Makasido's Catholic chapel

It was already 0300 hrs when they reached Makasido's Catholic chapel which was just open and estimatedly condemned for months. It's just across Elmar's house. By that time, Magee was so sleepy so she laid down on that dilapidated church bench inside while George was eyeing at the back of Elmar's house when he saw a noisy carabao under the tree. The moon still shine bluntly despite almost dawn so he thought of creating a scene in order to divert the attention of the enemies once Baldur could reach.

" Mag, are you sure that we arrived first before Baldur?"

" Hmm....yeah, we have used the shortcut, I'm sure of that while they were definitely on the path they've trudged before, and they're nearing now, huhum...what's your plan?" Magee yawned while trying to fall asleep.

" Hmm, its not a big deal. I'm going to cut the rope of that carabao so it could go around or look for a wetland. I don't know if what happened to that but it never stops in a wary state, so we'll grab the chance. It could help Baldur to get going and search for his journal while the people around would catch and entrap the rowdy carabao." He explained with a deep breathe.

" That would be better." She immediately stood up and attentively listened to his additional explanation about the carabao's sensitivities. It was enough for her to hang on while he motioned towards the carabao and cut the rope near its neck. Magee was smiling while watching him.

" It would be too difficult to catch it havin' that too little rope left. Hmm...gotcha! there it goes." She smilingly thought.

The carabao stunned all households as it ran in the mercado area of Makasido, almost ten houses away from Elmar's house. The people were shouting and the soldiers on posts dived to catch it but it goes around and bumped itself on mercado stalls and side sweep some houses.

Meanwhile, at the Catholic chapel, George got back and they hid together on its wall. The moonlight still shone brightly when they noticed some men coming and later entered to Elmar's house.

" Its them!" Magee whispered.

" Ow dear! they might have trapped the carabao now and will return it to Elmar's compound, I need to find some more scenes in order to reroute their attention. But it should be a bit farther from here, burn a barn." George sighed.

" Hmm...its still fine." Magee whispered.

George walked out and moved to the barn, houses away from Elmar and the people woke up as they were too focused on throwing some buckets of water on it. When George got back to the Catholic chapel, Magee told him that she saw Baldur and the team went out from Elmar's house.

" Now let's go and follow them." George uttered while holding Magee's hand. When they almost got out from the chapel, sadly, they both covered from its damaged door as they noticed some group of men who followed Baldur alongside with comrades and fired on them instantaneously.

" The Japs, how many...." Magee whispered while preparing her rifle.

" Around three, we'll follow them too and if they emerge in the open field approximately, around 300 hundred meters away from here, let's pin them down. We have the biggest chance because we're behind them. But can you still run in the fastest rate so we can escape from the enemy line before sunrise."

" Yes. I will." Magee replied while holding her rifle tightly.

" Okay...let's go now." George ran first and she followed.

While on their way, suing the soldiers who were firing Baldur and the team, no one from the Japs noticed them and when the soldiers reached the open field, they covered themselves on the last two long-standing trees and began firing the soldiers. They made it.

" Run! we'll take their guns immediately, go!" George whispered to Magee as they pulled each of the soldiers' handguns and followed Baldur's team in the open field. Sadly, Baldur's team kept firing on them too and George instructed Magee to get flat on the ground of reeds and George whistled as their code which means he belongs to them. It was enough when George stood up where Magee followed and they both ran towards to their direction, and finally reunited upon entering the jungle again.

Baldur has waited for them, smiling, as the sunrise shone on his face.

" Brother, thank you." Baldur shrugged his shoulder to George.

" Where are they, only one is left. The two were hit. Huh! though I got the journal back but it wasted two lives, peace be with them and their dedication will be written inside this journal."

" This is so heartbreaking! but hey, let's keep movin', Mag, c'mon!" George ordered as they tramped on the withered leaves of the wilderness. Magee has been very sleepy but just controlled her self from fallin' and remained so silent.

" Mag, c'mon, I'll carry you again, force yourself to sleep so to regain your energy ." George again pulled her on his arms and they continued walking so fast since the sun shone so brightly.

They passed by Malti and George still recalled the big tree where Mayumi, her grandma have stayed longer when the war started.

" Let's get movin' inside and take our rest, its noon time. This could be our hiding place for the mean time." George said while gently putting Magee on a bamboo bed.

" Hah...we need to find some food. How about mushrooms, let's find some; and pack it inside a banana leaf and heat it using charcoal. Mayumi still has left some charcoal around." George suggested.

" They patiently roamed in the place a bit and found three varieties of mushroom and when Magee woke up, she threw some of it since those were poisonous mushrooms.

" Haha! good that you wake up. We planned to cook everything we've just harvested. Okay, stay foot, we're about to heat these packed leaves containing mushrooms now. They could be too delicious." George smiled.

After minutes of heating the mushroom, it smelled so temptuous and they have enjoyed their lunch meal.