175 Gut-wrenching trail

" The patrollers have increased in number and there's ought to be done, something else. I think of throwing grenades in an opposite direction, just as what we kept on doing in our previous attack. There's no use to fight against them when we only need to save Henry's team. The blasts I've heard, though, I still consider it as anyone else's, and not Henry's. Even just two, among us, can already do this job and you all need to take care of Amado and Narciso. So I, and Baldur I guess are enough. Thus, we'll be leaving now."

They packed up too fast and since George's things were wet; his comrades helped him borrowed some, from each - and the travel has began. George went out above the cliff and when reaching the grounds above; the surface was beautifully shaded by the trees from the moonlight. Minutes after, he's flat on the edge of the cliff and took Baldur's hands and pulled him.

" Hah! its really scary brother. One false move would send us to heaven, haha. Can't even imagine if on how you fly in the heights just to save Amado, meters away below, ah! terrible!" Baldur's said in a whispering voice while laid on the shrubs a meter from the cliff and inhaled.

" Haha! when I do it, I only think I'll be fine. Saving lives, erases fear. Then glad to see him back to us - alive." So, how are you now?" He spoke in a very low voice and was also flat on the ground, looking up to the dim tree trunks and branches above, waiting for the clouds to pass so to see the moon.

" Wow...I remember my wife through the light I see passing through the branches. I'm thinking of her smiles and the only human that sparkles in my heart...." He stopped when baldur stood up.

" George, I'm fine right now...come. I feel that you're in deep trauma more than Amado, come." Baldur was likely tickled and offered his hand for George and they both quickly moved towards Makasido's direction. On their plight, they noticed that soldiers on patrol were doubled, compared in the recent months.

" Baldur...beside their campfire, can you see around 4-5 soldiers were planting...something like - mines... in the ground. Let's be careful. But look...we can't pass, that's the only path herein or else, we need to go back northwest and walk for a mile, otherwise, we'll swim or dip ourselves like logs in order to flow northbound. Or, the worst - let's cross and climb above them through tree branches with 51% chance of survival. One shot or two can leave us down. But its the quickest passage to fetch Henry's team. What do you think?" George whispered and patted Baldur's shoulder.

" The cliffhanging is the most scary than crawling above the Japs at campfire, with carefree, I guess we'll gonna make it. " Baldur confidently responded.

" Got it bro, loud and clear." Baldur readied himself while George moved ahead of him. In a minute, they both carefully climbed and started to stand up above the big branches of acacia trees. Slowly they walked in a semi skyscraper part of the world, on that 12 feet high. George was worrying for Baldur. Though, he knew his buddy very well that even if how extremely disgusting the situation is, he knows Baldur cancels his present fear and had some late reaction of it, afterwards. With that thought, George already reached the middle part as they've transferred on trees thrice. Interestingly, out of the blazing fire below and chanting soldiers, George noticed a moving object facing to him above - and it's a cobra. With his last - willed force, using his bare hands, he caught it with the use of a knitted shawl. The scenario was, the snake had its venomous attack him but he readied the shawl that the cobra could hide in. George still had his best focus and threw the cobra below the Japs. Fortunately, it didn't fall on the fire so it attacked the soldiers and they're in panic as they ran. One brave soldier left and triggered his rifle on it.

" Bang! bang!" The cobra was shot dead. Needless, but George and Baldur have already successfully crossed the thin line of survival and have even ran towards another jungle that belongs to Makasido's border.

" Hah! Brother...can't imagine the events tonight but one thing for sure, the tree branches were slippery, have you noticed? Almost that I slip away in one of my trek, Ah! Good Lord! thank you. My Mayumi's not yet a widow." Baldur jokily said while running and George was throwing him some withered leaves."

" Haha...shh...yeah, but wait, we're about to get out on that field, watch out." George whispered.

Then they started to see the moon shone so brightly and the windy night welcomed them. From a not-so-far, George pointed to the northeast and he went there after his brief instruction to Baldur. As agreed, Baldur has to stand by and wait for Henry's team while he'll make a noise northeast. The plan was realized and George created some commotions beside the jungle northeast, next to the field. Most of the soldiers have thrown grenades and subsequently a certain platoon dived in, just to sue the intruder's shadows they thought were outnumbered. Baldur on the other hand, spotted a few men approaching his direction.

" Here they go, here they go, come on Henry! please....it must be all of you!" Baldur thought as he was praying.

" When he started to notice the sacks that the people were carrying, then he almost shouted towards them but his head shrunk, considering those may be Japs. Regardless, he continued to observe the people approaching and finally found out that they were of - Henry's. Thanks its full moon and helping well his sight and seeing back his friends around, sound and safe.