Chapter 6: Trains and love for family

Authors notes: Sorry guys I wasn't able to post because I had a cold 😞😞

____________________________________________

" I will get us a train " Said Luna as he nods to both Roman ( Francisco) and Rusca.

Roman and Rusca look's at each other because they have no idea what Luna's talking about.

Time skip

Location: Provincial train station

Workers unload cargo, sacks of sugar and copra from small horse-drawn carts onto the train loading platform. A sweating stuffy looking Englishman, Phineas Phys Alcott, holds the ledger and bosses the workers.

" No, no. Over there! The copra goes there! How many times must I repeat myself. " - Alcott.

General Luna, Rusca and Roman make their way toward's Alcott.

"Yes, What is it? " Says Alcott looking at the group of armed men.

Rusca (Whispers to the General): " General, do you know how to speak English? "

Luna looks at Alcott and says.

Luna ( speaking fluidly in French ): "Est-ce que vous parlez français Monsieur?"

" Euh, un peu, oui. " replied Alcott to the General's question.

" Je suis le general Antonio Luna, comandant General de-

General Luna halted speaking as Alcott interups him.

" Oui oui, que puis-je faire pour vous? "

He shifts his attention to some workers.

" Damn it to hell. I said over there! Alli! Doon! Diyan! " Said Alcott flustered by the workers.

He turns back to Luna. Alcott is clearly struggling with his French.

" il faut... il faut... " he says trying to speak.

He give up.

" One must have extreme patience towards indolence. so what is it? " he says with a sign.

Rusca and Luna looks at each other. Now It's Luna who has to step up his game. He speaks in halted, broken English.

Luna ( points to the train) " That train. Sequestered by Americans, yes?"

" I'm not quite sure. " replied Alcott.

" Not quite sure? " Says Luna with confusion on his face.

" Quite Correct, sir " said Alcott.

" Then I am quite sequestering that train. "

" You are what? Don't be absurd, sir " says Alcott laughing.

Luna looks at Roman for help.

" He says you're crazy. "

Rusca step's up to punch the clerk but Luna stop's him.

" Absurd? yes! commanding General of the Philippine Army is absurd! " ( To Roman and Rusca ) " Arrest him! " The General ordered.

Roman and Rusca grab's Alcott's arms. Alcott whips out a passport from his coat pocket.

" Wait! See here! My passport! Read the signature on this document! " He said waving his passport at the General. Luna grabs the passport and study's it.

Luna ( Studying the passport) " My goodness! Signature of the Queen Victoria's secretary of state, Lord Salisbury! "

" None other. Now, there's a good chap, release me and off you go. " Said Alcott as he shakes off the two men.

Luna ( To Roman ) " My English is running out, Arrest him already and get him out of here, damn it! " Luna says as he gets impatient and angry.

Barely suppressing their laugher Roman and Rusca pull Alcott away.

____________________________________________

Inside the main office of the rain station, We could see Captain Rusca and General Luna Drinking tea and eating some bread.

" This tea would go better with ensaymada. " Said Captain Rusca while drinking tea.

As we we're enjoying ourselves, Coronel Roman Francisco entered the room.

" General." He said Saluting me.

" Is everything ready? "

" Ah... we have a problem. " He said.

" The Americans? " I questioned tense at the possibility of battle.

" No, sir. Our officers. They invited their families on the train for sightseeing. There is no room for the troops to board. " Said Coronel Francisco with embarrassment.

" Damn it! " I said Dropping my tea cup at the table and storming out the room.

"You should try ensaymada with that. " Commented Coronel Francisco to captain Rusca before joining me.

At the train, we could see that it is packed with many different people's while the soldiers are waiting outside.

" Out of my way! " Said General Luna to the soldiers Making them make way. " Idiots! We are not going sightseeing! " He said as he grabs a stick near back and starts beating people with it.

" Out! " He yelled with fury on he's voice as the soldiers laughed.

____________________________________________

Present time: With Joven and the Reincarnated MC

____________________________________________

" That was a big headache. " I said massaging my head as I watch the happenings outside my window.

" That's just Filipinos being Filipinos. Family comes first. " Joven said with a smile.

' Naive ' I thought as I looked at the young man in front of me.

" And that's our biggest fault. We risk our lives for our families and neighbors but for the idea of nationhood? " I said while making my way to my chair and lighting up a cigar while Joven records what I said. " I can count with my fingers the true patriotic soldiers I've met in my life. "

" I remember one skirmish in Malabon. The fighting had stopped around dinner time. There was an American colonel who was

having dinner inside an abandoned house. " Said Luna Narrating for Joven.

____________________________________________

Flashback

____________________________________________

On a hill we could see General Luna Watching the American Coronel Eating at the abandoned house.

" Lets see who has balls amongst our infantry. " Said Gen. Luna to Roman as he gets infront of his men.

" Now, I'm giving you a chance to prove your worth to this army. Who wants to harass the Americans? They're all having dinner. " He said pointing to the house way bellow the hill.

" There is a colonel inside a house in the western side of town who is a sitting duck at this very moment. Who wants to take a shot? " He Said to his men but no one answered or stood up to volunteer.