158 Health Issues in Station One

Few weeks after.

Despite extra health measures, still most of the residents of station one had some health concerns, especially on boils or 'pigsa." It was the reason why George had a spot visit and brought them some medicine. Interestingly, they conducted minor surgery on grave boils like the cases of carbuncle and sty. Momentarily, Amado helped him in checking the patients while the lieutenant spoke.

" Why you're so silent."

" I remember Lucia. I took her out from the enemy's den but she committed suicide. Though, I remain proud of her for not betraying us. In her note left made me stronger that if she die she could protect us more than living with power but a traitor. She did not die empty-handed, she's a heroine who have assured that there's no harm against them (enemies). So sad...I was late in bringing her in, she told me she's already ruined - it breaks my heart every day." Amado bowed his head while wiping the patient's reddish lump.

" Hmm...it was indeed sad, but she died for her country and its people." The lieutenant whispered.

The place have poor sanitation and hygiene, that probably the cause of 'boils' around them. Series of treatments applied yet they need to educate them, considering the water falls was just in front to provide clean water to drink, wash the dishes and laundry, but most of all could tidy everyone. Yes, George did. He gathered them all after he communicated religiously and sought feedback.

When done, he turned around his head to Amado and sighed.

" They ran out of food supplies now, huh! They still have a sack of rice since they followed the order of just making a porridge in almost every time, but the nutrients isn't enough, its more of a carbo and our body needs more of protein and other nutrients. Nevertheless, they said they've tried to scout some root crops but those weren't enough and besides, this contamination is a bit worst due to the flu they've experienced,so their body needs enough. " George sighed.

" What are we going to do, Sir?" Amado was anxious.

" We need to go down to the bottom of the cliff on our way back to the tunnel's exit and help gather fruits and anything useful for them. You may help me do it since I'm not so familiar to some root crops and vegetables growing along the way." George packed up and they eventually moved out.

It was midnight when they got out above of the Mabolo exit. It was too pleasant for January 1943. The air was too soothing as they both sat side by side with Amado in a foggy hill. But interestingly, they have heard some noise of ducks and chicken somewhat disturbed by something so it gave the lieutenant an idea.

" Amado...we'll steal those food stuff like growling, inviting us to get them." George smiled while chilling.

" Ha? but....Sir, its the enemy's den few meters away. We don't have backups." Amado was chilling too.

" But Sir...they're maybe new set of angry soldiers right now, maybe they're too many."

" Ah, just stay here, I'll just use my dagger." It was enough when the lieutenant whispered and moved down towards the hilly back portion of the enemy's barracks.

" My God....is he depressed after seeing the poor migrants inside? Help us Lord!" Amado had a deep breathe.

While waiting on his chilling extremities, he couldn't imagine if how the lieutenant could ever make it. Needless, but after an hour of waiting, George returned with a sack of chicken. They immediately glided inside the hole and jumped on the station one's ground. The people were awaken and was overwhelmed with what they saw.

" Everyone! we have 12 newly harvested chicken. Albrecht used a grater here before but its noise might be heard in the ground. The enemies might hear it so I think Amado and I will finally go down and scout for coconut but bring it to the tunnel. We can safely grate I think 5-10 coconuts inside the tunnel and someone will send it back here so you can make these meat in 'adobo sa gata'. Is someone familiar on how to cook it this way?" George smiled when everyone raised a hand.

" Haha, Sir, its how they cook the chicken here so to preserve it within a week. But...Sir, they looked so pale and lifeless. Can they still do it?" Amado whispered.

" That's a good point. Maybe we'll just bring all these meat in the tunnel and ask Albrecht to cook all of these. We'll just return to deliver it as a viand." George whispered and explained to the people that they'll just return after hours. He suggested that they may just return to sleep and keep consuming the porridge that they have and when they wake up in the morning, everyone must tidy the area and pursue proper sanitation. Apart from their lectures, George and Amado also washed the dishes and put all of these on a clean towel on the table. All the spoons and wooden mugs were sterilized. Since they ran out of charcoal, George and Amado maximized the old wooden beds and bamboo straps in creating fire, though, they strategized if on how the smoke from the furnace can leak out, and it did. After all, they left bound to the Kabang tunnel passage and had the difficulty of bringing up the chicken meat using the pulley. Here's the secret of their tunnel passage. When someone is right there below, he/she must pull the four knitted ropes designed with bamboo seat, and once pulled already, a sound coming from a small bell will summon everyone above. So they'll pull the ropes and in the case of George and Amado bringing that heavy chicken meat along with 10 coconuts with husk, more men had to pull them up. So it actually happened and they all sweat and Albrecht prepared his tools to butcher the chicken met at 0400 hrs. Most of the civilians were farmers so they easily processed the coconut and grated it successfully. A soldier got the chance to get out in the surface of the granite mountain just to harvest some ginger, 'papayang hilaw,' 'dahon ng sili' and lemon grass since Albrecht decided not just to send 'adobo' but 'tinolang manok' in station one, especially to the sick.