by John Muir
CHAPTER 32
REACTIONS
MT. KANLAON, NEGROS
Although pleased with the success of the diversionary attacks being reported on all the news stations, Warvic was concerned about the lack of any reported news about the tourist resort takeovers.
It was still too early yet for the first group to report in. Therefore her only news was through the radio stations. Orders about groups contacting, other than for emergencies, were to be strictly followed. Despite that, she was impatient to know about the successes or otherwise of the main mission.
Suraido walked up to her sun sheltered position under the banana tree where she sat.
"No news from any of the groups," he said. "I suppose that's good news. What's the old saying? No news is good news; still, the lack of radio news about the resorts is worrying me."
"Just what I was thinking," Warvic replied.
Suraido sat down beside her.
"The first call is not meant to come in until 1:00P.M. There's been no emergency calls, so everything must be O.K. It is a good plan, Warvic."
"Thanks Suraido."
Raul, her faithful little aide now came toward her, a big smile on his face.
"Maybe I've got some news that you've been waiting on," Raul said.
Warvic sat up quickly.
"What is it?"
"One of the radio stations reported that there is a report that Boracay Island is in the control of rebels. They received a telephone call from a balik-bayan who was staying there. He escaped into the rain forest, and called his cousin who is an announcer at the radio station."
"How could he call? There are no telephones on Boracay. Did he have a walkie-talkie?" asked Warvic.
"No, he used his mobile cellular phone. He was a Filipino living in U.S.A. who had come home for a holiday.”
"I wonder how many other balik-bayan brought their phones with them?" asked Warvic rhetorically. Then wondered how many guests at all the resorts might be Filipinos returning from overseas for a holiday. All were called balik-bayans by Filipinos who had never been overseas.
"Is that a bad thing?" asked Raul.
"It could be dangerous at the end of the operation when the escape phase begins."
"Why can't you warn them to search for mobile phones? Each group has to call us. Tell them then," said Raul.
"Raul, the calls must only be one way. We are only to listen in to reports. If we call back, our position could be triangulated. The group instructions are for them to make their own decisions."
Raul looked to Suraido for support. Suraido only raised his eyebrows in response.
"We just have to wait," Suraido said.
Raul nodded his head in agreement and walked back to the groups sheltering under the trees.
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KALIBO, PANAY
"Why haven't we heard from Captain Ramigoso?" asked the Base Commander, directing his question to the Radio Operator.
"The last contact was when he advised that he was passing over Ibijay, sir," replied the radio operator.
"Have we made contact with the radio station that got the original report yet?"
"Yes sir, they were told to get the caller to contact our base with his phone. He was given the correct number."
"I want to talk to that guy direct."
"Yes sir!"
The telephone beside the Radio Operator rang. The Base Commander snatched it from the R.O.'s hand.
"Yes," he snapped.
"Sir, Corporal Mingoc here."
"What is it?"
"Sir, I think I have that caller you were expecting from Boracay."
"Put him on."
The phone clicked over on the transfer.
"Kalibo Base Commander here. Who are you?"
"I won't say, because my family are still being held in the Boracay Beach Club Hotel. I don't want any reprisals against them by the rebels," the caller said.
"Where are you from?" snapped back the Base Commander. "Where are you and how come you weren't taken hostage with the others?"
"My brother, his family and I are balik-bayan. We came home from San Francisco for a holiday. We brought our parents to Boracay for a treat. I wasn't taken because I was staying in one of the barrios overnight instead of at the hotel. The locals all seem quite pleased about what has happened."
"O.K., who are they?"
"The NPA."
"Shit," the Base Commander unwittingly reacted.
The caller went on. "They called into the barrio telling the locals what was happening. They have taken over all the resorts. The guests are hostages."
"O.K., where are you?"
"On the highest peak of the island. It's got a name but I don't know what it is."
"We sent a helicopter, did you see it?"
"Yes. It made a pass up the length of the beach. On its way back along the beach they shot at it and it headed out to sea."
"What happened to it?"
"It came down and settled way out to sea."
"Were there any casualties in the crew?"
"Lots. Some fell out when the helicopter was spinning. They just fell into the sea. I don't think any of those who fell out were alive. It was too far away for me to see if there were any others when the helicopter sank."
"What weapons did the NPA use? Do you know your weapons?"
"Not very well. They all sounded the same. The guys on the bancas were all carrying weapons."
"What bancas?"
"There are several anchored just off the beach. They all have NPA on board. They hid during the first helicopter run and hit it on the slow return flight."
"Where else are they?"
"All over, I think. The firing at the helicopter came from the bancas and around the resorts."
"Are you sure all the shooting sounded the same, no heavy machine guns?"
"I don’t know. They all sounded the same. The shooting from the helicopter sounded different.”
"Can you stand by?" asked the Base Commander.
"Yes," the caller responded.
The Base Commander turned to his Second-in-Command.
"I want all six of the remaining birds fully armed and ready to go at a moment's notice."
"Hello, hello," the caller's voice interrupted.
"What is it?" asked the Base Commander.
"I can see some hooded men about 100 metres away on the path. They're coming closer. I'll have to hide for a while. I'll call you back as soon as I can."
The line went dead. The Base Commander turned to his second-in-command.
"Dammit, get those birds flying he barked."
"Yes sir, does that include using the rocket pods?"
"Hell, yes, I'm not taking shit from any NPA bastards, wherever they are. Yes, fit the rockets. I want them to blast the fuck out of anything that moves."
"What about the tourists, sir?"
"Fuck the tourists! We'll cover that up later."
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APUAO GRANDE
Pater opened one of the tins he had snatched from his darkened kitchen cupboard several hours before. He was pleased several of the tins were spaghetti. It was his favourite breakfast. Fred watched him puncture the can with his diving knife and cut around the rim. Pater started to eat it off the end of the knife, carefully aware of the danger of being too blas? in its use. Cutlery would have been an unnecessary luxury. Fred's eyes were appealing for a share in a way that Pater could not resist. He flicked a quarter of the tin's contents in Fred's direction. Fred finished his share before Pater had finished his next knife full.
"Sorry Fred, I don't know how long my little supply will have to last."
Fred almost seemed to shrug, turned and made his way out through a small gap in the entry to the bower that Pater had created for himself.
"Thanks Fred," remarked Pater at Fred's disappearing rear.
"I take you out for dinner and you piss off. Well, it's happened before, with women. They were much better looking than you. You're not even a bitch, just
a real dog."
Pater finished his spaghetti, then, thought about his need for water. It was not an immediate need but he would have to make sure he had a comfortable supply for later. If he found a tap on the pipe it would be easy to fill the condoms. They made the easiest water carriers. Although it would be safer to wait for nightfall it would be easier to get the water while he could see in the daylight. At night he would be groping around, while someone wearing night vision glasses would see him easily. At least in daylight he would be on equal vision terms with the insurgents, binoculars excluded.
He cursed his lack of forethought in not getting a pot to collect water in. The plastic bags would have to be tied over a leaking pipe if he did not find a tap, then empty the water into the condoms and tie the tops. He hoped he had not punctured any plastic bags on branches during his run to the bower.
He listened carefully for change in the rain forest sounds, though still limited by his ear problem. Satisfied there were none, he eased through the cover around his hide-away. Once back on the minor trail he paused to check that his exit could not be seen. He was so satisfied that he began to think he might miss it himself if he was hurrying back. To reduce that possibility he looked around for nearby landmarks, and to familiarise himself with the exact location. Sure he would now remember, he made his way slowly and quietly in the direction of the main path to a wet area he had passed over during the night.
The wetness had to be caused by a leak in the water pipe to the resort. Unfortunately it was on the side of the main path. If he was alert enough for approaching danger he could fill one or more plastic bags to bring back to his hide-away. Once he had a good supply of water he would reconnoitre further to see where the NPA were hiding.
When he got to the main path he paused again. He lay prone and looked in both directions up and down the main path from its minor offshoot. Satisfied there were no obvious signs of people coming, he emerged. Fifty metres slightly downhill he found the slow steady leak from the pipe. He scooped out a deep hollow under it, and folded back the edges of a plastic bag. He placed the bag carefully in the hollow underneath the dripping water.
The slowness of the steady drip made him realise this was going to take longer than he hoped. If he sat waiting for the bag to fill he would be exposed to risk for too long. He would leave the bag to collect the water and hide nearby until it was satisfactorily filled, then replace it with the second bag. The bag could be easily seen by anyone observant enough, but probably would not they realised its purpose. To help disguise it, he laid some twigs around the edges of the plastic.
The forest was thick in this area. The problem was not one of insufficient cover, but where best he could find a place he could enter easily without leaving any sign of his entry. He found a place ten metres further down the path close to where the path took a sharpish left turn. It was a risky choice as he could not see anyone approaching quietly from further down the path where the restaurant was situated.
He sat and waited twenty minutes before re-emerging to check on the bag. It was only a quarter full. That would have to do. Carefully he gathered in the top of the plastic bag, squeezed out the excess air and tied it at the top. It was easy to carry like this. He would transfer the water into the condoms in his hide-a-way, and wrap them in his spare clothing for protection against sunlight and accidental puncture. He put the replacement bag in the hollow.
A sudden rustle of leaves startled him. He looked up to see Fred rush downhill past him and around the bend in the path. He felt like swearing at Fred's departing rear. Fred uncharacteristically burst into a series of barks. Pater's instinct made him dive into the forest to his front. No time for precaution now about his entry.
"What had set Fred off?" Pater wondered.
He remembered that Fred always barked at the turkeys. Just in case it was not the turkeys he would wait.
Pater looked at the partly-filled plastic bag and grinned at his luck. It was still intact holding its precious water.
Enjoyment of this discovery was short-lived. He could hear someone cursing, obviously at Fred. Fred re-appeared from beyond the bend. Pater felt a surge of panic. Fred might run straight into the bush where he was hiding. Thankfully, he ran past him, and back up the path to wherever he had come from.
"Thanks Fred," thought Pater.
Within seconds Pater watched the lone masked guerilla pass by his spot. The guerilla was carrying two covered buckets, but no weapons. As the guerilla past by, Pater got the aroma of cooked fish. Despite his feed of spaghetti he felt hungry again. The guerilla did not spot the water-collecting plastic bag, and passed by.
Pater realised how lucky he had been. Fred could share his next tin of spaghetti too.
He wondered how long it would be before the food carrier would return. It would be a risk continuing to gather water here. He should have hidden at the outside corner from the start so he could see both ways for anyone approaching. He would hide there now. Fred had given him another chance.
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KALIBO, PANAY
The Base Commander watched his reduced flight of helicopters lift off, heading north toward Boracay. Only three of the Iriquois were fitted with the rocket pods. That would do. He had the advantage of knowing about the guerilla loaded bancas and would not fall into that trap. He instructed his pilots to destroy them on the first run in from the sea, then to destroy any areas from where ground fire emanated. He did not get any information from the caller about guerilla numbers. However many there were they would not be a match for his little gunships and their rockets. The pilots were instructed not to break radio silence until the action had begun. Then it would not matter if the NPA were on the military wavelength or not.
