by John Muir
CHAPTER 28
THE REVEALING MORNING LIGHT
MT. KANLAON, NEGROS
Warvic tried to sleep after the early news bulletins. Trying to sleep and succeeding were two different things. Perhaps it was the pain from the still aching muscles, or the sudden outbursts of cheering from those who had spent the night listening to the radio news-flashes.
At 7:00A.M., it was later than when she generally rose. It was also much more painful. She rocked backwards and forwards on the ground sheet to gain sufficient momentum to sit up. Even then her spine felt too long for the tightened muscles surrounding it.
"I'm too old for revolutions," she called out to anyone within earshot.
On hearing several subdued laughs nearby, she knew there must have been quite a few. She turned and looked. The faces all seemed beaming with large smiles.
"Well, what's been happening according to the radio?"
A flood of replies came simultaneously. She could not distinguish any one individual comment. The excitement on the faces showed they all wanted to be the bearers of good news. She held up her hand to get some silence.
"Seems like its all good news."
The immediate cacophony of agreeing speakers started again with the same indistinguishable results.
"Where is Comrade Arompak?"
Several willing advisers pointed to the lean-to erected where the wide band transmitter/receiver was kept.
As she made a move to get up several pairs of willing arms rushed to help. Unsure whether to take this as insult to her age or whether it was joyous enthusiasm at what they had heard, she did not care. It was less of a strain on her muscles either way.
Slowly she made her way to the lean-to, feigning yawning and arm stretching as a cover to try and ease the ache in her back and legs.
Suraido Arompak stepped out of the lean-to as he saw her approach.
"Good morning," smiled Arompak. "I had to stop the keen ones from waking you with all the reports coming in. They've been sitting by your mat waiting for you to wake."
Warvic felt embarrassed that some were watching her while she slept. She wondered if she had been sleeping with her mouth open, snoring, or even worse playing with herself in her sleep. For the first time in years she thought about her appearance and how she might look to Arompak. It was too late to do anything about it now.
"Oh Suraido, my muscles are aching, but good morning. It seems everyone is happy. What's the news?"
Suraido nodded his head and smiled broadly. "This diversionary part of the action has been unbelievably successful, if we can believe the radio reports. Several pro-Government radio stations have reported being attacked or taken over by rebels, presumed to be NPA. Others say armed invasions are reported all up and down the country by an as yet unidentified enemy. Enemy planes have bombed airstrips overnight sneaking in under radar. Navy installations have been bombarded from the sea, and some army bases in the country have reported ongoing attacks from tanks and heavily armoured vehicles. Isn't it wonderful what a lot of confusion and over-active imagination can do? Many reports are from areas where we know there's nothing happening. As for the radio stations being taken over, I wonder who has taken them over? Have they just gone off air in fear of retaliation? Who knows? Who cares? It's certainly gained the peoples' attention."
"Letseng yawa," replied Warvic. "Dammit, dammit dammit. If the confusion isn't straightened out quickly other countries might rush to the Government's aid with military assistance. The Philippine Government might request military assistance under the SEATO treaty which they can do if threatened with external aggression."
"I hadn't thought of that. I don't think it will take long for the real situation to come out. It's just that everyone here is so happy that everything's gone so well, so unbelievably well. Congratulations Warvic."
Warvic allowed herself a little smile of self satisfaction.
"Yes. You're right, and I'm pleased." She smiled and looked around behind her. The same admiring group that had been watching her sleep had followed her to the lean-to. They were all standing nearby watching her, still with big smiles on their faces.
They burst into applause when she looked at them and rushed forward to grab her. They lifted her onto their shoulders. She felt one or two stumble a little as they found there was a lot more weight than they had expected. Somehow Warvic felt the aches were not as painful any more. The group trooped around the cleared area yelling "OK, NPA, OK, NPA," in unison to their steps. Warvic felt insecure on the bouncing shoulders after narrowly missing being wiped off the willing shoulders by a couple of lower branches. She forced herself down to the ground and separated from the group to return to the lean-to. The group continued on their victory circuit seemingly oblivious of her departure, and continued their chant.
"Any news from any of the groups?" she asked Suraido.
"Not yet," he replied. "Orders were not to call in before midday unless something went wrong. We haven't heard from anyone, so everything must be OK"
"Yes, I know. But that's what worries me. Nothing should go this smoothly."
----------
APUAO GRANDE
T.A. had tried to ignore the hard surface, mosquitos, snoring, talking guards, and since dawn, the damn cicadas. If he had slept, it did not feel like it. His knuckles and ankles were covered with mosquito bites. They loved him.
He rubbed his itching ankles and fingers as he sat up and looked at his co-confinees. Many were still wrapped under sheets or blankets, seemingly asleep. A few were sitting, watching and waiting for the remaining internees to wake.
Some small groups were standing and talking. Four Japanese at the end of the tennis court were chatting away animatedly as they urinated through the wire toward the forest beyond. Two guerillas, standing very close to the fence-line, watched the Japanese doing their toiletry. They edged closer for a better view of the Japanese private parts. Suddenly, and in unison, the Japanese changed their aim, and although falling short, forced the guerillas to beat a hasty retreat. The Japanese burst out laughing. The other prisoners, who had been watching, cheered and applauded the action. T.A. grinned and then realised he too was yelling. It seemed to let off some of the tension and even more so when the retreating guards were then laughed at by some of their compatriots.
The sudden noise caused those still sleeping to stir into life. A steady stream of people then made their way to the same fence line where the Japanese relieved themselves, to do their own toiletries. Each time, the nearby guerillas backed a further few yards away.
T.A. saw another Japanese sitting on a bucket, shorts down around his ankles, seemingly quite ignorant of the loud straining noise he was making. T.A. was pleased that his bowels had not made any demands on him. He could not spot any toilet paper nearby and wondered how the Japanese would cope with that.
The morning sun was already starting to make itself felt. As T.A. stood he felt the pain from the bruises in his stomach and back.
"This surface will make us cook," said Gunther, who had come up silently while T.A. had been watching the squatting Japanese.
"Hi," responded T.A. a little startled. "I guess you're right. How did you sleep?"
"Not too well. I was worrying about Di and Carlos especially after whoever it was made a break."
"Pater, Maddigan and his daughter are missing. I don't know if anyone else got out, though. I haven't a clue how many Japanese there were."
"That German guy Helmut and his bird are missing," replied Gunther.
"They weren't here to start with, neither were the Iranians. So there could be a few out there," T.A. nodded toward the rain forest. "But from the commotion after they got out, it seems someone got caught."
Six guerillas arrived outside the entry all carrying swags made from a bed sheet. The guard on the gate motioned his gun at the nearby captives to move further away then he undid the padlock allowing the six guerillas to enter, drop their loads inside the door and leave.
There was an air of indifferen
ce in the compound to the arrival of the swags. The contents slowly revealed themselves to be a collection of hats, umbrellas, tubes of insect repellent, sun screen ointments, sunglasses, shorts, singlets, and sandals.
"Someone's put some thought into the collection," said T.A. as he wandered over to the now spread out assortment. He grabbed some insect repellent and a hat. The sunglasses had all gone. To be ready for another night he grabbed the corner of one of the sheets, let its remaining contents pour onto the tennis court and rolled the sheet up under his arm. It was not for protection against the cold but further protection against mosquitos, or padding for a pillow.
Gunther did likewise and took the same things. Silently he followed Gunther to where he had slept on the court. T.A. was noticing how territorial people were, even in captivity. Each one had marked their own personal area within their confines and laid out their few belongings within it. Few people, if any, would transgress these invisible properties without an invitation or an apology.
After putting on his hat and putting down his new sheet, Gunther followed T.A. to his patch.
"I'd invite you for breakfast Gunther but Malou's just popped out for a while and the stove isn’t working," T.A. joked as he applied some insect repellent to try and soothe the itch.
"Just give me a cold beer," replied Gunther.
"I'll call room service."
They sat down together, backs against the netting fence both content to let the time pass in silence.
T.A. was thankful that for once Gunther was not talkative.
