Chapter Three

Part Three

(my land is Calling Out!)

"Are you crying, O homeland! .. Sorry, I won't come quickly to wipe away your tears..

- The enemy has cut off my feet, so I'll only reach you crawling..

- You scream for help! .. Wait a little, for the obstacles are in front of me as far as the eye can see..

- Do you feel better! .. My fingers caress your soil, easing their sorrow and pain upon it.

(Have you received what I'm doing)

O homeland..

- Embrace those of us who fell dead and warm them.. for without your embrace, the cold is merciless.

- We are a "rebellious people" they called us and "ignorant" they mocked us..

- Yes, your weapons frighten us and rob us the sleep from our eyelids..

But it's okay...

- We'll throw stones at you, for we don't have the gunpowder you do..

- We'll defend our land, for our trees here are not for you to plunder their fruits..

- The miracle will happen, guided by God, and the Almighty alone knows the injustice we've endured with patience.

- Until then, rejoice in your survival, for what you've taken from us wouldnt remain within your reach for long."

- The pursuit continues -

"lyes, have we escaped from them? ... lyes, why won't you answer me?"

I glanced at the person whose limbs trembled miserably, looking at me with wide, expectant eyes. I took a deep breath and lowered the machine gun from my shoulder to touch the place of pain.

"Don't tell me! .. Have they followed us here?"

"If you can't handle field missions, why did you insist on coming, Adam?"

"And how am I supposed to know that without trying?"

I nodded, listening to the sudden sound, grabbing my weapon and wiping the sweat from my forehead with the edge of my shirt.. The footsteps approached closer to the ancient wall behind which we were hiding had an illusion of being the only thing that separating us from death,because with one turn, one of the soldiers around the building would get to them.

"This is your chance then... keep trying."

"They can't be!!!."

"If you fall while fleeing, don't count on me to come back to carry you."

His face turned pale, and he let out a sigh that restrained his desire to cry with sorrow for the moment he volunteered for this mission, it's not like they had gathered information worth paying for with his life.

"I want to be with my patients, this job is not suitable for me..."

"Shut up... stand still immediately."

"You're too cruel to me, lyes."

My breathing intensified, preparing for the speed with which I would launch myself at any moment now. This mission was a failure, as we didn't derive any benefit from it.

(We must move quickly, or we won't find a way out of here)

I gestured to Adam to go to the other part of the building and glanced quickly to see if the way was clear for escape. He looked puzzled by my request for a moment, and when my expression remained serious, he finally dragged his body to do what I asked of him. I cautiously stretched my neck to observe the area from my side, scanning the location searching for any trace of enemies from where I stood.

The heat of my breath and the speed of my heartbeats were exaggerated until it occurred to me that they would reach the enemy, although it was unlikely...

(No matter how many times I've faced a similar situation, experience doesn't make it less difficult.)

"Attention, I've found the rebels... Attention.."

I focused on the source from which the soldier's voice emerged and surmised it came from the same place my partner was sent to... realizing the gravity of the situation, all I could do was think of rushing to the location, and as I got closer, it became clearer: a figure standing, aiming a gun at the body lying injured under his feet, bruised.

(No choice for me)

... I aimed... and fired... without hesitation.

Smoke with a smell of sulfur emanated from the machine gun in my hands as I fired, leaving my partner frozen, and immediately the soldier who terrorized him scrambled to his side on the ground.

"lyes, thank you... really, thank you.. I owe you my life."

"Damn it, this is not the time to express your gratitude."

I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt to pull him behind me, and when he slipped from my grip, he stumbled in front of me and fell on his face. I stood before him with a blank expression, while calls from behind almost reached us... as expected, the gunfire pinpointed our location accurately for them.

"I've twisted my foot, go ahead, lyes, and I'll slow down their advance."

I looked at him and saluted him quickly, then turned to leave when he pulled my shirt towards him pleadingly.

"Carry me on your back... I'm not heavy."

I had nothing to say as it was expected, I approached him and offered my back for him to climb, but it was the opposite of what he claimed... he was extremely heavy.

But no matter what obstacles stand before me, I'm not in the mood to die today, so may God help me.