" What are you doin'?" George asked Albrecht.

" ...will request Elias to accompany her outside, you're sleepy right? you haven't slept yet." Albrecht complained.

" She eavesdropped and understood the situation.

" Uh, sorry. Ah, we'll go out in the afternoon. Would that be okay?" Magee tried to seek some kind of confirmation.

" Magee, it'll not take a longer time to wait, we'll spare him a day to rest, he ran going back here."

" Oh, that's too sentimental, I feel of crying." George smiled.

" Yes, I almost forgot, you've been away for some field works, sorry. But in the afternoon it's okay." Magee bowed her head and had her breakfast.

It was such a relief for George though he has to shortly give orders to some a.s.signees for the 'bagakay' bamboo pole sharpening. Others had to wait for the message that will be attached to the arrow if the ropes from station two are ready for pick up. In sync with both orders Baldur raised his suggestion for tagging two soldiers bound to get some flower potions outside Kabang.

" Good that you've mentioned it, I almost forgot, yes, that's given in our plan, you may select your buddies going there. Anything?" George asked.

It was then when the three groups parted where one of the groups, composed of the new recruits (Elias, Gador and Amado) remained inside.

" We have abundant bamboo poles around." Elias smiled and started to follow the instructions and had his first sample cut size. Beside him where the two eager minds and curious about how it will be installed under every hole. Elias, who had some ideas on it tried to explain a little concept of ambush.

" Really? but how about the others, what if they walk by two's or three's, the rest in front and those who will be following could already detect the attack?" Amado nosily queried.

" We'll attack by four. That means one is to four ratio. Shall we say, if four got stuck in the hole with these stuffs, the other four in front will be arrowed by one of us, the four at the back will be shot by our soldier's automatic rifle, the next four would have the QF attack, using that 2.95 - inch mountain gun and the rest will be shouldered by station two troupe's other field artillery. Grenades will be thrown in perfect timing considering to hit four from the opponent. But we have reserved tactics, only 1Lt George will give it following some protocols." Albrecht simplified the way of the concept attack.

" Wow! that's notably striking but this has to be studied seriously. The chain of command must be very spontanous because the enemy's infantry have two live tanks and several aircrafts." It was Amado's interaction considering some possibilities of ma.s.s attack of troops to their terrain.

The three new recruits and Albrecht were having interesting discussion and shared ideas and they quickly finished the sharpening task at exactly midday. Albrecht served them lunch and instructed them to rest to their respective posts.

While Magee was waiting for George to wake up, she approached Albrecht and pointed her finger to tge two small bamboo poles.

" For what? what are you planning to do?" Albrecht sarcastically looked at her.

" There's nothing serious, hmm...please." She smiled at him like he has no right to refuse.

" Well, I have nothing to do with it anymore, you're already holding those stuffs right now, go and take it."

" Yey! and please, cut the two poles by one meter each."

Magee grabbed the bamboo poles and placed them inside her place. Around 1400 hrs George sat down and felt a little slackening aura then he stood up hurriedly after remembering their appointment with Magee upstairs. With so much haste, he brought his towel, put it hanging on a bamboo chair meters away from the cave's entrance and directly had a gargantuan shower in the waterfalls. Magee, who was then sitting beside Albrecht at the kitchen was stunned by looking at him bathing. Of course the men around seems find it a casual scenario but for Magee it was something unusual so she turn her head and suddenly Albrecht teased him.

" What...why are you turning your head at me."

" No, nothing. You promised to give me a snack...I'd like to ask some." Then she blus.h.i.+ngly smiled.

" Here's your sweet potatoes, you return to your place now because that guy bathing will then pa.s.s by on this side before going to change. Go! " He teasingly ordered his sister to pull back.

" Huh!" She stood up and was running toward her place while bringing her sweet potatoes.

When George was done he grabbed his towel and pa.s.sed by at Albrecht who was very busy cutting some veggies for dinner.

" Hey buddy, what's our viand tonight? That looks a Filipino menu again ha, great!"

" This is ginataang sitaw at kalabasa. By the way, hey, you might have forgotten, we're not all men here. That lit'le girl saw you blabbering with gogo bubbles and waters underneath, she even turned her head and tried to hide after seeing you enjoying the waters. Careful." Albrecht meaningfully smiled at him.

" Uhm...I did not know that she's just around. Yeah, next time, thanks for telling me." He smiled back and proceeded to change.

Momentarily, Magee was busy preparing herself for their walk outside. She braided her waistlong hair and was tightly holding the two shorter versions of 'bagakay' bamboo poles. Even if she had heard him doing something in his place next to her but she opted not to talk, thinking she might disturb him. After a few minutes, she heard him moving closer to her entrance door and stood up looking at her.

" Hi! I'm done. Shall we go now?"

She smiled and thrown to him one of the bamboo poles.

" Let's have a fencing duel. If I win, tell Dad to bring me back my sword I left in the dormitory or buy me one secretly."

" What?"

" You're a soldier, I know this was part of your training, like sparring, right?"

" Oh, no. You're kidding me now, tell me. I can't. I can't have a duel with a braided hair." Then George bowed down his head, furtively smiling.

" Uhm... consider us just playing, I wanted to help someday. Please help me recall my college pastime in the Dormitory, it might help me too if worst comes to worst. I heard those men sharing concepts this morning about war tactics."

" But Magee..."

" Let's try, give me a try."

" Okay, okay..." Then he smiled.

They moved outside and luckily only Albrecht stayed alone while busy extracting the coconut milk. Albrecht was just silent observing at them and to his surprise, after series of strikes, his master's bamboo flew away. George turned his head and signaled to Albrecht that she's not an easy opponent.

" Wow! how did you do that Magee? George, did you just intend to do it and preferred to throw it away? If not, it's amazing! We never knew that you learned that already."

" Isn't it acceptable, you two must be honest."

" Your movement is extraordinary, how did you do that? Why you have alternates while fencing you also hit the opponent's body parts and your speed is unbelievable. I was even a little dizzy while watching, great fight. Come, give me that fake sword, I'll do it, George out!" He smiled to George.

The duel between siblings had started and they never knew that Amado was watching hideously.

" Unbelievable! that small girl could do it. ( Aw di katoohan!, yaang bobay katigam kadí saan)." He whispered to himself.

" (Ang hain?" (Which one?)" Gador stood up and saw the intense duel of a 5'9" soldier and a 5'4" skinny lady. Out of the blue he cheered.

" Mad'yaw! (Good!) "Gador applauded.

George was amazed and even rubbed his eyes. He felt he was hallucinating.

" Albrecht's bamboo have blown away three times despite his control of holding it tightly but Magee speedily attacked the wrists most of the time that disallow the opponent's arms to get through it till the opponent weakens and drops down the weapon.

As proud eldest brother Albrecht carried her on his arms and cheering with the new recruits. When he put her down he was filled with sweats.

" Wow! you made me so tired lit'le rascal. But I'm amazed how you fight like doin' some ballet dancing, you also tiptoed and there's graceful turns I noticed. You are not giving focus to the opponent, right George, have you noticed that too?"

" Yes, she waggles her braided hair and she dances. Now I know if why she braided it, haha." First time to see it, never knew that within three months if stalking. And see, she didn't even got tired of fighting at us."

" Haha, it's because I'm skinny. I was even afraid at first, considering the giants in front of me. But still, so thankful.

Amado came closer and smiled at her.

" Hmm...nasipog kami kanmo, pig-unan mo idto? Lumon mo ba yaan silan? Nanga sa wa silan katigam sang-awon, doun pa nganì?" (We're shameful on you, how did you do it? Are these guys your siblings? Why it seems they never knew that ability of yours before and just discovered it here?)"

"Language please." Albrecht grumbled.

Magee just smiled at Amado that was so badly impressed of her footwork with swaying and turning styles of fighting that distracts the opponent.

" That's my sister! I never knew all of these, for Christsake! Mother's so proud of you now, and Dad!" Albrecht led her to sit down.