34 Fear to Compartment Syndrome

That night, Albrecht got out and reported to Baldur the situation. Since its already midnight when he reached Kabang while it drizzles and still crazily mad with his little sister so Baldur brought him beside the spring and they both sat down on rocks beside it.

" Imagine she deceived me that she'll use the rest room but she went as high as the mabolo tree and she seemed had carried the alpha and bravo company and the entire insular of commonwealth and the states. Imagine, we're almost into vain now? George will rescue her, they'll both in prison cells so the more we lose our command. Huh! She never knew how powerful the imperial Japanese army these days. Pun's not intended here but should I tell you that she only brought a dagger and was too close with our enemies; she opened their food containers and she dropped poison bombs! So there!" He looked up sighing and shook his head.

"Sometimes, some women are like that. The more you tell them not to do it the more they'd insist even if its risky. Maybe she was just too focused on what she want because she never heard anything highly technical from us. Or should I say, just simply teach her, make her drown with exercises, push ups, let her carry small sacks and treat her like a soldier to keep her busy. Let her cook! haha, sweep the ground and all." Baldur laughed.

"But the other guy you know. He's too forgiving when it comes to her. Haisst, when my soup was salty he even got me down with undying push ups but when he was deeply stabbed by Magee, he said this, " Albrecht, don't pinch her ear, don't hurt her....." sort of, and I almost laugh hearing those lines."

"Shhh...haha, look how inexplicable love is. She fell in love to a woman she barely understands. Is that how you shared to me before? But its his decision too that he'll take her all. Hmm, so how long the stab is?"

" Its just one and a half inches."

" My God!" Baldur backed off."

" Why? Do you think I'll come this far at midnight to just tell you a tale? Huh! this is even an emergency!"

" Ridiculous!" Baldur ran toward the house and took his jacket and gun then he grabbed Albrecht and left some orders to Michael and Henry as guards on post before they finally left.

"Hey, how deadly such one and a half thigh stab Baldur?"

"Compartnent syndrome, the worst outcome of its complication. I saw one in the training center before who have the same condition. Such case needs proper surgery."

" I did it when he ordered me to do so, that's the reason why I was very mad to Magee."

"Run as fast as you can, c'mon!" Baldur was seriously urging his older brother to be in a hurry.

Despite slippery path due to the forest rain, there were times they slipped off but still they got back and ran again till they slowly walked by the cliff going inside the waterfalls. As they reached inside, Albrecht immediatelly grabbed some towels and they both changed.

" George! George! wake up!" Baldur pulled down the blanket and checked his thigh. George then moved upward and leaned on the wooden wall.

" Its nothing Baldur. It did not hit the mid anterior thigh so don't be afraid of any compartment syndrome or whatsoever. Besides, Albrecht performed pressure dressing to control my thigh from bleeding and its wholesome." He smiled at him while tapping Baldur's shoulder.

" Don't joke this time, this musn't happen."

"You guys should not worry. Better send here Amado two days from now and help me reopen it to possibly detect haematoma and operate for its removal. That's just possible. He's that medical student, right? Anyway, the stab went sideway and not in the central part. I already have some medicine intake for protection and injected myself too."

" Huh! Baldur stood up and went to Magee's place, leaned his chin on her door then sighed.

"She sleeps like an angel but she's good in ambushing. Shall we convert her to a combatant?" He sarcastically smiled.

" No. Leave her there." George ordered.

Baldur got back beside his bed and covered his body with a blanket again.

"Hah! I'll get back to Malapague and Amado will be here two days from now. Take care."

When he was about to get out from the cave Magee ran towards him; held his hand and pulled him back to the kitchen table. They sat side by side.

" Where are you going. We haven't talked yet. Magee sheepishly said.

"Hmm, and what am I going to tell you when you lethally stabbed your husband who heartily harvested Dad's flowers just to give them for you. Did you see how he had arranged them? Albrecht, Albrecht where did you keep the flowers?"

" I threw them!" Albrecht yelled facing on his pillow.

" That's it. I don't have any comments anymore, in fact, I can't think anything to talk about. Go nurse him! supposed he'll have symptoms of fever, ask him on what to pick out from the kit."

" Baldur, I'm very sorry." She's teary eyed again.

" That's why its difficult to comment. I know its not your intention but you were not supposed to do it. All these reshuffles in my mind and wants me to call Dad, Papa and Mom."

She slowly took his hand, placed it on her head and left it there.

Out of shock, he was teary eyed, nestled his palm on her head and caressed her hair like a sober lonely pet with his tears dropping heavily on his cheeks.

"Baldur, I'm very sorry, please don't hate me. Its difficult to squarely adjust, I tried to resort for help but I know I landed wrong. If you hate me like what Albrecht felt against me, so where shall I go to speak up my weaknesses? That's why I hate this war and the more I hate the enemies. They killed my youth and future, they dislodged all my life."

Baldur bowed his head then for a while compressed her shoulders with both hands and looked at her eye to eye then asked her.

" So what do you want to happen, tell me." Still his tears were flowing out of pity on her. But she bent her neck with all her hairs following and had a deep sigh facing on the ground. In a moment, she looked at him and said.

" I cannot tell you because I know all of you won't like it."

"Okay, by now, just keep it. One day ahead, tell me everything about it, okay?"

He took his hand again and placed it on her head then she smiled to him.

" You musn't hate me with Albrecht, I need a family. I missed my friends, my dogs were brutally killed by the enemies. They ruined all my books in the room and murdered my foster family. I missed school." She cried.

" School. I'm sure that day will get back on your way."

" But I'm a problem here already, hmm. George was injured because of me but I don't know how to comfort him. Isn't this life a bit strange? I know nothing and I'm always afraid of the war, afraid of..."

" Afraid of what..." Baldur curiously asked.

"No, nothing. Its still the same thing I couldn't open up to all of you. But one day ahead, I'll speak up for that." She smiled while wiping her tears.

" So what do you want me to do now."

" Please stay. I know Albrecht hates me now. I need your help in dressing - George's wound. At least, someone can help me attend to him before Amado could come."

He smiled.

"It seems I can sense a little if what is it troubling you about. Don't overthink. Just relax. Everything is fine, okay?"

"Baldur, the wound has deeply hit him. I'm guilty."

" Hmm, okay. Let's say, I can only stay for help up to this evening, is that alright for you?"

" Wow! thank you Baldur." She smiled and attempted to return to her place.

" Wait!"

She turned her head and looked at him.

" The flowers were not thrown. Stay here for a while."

Baldur went to Albrecht's area and sought for the flowers. Albrecht then told him if where exactly the daisies were placed and he told him its inside the bamboo flower vase beside the kitchen. Then Baldur returned to her who was then waiting beside the long table.

"Okay, you may go now to your bed and I'll move your flowers there. I still have to look for it."

She smiled and followed what he said. When she passed by at his place and saw him deeply sleeping she slowly went inside and arranged his blanket. Unknowingly, she stayed a little bit and had a smiling stare on his face.

" The wound must be very painful, please endure it for me." She thought.

"Ow! here's your flowers, they're very nice. I was a witness on how he bent his body for this harvest. He even left nothing for us there." He smiled.

"Wow, they're beautiful!" She looked to Baldur while smelling the daisies.

Without her knowing, George smiled and winked an eye to Baldur.

Then she smilingly stood and returned to her bed bringing the flowers.