Guilt Over Responsibility

She tried to reassess what George had said and realized its all true.

Then he went to the kitchen and checked if what food Albrecht had been preparing.

" Hmm, what are you lookin'?

" Nothing. I just wanted to assist him for lunch. Magee answered.

"Better. You're just in time. I'm also a little busy in preparing the red peas for dinner. Do you know that I'll go to Kabang tonight? A priest will officiate for a thanksgiving and George is supposed to be there. Anyway, he could not really attend to it, he's still incapable to move his thigh."

'But he'll be okay soon."

" Whatever. Anyway, here, it has long been prepared and you may bring this to him now." He handed the bamboo tray and pat her shoulder.

" Okay, thanks." She smiled at him.

On the rampage she rehearsed on her mind selective topics when she can get there. George was the one who opened the door so that she could get in without hassle as she was so focused balancing with her posture and shakily holding the food bamboo tray.

" What is that for. Just leave it here and take your lunch with Albrecht."

" Hmm...I'm supposed to wait whether you'll ask some ... water."

"Then why she did not just bring along with this spacious tray the water she's suggesting when its what she thought would I need next haha." He thought and implicitly smiled.

"You smiled."

" Why not, the food tastes better. Chef Albrecht's getting older and smarter enough to send me this food delivery package."

" Hmm...what is that sarcasm for?" She stood up and wants to get out to get some water.

" Hey, don't leave me yet. I've heard...that there's a priest among the occupants of Kabang. I'm thinking of bringing him here to officiate our wedding. But, but - you want to get over these things first, start in simple paces and getting to know each other more and more..."

Then she left him smiling and after a single step she turned her head to him, " You need to plant more rainbow flowers for me and plant one significant fruit tree in Kabang, if it bears fruit one day, that's our wedding date."

He was speechless and bite his lips in nervousness.

" Wow! this is terrible! She's difficult! What a challenge." He's screaming inside his mind, smiling.

Surprisingly, someone came out from the splashing waters of the falls and breathlessly held his knees . Its Edmund who arrived with worrisome face and while on the edge of his seat, Albrecht ran and handed to him a towel and he then changed using Albrecht's extra get-ups. In spite of his bated breath, he hurriedly rushed towards George .

" Sir, Gador's sister, the chef's wife of the Japanese infantry escaped from the barracks and was rescued by station two guerillas. She's under the custody of station two right now but their lack of resources especially on food and security made them contemplate to transfer Gador's sister to us. According to our mobile soldiers they will wait for your confirmation whether the transfer will be granted or the other way around."

" Tell station two to vacate the area and bring Gador's sister to Malapague, inside Kabang. Same process will be applied, all of them shall be blindfolded before entering the place. In addition, all traces of station two shall be transported to Malapague. Tonight, the Japanese soldiers might possibly attack them. Deliver this message the soonest time possible and tell them to start vacating the place before sundown. Go run and pass through the tree up there, don't anymore get in through passing the waterfalls. Take extra care, Edmund. Albrecht will go after you to Malapague and Baldur's men will fetch station two guerillas at the safe zone, a half kilometer away from the secret gateway and the usual stopover to deceive possible spy from tracking. But most importantly, I will interrogate Gador's sister once I'll go back. Tightly guard her and wait for Baldur's further order in my absence." He patted his shoulder.

" Yes, Sir!"

Without waiting for any instruction Albrecht started to pull out his hand gun and followed Edmund and they just separated ways at the safe zone.

On his space, George shook his head and slowly stood up. With so much guilt, she motioned towards him and asked.

" Where are you going."

" I'll get the map."

" Where is it and I'll pick it up for you.

" Ah, thank you. Please, it's kept inside Albrecht's place, below his bed."

When Magee returned and had the map along with her, he seriously queried about the distance from the barracks and station two (pinpointing the hill, northeast of Kabang where Magee's house was the point of origin) and he coached her to just use rough estimation. Then Magee sharply looked at him.

" We're too near to the barracks and my house by par is the closest to the soldier's bunkhouse. Besides, this area is part of the valleys connecting to Kabang and going to the wilderness where someone who'll escape can easily hide. while station two is too far to be the seepage. Its simply plain field, approaching three roads crisscrossing and its clear that she went out from the entrance gate of the Japanese barracks. How come she escaped without bringing anything? when there's no home to visit to? there's no existing family in the neighborhood." Magee ended.

" One thing more. She was the partner of the Chef cook of the Japanese infantry and of the fallen troop, where did she hide during the attack of the slaying dogs. Why she did not run away with those who were in Kabang right now?

" Magee, this is a trap! Go dress in loose jeans, take a cover, bring your dagger and go with me. Someone must wait for them at the safe zone and instead of going to Kabang, she'll be redirected to the empty station four. All of them from station two shall proceed to station four and must not pass by to station three. How come she knew that they were in station two? She bolted there at daytime - interesting! I can't compromise my men and the newly retrieved people from this trap and someone from station two betrayed too, perhaps."

"Here, your uniform. Raise your hands."

She also assisted him in preparing the handgun and he added one more dagger.

"Don't take this away from me again."

He also clutched extra dagger from Albrecht's place.

When they're both ready they exited to the Mabolo tree and glided down using the bamboo stairs where they just hide it after use on the tree roots by the cliff.

" Hah! its still painful! but let's keep goin', come."

Its cruely windy but the fireflies crowdedly gathered on their way goin' to the safe zone. He was sweating while relying on her small shoulders and he felt she's always lifting his arms then returned them closely whenever she remembers that she's the reason of his sacrifices.

" Mag, this is the safe zone. You hide for a while when they reach here. There! behind that Mango tree. There are three land mines surrounding this area, so be careful." Then he pointed all those land mines. After a while she pulled out two small towels. One of which had she wiped his sweats and the other one was placed over his back.

'Wow! thank you! such a relief." Since he cannot see her face so he just touched her tiny hands before she removed them away from him.

" Ah, sorry!"

" Its okay. Its just that you have to be ready, I think they're coming. Careful. I'll hide behind the mango tree or I'll go up."

" Hey, hey! don't go up, there are...." He whispered from afar when someone sent a signal and he replied the same.