82 Engagement with Gabok Guerrillas

In the next day, Henry reported the details to George inclusive of the minacious situation occurred in the midst of their mission. As appointed head of the southwest team he had caused trouble to the injured teammates and bowed his head in dismay of himself.

" Henry, despite the danger you still ushered your team with such a fearless decision. Intriguingly, Narciso told us there was never any way to back-off. Or else, the 20 Japs would terminate your team. In fact, no one has died from us, that is something you should be thinking even before you sleep at night. Moreover, your leadership has shattered 20 large number of opponents, it wasn't a joke - its a huge number. Their tails are waggling now to recharge and refill new soldiers for their Tikaban barracks that's getting deserted now. Interestingly, its officially recorded that there were 18 deaths ensnared by station one team while the five of you bushwhacked at least 20 and for just launching few grenades. Over this, we need your signatures in our journal to witness the statistics. Likewise, later today, Baldur will meet the Gabok guerrillas to find out the death toll in the shoreline. You may go if you want." George said.

" Thank you, Sir, for motivating me, I'll work hard."

Then George tapped Henry's shoulder.

"Henry, its not just a good job but an outstanding performance. I'll give you something this afternoon." Then he winked an eye to Henry. When Henry left, Amado was then called to get in but he pulled Sibaya's hand."

" Hey! haha, Anthony told me that your team was the craziest last night. How was it." George asked.

" Ikaw da pagtiyab ngawon." ( you talk about it there)."Sibaya's smile urged him to ask what made him bothersome.

" Sir, why you chose me as team leader when we have two insular soldiers with us, Bruno and Anthony." Amado asked.

" Ah! haha, hmm, this is a shared responsibility because we're just protecting this country. Besides, being soldiers and guerrillas have distinct techniques and schemes, though in different cultural and strategic mechanims but in the eyes of the Japanese soldiers we're labeled as 'guerrillas.' We don't exist anymore as soldiers. Certainly, the role given to you and your team was to run and distract the enemies and to deceive them we're kind of outnumbered so aside from that, you've long been trusted. You had been consistent helping in various medical concerns around so your character and potential being a leader led you last night for southeast. You're also familiar with the terrain and can speak the native tongue around so your leadership has to undergo that funny yet a one in a million military experience and success." George patiently explained.

" Yeah, haha, honestly Sir. I toured them unexpectedly and we found some Filipino households on our way. They're settlers and locked up themselves in caves too. Most of them told us to relax but we said we're in a hurry but one of the elders put a plate-sized pork wrapped with cloth and forcibly placed it inside Anthony's bag. They even told us to return for some crops. Another household gave us rice and we were very thankful, its half a sack Sir, and the five of us divided it as we ran that heavy on our back."

"Wow! its how hospitable we, Filipinos are. So you've got rice and pork today, ha. Can I barter a pot of your rice with my liquors, how is that?" George smiled.

" We can even give you more than that of a pot Sir. Though, I don't drink but Anthony wished of a wine last night, I better accept the trading, haha! thank you Sir." Amado excitingly gestured.

Then after the short meeting he visited the angel fruit trees and passed by at the flower garden to pick up one white daisy in bloom. He was smelling it while closing his eyes, smiling.

From a distance, Fr. Matias was watching him again from his 'hagdanan' (stairs) while enjoying the bamboo mug of coffee.

"You're the only American husband doing that, George. You luckily got the toughest woman finely trained by Sr. Sibal. Keep going, good boy." He smiled while sipping the coffee once more.

Meanwhile, George saw Baldur and Henry going out from the wooden house with Sibaya and Amado, all's waiting at the secret passage. Then they waved a hand to him, leaving for Gabok.

He spotted Albrecht at the kitchen, busily cooking with pasty rice for Magee.

"Wow!" George created some noise while standing behind him.

" This isn't yours, this is for the goddess." Albrecht said while George smirked by his side.

" Ah, bring this pack. Tomorrow you have to wake up early and cook this rice in there. Don't worry, I already divided the serving within a week so don't be confused. As of now, we're busy as a bee here, especially now that we have patients so you really have to cook for her. Another thing, that vine over there, that's the mighty sayote vine. Feel free to pick them whenever you feel of bringing some." Albrecht instructed.

" Is there anything you forgot to say, bro? haha, I'll get going now."

" Ah, the 'salabat' and lemons, here, she missed all of these." Then Albrecht added them as wrapped with dried banana leaves.

" Albrecht, thank you, as always. I'm proud for Madelleine." Then George smiled and ran outside without witnessing how Albrecht became automatically absentminded, dropped the ladle, fell on the chair and stuck so lifelessly while staring to nothingness.

Like a speed of light he reached the granite doorway and formally knocked but no one opens. He tried to push it and found her sleeping while holding the third journal while noticing some ripped pages.

" Ow! she wasn't able to finish sewing and even ripped some of the journal's pages. Why did she ripped them? She'd slept so sound but I can get those ripped pages redesigned to paper balls, why not. Those were just scattered beside her hand. I'm sure my name were written in those pages. He thought then slowly single out the ripped paper balls and put them in his pocket then got out from the granite door again then knocked so loudly. Magee ran towards the door and opened it.

" It isn't close, but wait." She smiled and hurriedly returned to her bed. But she let him wait for a while at the doorway.

" Can I come in now?" He insisted.

" No! no! not yet. Stay there for a while, please." She was so busy fixing and searching but with a worrisome sound she spoke.

" Okay...just come in."

" Hi!" He immediately proceeded to the kitchen table and took the flower inside a bamboo mug. She moved closer and looked what he'd brought."

" You stepped in without this bag but the flower you brought came in first. Hmm, maybe I was confused, its okay. So how's my brothers?" She smiled.

He drew nearer and took her hand, open her palm and put a fresh daisy flower on it then close it again.

" She moved closer and put her chin on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him. "Just thankful you're back home safe. Though this is seldom for now while the angel trees are still young, so just don't move, stay where you are, I'm pretty serious. I'm just going to confiscate the stolen ripped pages from your pocket, right now. Don't move."

Then he could feel her breath so warm on his neck. He was speechless but looked up smiling with hands up while she searched in his pockets.

" Hmm, I found them." Her face was reddish while smiled at him and quickly returned to her bed and hide the ripped pages again. He slowly followed only up to the boundary and just noticed that there were flour powder on the floor, scattered.

"Case closed." He thought and smiled.