Chapter 2

I lied in a queen-sized bed on the bottom floor of a hotel. Saigon sure was a different place than I had expected. I had yet to see the city and was not impressed. The streets were full of cars, scooters, and bikes along with large crowds. The experience was quite stressful until I arrived at my destination. It was run by a Vietnamese who spoke fluent English and he brought me to a large suite. I wished I could spend a couple days there but I would have to get up and leave in the early morning. I guessed it was a last luxury before I spent the week in the jungle.

I had lied down at nine but could not sleep for the life of me. I was worried about the mission, but also the thought of hybrids would not leave my head. There had to be something out there, but perhaps it was a ploy to lure out VC or something. At around 12:30 I had finally fallen into a deep sleep resting assured that my bedside alarm clock would wake me up at 3:30.

"Ten-hut! Schoolboy!"

I was on my feet in an instant, it was Erland. What happened? The alarm had been set. I looked over to see it was 2:00. I was confused had I missed something?

"Sorry Captain I thought departure was at 0400."

"Oh, it is I just wanted to say hi then you can go back to sleep."

"I think that will be extremely difficult sir."

"You're a strange breed. I don't know why hybrids hate some people but with others they are like dogs in heat."

"Um…Sir."

"Never mind I really just wanted a close look at ya. I do it with all my coworkers."

"Oh."

"Well if you won't sleep I will."

With that he got into my bed and seemed to be out like a light. I sat on the floor and waited for him to wake up.

At 3:30 the alarm went off, but the Captain grabbed the clock and threw it across the room, only getting up at 4:00 on the dot.

We went into a jeep parked outside and drove down to the nearby airbase and got onto a transport plane which took us to another base. I could see we were in Da Nang from the big letters on the operations building. From there we boarded a Huey just as the sun began to rise. For about an hour we rode around until we landed at the edge of a rice patty where the jungle started.

Erland impatient, pulled me out of my straps and pushed me into knee deep water. Soon the helicopter was out of sight. The Captain ran into the jungle and I struggled to keep up. Finally, he stopped, and I collapsed from exhaustion.

"All tuckered out already schoolboy. We only just got here." He threw a pack at me. "I'm sick of carrying your stuff. I'll give you a minute to rest then we move out."

"It was originally nice being in civilian attire, but shorts and a tee-shirt left me exposed to rough plants which were cutting me up. I also picked off three ticks and a leech from my aching body. I pondered how I was gonna survive out here."

"Captain how long do you think this mission is going to last?

"That depends on how quick you are at finding hybrids. I estimated three weeks to the Colonel to be on the safe side." He spat.

This news was quite demoralizing but at least I would get used to things in a few days I figured. After another long trek Erland allowed an actual break to better outline the situation.

"Okay schoolboy now this place has a large number of booby traps so be cautious. If you see anything suspicious signal me. Now if you see hybrids make sure they see you, but try to act oblivious and move on. If they do not attack you the incident will be overlooked. If they do attack you, try to run in the path you just came, and I will intervene."

"It's kinda hard to keep up with you and at the same time look where I'm going."

"We'll separate from here. All intents and purposes you're a brainless hippie now. Go ahead and explore around at your own pace. Your pack has everything you need, just remember what I told you and your basic training and you will be fine okay.

"Understood Captain."

Soon after the Captain walked off into the jungle. I was able to take in my surroundings, the palms, and vegetation along with the sound of birds and bugs. I took the camera strapped to my neck and took a picture. Then I went through my pack which had matches, bug spray, soup cans, water bottles, chip bags, and even soda cans. I also found a can opener but it was a P-38. How strange, I guess they wanted to save space by giving me a ration can opener. I then pulled out a flashlight which was also of army origin but spray painted blue.

After drinking half a water bottle, I repacked everything and began walking. I followed the bird calls trying to take pictures. Finally, I located and photographed a parrot with a long blue tale. It was not actually bad out here. It was the dry season so there was almost no humidity, and land leeches were deep underground. I just had to be careful of bugs and snakes. I was told by Ryan that one was called the two-step snake because that was as far someone could get after being bitten before dying. And of course, there were the VC traps.

I kept my eyes peeled for anything but hardly saw any animals let alone supernatural beings. Before I knew it, it was late afternoon and I decided to make a fire but was not successful. Then Erland showed up and upon grabbing certain leaves and sticks he had one going without even using matches.

"Honestly schoolboy. I thought you lived on a farm. How could you not start a fire during the dry season?"

"I could I just needed a few more minutes." I protested.

"Are your feet dry?" He asked.

I had been wearing sandals, and after the long day they were covered in sweat. "Yes."

He handed me a long pair of socks, black in color. "Better put these on, trust me you don't want exposed feet out here."

I did so even though they made my feet hot and uncomfortable.

Erland took out a small tarp and laid it on the ground. "Rest here for the night, but I want you up and going at first light."

"Yes. Captain."

It was pitch black now and I was wide awake looking up at any rustle or twig snap. There was a familiar double croaking sound, and I soon remembered it was the f*** you lizard, just what I needed. I looked in the direction of the sound and froze. Two yellow eyes stared back at me, I yelled and clapped my hands and it ran off.

It was a grey morning and I lay with my eyes drooping after a long sleepless night.

"Sleep well schoolboy?"

I groaned.

"Try not to make too much noise tomorrow night. It might alert Charlie if they're nearby."

"Captain could you give me a gun? I'll keep it hidden."

"I was under strict orders to guard you while you remained unarmed."

"Well give me a hunting knife or something." I eyed Erland's gun longingly it was an m14, a gun I remembered from training but had not seen since entering Vietnam. "Um Captain why don't you have an m16?"

"I don't fight wars with plastic toys." He said angrily. "You want me to give up this gun you'll have to pry it out of my cold dead hands."

Well apparently, I stuck a nerve. "I just was curious is all."

"I think I have a cache stored out here somewhere. I'll try to get you something if it will make you feel better. Rest assure though I won't let anything kill you."

"Yes, Captain."

A few days had gone by without seeing Erland again. I kept a long walking stick by me for defense day and night. I had seen quite a number of frogs despite it being the dry season, but they did not look much different from the ones back home. I had taken a picture of one that looked like moss was growing out of it, but I doubted that it would come out. I also had seen many lizards one of which was colorful, but it scurried away before I could take a picture. Luckily, I had only seen a couple snakes one of which looked kinda cute being shaped like a vine.

I came to a clearing seeing a small group of deer. They didn't look too different from the ones back home, but the one buck had grey patches in its hide. I took one picture and then moved toward them to take a second but spooked them, and they were gone in a flash. I attempted to follow them going out to where they bolted and saw some movement. I ran up to take a closer look but upon seeing what it was stopped dead in my tracks. It looked like a shape of a human but had red fur like some type of ape. I was not sure though as it darted from view. I turned away to leave when something bursted out of the foliage, it was larger than a man, black, and terrifying. It gave a horrific hallow which pierced me to the core. It began swinging its fists toward me, and I swung my stick in response. Then before I knew it it ran up, grabbed my stick, and struck me. The force knocked me down, and I held my hands up to shield my face. Then suddenly a shot ran out and a thud followed.

"Always these things. They cause so much trouble." I looked up to see Erland who promptly spat on the creature's dead corpse. "Get up."

I did so. Erland examined my arm where I had been hit. While it had been numb the pain was now on me full force.

"You're lucky he didn't hit you in the face, would have probably shattered your cheek bone. You'll be fine, there will just be a nasty bruise for a couple weeks. This is why I don't want you to carry any weapons because they can be turned against you in a flash if you don't know what you're doing." Remarked Erland.

"I'm a soldier I feel naked without a weapon." I retorted.

"Yes, you are a soldier which means you follow my orders."

"Understood sir."

"One last thing, if you ever encounter these creatures when you're back with your unit try to get away from them if you can, but if you must fight only a shot through the eye will kill them. I've seen soldiers fire entire clips into these things and they simply run off unharmed."

I took another look at the creature. The shot went perfectly through its right eye and burst through the back of its skull. I looked away trying to seem as unaffected as possible, but I was quite disturbed. I hoped that we wouldn't have to kill any Vietcong on this outing otherwise I'd probably get sick.

"What is it?" I asked.

"They have many names but we call them rock apes. These things give us the most trouble in the field. Despite our best efforts it has been impossible to cover up the sightings because they are so common. Cases are typically written off because lack of sleep and battle fatigue."

"Do you think they could be responsible for the disappearances?"

"No, rock apes rarely harm anyone, and in cases they do they always leave the individual behind maimed or dead. I know that I told you to make sure you're seen, but if you think it is these creatures back away from them slowly and don't look them in the eyes."

"Okay."

Erland stayed with me a while to make sure there were no more of the apes, but just as we were about to part, I heard something jump in the branches above.

"Well you finally brought one in." Said Erland. "Have a look at her."

I looked up only to see a flash of red as the creature crashed on the ground before getting up. It was another harpy, but this one had red wings complimented by short red hair along with red eyes. She wore something like a burlap sack made into a makeshift dress. She also looked fairly young perhaps between the ages of ten and twelve. The fall must have been quite painful. I walked closer to her out of curiosity.

"Careful schoolboy her claws are quite sharp." Warned Erland.

"Are you alright?" I asked

"Bạn có muốn giao phối?"

Oh, right she wouldn't speak English. I thought. "Erland do you know any Vietnamese?"

"Anh ấy nghĩ bạn xấu." He said.

The harpy's expression changed. She looked sad as if she was about to cry. Then she began flapping her wings taking off above the treetops out of sight.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Oh, she's fine. I simply told her she had to go home it's not safe out here."

Yeah that made sense I supposed. Despite being disappointed she left so soon it was fascinating to see that such a creature really could fly. It was lucky that we ran into her rather than one of the other types of hybrids, but what if harpies were responsible for the disappearances.

"Captain which of the hybrids do you consider most likely to be the cause of the disappearances? Could it be the harpies that are taking people in the jungle?"

"I've thought about it schoolboy. First off, the mermaids can be eliminated because they are strictly a marine species. Harpies although they are curious and could catch and take off with individuals, they do not coordinate with one another. To put it lightly they are not smart enough to pull off such a feat.

Now that leaves arachne and dryads. Dryads are all over the jungle but are not known to interact with much less attack humans. They are quite shy although on occasion individuals are known to go rogue under certain circumstances such as land being cleared. Although I see little reason for them to attack soldiers they can't be entirely ruled out at this time. I've caught glimpses of three dryads but so far all appear to be behaving normally. Now the spiders I consider the most likely suspects as even a lone one could have been responsible for all the disappearances even the gunboat crew. Although they are protected under the treaty and seem to follow the conditions wholeheartedly, I think that an individual or small group are most likely the ones that made the attacks. I saw one eyeing you in the treetops. Thought I would get some action but she moved on upon you walking out of her line of view."

Well that was unsettling. Now I would have more than tigers, bears, and snakes keeping me up at night, but also the thought giant spiders and plant people stalking me just out of sight.

"Head up that trail now schoolboy." He said pointing. "The foliage is thick down there, good place for an ambush."

I sighed. "Understood Captain."