Thursday, September 29, 2022

Brian continue to work with the radio

 Page 11.

Brian continue to work with the radio until nightfall but there was nothing but buzzing and static until a voice clearly said, “ Surrender Yankee or die, we know where you are”. Brian quickly turned off the radio as Miguel grabbed his backpack and rushed to Mr. Roberts. “We’ve been found and we must leave immediately”, he said as I scanned the darkness and listened but saw or heard nothing. Smokey began to gather up our equipment while Miguel told Mr. Roberts their only chance would have to be reaching the highest mountain on the island. “If we leave now we could be there by morning”, he said as Mr. Roberts signaled the men and we were ready to leave within seconds. Miguel told us there were many caves at the top of the mountain but the journey would be dangerous with narrow ledges and sheer drop off’s and  rocky cliffs almost at every step. Again I followed Miguel who seemed to see as well in the dark as I could but this time we stayed closer together should anyone need help along the way. The night creature’s were out and large flying foxes littered our path with half eaten fruit as we passed a grove of wild fig trees. 

The mosquitoes were feeding also and the men could barely contain themselves from the swatting and slapping and under the breath swearing as Smokey’s face looked like a pin cushion. A family of wild pigs ran passed us nearly causing Brian to slip over a ledge but Smokey pulled him forward while still holding on to the stretcher. The piglets squealed as they ran in formation directly behind their mother and for a second I wanted to catch one for a meal but just as quickly they disappeared never really giving me the opportunity. We trekked forward inching our way skyward into the darkness until it gave way to the welcoming sound of the jungle fowl announcing a new day. We finally reached the top of the mountain but not without some minor injuries of blistered feet, insect bites and sheer exhaustion but we were alive and still together for the moment. As the sun began to light up the morning sky the view from our mountain top was more magnificent then the first and as Miguel glassed the area with his binoculars he caught sight of a ship far off in the distance. 

But was it one of ours and if so could we contact it by radio but it was so far away from the island. Miguel passed the binoculars to Mr. Roberts and he watched the ship slowly moving further out to sea and then he suddenly stopped and pointed down toward our first mountain top. At least twenty Japanese soldiers crawled over the plateau like army ants as more soldiers joined them with swords shimmering in the sun. Mr. Roberts checked his compass and began to write down in his note book and called out to Brian.  “We’ll have to chance it with the radio, do you think you can contact that ship?”. Brian began to crank the handle on the radio and called out our located given by Mr. Roberts but there was no response and now the ship had disappeared over the horizon as our hopes of a rescue sadly disappeared with it. Once again we quickly gathered our things as Miguel lead us into one of the many caves the honeycomb the mountain top but it was black as pitch and even I had trouble with my footing. Brian lit the cave from the light of his trusty lighter but the darkness seemed to continue on forever.

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