145 Its All About Survival

Despite Elmar's delicate situation Henry and Baldur carried him through a bamboo pole where a blanket was hanged and tightly tied side by side. Amado was patiently walking too fast while giving Elmar some first aids.

" He's asthmatic!" Amado looked at the Captain.

" Oh God...but boy! keep movin' we have to go down to the creek where we can drink some water and grab some fruits.. Faster!"

Baldur was then following his Dad who was a bit exhausted but still posting on the lead and the rest were heavily carrying the sacks of rice.

" "Dad, slow down a little...your knees I know are biting now inside. Tell me if you need a hand." Baldur whispered.

" Shh...we have to keep movin' son, Gabok border is safer to us." The Captain said.

When the creek was quite near but in bad fate, they saw a few Japs crossin' at it and so they waited for a while till sundown again.

" Dad...Elmar's a bit stable now. What do you think, can we cross now to set our foot on that creek." Baldur asked.

" No, not yet. One among them will get back to that creek and check whether enemies are just around. Observe thoroughly, someone will return to check. One...two..." The Captain stopped when a Jap in uniform has returned and checked the area by the creek.

" Wow! haha...." Baldur was laughing while covering his mouth.

Amado then wowed and glanced to the Captain while Henry unbelievably bit his lip in amazement.

" See that...so we'll just wait till sundown and all of them will return to their headquarter by the Gabok bridge." The army head on a silent roar.

When twilight came and the fogs started to mantle the skies and treetops, Edward's team went down by the creek and everyone immediately dipped their water containers inside a basin-like well.

" Wow! thank God" Baldur whispered himself while watching Isagani dipped some water using a rare plant with pitcher-like containers around it.

" What's that? haha...they looked like pitchers! glamorous! where did you get that plant with pitcher-like water containers around it? lovely!" Albrecht smiled.

" When I climbed to spy if who was that noise following us, I spotted this one above and found some water inside each container but can't drink the water since there were dead insects inside in each container. Haha...I will use it now since I don't have a water container." Isagani said.

" Okay men...let's keep rested here for dinner. This place is rich with wild berries and guyabanos. We'll wait for Elmar to get his consciousness back.

After an hour, Elmar already seated on a rock and spoke.

" The gunfires you've heard have killed one of my caretakers. My trauma got back when I saw with my eyes on how they did the same to my wife. Its painful. So I decided to leave the place and join the guerrilla with secret alliance in the army helping the civilians. I have no choice but to wait for the liberation, if there's any." Elmar was teary eyed and bowed his head, wiping his tears.

" Its okay Elmar...just pour it out. No matter how painful your life had been through but there's always freedom ahead, one day, we can have it. Let's altogether wait for it." Amado smiled.

Everyone kept silent and started to prepare themselves to continue the travel. Meanwhile, at the granite house in the next morning..

" Hey Damian, how have you been?Hmm...what are you doin'?!" George smiled.

" Good morning Papa. I tried to make a ball made of used papers from room number 5. I really wanted to play." Damian winked an eye to George.

" Great! haha! so how's your sleep?"

" I loved this room, its filled with baby needs and its homey. Its cold here too due to the flowing water. I like to stay here forever." The little boy smilingly uttered while throwing the paper ball to George.

" Ha? wow! that's lovely! so you need to work hard and treat everything here with proper care." George sat on the granite bench while Damian sat beside him.

" Why you and mama don't have a baby yet."

" Ah? haha! its still wartime, yeah! its it!"

" I will babysit supposed you will have a baby. Don't send me back to my father, he'd been very busy and I loved cool and silent place like this. I hate war." Damian sighed while George tapped his shoulder.

" This war will be over, Damian. Just keep praying to both the Filipinos and the Japs. My family does not like to fight too though there have been awful times where we have killed some Japs in the past, huh! help pray for everyone's safety, do it every now and then. Damian." George Sighed as well.

" Papa, I saw some weapons in one of the rooms, will you use all of them to kill my father and company..." Damian curiously asked.

" Oh God...no Damian. We'll just use it if they will combat against us, don't be frightened, okay?" George carry and put him on his lap.

" Papa, will you not kill me too? If that will happen, please do not chunk my body nor bayonet me."

" Damian..." Magee shouted from the door, she ran and covered the boy's mouth while George hugged them both.

" C'mon boy...we can be your parents. As I said, just don't be frightened and don't think too much. The army and Filipino civilians have saved you, if they'd been into revenge, they should have killed you then when they found you alive. Do you get that...just trust us. For now, your safety is part of our priority.