Amado's Departure to Daba

Before they slept, she was still imagining how crunchy the mango young leaves were in the absence of its fruit. On the other hand, George just smiled watching her as she joyfully closed her eyes while holding his hand.

" I could not imagine when I tried chewing and swallowing the leaves too, it's just like a mango fruit, haha! I psychologically felt it's tasty maybe because my wife loves it already. What a baby that little nut is, for including Daddy with this pica, haha. Hmm, better that she liked it since it's not its season." He smiled while kissing her hands and put them to rest.

In the morning at the wooden house, they all prepared for Amado's departure but the Captain decided to meet everyone under the tamarind tree.

" There had been eight for this mission but we need to streamline it to a troop unrecognizable. Its too many to rescue a woman inside the opponent's line where we also need to be mindful of our area of responsibility and jurisdiction that's just here. I knew that in every place there are guerrillas, and this is the farthest. Amado came here to seek help, my pleasure as head of this team for being chosen to rescue. But in a day or two, another attack has to happen to target the barracks where the selected team will fight for. So now, since my area covers Gabok, Tikaban, Kabang, San Agustin, among others, the soldiers assigned for this area will stay foot. It's not rational to send Americans nowadays to rescue, they're easily recognized as soldiers. Amado, your co - guerrillas can penetrate well on this mission. I hope this made you all clear. The remaining guerrillas will accompany us for the attack. By the way Amado, nothing will change in the tactics you'll have to use - it's still effective and just trust the process. Hope your mission will succeed.

Amado then sighed while George and Baldur drew closer to him.

" Hey, Buddy, it's gonna be okay, the Captain is right, but it would be more effective to bring guerrillas' with you. The Japs can easily recognized us for sure. However, the three of you can just go over it, trust the tactic presented. We've just known that you're a Doctor, we're happy to hear it." Baldur said.

" Amado smiled and felt a litlle relief while George tapped his shoulder. You'll gonna get her, Buddy. I could sense it through the deal. Thanks for not including my wife anymore, she's still not feeling well these days and besides, Hakanori never knew that before he proposed to my wife, she's already mine. Magee's married and hope he would not bribe all the people he see to catch Magee, despite of this."

In a while, George noticed his comrades for the mission standing beside the granite secret gate while Fr. Matias was waiting for him.

Hey Bud, Narciso and Sibaya are waving their hands at you and seems calling you now. Fr. Matias and everyone left will offer a mass everyday as you rescue her. God bless you Amado."

He felt reassured and got a truckload of support then he left running towards the priest and comrades.

" He seems a good person but still Dad and Magee's thoughts could be highly possible, though still hoping to be not. Amado gave his all, career and risks. He tried gaining strength from our troop so he could recharge and be energized. He could make it. At least, he sounds honest in the last few days through his revelations while seeking forgiveness to Amá Sibal helped him breathe."

" Yeah, they can take away the woman out of that camp, Narciso and Sibaya pitied him for being teary eyed almost every night. When this mission was being approved by the Captain days ago, the two friends got excited to accompany him too, this rips my heart. Hmm...he must be tough." Baldur sighed.

They both now returned to the wooden house and joined to the Captain and Sr. Sibal while sitting by the table.

" Dad, are you okay?" George asked.

" Yes, I'm okay. I'm just a little nervous for Amado, that camp was bigger thrice as the barracks in Tikaban. It's filled with the Japs. But he's a Doctor, he can better get in and out. I only told him to put his mind over everything and don't be excited to rescue, it should be in a slower process. Hmm, he had a piece of my share, hope he took it seriously." The Captain uttered.

" Hmm, Amado seems calm this time. Your advices helped him decide and confident to rescue, better drink your coffee, it's getting colder now. The elder kid kept your peanuts, you couldn't have any access on them." Sr. Sibal pronounced.

" Yeah, it sounds terrible. How could it be to sip this coffee without peanuts, huh. I could still remember the death march, I haven't eaten for too long, so sad. Now's I've got peanuts as breakthrough for my new life but it's being kept by some good hands. So sad." The Captain dramatically sounded.

" Here! it would just be enough, just 8 pieces of peanuts and there's nothing more left." Albrecht put a small bowl with 8 small pieces of peanuts.

" Haha! Dad, just take it as compliment. At least, there's still 8 pieces compared to nothing." George intervened.

" Wow! at least, the best ration for your arthritis, haha!" Sr. Sibal smirked.

And they all laughed. In a little while, Fr. Matias knocked on the door and joined them in.

" We'll offer a mass every morning before sunrise, will you give your approval , Captain."

" Yes, of course. It is necessary but let's start at sundown today." The Captain smiled while started to eat his peanuts and along with the chitchat around the table. After a couple of minutes, George checked his angel fruit trees and he was surprised by what he just saw.

" Wow! they're flowering, how come, haha!"

Fr. Matias then emerged, following him and congratulated him.

" Good job! they have flowers now."

" Thank you Fr. Matias, you helped me a lot on these angel fruits.