Westbound Midnight Bomb Blasts

He was awakened by the impact of successive bomb blasts westbou

nd that made him rushed outside.

" What is it? would that mean, there are also troops or guerillas hiding at westbound that the Japanese are targeting? Or if they exist, the Japanese may have assumed and mistaken them as the ghost troop - referring 'us' that they manuever two days ago." He sadly thought.

Some of the residents curiously looked up outside their bahay-kubos and as another high calibered bomb was horrendously dropped, the ground had shaken and its echo remained scary.

" Sir, that part where the blasts come from was the barrio of my mother's clan and its certainly just three kilometers away from here." Narciso told him as he put his hands in his pockets.

" Narciso, I'd like to estimate that direction and if you like you can come with me, let's climb uphill. I need to get my gear."

" Yes, Sir." Narciso nodded and replied.

He then hastily returned inside the house to change the wobbly jeans into his army gear and tagged his daggers and ropes.

When George had returned, Narciso was bewildered if which part of the mountain they would climb.

Minutes after following George in their trekking, Narciso thought he would die of tension and they have gone fairly high.

"Sir, good that we're already here I thought I've lost my gut. Such a steep climb. But its worth it, we're here."

" The problem is, everything's blurred in the horizon in front of us covered by fogs. Turn around, did you see what I see?" George smiled.

" A good rendezvous during daytime I guess." Narciso complem

ented with a fascinating chill.

"That's the Japanese barracks nearby station one." George clarified.

" Boom!"

" Gotcha! Its the third bomb, we're seeing the exact location now. Just ensure your buckle or anything that sparks should be kept, otherwise they might see its reflection overhead, careful. By the way, it gets me being more curious and there's no point of being early to get down. Anyway, before the majority transferred here, how many foxholes have you dug for bamboo traps?"

" There were around 17, but mostly smaller ones. Seeing something in it." Narciso meaningfully asked.

" Yes, have you seen the distance between the Japanese barracks and that barrio? That place you called good as rendezvous and the barrio is approximately six kilometers. This mountain we are in - is the epicenter. Therefore, I have to stay here up in the sunrise to possibly see the vehicular routes or please get me some binoculars to Baldur."

" Sir, so I had to climb again." Narciso smiled.

" No, you won't get back here but just tie the binoculars on the rope's tip and I pull it up. What do you think?"

"Interesting, I haven't thought of it, haha."

They both laughed while chilling. In a while, Narciso slid down on a rope while George aided it to fall slowly and carefully along with him.

When he was left alone he gleefully smelled the morning breeze while his thick jacket had helped him survive from the cold morning.

"Its almost 4'oclock, hope Narciso's on his way now. Hmm...the view, it seems I'm in heaven. Wow! one of my best days in life! "

" While watching the skies and the foggy horizon, he felt the rope has moved and its the sign that he already need to pull it up.

" Interesting! here's the easiest way to transport things going up and down, vise versa. Here you are! Good job Narciso, great one!" He smilingly talked to himself while finally holding the binoculars.

He then patiently waited for more time and he's at rest knowing there's no more bombs dropping.

" Thank God! at least the residents who are hiding in that place can rest for a while before they hide elsewhere." He thought as he knelt on the edge of the cliff and kept blowing on his palms before he rubbed them. Then he looked at his watch again.

"Its 5'clock, sharp. Hah! I missed the 'salabat' of Albrecht and the lovely white flower in the house. How is she in her room right now, is she aware of her mannerism that she talks while sleeping. Hmm, should I tell her? Oh no! I shouldn't. She might be embarrassed. Whew! Time check?"

He tried to double check it.

"Its 5:30? Time travels so quickly. But yes, I was puzzled by her smile and she seemed ... telling me of something and became less talkative. Well, it speaks. So meaning...she'll not hang out with me before the angel tree will bear any fruit? Dear heavens! What if I look for a taller plant of angel fruit and then replace one from among...no! its shameless and cheating, she might find it the more waiting time will be prolonged, I missed her." He smirked, paused and fell asleep thinking of her.

When he woke up and checked his watch once more.

" Its 6:15, its time to wait for the sun to melt all of these fogs. Anent to this, my eyes are getting even chinky right now, so sleepy, huhum! I need to pay some push up rounds so to save myself from sleeping."

The sun set its rigorous heat on him and as he was exercising, the fogs started to vanish out of his sight. Then after almost an hour.

" Hah! lovely! I could now clearly see the place."

He tried to store the roads in his memory and anything that he saw in the binoculars.

" Its blurred 'coz its a bit far, but still thankful to know the terrain of the place. Hmm...they're marching and are heading for their exit...now." He whispered.

He also followed the route, counted the number of soldiers, vehicles, etc. notwithstanding the extreme heat of the sun knifing his back but he continued eyeing by changing the binoculars' direction to and fro.

They have brought piled up poultry and swine animals, beans, sacks of charcoal, and many more. Whew! Hope the people are just fine, hope they are..."