I've noticed quite a few "Desmond is an Other!" threads popping up. Personally I don't agree with that, but there were a few comments of Desmonds that I found strange...

1) "By my count you've killed more of them than they've killed of you."

Desmonds been counting? He has only been in the Lostees camp for a few weeks. I didn't get the impression that he had been gathering up information on the Lostee Vs Others feud. Mind you Desmond is a bit of a watcher, very observent. It is interesting that he still considers himself to be seperate from the plane crash survivors.

Personally I thought Charlie (hung from a tree by the Others) and Jin (blown up on a raft by the Others) had every right to be angry towards Mikhail. The Lostees still don't know why the Others have been attacking and kidnapping them.

2) "I gave my word!"

Yeah Desmond, like you gave Charlie your word that he wasn't going to get killed on your camping trek. Desmond isn't above being shifty, so this seemed like a weak excuse. And it only takes two people to carry a stretcher, the other two could have handled Mikhail. Oh well....at least it wasn't as stupid as Sawyers reason for letting Karl go.

What did everyone else think of Desmonds stance on Mikhail/the Others?

I agree with Charlie, "We can't keep letting these people go!"

Desmond's position/alignment/whatever you will call it, is certainly a mystery. He didn't fall from the sky with the others, but it does seem he was brought to the island for a reason. He was lied to from the start about the island. It seems he is on a side all his own.

I agree that Desmond is very single minded right now and he is not concerning himself with the hostiles and whatever has taken place between them and the Losties. I htink he feels it's not his battle to fight and he's more concerned with making contact with Penny through this parachutist and seeing her again. I don't think he wants anyone to complicate things and mess up his plans, so from his perspective, he'd rather let Mikhail go than keep him around.

I was annoyed at his comment to Charlie though. Does Desmond know what Ethan did to Charlie, to Sceve, to the whole camp? Does he know what the Others did to the raft, that they took all the children from the flight and stole Desmond's own boat with an armed to kill crew? Who is he to judge Charlie?

I agree with Charlie, "We can't keep letting these people go!"

I agree totally but I do commend Desmond on keeping his word on letting him go. He's not sneaky and he's not a liar and i admire that. He wanted that girl to be treated and live and Mikhail knew how to make that happen. I'm not calling him a martyr or anything, because on Desmond's part it's selfish because he thinks the girl has something to do with Penny.

He's not sneaky and he's not a liar and i admire that.

I'm sorry, but Desmond was BOTH these things in last weeks episode. I love Desmond, but if he can con and lie to Charlie, then why not Mikhail?

I agree that Desmond is very single minded right now and he is not concerning himself with the hostiles and whatever has taken place between them and the Losties. I htink he feels it's not his battle to fight and he's more concerned with making contact with Penny through this parachutist and seeing her again. I don't think he wants anyone to complicate things and mess up his plans, so from his perspective, he'd rather let Mikhail go than keep him around.

I think Desmond is actually right that the parachutist IS the most important thing right now, but he still didn't have to dismiss Mikhail so quickly. This is not just an Other, but an Other who was supposed to be DEAD! I bet Sayid is going to be pissed that they let him go.

It is interesting that Charlie, Hurley and Jin allowed themselves to be ruled by Desmond. He showed a lot of authority on this trek, which I haven't seen before. But I don't think Desmond is the best leader figure since he does tend to focus on his own needs more so than the group he is leading. Desmond hasn't had any first hand experience with the Others, so I don't think he was really the best person to judge the Mikhail situation. He should've been more balanced.

Desmond is a huge mystery on his own. BUT being an other doesn't seem likely.

What I find particularly interesting about his story is that he seems to be the only islander that had true love in his life. Everyone else had fractured interpersonal relationships and only Rose/Bernard and Jin/Sun are married (that we know of.) BUt Des and Penny truly love each other and it has stretched over time/space/distance etc...

I was annoyed at his comment to Charlie though. Does Desmond know what Ethan did to Charlie, to Sceve, to the whole camp? Does he know what the Others did to the raft, that they took all the children from the flight and stole Desmond's own boat with an armed to kill crew? Who is he to judge Charlie?

Of COURSE he doesn't know! None of these people talk to each other about anything!!!!! It's my biggest gripe about the show!

I think letting Mikhail go was a smart choice. None of the others so far have given any answers to the losties and neither would Mikhail. What could he tell them that they already don't know? It would be a waste and would just put people's lives at stake at the losties camp.

I'm not a supporter of this whole Desmond is an other theory either. I honestly just think he wants Penny back, that seems to be his focus now and he wants to do whatever he can to get her back or at least find out if she's still looking and if it means letting Mikhail go after he saved the life of a girl who knew his name and had a picture of him and Penny than thats what he'll do. He's being selfish for once and i think he feels he deserves it.

Of COURSE he doesn't know! None of these people talk to each other about anything!!!!! It's my biggest gripe about the show!
Uhm, are you watching the same show as I am? Last night's episode gave a few examples of the fact that the Losties do indeed talk to each other about things. Charlie and Hurley knew about Mikhail because Kate told them and Sun knew about the medical hatch because Kate and Claire told her. So they do share things, we just don't see them on screen because it would really be boring to get told something we already know.

About Desmond. I think it was very stupid of him to let Mikhail go, but then the writers would have to reveal a lot of things, since the Losties would have two Others in their camp and one of them would have to spill the beans.

2) "I gave my word!"

Yeah Desmond, like you gave Charlie your word that he wasn't going to get killed on your camping trek.

...and Des kept his word (though I don't remember him uttering the exact words 'I give you my word' to Charlie... I could be wrong.)

I didn't see anything particularly 'off' about Desmond tonight. He is a loner and not an 815'er. :)

I'm sorry, but Desmond was BOTH these things in last weeks episode. I love Desmond, but if he can con and lie to Charlie, then why not Mikhail?

Maybe he was feeling remorseful about that? From where I stand, the Charlie thing was the first time he's lied to anyone on the show...granted, I may be forgetting something, but still. I don't think he's used to lying, somehow. So...because he's feeling bad for doing so to Charlie, he's overcompensating by not doing it to Mikhail. Maybe. Just my $0.02.

I absolutely think Desmond made the correct decision about Mikhail. Time will tell if that decision backfires or not. Mikhail could come back and do something horrible, but he could just as easily remember that he was treated fairly by Desmond and end up doing something good for him in return. In any event, Desmond could hardly have killed him (or allowed Charlie to kill him), and I seriously doubt that the four of them could have managed carrying the parachutist back and keeping Mikhail as a prisoner at the same time. And I do think it's important that he gave his word to Mikhail.

From where I stand, the Charlie thing was the first time he's lied to anyone on the show...granted, I may be forgetting something, but still. I don't think he's used to lying, somehow. So...because he's feeling bad for doing so to Charlie, he's overcompensating by not doing it to Mikhail.
Uh, no, I think he lies a lot. He lied (at least by omission) when we first met him in the Swan and he said Kelvin "died." He lied to Penny when he told her he was meeting with Widmore to ask for a job, when he really went to ask for his permission to marry her. He lied to Charlie and Hurley in FBYE about how he knew about Claire's drowning. He doesn't seem to be a very good liar though--it always seems kind of obvious that he's doing it.

There's a difference though between lying and actually giving someone his word. I have a feeling that Desmond may follow a code that if he gives another man his word, it has to be honored. I don't think that extends to women though--at least he managed to go back on his promise to marry Ruth.

What I find particularly interesting about his story is that he seems to be the only islander that had true love in his life. Everyone else had fractured interpersonal relationships and only Rose/Bernard and Jin/Sun are married (that we know of.) BUt Des and Penny truly love each other and it has stretched over time/space/distance etc...
Before FBYE I would have agreed with that, but it seems to be a love that can only exist if they're separated. He has a few too many issues to ever allow them to stay together in the real world.

It is interesting that Charlie, Hurley and Jin allowed themselves to be ruled by Desmond.
This truly surprised me. Charlie overruled Desmond in Catch 22 when he insisted that they stay on the beach until light. I fully expected him to try to do so again in this episode.

If anyone remembers the exact quote let me know but I loved when Desmond says to Charlie "by my last count you killed more than they have killed " paraphrase...

How freaking great was that line. It stopped Charlie in his tracks. He had no response to that.

I also recall someone else earlier in the season almost saying the same thing to Charlie. Does anyone else remember??

i think the line was...

"You have killed more of them than they have of you".

I seem to recall that Charlie also pointed out that the Others started this whole business. They kidnapped Claire and Charlie, hung Charlie from a tree, killed Scott, kidnapped a whole bunch of people from the Tail section, shot Sayid, blew up the raft and shot Sawyer, kidnapped Walt, killed Nathan, stole the sailboat by force, coerced Michael into leading four people into a trap...

Desmond has the luxury of being more neutral in the Losties/Others little war because he has not been terrorized by these people yet.

The Others have plenty of blood on their hands. Charlie had every right to be opposed to letting Mikhail run off (to possibly get other Others); they will be greatly slowed when taking the parachutist back. However, Desmond was in his rights to keep his word, since Mikhail did help save She Who Must Not Be Named as part of a deal.

How freaking great was that line. It stopped Charlie in his tracks. He had no response to that.


Uh, no actually Charlie responded by saying (I'm paraphrasing) "But they started it."

But... The Losties have only killed 1 Other that Desmond knows about, which is Ethan. The Others have killed 1 of the Losties also that we know of, correct? So I didn't quite understand what Desmond's point was.

Uh, no actually Charlie responded by saying (I'm paraphrasing) "But they started it."

Yeah...actually conrick, Charlie responded with the "line of the night" - "They started it."

This truly surprised me. Charlie overruled Desmond in Catch 22 when he insisted that they stay on the beach until light. I fully expected him to try to do so again in this episode.

True, but Charlie had the power in that situation. He suspected that Desmond needed him for something in the vision...something that Desmond wasn't telling him about. He called his bluff by threatening not to follow him in the dark.

Charlie didn't have any such hold over Desmond in D.O.C. In fact I think Desmond has more power over Charlie now. It is clear Desmond is growing weary of saving his life and is ready to give on Charlie as a lost cause...Charlie can't afford to alienate Desmond too much.

But still Charlie had his opinion and he was sticking to it, but Hurley is passive and Jin barely speaks any English so he didn't have much back up.

I do think Mikhail is gonna come back and strike the Lostees before the end of S3. All season characters have been saying "You should kill him, you need to kill that guy..." It has got to be building towards something. Mikhail seems very dangerous to me.

I do think Mikhail is gonna come back and strike the Lostees before the end of S3. All season characters have been saying "You should kill him, you need to kill that guy..." It has got to be building towards something. Mikhail seems very dangerous to me.

That's not to mention the fact that Mikhail himself confirms this and says he's going to sit tight and wait for his moment and then kill them the first chance he gets. Somebody better warn Sayid.

Yeah...actually conrick, Charlie responded with the "line of the night" - "They started it."

*pumps fist* YYYYESSS. If only Jack could have come back with that one when Tom essentially tried the same line on him. It would have shut him right down too.

I'm sorry, but Desmond was BOTH these things in last weeks episode. I love Desmond, but if he can con and lie to Charlie, then why not Mikhail?



I think Desmond is actually right that the parachutist IS the most important thing right now, but he still didn't have to dismiss Mikhail so quickly. This is not just an Other, but an Other who was supposed to be DEAD! I bet Sayid is going to be pissed that they let him go.

It is interesting that Charlie, Hurley and Jin allowed themselves to be ruled by Desmond. He showed a lot of authority on this trek, which I haven't seen before. But I don't think Desmond is the best leader figure since he does tend to focus on his own needs more so than the group he is leading. Desmond hasn't had any first hand experience with the Others, so I don't think he was really the best person to judge the Mikhail situation. He should've been more balanced.


Except that Desmond didn't lie to Charlie because he saved his life.

If Desmond wasn't such an honorable man and was a liar and only out for himself then why has he continued to save Charlie when Charlie's death means nothing to him finding Penny.

Desmond along with Jack are one of the few people left on the island that keeps his word when given.

I didn't see anything particularly 'off' about Desmond tonight. He is a loner and not an 815'er. :)

I agree, Desmond was acting kind of selfishly but that fits right in with what Boone said about Desmond in Locke's vision. I think Boone said something like "he only looking out for himself".

Except that Desmond didn't lie to Charlie because he saved his life.

If Desmond wasn't such an honorable man and was a liar and only out for himself then why has he continued to save Charlie when Charlie's death means nothing to him finding Penny.

Desmond along with Jack are one of the few people left on the island that keeps his word when given.

Yes, Desmond did the honourable thing in the end by saving Charlies life, but he still lied to Charlie repeatedly. Charlie asked if the flash had anything do with him dying and Desmond said that it didn't. Charlie asked if there was any other flashes that happened between finding the cable and finding the beacon. Desmond lied and said there was nothing.

I love Desmond but he does lie, not just in this episode.

TBH I think the "we gave him our word" thing was a convient excuse to get Patchy out of the way so he could concentrate on Naomi. Also on an honourable level I do think Desmond was trying to protect his group. Bringing Patch along as a prisoner could have gone horribly wrong. If Mik can sneakily steal a phone then at some point he might have grabbed the gun or Desmonds machete and taken the advantage.

I think any viewer would be foolish to think that Desmond was a Lostie or on the side of the Losties. Desmond came to the island differently than they did and spent a good deal of time with Kelvin.

When Desmond said this. By my count you've killed more of them than they've killed of you. How does he know that Charlie has killed anyone??? The Only people that he has seen die/dead are Kelvin who may or may not be dead, Nikki and Paulo who where not dead when they were burried. When Desmond said that it really bugged me because would the losties really tell Desmond what all happend when he was still down in the Hatch

Desmond sat in that hatch and pressed that button for 3 years believing he was 'saving the world', he turned the failsafe key not knowing if it would kill him or not, why should he put the Losties above himself? He's not selfish.

And on another note - Mikhail was in the Flame without much contact from people, except throught the computer, bet Desmond wishes he based was in that station instead. Looking at the outside world has got to be better than pushing a button without knowing why. Mikhail claimed as a lie to Sayid he was the last living member of the Dharma initiative, but actually Desmond is the last living member although he was 'recruited' by Kelvin in a bizarre manner. One loner to another why would Desmond want to kill Mikhail, my reckoning is Desmond respects him... oh yes and it was Locke who inadvertantly destroyed both hatches, both Desmonds and Mikhails 'homes'. Desmond would gain nothing from killing Mikhail, I think he has enough guilt going on in his head.

Where the hell is Locke anyway?

When Desmond said this. By my count you've killed more of them than they've killed of you. How does he know that Charlie has killed anyone??? The Only people that he has seen die/dead are Kelvin who may or may not be dead, Nikki and Paulo who where not dead when they were burried. When Desmond said that it really bugged me because would the losties really tell Desmond what all happend when he was still down in the Hatch

They don't have work to keep them busy other than gathering food. With Jin's fishing and the Dharma supplies, I don't think they have to do a great deal of that either. There's very little recreation. They have a LOT of spare time on their hands. Why is it implausible to think they haven't discussed this? Fireside bragging seems logical to me. "We had him surrounded. But I wasn't fooled. He had tried to kill me already. I saw the look in his eye and I saw him make his move, but I was too quick for him."

Is that sort of embellished talk really too difficult to imagine? Just because we don't see it on camera doesn't mean the writers aren't allowing for it to have taken place. You should take Desmond's knowledge of those events and the lack of curiosity on Charlie's part on how he know to mean that they have talked about it. It's a nonverbal given by the writers.

Although I don't believe that Desmond is an "Other" I do believe that he is something other. To say that he is Dharma is too easy. Again he is something else. Perhaps he is working for Widmore. We know that Widmore Industries is interested in fertility (the pregnancy tests), we also know that Desmond was meant to push the button according to Mrs. Hawkings.

Now for what I think. I think that it was very convienient that Penny showed up right after Desmond was "fired" from being a monk. Penny may love Des, but I think that she and her father are looking for the island and that they are/were using Des for an end to this means. Maybe because Des had an ability yet untapped or just because he was a "lost soul." Either way Desmond is not an other and not a Lostie and not Dharma, but something else.

Now for what I think. I think that it was very convienient that Penny showed up right after Desmond was "fired" from being a monk. Penny may love Des, but I think that she and her father are looking for the island and that they are/were using Des for an end to this means. Maybe because Des had an ability yet untapped or just because he was a "lost soul." Either way Desmond is not an other and not a Lostie and not Dharma, but something else.

While I agree about the "lost soul" idea I'm not sure Penny, or head monk for that matter, had an intention to steer Desmond into making the decisions he made. It seems more likely that they were "steered" by the old lady to ensure that Desmond ends up where he does.

I don't think Penny had anything to do with Desmond ending up on the island. Her father, absolutely. oh and Desmond is NOT an other!!

This may be off-topic but it just occurred to me. Wasn't there stuff like bottles of wine etc with the Swan logo on them in the Flame? I'm not suggesting that Desmond knew Mikhail, he certainly acted like he didn't, but am I remembering right about the items with the Swan logo?

Desmond kept his word. its as simple as that. we already know that sticking to your word is important on the island (even Ben sticks to his promises). it isnt anything to do with honesty, it is more to do with obligation. in our everyday lives we are constantly obliged to do things, such as work and other chores, that we wouldnt do through choice but are bound by agreement or obligation. Lost just likes to echo life and the way we live our everyday lives, never thinking about the reasons we do things and our daily obligations. even the most dishonest of us still have things we must/are obliged to do for our every day lives to run efficiently.
100%
oh, just one more thing (sounds like columbo)
the question of desmond being an 'other' is void. the question is 'is he a good person, or bad'?
the word others is just an alusion to 'them over the river' or 'next village/country etc'. the others are not bad people just because they have a different agenda, we dont know what they are doing yet. they could, for all we know, belive that they are saving the world.

Of COURSE he doesn't know! None of these people talk to each other about anything!!!!! It's my biggest gripe about the show!

They totally talk to each other, Hurley knew that Mikhail was supposed to be dead he said kate told him. They don't show us because we know what happened, they could spend the first 10-15 minutes of each show catching up everybody but that would be a waste of TPTB's time and ours, so assume they do talk to each other, I do.

Desmond was completely right. It is only because his word had value in the first place that they were able to save the girl.

It's understandable that Desmond's attitude toward them is a little less personalized than the rest of them. For the last 3(?) years, they've just been "the hostiles" -- an annoyance, which means if you go outside you should bring your rifle. He hasn't really lived through the same vulnerability to them that the rest have.

If this is being discussed in another thread please redirect me but something has been nagging at me since this episode aired. I watched it again last night and I'm even more puzzled.
Here's the thing...Desmond was drafted into Dharma by Kelvin and so not really indoctrinated that we know of, right? However, he considered himself to be part of Kelvin's team and wore the Dharma uniform etc. At some point he became aware that there were "others" on the island and considered them hostile. I've never gotten the impression that he had an encounter with any of them prior to being adopted by the 815 campers.

So I don't understand why there wasn't more of a reaction from him when Mikail came barrelling out of the foliage. I mean, here's a guy wearing the Dharma uniform...the same uniform worn by Kelvin (and himself) for years. That should have given Desmond a jolt. He should have asked, "Where'd you get that jumpsuit, Brotha?" But he didn't so much as blink. And then after all was said and done he let him leave without questions, not even "Are you him?". Just doesn't make a bit of rational sense, even if it is just a tv show.

If this is being discussed in another thread please redirect me but something has been nagging at me since this episode aired. I watched it again last night and I'm even more puzzled.
Here's the thing...Desmond was drafted into Dharma by Kelvin and so not really indoctrinated that we know of, right? However, he considered himself to be part of Kelvin's team and wore the Dharma uniform etc. At some point he became aware that there were "others" on the island and considered them hostile. I've never gotten the impression that he had an encounter with any of them prior to being adopted by the 815 campers.

So I don't understand why there wasn't more of a reaction from him when Mikail came barrelling out of the foliage. I mean, here's a guy wearing the Dharma uniform...the same uniform worn by Kelvin (and himself) for years. That should have given Desmond a jolt. He should have asked, "Where'd you get that jumpsuit, Brotha?" But he didn't so much as blink. And then after all was said and done he let him leave without questions, not even "Are you him?". Just doesn't make a bit of rational sense, even if it is just a tv show.


YES.. i agree. he never even flinched at all at seeing him..
not one question either about the uniform.. good question ..

Great post GGjustice. Those were my thoughts too!

If this is being discussed in another thread please redirect me but something has been nagging at me since this episode aired. I watched it again last night and I'm even more puzzled.
Here's the thing...Desmond was drafted into Dharma by Kelvin and so not really indoctrinated that we know of, right? However, he considered himself to be part of Kelvin's team and wore the Dharma uniform etc. At some point he became aware that there were "others" on the island and considered them hostile. I've never gotten the impression that he had an encounter with any of them prior to being adopted by the 815 campers.

So I don't understand why there wasn't more of a reaction from him when Mikail came barrelling out of the foliage. I mean, here's a guy wearing the Dharma uniform...the same uniform worn by Kelvin (and himself) for years. That should have given Desmond a jolt. He should have asked, "Where'd you get that jumpsuit, Brotha?" But he didn't so much as blink. And then after all was said and done he let him leave without questions, not even "Are you him?". Just doesn't make a bit of rational sense, even if it is just a tv show.
I don't think Desmond ever had much identification with Dharma; he wore the Dharma jumpsuit because he didn't have any other clothes except what he was wearing when he shipwrecked on the island. Once he turned the failsafe key and the hatch imploded, I suspect any interest Desmond had in Dharma evaporated. Also, remember that Desmond had already seen Mikhail's face in the Pearl Station monitor, so he already knew that Mikhail had a connection to Dharma and the hatches. As far as asking "Are you him?" goes--Desmond's only interest in "him" was when he was hoping for a replacement to come so he could get out of the Swan; no longer an issue now.

At the time of the encounter with Mikhail in D.O.C. all Desmond really cares about is saving the parachutist who he believes is connected to Penny.

So I don't understand why there wasn't more of a reaction from him when Mikail came barrelling out of the foliage. I mean, here's a guy wearing the Dharma uniform...the same uniform worn by Kelvin (and himself) for years. That should have given Desmond a jolt. He should have asked, "Where'd you get that jumpsuit, Brotha?" But he didn't so much as blink. And then after all was said and done he let him leave without questions, not even "Are you him?". Just doesn't make a bit of rational sense, even if it is just a tv show.

He'd already seen him at another station on the tv monitor so knew he was stationed in a Dharma station. He asked who he was and then Charlie filled in. Bare in mind Desmond was amped because his head was still spinning about Penny and the photo etc. Then this mad russian jumps out the jungle evidently looking like a man on a mission so making sartorial enquiries probably wasn't first and foremost on Desmond's list of things to ask!

I just had another though about when Desmond says "By my count Charlie you've killed more of them than they've killed of you."

True Charlie shot and killed Ethan and everybody knows it but has Desmond told anyone about him "killing" Kelvin. They both have killed one person and Desmond is making a big deal about Charlie killing Ethan, I dont see why that they couldnt of taken Patchy with them they needed two people to hold the stretcher at all times one other person to carry their stuff and that leaves one person to hold gaurd over Patchy, Patchy didnt run when Kate, Sayid, Danielle and Locke had him right, so wouldnt it be just as easy for them to take him back and give him to Sayid and says hey hes not dead like you thought he was

Desmond kept his word. its as simple as that. we already know that sticking to your word is important on the island (even Ben sticks to his promises)
.... the question is 'is he a good person, or bad'.

I agree completely. Perhaps Desmond's integrity will someday prevent Smokey from attacking him.

And as to Desmond's previous weakness and lies: I think a major theme of Lost this season is finding redemption by putting your evil ways behind you, and doing right from now on.

I just had another though about when Desmond says "By my count Charlie you've killed more of them than they've killed of you."

True Charlie shot and killed Ethan and everybody knows it but has Desmond told anyone about him "killing" Kelvin. They both have killed one person and Desmond is making a big deal about Charlie killing Ethan, I dont see why that they couldnt of taken Patchy with them they needed two people to hold the stretcher at all times one other person to carry their stuff and that leaves one person to hold gaurd over Patchy, Patchy didnt run when Kate, Sayid, Danielle and Locke had him right, so wouldnt it be just as easy for them to take him back and give him to Sayid and says hey hes not dead like you thought he was
Desmond isn't making a big deal about Charlie killing Ethan; when he says "you" he means the 815 survivors, not Charlie personally. Desmond is (correctly) pointing out that more Others have been killed by Losties than Losties have been killed by Others. What came as a surprise to me was that Desmond knew how many people had been killed on both sides.

As for taking Mikhail prisoner, I think there are several good reasons not to: (1) Desmond made an agreement with him to let him go in exchange for his help with the parachutist. Mikhail certainly kept his part of the agreement. (2) Mikhail actually hasn't done anything bad to Desmond and his group to warrant taking him prisoner. (3) Carrying an injured woman on a stretcher through the jungle and managing a prisoner would have been next to impossible. Mikhail could simply have sat down and refused to move. I don't think they could have dragged him all the way back, especially since two of them would have been needed on the stretcher. If their priority was to get the parachutist back to camp, then they had no choice but to let Mikhail go.