"George, the Gabok guerrillas defeated them and the Japs ceded their weapons at the shoreline where 19 has died. They befell to the hands of Gabok guerillas upon following the grenades' direction and this makes them thankful, knowing how dedicated our command to the cause and supported their guerilla movement. Though, they lost 4 lives. Anyway, one thing more, the head asked to personally meet you by the river in between Gabok and Kabang tomorrow at twilight, but that's within the boundary. Hmm, I should have reported this yesterday but you sulked up around and I hope you're better now, how are you? " Baldur sighed.
" I'm fine now. By the way Baldur, you've got a great sister." He smiled at him and added. "She'd known Amanda already but she didn't comment over this. Instead, she'd ripped the pages written by 'ama' Sibal. Its exactly the reason why.
Baldur budged a little on his seat. "This musn't be a joke George."
"Hmm, she knew everything about the Wisconsin lived in partner I had. Thereupon, I confessed."
" Oh boy, did she know that..."
" Yes, I told her your wife now is my previous woman. It's as complicated as that, I'm such a shameless husband."
" Hmm, this must be a dreadful secret that leaks. Come on, its all for her. I won't bring my wife here, you know that. Baldur tapped his shoulder.
"Thanks Brother, you're always my saviour. I was just stuck when you did it just to divert her attention on you, till you were cornered just as what she did to me." George sighed with a touch of anger on his face.
" I endured for both of you. No worries now." Baldur bowed his head.
Albrecht just came in after he accompanied Amado in dressing the wounds of patients.
Ow! why you two combatants are so silent, what happened?"
"Nothing, I just told him the Gabok guerrilla head would like to see him personally tomorrow by the river." Baldur said.
" Ah, I see." Albrecht smiled and returned the kit upstairs.
"Baldur, my past was full of shame and she's too cool to be mine." He whispered.
" But you're a genuine person, we know that. Just keep going, its the truth that after Amanda - there was no one, so keep the courage, you're there already. C'mon!" Baldur smiled and gave him a bamboo mug of water to drink.
He rested in the bedroom until midnight, then he woke up just for a while and slept again. In the morning, he saw a soap, tooth brush and toothpaste, towel and military uniform beside him. The pair of boots was laid underneath. He smiled.
" She's so caring. How is she right now, I missed her even more." He thought. After a short while he had heard his men cheerfully chanting. He went out to see them but to his surprise.
" What..." He wowed, knelt and was teary eyed upon seeing the Philippine National flag tied at the middle of a bamboo pole. It was swaying and dancing like celebrating with his men on their triumphant battles with the Japs.
" Its my wife who did it, I know." He thought and smiled.
He went back and took a bath, wore his military uniform and inspiringly met his men. Within their meeting, he noticed a little reflection buzzing thrice in the air near them. He smiled again in the middle of his talk while putting his hands on his waist, he knew she's using binoculars to stalk him down there.
"Sir, you're smiling in the middle of your talk while mentioning dead guerrillas of Gabok, just feedbacking." Albrecht whispered on his ear then stood back on his line. Momentarily, he got back to his focus and seriously discussed the next move for June, last week of 1942.
Meanwhile, inside the wooden house, Magee arranged his beddings and brought to the granite house his laundry. She's too quick to move so she's gone in an instant after getting Albrecht's mobile binoculars while she left a note.
" Kuya, pahiram muna saglit nitong binoculars mo, mga isang linggo lang po." (Elder brother, please lend me your binoculars for a while, for just a week long). Then off she go.
Outside the wooden house, everyone was cheerful and Amado spoke to the Lieutenant.
"Sir, we wanted to see the flag everyday. Please."
" Of course, from now on." Then George smiled. After Baldur had their attendance signatures in the commando's journal, the meeting was adjouned. But some did not yet return to their houses but stayed below the tamarind tree and smilingly watching the Philippine flag.
The siblings and George already got inside the wooden house when they all notice some of the things had changed.
"Who came in before us?"
"My wife." George smiled.
" Wow! his beddings were arranged, the floor, the 'kurdesos', ah! I got to go upstairs!"
"What?" Albrecht yelled.
George and Baldur went up and saw the beddings also been set.
"Why you've shouted when she also arranged your beddings." George smiled.
Albrecht sat down and handed to them the note left by Magee.
" Hmm, what is her plan? It must be dangerous." George blurted.
George went down and ran towards the hole. Minutes later, he was already in the granite house door, sweating and had paused for a while before he successively knocked on the door.
No one answered. He was very anxious and unsettled at the doorway with so many bothersome thoughts.
" C'mon Mag, please open the door." George voice became louder.
He was already shaking and almost dive down on the staircase, hurdling to reach below. He got back to the wooden house and informed the brothers to help search his wife.
"He was maybe outside of northeast." George worryingly said while walking to and fro.
" What if, she's not there and besides, its daytime. She knew already how risky it is to roam outside during daytime." Baldur commented.
" Baldur! you proceed to the smiling skull cave, Albrecht! go back to the granite door and try to knock again and again while I'll go up. Move!" Then he grabbed his handgun and daggers. Its already 1700 hrs so he told Fr. Matias for his secret mission on the other side. He chose to climb there because its the most groovy place and also the nearest to the surface of the granite house.