Daba Times on its Heightened News

February of 1943.

Isagani was catching his breathe while extending to the Captain the Daba Times newspaper. Everyone was caught up curious about the headline.

" I see, they're on heightened alert where a couple of ghost troops sprouting like mushrooms everywhere but no one has reported about the Kabang mountain and its people - its still unknown. The enemy's lost troops were either mysterious but its not reported that way, hmm. It even says here that they added more soldiers." The Captain sighed and gently placed the newspaper on the wooden table.

" Sir, so...this means its safe to get back to the surface after a few months of hiding underneath." Narciso said as he was arranging his bag pack to accompany the lieutenant going to station one.

" Probably, a little while we'll go up and start building tents. We can't stay here for long. Our health and energy begins to drain so we have to at least get back into farming, inhale the breeze and feel the warmth of the sun once more. Hmm...only my daughter can survive for just putting some leaves for steam, gracious!." Edward smiled to Narciso as George signaled Narciso toward the tunnel's exit bound to station one.

On their way, Narciso spotted some mushrooms under the trees and quickly collected every single sprout he saw when George curiously pricked a single fern shoot nearby.

" Narciso, I saw my wife boiling these leaves and even forced me to eat them with lemon sauce and salt. At first it was disgusting and its taste was a bit weird that I almost throw what I have swallowed. But when I saw my wife's beautiful smile, looking at me like sunlight in a broad delight, it all stuck in my belly and ended up liking it all. Haha! so how do you call these ferns here?" George paused while Narciso tried hard to prevent himself not to laugh.

"Those are called by us, Filipinos! as 'pakó', Sir. We usually mix it with fermented red beans we called soy sauce, garlic, onion and a little coconut oil as to saute the spices before putting the leaves that have cut into inches. it doesn't need to be boiled longer on a pan. After covering it within a minute, its pretty good for a meal." Narciso described the process of cooking the 'pako' leaves and without knowing he had already gathered a half sack of mushroom while George carefully harvested for almost a half sack of 'pako'.

Suddenly, they've heard a creepy sound of a tank, crawling above them with a couple of army vehicles.

The lieutenant paused and hurriedly tied both of their sacks.

" Oh my God! they're heading to our place Narciso, faster! we have to return but let's bring all these. Faster!" George instructed as they ran in full speed but Narciso stumbled and his right knee had hit a pointed rock.

" Oh dear! here...take this emergency kit while I send a message to my wife." George was sweating when he fired on air three times on its timing interval.

" Hah! I've covered it already, its so painful. But can she read it, Sir? Haven't seen here for quite some time, ah...its not for me to know, yes." He murmured while George put his arms around his shoulder though Narciso volunteered to carry the sacks and 'pako' behind him.

" Narciso, we have to be in a hurry!

" Yes, Sir! but I can't anymore run, hah! its bleeding again. Sir, you can just leave me anywhere here. I'll manage to walk." Narciso said while pressing his leg just to alleviate the pain.

" No! this place is not safe for you! Its noon time but its foggy and misty around, just endure the pain and let's really have to find out if where those soldiers would go. C'mon! you can do it! or just hang on my back, you're smaller than I am, faster!" George told him then he was at the back of his lieutenant, carrying both sacks of mushroom and 'pakó'.

Meanwhile, minutes after Magee has heard the signal at the granite house. She immediately used the telescope facing south and saw his Dad, Baldur, Mayumi and everyone in the center of the field where their hands cruelly placed at the back. After which, she had witnessed that the Japs put them on array.

" They're all captured! my God! help us!But...Albrecht! he wasn't with them, he's just probably left underneath! Damian! Damian! please come!

" Mama, I'm finishing to solve the geometry thing, hmm...I had a hard time looking for the tangent in number..."

" Damian! listen...you go hide to room number seven and don't get out from there. Uncle Albrecht will be here later and he's not in good mood always, you know that. Everything you need is there and just follow the instructions I posted on walls. Everything is there, okay? I'm telling you all these suppose I might be busy." It was enough then she brought the medical kit and weapon going down while Damian was anxiously biting his pencil and ran going to room number seven.

Getting startled to slowly open the door going out to the tunnel and hearing the sound of tank and vehicles presumably parked outside the entrance were emotionally depressing . But she was determined to rescue his brother. It was a perfect timing when Albrecht whispered and was just probably guessing that its her younger sister.

" Mag...Mag...I'm here...I'm dizzy and I got red spots on my itchy skin, I don't know. What happened, I just woke up and I found no one's around." Albrecht was with his exhausted look but Magee right away assisted him to get up, situated him for a while on a nook and she ran to specific places where she grabbed all the belongings of his Dad, Sr. Sibal, Baldur and Mayumi. Of course she ensured that Baldur's journal was inside to one of the bags then she quickly returned to Albrecht and she guided him to stand as they tramped going up.

While on the spiral staircase with their slow-paced climb.

" Mag, these bags were too heavy, I'm dead dizzy, you know."

" I... told you already to give me some. Hah! c'mon kuya...we're almost at the doorstep."

" Mag...what is goin' on..." Albrecht started to sweat.

" Kuya...you stay first in the receiving area while I have to wait for George. I don't know either if someone's with him but I know he's coming back. I heard his emergency signals."

" Emergency...wait, where did all of them go?" Albrecht asked.

" They're all captured, including Dad, Amá, Baldur and Mayumi!....George wasn't, he's on his way now going here." Magee cried but she immediately put him on the master's bedroom.

" Oh, heavens! how come!" Albrecht refused to lie down after hearing the sad news.

" Kuya, please...you're still sick, just stay here and I'll go back to open the door for George, for them, whosoever. They can't open it by themselves.

Then Albrecht vomited on the floor in front of the bed.

" Okay I got it! I can handle... my self, go! go!" Albrecht bent his body facing his spill.