, handing the letter back again. First Sergeant said

1761
01:51:57,840 --> 01:52:01,119
the man, you and your men were ambush by insurgents.

1762
01:52:01,640 --> 01:52:04,520
Fast movers are inbound and will be dropping enough fuel

1763
01:52:04,600 --> 01:52:07,520
air bombs on that location to leave no trace of

1764
01:52:07,560 --> 01:52:10,680
anything that happened. Now, as I said, you will never

1765
01:52:10,760 --> 01:52:14,239
mention the creatures in any report or conversation, by order

1766
01:52:14,319 --> 01:52:20,159
of sect death. Do you understand, Yes, Sir, said Gregel understood.

1767
01:52:21,199 --> 01:52:23,439
The man then moved away and sat on the other

1768
01:52:23,520 --> 01:52:26,800
side of the chopper. He put on a radio headset

1769
01:52:26,840 --> 01:52:31,760
and he began speaking softly. Okay, now about that idea,

1770
01:52:32,039 --> 01:52:36,960
said Doc, moving to resume bandaging the wounds. Gregel looked

1771
01:52:36,960 --> 01:52:39,319
out the side of the chopper and in the distance

1772
01:52:39,359 --> 01:52:43,760
he saw massive detonations as fireballs ran high into the sky.

1773
01:52:45,000 --> 01:52:49,239
All evidence of the battle was gone. Now he understood

1774
01:52:49,279 --> 01:52:52,159
that he had to keep it to himself, and people

1775
01:52:52,199 --> 01:52:55,079
with the kind of power that this mysterious man had

1776
01:52:55,359 --> 01:52:59,640
could make him disappear just as easily. Leaning back, he

1777
01:52:59,680 --> 01:53:02,279
put his head against the wall and he closed his eyes.

1778
01:53:03,119 --> 01:53:06,079
Despite what Sect Deff wanted the public story to be,

1779
01:53:06,880 --> 01:53:10,760
Gregel knew the truth. One day it would come out,

1780
01:53:11,319 --> 01:53:14,680
and one day it would all be made public. Until then,

1781
01:53:15,159 --> 01:53:20,279
he would keep quiet. Somewhere during the flight he fell asleep.

1782
01:53:21,039 --> 01:53:24,520
He dreamed of the strange creatures called Barmano and the

1783
01:53:24,600 --> 01:53:28,399
precious cargo he was carrying. It wasn't going to be

1784
01:53:28,439 --> 01:53:30,880
easy getting it back to the States, but he knew

1785
01:53:31,000 --> 01:53:33,920
just the person to talk to. He would make sure

1786
01:53:34,000 --> 01:53:37,399
the families of his men were taken care of. That's

1787
01:53:37,520 --> 01:53:39,720
far more than the army was going to do.