Episode 31 : Stand
After lunch, Zawaq stepped out of the shop building and examined the four bodies of Israhell soldiers he had killed. The crowd inspected the four dead Israhell soldiers.
A family head explained to his family and the gathered crowd what had happened and pointed out the four bodies. Zawaq approached the corpses of the soldiers.
"That's him! That's the man who killed four Israhell soldiers with his bare hands!" the family head exclaimed to the crowd.
Zawaq stopped walking as the people surrounded him, examining him from head to toe. Squatting on the ground, Zawaq began retrieving equipment from the soldiers' bodies.
He collected weapons, medicines, bullets, and other supplies, piling them on the ground.
"You saved that family. What is your name?" one of the bystanders asked.
"My name is not important. What matters now is resisting Israhell's occupation of Palestine," Zawaq replied.
The crowd exchanged glances. Zawaq picked up some grenades and smoke bombs from the pile.
"I'll take the explosives. You can keep the firearms," Zawaq said.
"We can tell you where the Israhell soldiers' base is," a teenage boy from the crowd offered.
Zawaq gently pushed through the crowd toward the boy who had spoken.
"Show me where their base is," Zawaq instructed.
Zawaq arrived near the Israhell soldiers' base, accompanied by several children and teenagers.
"Please, they hurt our parents and killed our siblings," a young boy behind Zawaq said.
"All of you, go home. Stay close to your parents," Zawaq urged them.
"I have no parents. The occupying soldiers killed them," a young girl replied.
Zawaq could only look at them, unable to muster a response. He turned toward the Israhell base, leaving the group of children and teenagers behind. His steps faltered as he noticed a vegetable garden tended by an old man nearby.
"Uncle, why are you gardening here? It's dangerous. Your garden is too close to the Israhell base," Zawaq said to the old man.
"There was no Israhell base before. This small garden used to be much larger, extending to where their base is now. Because of their frequent attacks and destruction, I am the only one left. My entire family is gone," the old man explained.
Zawaq observed the man, who remained calm and patient despite his old age and solitude.
"Your life is more important, uncle," Zawaq said.
"True, but I also need food to live. This garden is my source of income and sustenance," the old man replied, spreading fertilizer around a nearby plant.
Zawaq continued watching him.
"I used to have workers. They were willing to work for just five pounds a month," the old man shared.
"They stopped working?"
"Some were killed on the job. Others quit because their families asked them to. Now I work this garden alone. My late wife used to take care of it with dedication," the old man explained before retreating to his dilapidated house.
"Do you care about me? Want to work with me? I'll pay you ten pounds a month, more than I paid the others," the old man offered.
"I'll volunteer without pay," Zawaq said.
The old man looked up at Zawaq's face, focusing his eyes to see him clearly.
"What's your name?" the old man asked.
"Zawaq, son of Nas," Zawaq introduced himself.
"Zawaq, you must tend to this garden as if it were your own life. This garden is the main food source for the townspeople," the old man said.
"What's your name, uncle?" Zawaq asked.
"Ibrahim," the old man answered.
Six months later, Zawaq harvested a variety of vegetables and fruits, including watermelons, capsicums, cucumbers, and tomatoes, placing them into wicker baskets. He gathered the produce beside Uncle Ibrahim's house.
"You are strong and full of energy. You're better than my late workers," the old man said, setting down two glasses of water for himself and Zawaq on a wooden bench.
"Forgive me, uncle. Your workers were far more remarkable than me. They worked for little pay and even sacrificed their lives. I am nothing compared to them," Zawaq replied.
"It wasn't my fault. I couldn't afford to pay them more," the old man said.
"Forgive me, uncle. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Zawaq apologized.
"I understand. Forgive this old man for being so easily hurt," Uncle Ibrahim said.
Zawaq nodded and gazed at the flourishing garden.
"Many plants have grown beautifully under your care. Some are still maturing because we only expanded the garden three months ago. Thank God there have been no disturbances so far," Uncle Ibrahim said.
Suddenly, three military jeeps emerged from the Israhell base near the garden. Numerous soldiers moved in formation, spotting Zawaq, Uncle Ibrahim, and the garden.
Two trucks drove off, but one changed direction and stopped on top of unripe watermelons. The watermelons were crushed under the tires of the Israhell military jeep.
A group of Israhell soldiers gathered around the jeep, kicking and stomping on the watermelons that had not been crushed by the vehicle.
"Zawaq, go inside the house. I'll deal with them," Uncle Ibrahim told Zawaq.
"Uncle, you should be the one going inside. Not me. I'm young and should protect you. Israhell soldiers prefer targeting children and the elderly. They're cowards. Go inside the house now," Zawaq insisted firmly.
Seeing Zawaq's determined and protective expression, Uncle Ibrahim nodded and obeyed.
"Don't do anything. Your life is more important. Plants can regrow, but a life cannot be replaced," Uncle Ibrahim said before entering his small house, leaving Zawaq behind.