Fortunate Sons

Chapter 37: The Wrath of Ogun

A black snake slithered across the jungle floor and through the thick foliage, unseen by those who were too oblivious to even notice. Its slick, black trail was left behind in its wake as it slithered along behind a log and took on its other form.

Ogun took a moment to regain his senses, still in shock that he had been able to escape that terrible cemetery. But what he couldn't shake was the terrible guilt he felt at leaving the others behind. He shoved down the guilt, knowing he had to go for help. If not, they would all be doomed.

He let out a shrill whistle and within seconds two black rabbits came bounding out of the brush, leaping over the exposed roots and fallen trees with unbelievable speed. Just as quick as they had come, they quickly regained their human form when Ogun had cast his spell at them, two young girls in sage fatigues, boots and a boonie hat on each of their heads.

Duc skidded to a halt a moment later, out of breath with his limbs shaking from the tiresome run. "Did we lose them?" he asked.

"I think so," Ogun replied. "They will come looking for us. We must leave."

The four hurried away into the woods, keeping their guard up as they headed back towards the area where the traps had been rigged. None of them dared to set foot there for fear of falling victim to their own devices. It had to be saved for Cao and his minions.

Along the broken road they walked, stretching for miles into the distance when all of a sudden, Truc stopped dead in her tracks and stooped to her knees. "Truc?" Mai asked. "What's up?"

Truc hardly looked at her sister and continued to examine the path. Deeply lined and clearly visible footprints were still embedded in the dirt, some a bit faded but others were still fresh and barely a day or two old. "Somebody walked here," she said. "Shoe size probably a ten.....man's foot....maybe a woman, not sure. They're close."

Out in the distance they saw a group of six heading their way, all of them in the same fatigues with stolen rifles on their backs as they shouted and waved their arms to get the attention of the four. It wasn't long before the six sprinted their way down the path and rejoined the others, relieved to find some of their own.

"Hey," Mai said to Sue. "You the one they call Saigon Sue?"

"Yes, why?"

Out of her pocket, Mai pulled something at the end of a long chain. It was small and in the shape of a rough oval, made entirely of titanium. "He's alive," Mai told her. "Needs help though."

Sue was aghast. It was Taylor's angel pendant! She recognized every scratch and imperfection, even the tiny little teeth marks Tri had made whenever he picked her up and carried her back into the house. "He's alive?" she asked in disbelief.

"General got them," Mai replied before she hawked and spat into the dirt. "They're all alive, but we need help."

"Where are they?" Dr. Pearlman asked.

"They are over the border," Ogun explained.

"No," Dr. Pearlman gasped.

"Aye, I'm afraid so."

"We can't go into Cambodia," Dr. Pearlman insisted. "It's like stepping into a tiger's den."

He was right. Ogun couldn't deny it. Stepping in there with American units was a terrible idea, but what if there were another way? What if there were another army? One that was neither flesh and blood, but something else?

"We will go back," Ogun said. "But with an army of our own."

Dr. Pearlman and the others were a bit perplexed, but Sue was adamant that they follow him. The group followed him back along the road, quickening their pace until they had found their way back to the cemetery.

"God in Heaven," Dr. Pearlman said. "What is this place?"

"This is the old Hoi Binh cemetery," Sue replied. "This is where the old emperors buried their dead for hundreds of years."

"And where the dead still rise," Ogun added.

"Kinehora!" Dr. Pearlman gasped before he spat three times in the dirt.

Ogun led them on through that dreaded and terrifying place full of moss covered graves and crumbling pagodas. All those who served General Cao had risen from their resting places and had gone to Sangha Chhet to do his bidding, their coffins thrown open and dug out of the earth. And so it begins......Ogun thought to himself.

"What do we do?" Sue asked him.

Ogun thought for a moment about what was to be done until at last he came to a decision. "I will need you to find me a few pieces of iron or steel, anything metal," he said. "And you, Doctor, I will need your help as well."

"Anything you need," Dr. Pearlman told him.

Ogun instructed each member of the group to give him several of their bullets, three apiece for everything in life was done in threes. Drawing the machete from the scabbard at his side, Ogun trailed the sharp tip along the soft, loose dirt until the deeply intricate veve took its full form.

Dr. Pearlman came back a moment later with three palm fronds, each as green as an emerald. Ogun tied them off in the form of a cross and laid in in the center of the veve before he collected the bullets in his helmet. Each member of the group did what was asked and offered up three bullets apiece from the ammunition they had stolen on their journey.

As soon as he had what he wanted, Ogun turned his back towards the group and faced the ruins. From his helmet he took one of the bullets and tossed it as though it were a small pebble. No one knew where it had landed, nor did they care. As he tossed the small rounds, Ogun began to call out in his loud, thunderous voice for his unseen army to awaken.

"Come forth! Come forth!

Come men of stone and creatures of the earth

Ogu Feray calls to you in this dark hour

Come forth and heed the mighty warrior's call

Defend the children of the One against the creatures of darkness!

Protect us all from their sinister intentions

Let no evil roam this earth

In the name of The One

Arise, arise!"

Out of the dirt burst a hand made of stone, then another and another until a whole sea of stone hands had punched their way out of the ground. Stone statues, like those of the great terracotta army, climbed and clawed their way out of the dirt while others leapt from their plinths and hit the ground. The earth shook and rippled beneath their feet like thunder. Stones and rocks cracked and scraped together as the earth was kicked up from the impact.

The huge lion statues leapt from their moss covered pedestals and shook the gravestones. Warrior statues joined their ranks along with those of tigers, elephants, dragons and other fiersome looking creatures that guarded the dead. They roared and reared while the warriors readied their weapons, pikes, spears, swords and halberds, ready to do the bidding of Ogun.

"Our comrades are in danger!" Ogun bellowed. "Go forth! Destroy the wicked one! Do your duty to your master and those who have summoned you!"

The sound of stone scraping against stone was heard as the statues went forth, marching in one huge group through the gates of the Hoi Binh cemetery towards the road that led to Sangha Chhet. Sue, Dr. Pearlman, the girls, all of them were in awe of Ogun's incredible power and frightened of his wrath that General Cao had incurred.