When Edward and the team reached the Gabok second wooden northern bridge, Bruno greeted them with glee.
" Welcome back Captain!" Bruno smiled.
" Bruno! how have you been?" The Captain asked then Bruno told him everything while Bruno's team carried the sacks of rice going down the cliff so to reach the opening of the tunnel exit point bound for station number one.
" Hmm...this passage has been opened by its designer, good!" Edward smirked.
" Such a great work, Sir! By the way, we've found a Jap boy when half of the remaining tenants went to station one, somewhat a seven year old boy, Sir. He's turn-over to the lieutenant already." Bruno reported.
" Hmm....I see, thanks Bruno, that's the first thing I need to get into when I reach there though being invaded is a terrifying story, but still a great luck that everyone's sound and safe." Edward said.
When all of them reached inside while passing at the northeast tunnel's exit point, everyone gently put down the sacks of rice, laden beside the swampy part if the tunnel. Everyone were very tired and slept. In the evening, Fr. Matias led the thanksgiving prayer in the evening. Later, Edward, Albrecht and Baldur went up in the granite house when comrades and a few guerillas left for station one, bringing a sack of rice and a half sack of sugar from the tunnel.
" Sibal, come on, let's move up." Edward convinced Sr. Sibal.
" Ah, I'll stay here and talk to Elmar, it seems we've met before. Just go up and the kids wants to see you all back home.
When his friends left, Sibal then went back to Elmar's place and started a conversation. Up in the granite house.
" Dad, Baldur and Albrecht, I'm happy to see all of you around. Hmm...but inyerestingly, we've a seven year old Jap boy right now. He's there beside the counter." Magee whispered to them by the door.
" Hey boy! I'm Baldur! you can call me by name. But anyway, I have a welcome gift for you, here!." He released the tame chick from his back and the boy's chinky eyes wowed at it.
" Wow! its amazing Baldur! its typically lovely! Wow! thank you." Damian uttered.
"Aha ..I don't feel of even smiling at him, no, not." Albrecht whispered to his Dad then walked out going to the kitchen.
Magee then followed his eldest brother.
" Kuya...he's just a boy, and besides we can't return him while we're at war with his friends out there. We can't kill him too, its so inhuman, we need to still..." Magee stopped from talking when Albrecht interrupted.
" I can make him get lost again. Its how I'm terribly suffering from the pangs of this war. He may never be an enemy but he couldn't be a friend too, remember that. Keep an eye with him, do not trust and don't fall too much in his innocence." Albrecht sighed while starting a furnace.
" Kuya...I highly respect your point, but just give us time to allow this boy to grow with us. Its the only way."
" He can be a snake, its possible." Albrecht had his modulated voice.
" But he can be great person as he grow up. It can be possible." Magee insisted.
" Alright, just do what you want with that boy but at the end of the day, he's someone who might put you a scar." Albrecht pouted and put some charcoal in the furnace while boil some water.
Magee just left him so silent in front of the furnace and joined with George and company at the receiving area.
" Magee, Damian is very happy with the chick that Elmar gave to us. What do you think is the best alias for that chick, basically it needs a name."
" Budekdek, yeah, its a great name for this one." Damian smiled to all of them.
" What?" All of them uttered smilingly.
" Its an animal name I've been hearing when one of our Filipino companion in the bunk house calls for our pet. It so happen that pet was a pig.
" But I like it, budedek or budekdek." Damian then smiled so happily.
" Haha! will it not be confusing since its a chick and not a pig." Edward laughed.
George smiled and covered his mouth while meticulously watching the boy and his genuine response over his gift.
After a while, Edward privately talked to George while Magee and Baldur left to chitchat with Damian who was enjoying with his newly named chick Budekdek.
"George...is this the last choice we have, for keeping him in? I'm into finding out if this boy is being searched these days...but I agree, releasing him would mean our fall. Hmm...this situation seems so tricky, we lose in both ways if we release him. Okay, take care of that boy this place is the safest for him too. Anyway, I'll explain things to Albrecht, he's just rational though, attending to this tricky situation is difficult to technically digest. The boy is innocent."
" Dad, thank you." George smirked.
" On the other hand, Magee curiously asked Baldur about the chick he has brought.
" You have just made someone the happiest today." She smiled.
" Haha! He's funny. I mean, can't imagine him as a Jap boy who is truly articulate. He had no traces of being lost nor acted as a stranger. He's just an amazing boy, I'll tell Mayumi about him."
" Hmm...Baldur, about Mayumi..." Magee paused when Baldur stoped her and spoke.
" Magee, its alright, I understand and she'll think of that way too. C'mon, its not a big deal. We'll just wait for the right time. Don't worry too much, okay?" Baldur explained.
"Thank you brother. I'm just in conscientious, considering that Damian is here while my sister-in-law haven't been here. I admit its unfair on her."
" Shh....it isn't. My house in the US is quite big, and its Dad who financed me to build it. He has given us houses, cars, luxuries but told us that when we get here, whatever you decide then we have to just keep quiet and respect your decisions. You had been away from him for years but fed us with Albrecht like his own sons. See how fair Dad was in treating us. Thus we learned from him too. This is your house, so act as the owner little Sis " He tapped her shoulder and smiled.
" Thank you Baldur. You just have made ne feel completely better. I'm just even decisive on small things, you know. For years I lived spontaneously alone so I sometimes reminisced those days and still thinks on my own, drilling my privacy and often seek silence."
" Yeah, I get it. Dad told us a lot about you so you don't need to feel anxious over Mayumi. When you still think of that, consider my house as a villa, just bigger than this, haha!" Baldur jokily said.
" Is that true?" Magee smiled and removed his hands from covering his face. In not so far, George and the Captain were watching at her enjoyably tickling his brother.