Albrecht arrived first in the safe zone. When George told him about the possible logistics of her escape, both abruptly set plan B for such a wabbly critical situation and maximizing the golden minutes.
In a short while, Edmund and station two guerillas were approaching them, bringing the woman who allegedly escaped from the barracks.
" Edmund, Albrecht was preparing the destination, you have to rest for a while and consider the travel time plan. You talk about it quickly so that I can ask her a little." Then one of the station two guerillas volunteered to interpret.
" We better stay beside this mango tree so we can comfortably stay on this log underneath while Albrecht and Edmund could smoothy talk about the travel."
He then started the questions to rule out.
While the guerilla interpreter and the woman kept exchanging topics,the interpreter relayed it to George but he felt a little confused and decided to terminate the interview aside from considering Magee who was at risk with the beehive or she might move or touch it, could somehow be the end of silence. "Alright, I got it, I guess Albrecht and Edmund were done with the travel plan too. Thanks." Then he ended the session and urged them to start walking where Edmund and Albrecht took the lead and on their way to station four.
" The interpreter asked."
" They will be meeting there at midnight, why?" Albrecht turned his head to him.
" Ah, nothing. I thought they're all there right now."
" I see." Then without their knowledge they already passed by at Kabang but heard nothing and it seems no one were inside.
At the safe zone, George felt uneasy and wondered if why Magee did not yet show up. Then he slightly hear the bending of 'bugang' (reeds) branches and there were few approaching and skulking footsteps as it all stopped behind him. When it suddenly attacked him, Magee quickly slithered downward and stabbed the spine of the Japanese soldier who was at the back of the other one that grimly attacked George. But George disarmed the mugger and twisted its neck to the right that cramped the body to die on the spot. It was gut-wrenching death. In a while, he pulled those dead soldiers beside the cliff and threw the bodies in the flowing river below. Without any moment to lose, he hurriedly checked Magee who was just very silent leaning her body on the mango tree, gasping her breath and filled with sweats all around her. Still with her shaky hands and knees.
" Magee!" He whispered.
"Let's go, Let's follow Albrecht and Edmund, the station two interpreter betrayed us and that woman's a bait."
" No need. I already told Albrecht to terminate the mission once they reach there. Bring all men excluding the interpreter and the woman and pass by at the back of station four and then reason out that they'll pick up the rest of the team to go there. Its a bluff. No one will do it but Albrecht and Edmund will save the station two guerillas and bring them all to Malapague, inside Kabang.
'" I see, its a relief."
" The interpreter and the woman have secret affairs. I saw their rattan bracelet bonds when Edmund's flashlight accidentally lighted both of their wrists.
" I also saw it from above. He secretly extended something to her hand but I know Albrecht noticed it."
They were already walking back to the path bound for station one when there's a huge noise of multiple footsteps, following Albrecht and Edmund's men. They quickly hide and when the soldiers have passed by in a distance, he grabbed Magee's hand and continued to walk. He felt the sudden pain of his thigh but still turning his head towards Albrecht and Edmund's direction.
" Your hand..." She whispered.
' Ah...okay, sorry." Then he took away his hand from holding her wrist so tight while they were walking so fast.
" Magee, if you can hear a mine blast, don't think bad about it. Albrecht and Edmund will blast two to three mines on that site so they can escape back to Kabang. Its just that they'll climb to get in. If they go back to the path heading to the secret door they'll meet those soldiers who were chasing them. They followed because of the smoke that the interpreter had released while they were walking. Haisst! traitor!" George angrily said.
"Boom!" A huge blast.
" That's what I mean." He whispered.
" They're alright!" Still her nervousness dominated in her mind even if she's hardly trying to pacify herself.
" Hey...you're so brave while being pretily petite but moves so quick. Thanks for the daring rescue."
" I don't like to be a baggage so am trying to do it that way. I saw my neighbors died in front me and you told me your weapons are limited and Dad's missing that makes you all a lost commando. These are all reasons why in simple ways I can hitch a little try. Hmm...but I know I am frail. You kept promising to have more duels with escrima and fencing but you ran out of time. You'll be preparing more attacks starting next week and now's more critical. They knew already that there's a lost commando around."
" But we'll change the scheme." Later. Well, we're here. Wait, I'll get the bamboo stairs."
"Boom!"
" The second land mine blast. Hope they're on their exit now." George said.
Its almost midnight when they reached inside the cave.
She relaxed for a while, sitting mindlessly on the bamboo chair in front of the long table and felt so stuffy despite the waterfalls.
" I hate this war." She thought sighing.
George had just washed up and freshfully rubbing a towel on his hair.
"Mag, its your turn, I'm done. Ah, don't think of it too much, hmm...everything's alright. Go get your towel now and wash, I'll boil some 'salabat.'"
" Thanks. Please include to boil a cup of plain water, I'll check your wound and apply some ointment from the kit." Then she stood up blankly, seized her towel and proceeded to her bathnook.
" Hmm...why she's suddenly decisive to clean my wound." He smilingly thought.
After thirty minutes she got out and clutched the kit from Albrecht's place and proceeded to the long table.
" Hey, I'm here!" He gently yelled.
" Please come forward, let's meet in the common ground. Not in your place and not in my place. Just...
In a speed of light he rushed.
"Okay, okay, I'm here...I'm here." He smirked looking at her who's still blank. She opened the kit and moved closer to him.
" Where's the wound?"
" Here!" He immediately showed it and not to descriptively mention but its on the thigh so it made her a little uncomfortable.
" This is also the reason why I hate cleaning your wound. Hmmp! It seems that I framed up my own self. I hate myself for stabbing you, if only you knew it." She appeared impervious that made him smiled and silent.
She put some cotton and a bubbling fluid to clean it up then wait a little. A minute later, she put some ointment and carefully spread it on the wound.
" I was so heartless for doing this." She fanned it with her skirt to and fro then a minute after, she covered it with gauze.
" She used her skirt in fanning on my wound, that's a bit unique" He thought and smiled.
Then she looked at him with ease.
" I'm done." She tapped his shoulder and assisted him towards his place.
" You can sleep better now but take a look with the gauze, just limit your movement because I'm not really sure if I covered them tightly. Anything? water, I'll get you some." Then she hurriedly took a bamboo mug of water. She returned gleefully and handed it to him.
Without any word he drank bottomless of it and stoically looked at her with so much inspiration.
" Good night." She opened his door and she quickly got out.
He's left so impressively silent looking at the rock ceiling that looks like St. Sistine chapel of Italy and the waterfalls sounded like with those pieces of Beethoven.