A Girl Out of Place

Chapter 5: Forced to Comply

Even if the blindfold hadn't been over my eyes I wouldn't have been able to tell which direction they had taken me. The smell of heavy body odor mixed with blood and gun powder enclosed around me. Though the scent wasn't much different from our own conditions, I could tell these weren't our boys. They most definitely have a different diet than we do.

The jeep pulled to a stop and the language I faintly recognized but didn't understand, chattered around me. Orders were called and facts were reported. Though I couldn't understand any of the words, the question answer patterns seemed similar.

A firm hand wrapped around my arm and I was roughly dragged from my seat. My feet, unable to find ground first, sent my legs scrambling. The soldier kept a firm hold keeping me up until my legs finally found solid ground and I managed to stumble along beside him.

"Do you know who I am," a familiar voice echoed. Chief Surgeon Captain Tarin, he had been permitted leave earlier this morning. Leaving me to assume they had kidnapped him in transit, similar to what had happened to me.

He was forced to a position beside me, I could no longer block out his incessant complaints and hallow threats to the unseen enemy.

"If you think that by kidnapping me you will get some sort of ransom, you will." He said.

Oh good, he's moved on to weak minded bargaining.

A sharp command was shouted inches from Captain Tarin's face, though I couldn't see it I suspected such since he shut up rather quickly. I could feel the daunting presence of many soldiers but the one who spoke sent a chill down my spine.

Our blindfolds were ripped off and a surprisingly average size man stood in front of us. The markings on his uniform and the rather clean state he was in, suggested the obvious. He was the highest ranked man in this camp. Glancing around I saw the camp was in disarray. Most of the tents weren't even erect, but the biggest eyesore was a previously abandoned building. It wasn't a hut as I would have expected, it was a two story building that had once been painted blue. The windows were blown out but replaced with military tarp.

The man in charge muttered something in Korean and smirked. Dr. Tarin and I exchanged glances. This gave me my first good look at the Chief Surgeon. He wore casual pants, and loose fit dark blue polo shirt. Buttoned to the top of course. But his causal wear was a new look for him. It didn't make him look less stuffy.

"He said welcome to your new Hospital." Said a disheartened female voice. Looking over my other shoulder I first spotted the barbed ropes around her wrists and neck before I connected with the familiar light brown eyes.

"Traitor. I new we should never have trusted you." Dr. Tarin shouted, clearly without seeing the real situation.

Ignoring my colleague's idiocy, "Are you hurt?" I asked.

Ryn shrugged, "Apparently they think I am dangerous, but useful."

"Useful - oh." Captain Tarin spotted her restraints. "Well, at least someone here can explain to us what's going on. Now. What's going on?"

The girl glanced at the North Korean leader. The man's arms were at his side staring, waiting for her to translate. With a deep breath she did, and apparently the exchange was satisfactory because he spoke.

"You two will instruct his medical staff and perform surgery here. If you do well, you will be transported back to the main hospital where conditions are more favorable."

"I will not."

"You're a doctor, Captain Tarin. If you don't treat patients then they have no use for you." Ryn clarified with little emotion.

"Then release us." Captain Tarin insisted, his nose in the air.

"You can't be that stupid, can you?" I snapped at him. His high and mighty attitude hit my raw nerve. Did he honestly believe no one would kill him if he told them not to?

"Why, I never. To be treated this way by a simple nurse."

"Again, I am an MD! The same as you." I corrected him.

"You are a medical officer. I am from ..."

"I don't care that you were drafted from the most prestigious hospital in America."

"My credentials are soaring compared to you ..."

"My credentials are just as ..."

Our bickering was cut off when a nearby soldier pulled on the girls wrists digging the barbs into her skin enough to make her try to swallow the painful gasp. But it still escaped.

"You think hurting her is going to make me help you," Captain Tarin scoffed. In one fluid motion the North Korean placed the nozzle of his hand gun on Captain Tarin's temple, while shouting a clear Korean threat.

"Hurting me, stopped Margaret," the girl translated, her tear filled eyes looked at me, "But he will shoot you, Captain Tarin, if you don't do what he says."

"He won't shoot. I am worth a lot of money."

Rolling her eyes I watched the girl translate and Dr. Tarin's words for the North Korean. The enemy broke a smile.

"He doesn't need money Captain, he needs a doctor. Will you be that doctor or should he shoot you right now?"

Captain Tarin's eyes darted from the gun to the girl and back again, perhaps feeling the gravity of the situation he was finally at a loss for words. So I chimed in hoping to keep him alive.

Yes, I needed him alive, no matter how much I disliked him.

"He will cooperate. I will cooperate." I lifted my bound hands hoping the motion would emphases my submission and get him to put down his firearm. "Right, Captain Tarin?" I motioned for him to do the same.

He slowly raised his hands in defeat though his face remained twisted in defiance.

The North Korean, his smile now gone, released the hammer on his sidearm and replaced it in its holster. He then punched Captain Tarin, square in the jaw dropping the 180 pound man to the ground.

"He said, the bruise is a reminder. He'll be sure to give you another one should you need it." Translated the girl.

"No," Captain Tarin whimpered. "No, that's quite alright."

Satisfied with the translation the North Korean turned for the building as our escorts nudged us from behind to follow.

The inside conditions weren't much better than the outside. Perhaps more organized equipment but the bedding wasn't washed and the tables were dented though standing.

The North Korean leader motioned to a pile of boxes and our girl translated. "They just received a shipment of fine surgical supplies. Some blood and antibiotics delivered to them by American troops ... just for you."

My heart sunk into the pit of my stomach. The missing supply transport from earlier this week. They'd intercepted it all, and no doubt killed the soldiers commissioned to transport it. The polished Korean Officer rattled off orders to his underlings who promptly ran from the room.

Looking to Ryn we waited but she merely shook her head in response. Within seconds I realized why she didn't translate. Four enemy soldiers returned, roughly carrying two wounded soldiers by supporting only their shoulders and feet and promptly dropped them both at my feet. I glanced at Dr. Tarin, his expression mirroring my horror. Both were young British soldiers, one a private, the other a slightly older Sergeant. Most likely from the supply transport.

It seemed the plan was test our skills first on our own dying soldiers. At least I hoped they were still alive. I stepped forward and held my hands out to the Korean Leader. Without a word I stared at him. And I continued to stare, until he signaled for them to release me.

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