41 Search and Retrieval Operation

From the cave, George transferred her things going to Baldur and Albrecht's room while they moved upstairs. As usual, when they're lodged in that room, George had to sleep on the wooden floor with his mat while Magee would stay on the bamboo bed, known as 'katre' or 'kama'. So at 4 o'clock in the afternoon George called for a meeting with the people and after it, there's a separate meeting with the soldiers and guerillas.

The weather was pleasant so everyone just comfortably squat on the ground, in front of the house.

" I'm glad you responded and everyone's perfectly here. Though, your recent experience at the Japanese camp was quite unforgettable yet we'll pray little by little all of you would have a peaceful stay here. The owners of this one hectare place are just with us. They inherited this from their parents and surrogate father. Thus we have to radiate a positive life here with gratitude and with take care of this abundant land. We all know that this is the only place left safe so I hope no one will go out and betray this secret place. Remember that the small amount of favor you get from betrayal bounces doubly. As a village, we have installed guards/ soldiers on post. Suppose the soldiers will go out for some mission, any civilian interested as long as capable can help. As agreed, you have to maintain silence and if possoble don't cook anything that can be smelled outside. Strong smell of onions, garlic and anything goes are forbiddden. We have received a report that there are couples here, your relationships are not forbidden but Amado and I are your automatic Assistats when you labor or give birth in the right time. Due to limited resources, in cases of breech birth, chances are not assured but we'll try our best. With fit and balance, everyone can live in a normal life inside and just be patient until this Japanese occupation and war would end. Sadly, we do not have rice so please let's help one another in planting more carb-root crops. I encourage the women to help their partners in improving the quality of life inside their 'bahay kubo's.' Be productive. Instead of recalling sad experiences and present ordeal, try to think ahead and plan out. In setting some plans, be assertive, talk to us to possibly help you. Moreover, this house at my back is currently handled by its owners so let's respect their privacy. However, there is one part here, on the left side was converted into an office. Baldur, one of the owners of this place will serve as 'puno' or 'kapitan' of this place. Hevis bu blood, a Filipino-German and the adopted sons of the American captain. In so doing, Fr. Matias, our priest here is very much welcome to give us all a Sunday bible sharing or whatever he thinks could help our spiritual struggles and calm down our spirits from pains. He is by blood, a Filipino-German. From now on, instill in your minds that our goal is to survive. We cannot fight against the enemies by using our bolo, but in another way, we do our fights secretly. Whether you like it or not, the existing American occupation prior to the Japanese would end one day, so you remain the last natives to raise your flag. In connection, we'll have all a flag ceremony every Monday, its the singing of the Philippine national anthem and just allow us to sing ours after you go. For those who are lonely out there, don't lose your hope, give us your landmarks and we'll try to look for your families, retrieve them, that if they're still alive. During alternate days of conductibg search and rescue operation, we'll go from one place to another and bring in new survivors/Filipino tenants. Tomorrow, you'll all meet with Baldur and discuss your policies within and hopefully be agreed by everyone. He knew much about this place and even lived here for a longer period of time. I guess this is all I can say for now. Thank you and good afternoon.

The people has left and went back to their respective bahay kubos but the priest approached George.

" I'm the priest they say under the Dominican order. Thank you for the plan of keeping us here, as a community. In my end, I'll try to help by officiating mass and conduct bible sharing, its just that they confiscate my bible and sadly burned it."

" That's not a problem Father Matias, that house has the bible."

" Praise the lord! thank you."

" Ah, by the way Father, tonight after our meeting with the soldiers snd guerillas, I'd like to ask a favor from you.

"Sure. At any time, just let someone call me." Then he smiled and left.

Fifteen minutes before dusk, the soldiers and guerillas gathered in front of the house.

" We've lost our command, but because we are still a force capable to fight - we remain servants of this commonwealth. I'll give you three days to rest, after that, we'll get out for the search and retrieval operation. We'll go westbound and find out some places with possible survivors we need to transfer here.

"We're ready Sir! But just to report from the previous station two Guerillas, they said the Japanese soldiers were saddened to the six soldiers who died of poisoning in the house of late Sr. Sibal. They accused some guerillas for doing it." Michael fed the information to everyone.

"Its my wife who did it and its the reason why I was stabbed." He thought.

" Sir, we'll return to station three and check whether the traitors have already repented.

"We'll go back there and try to bring them in as long as they'll promise to regain faithfulness." Elias said while stayed close with Gador who remained silent.

"Copy, though they also have their reasons but the safety of a hundred is more important to me as of this time. Anyway, we'll consider them if they remain in station three after a week. Still mandatory that no one is allowed to get out. We have period of operations intended for our orders and mission."

"Yes, Sir!"

Subsequently, when his men returned to their places he finally went inside the house but when he attempted to enter their room, its already locked.

"Magee! Mag, can you please open the door, I'll get my towel."

She replied.

" I , I...put your things outside, you sleep there.'

" What?" But I'm your stand by guard, you know that."

He had sensed that she moved nearer to the door inside and spoke.

" Shh...keep quiet. Tell me its okay. Tell me."

" Oh my...fine! I'll stay here the whole night and freeze like a snow." Then he was silent.

In a while, an earsplitting sound from Albrecht summoned them for dinner.

"Table is prepared, everyone please come."

" She opened the door and silently passed by to where George was standing; he became speechless and dumbfounded while looking to her wearing such lady's plain dress. He soundlessly followed her who then seated beside Albrecht.

" Wow! my beautiful sister...am I correct, George?"

" Yes, of course, she is." George replied.

Baldur joined them and commented after noticing her outfit.

" Did you fight?"

" No!" They both answered in chorus.

" Ah, haha....nothing, just checking. My wife put so much perfume when she's making me jealous or when doing some petty revenge." Baldur smiled.

She moved closer to George's seat and smiled at him. Then she put on his plate some vegetable salad mixed with white beans.

"Thanks." He meaningfully smiled at her for giving him the coconut-coated veggie salad.

"After this meal, I must sleep right away, I'm so tired for today's farming. Albrecht, you can't expect me to help you with the dishes."

" Don't worry bro, I'll do it." Albrecht replied.

They all got up and she proceeded to the restroom. After she washed up then freshly returned to the bedroom, but she saw him sitting on her bed - waiting for her.

" Sit down." He calmly said.

" What is this for?" She sheepishly asked.

" Are you mad at me?"

" Who says I'm mad with you?" She smiled.

" Nobody. I presumed, you were terribly angry since you send my things out, I felt like horribly dispatched in the North pole alone.

" Hmm...you can sleep anywhere inside, there were still available rooms. Why do you really like to stay within the room I'm using."

" ...but I was on the floor."

" If you elevate the mat and put it next to me, we already sleep together, see that?"

" But I already planted the tree and began taking care of the flowers."

" You only planted white flowers, I said rainbow flowers."

" Hmm...I shall decide what color that fits you and white matches - everything in you."

She sweetly smiled and moved to the door.

" Why. Why are you guarding the door?

He can't explain his feelings if he was happy or angry. Seeing her with the sweetest smile but wants him to get out seems unbelievable.

He slowly got out and puzzled but when he was at the doorstep outside he turned around and blankly asked her.

" Why? were you mad because I was drunk last night? What have I done?"

She covered her face and smirked then she closed the door.

He ran upstairs and joined to the siblings on their bed.

"Oh! heyyy!"

"Hey, anyone, help me!"

He shared to the brothers what happened and Baldur was laughing.

" Why?" George asked.

It means, she's starting to maturely like you - as a woman. But since you are under moratorium haha, under pamanhikan, you will expect more surprises.

" What is that?"

" You have to fetch water for her to bath, maybe carry some things for her if its heavy, plant a tree and wait for it to bear a fruit or plant rainbow flowers, get the moon and the stars, haha!" Baldur hife inside his blanket and Albrecht smiled.

" Good luck George!" Welcome to the family, you're almost there, keep going. I'll never tell you to give up now because its very clear that she likes you based from what you said. And take note, the more she'll hide her face from you while smiling, the more she's controlling her heartbeats. You're too lucky, you just awaken the brothers and made them interpret their sister's lovelife. Good night George, I missed Madelleine!"

He got down slowly and seated om the long chair, beside Magee's place.

The he smiled to himself and made his hands as pillow while looking above.

" Pamanhikan..." Till he slept wearing a smile while thinking of her.