Stranger Men

The long road to misery didn't seem to have an end in sight. So the trio had decided to camp up and watching their condition the boss decided to let go and allow them to rest.

He was an experienced fighter and he could easily stay awake for two days straight. But the three were still noobs and only after mere 30 hours they would have to sleep.

For reference purposes Korkinim could stay awake for ten days while doing hard work. When he was just walking or sitting he would be able to easily go upto double that amount. Military training had an effect on korkinim but there was something inherently unique in his own body that allowed him to stay awake.

At the old farmer's house korkinim found pleasant company. But the three were not so lucky.

'Ah you son of a bitch Rand, if you survive this journey i swear on this earth you will die in my hands and i will personally bury you in shit.'

'Bonnie you are overreacting for a simple grope I mean you got two of them what's the matter?'

'You got two legs too right how about i make them zero for a change?'

'Stop it you two!!!', The boss shouted. 'You bunch of buffons will attract every single damn animal in this forest!!!'

They were camping outside a field without fire as fire would basically attract any other stranded men or women who had lost their path and without fire they were as useful as a newborn in front of a Hunbina. Sometimes even rand thought that Boss would go overboard with his elusive and unhelpful nature. Maybe the boss didn't have a good childhood like rand and the others but he didn't need to be this rude did he, at least give some help to a beautiful maiden.

He looked at mandor, poor guy God knows where he came from.

Now that he came to think about it where did he come from? As the buzzing insects grew in number so did his thoughts.

Maybe he was an adventurer like him? working life and abusive parents didn't really result in bright future for children out in this world. It was hard to get educated and even harder to get jobs the taxes were so oppressive that many altogether gave up their land and went to distant countries to settle for minimum wage.

Or maybe he was in the army? and after the war his income was lost and hence he joined the group to support maybe an old mother living out her last days wishing she had done better to raise him.

Or maybe his parents were murdered by pirates and he had to come to this country on a small sailboat with an miser uncle who died and he had no chance but to support himself after his death. maybe he killed his uncle? maybe it was poison? maybe he chopped up his body in pieces and sold it with soil as some kind of fertilizer? maybe he would do the same to rand and was actually waiting for the right opportunity?

All of a sudden days of friendship was forgotten and rand looked nervously at mandor.

'What's the matter?' mandor asked, rather disturbed by rand's piercing gaze

"It's now or never Rand, ask it". Rand took the plunge.

'Whats your story mandor?'

'Oh didn't knew you cared enough, I am the son of a rich merchant but I just liked fighting so much I decided to run away from home to serve under the boss for fun.'

There was silence and rand couldn't shake off the feeling the feeling that something was wrong with mandor, he had a sick sense of humour if he thought rand was going to trust it. He had been through hell in his life and had seen some of the worst things happen to people around him. The boss taking him in allowed him to live this long.

Rand however had complete faith in the Boss and knew if something was off he would protect him. so he slid his fears under the carpet and slept near the only person incapable of arousing any suspicion.

'If you think you will live a moment, while trying to sleep with me I will break every single bone in your body.'

'She must be here to kill me.' He muttered to himself.

While Rand was completely overtaken by ridiculous paranoia. A hundred kilometres away korkinim was staying with an old couple whose son had died in the war. They were very friendly and despite korkinim's objections forced him to stay with them. Somewhere however, Korkinim knew something was wrong, he excused himself and kept walking. long walks in the night was nothing new to him however he wanted someone to investigate it so he left behind a note. 

The long nights were kinda boring into him a desire to stop and rest. Though it didn't matter a lot, his journey through the world had taught him much about the pain he had taken in, and the subsequent apathy had long overtaken many desires. Looking back he was a strange man in a stranger world.