A Messengers' Report

Elias - was among the shortest among all guerillas and was trained to spy. Apart from that, he swims and runs like no other and knows the orient's terrain. Apparently, out of Baldur's order, he was assigned to find out the deaths during the fire at the barracks and foxholes' tragedies. Some 17 Japs died at the barracks fire? plus 10 foxholes' morbidity counts made it 37. Is this reliable El?" Baldur asked.

" Yes, Sir." Three of their present captives were from Gabok. I've met them by the river to laundry wash and in fact, they'd like to join us. They said, there's just around 15 Japanese soldiers left into their new camp beside the burnt barracks. Two machine gun carrier vehicles were also damaged during the fire. They said another batch of soldiers will be dispatched next week." Elias reported as interpreted by Amado.

"Meaning, for one month, we've knocked down almost a hundred Japanese soldiers including our first attack with the slaying dogs. Our militia is not this easy." Baldur turned his head to George.

" That's why we must let them feel we're invisible. Its useless to attack the ocean using just one boat. And here, keep pointing station two as the hideout. Thanks Elias for telling it the same.

" Then who attacked and burned the barracks?" Guida asked.

" My wife. She'd killed one at the safe zone, another one by the cliff and burned the barracks with 27 deaths." George confidently answered.

" That pregnant?" Guida crosschecked.

Albrecht was laughing at the back and had his exit going back to the house.

"Another thing. Next mission will be led by Edmund and Guida. The details will first be discussed with them tomorrow. They'll only bring 10 men for that mission." George added.

" Okay, if you don't have any question, let's dismiss this meeting and thanks to Elias, Baldur will jot down your contribution to your country. So if anyone will shamelessly betray, that'll be written in our journal too.

Guida walked closer to him after the meeting. But George approached Edmund who was then sitting beside Baldur.

"Guida, he's Edmund. Edmund, she's Guida. You two will loosened the wooden bridge next week, its a good timing where the new Japanese troop will arrive. Our main target are their vehicles filled with stocks and facilities. The net will be prepared one kilometer away. We'll retrieve it nighttime after the incident and overhaul the stocks we could get. Eventually, it has to be planned out well since there might be grenades and other sensitive potential stuffs that could blast.

" Interesting! thank you for letting me in for this job, Sir." Guida gratefully remarked.

" For now, I will leave you both for a dialogue with your mission next week and feedback me later."

" Thanks, Sir." Edmund said.

Then George left wishing their dialogue would hit two birds at the same time. Assessing a probable silent attack which can be charged as natural and not man-made and a hope both could start a good relationship."

While they were left under the shady sampaloc (tamarind) tree ( its where they usually sets gatherings and meetings) Edmund was just silent so Guida broke the silence.

" Hi, Sir George told me you're wounded during the battle with the Japanese soldiers, glad I'll be working with you." She extended her hand and he had it smiling.

They enjoyably talked when Guida asked him. You came in first, have you seen that pregnant wife of the lieutenant?

"She's very brave! don't attempt to sneak and discover her face, she might kill you."

" Haha! and why she's hiding? she's maybe not attractive, unlike her husband."

" She'd got what a man wants. She have blue deeper eyes, chiseled nose, divided chin, pouty lips, perfect forehead, gorgeous brows, waistline straight hair, heart-shaped face, her body is perfect and smiles like an angel but she murders like a beast. She's outspoken with more than 3 dialects and studied in Manila prior to the war - she's intelligent. They just usually fight with the lieutenant and sends him outside their room when she's mad at him. Rumor says, the lieutenant was madly in love with his wife." Edmund gossiped to Guida.

"Ows! she must not underestimate him too much. He might replace her."

" That's impossible, haha! She was her dream woman." Edmund laughed.

" Aw! and we can't do anything anymore at it, haha, Anyway, how's the plan for the bridge silent extraction, where are we going to start?" Guida shifted the topic.

George was watching at them from the balcony and suddenly got back in front of Magee's room.

" Mag, can I come in?" George sought a permission.

" Is that urgent. You may."

He silently smiled and shook his head.

" Yes, it is." George seriously groomed his voice and answered.

He then opened the door and gently sat down, fronting her.

" Aha...what's that handsome smile all about, ha?" Magee boosted his energy to start telling a secret while sewing his shirt.

" Ah, I've been telling myself not to keep anything from you. For me, its what a couple must do to earn more positive mutual trust and respect. Hmm...there's this woman Guida I felt was interested of me. This is maybe a mistake but I sensibly felt her motives all the way. Its also the reason why I did not continue to go with them in Gabok because she pressed my back."

" Hmm...continue." She then so serious listening and even stopped from sewing.

" She's so straightforward and a type of person that will find ways just to get what she wants, she partly said it when we were walking going to Gabok. I don't know what her plans are but I want you to be careful of her or she might attempt to ruin us. Both of us must prepare against her. I told you this is wartime, we don't know our enemies. As a leader, I could not just kick her out or she can be a potential traitor. Mag, I'm telling you all these so we shouldn't let our guards down. Extra careful.

" I'm actually impressed on how you shared to me some collective observations about her. Well-taken. You should be careful more than I am. Hmm..that's why you went to me just because she pressed your back." She smiled.

" You shouldn't laugh at me that way ha, she's scary. I hope they'll be doing well with Edmund."

" What? haha! you meddle on them! that's bad!" She threw a little strand of thread on his forehead while covering her face.

" I made them partners in your plan for loosening the Gabok wooden bridge. That's why, I'm praying hard. Hey, you threw me those strands twice already ha." He smiled while looking at her teasing him.

"Magee! George! Baldur! Dad! Mom! Pop! you all come here for meal." Albrecht announced.