Mosa

  Chapter 47

  The Maelstrom

  The morning arrived and Tasha and Jake woke up, Diana and Nancy was sleeping beside them. But Alvin wasn’t there. There were burnt ashes in the place of the bonfire. Nancy woke up already, wondering about where he went. Diana was still sleeping. Tasha and Jake woke up later and went into the woods with water bottles. Before they came back, Nancy was startled by Alvin who appeared from her back.

  “Good morning,” waved Alvin, holding a map on his left hand He set down his leather bag.

  “Where have you been?” gasped Nancy, her hands on her bosom.

  “A small town nearby, the whole place was vacant. I think they’ve heard what happened in our city. They surly took all the food they could carry, but I managed to find these on the street,” said Alvin, chuckling, showing Nancy some hams, chocolates and breads.

  “Oh dear,” said Nancy, looking at the food. “Are we on the right track?”

  “Well, we are little off the trail, but yes, we are on the road. I think we are able to arrive there in three days,” said Alvin, looking at the map.

  “Where are we going dear?” said Nancy.

  “An old friend of mine, he lives in the refugee camp,” said Alvin.

  “Good, I will get the kids. They went to get some water down there,” said Nancy, pointing at Tasha and Jake from a distance splashing water at each other, playing. Nancy slowly walked toward them.

  Diana yawned and woke up. She smiled at Alvin, spreading her arm. Alvin went up to her and pulled her up. She clung on to him, hugging.

  “Hello there,” said Diana.

  They were on the move, they walked across the forest. Diana was in the extra good mood today, she jumped across the rock on the stream. They were now far away from the city, going through the wilderness.

  “My leg is falling apart.” Jake was mumbling with his head down.

  “Oh be a man Jake, look at Diana! I bet with that strength she can knock down the wild boar,” said Tasha, pulling Jake toward her.

  “Now now Tasha, slow down, slow down. Let’s see… where are we?” said Alvin, breathing heavily. His arm was hardened due to the heavy bullet box; he looked at the map.

  “Oh, I’m dying,” said Nancy, just laying down on the rock, flattened. “I’m too old for this shit,” she muttered. Diana was up on the hill, enjoying the view, waving at them to come up.

  “Coming honey!” shouted Alvin, vigorously. “Help Nancy, Tasha, I’m going to check where we are,” he said to Tasha. She giggled when he ran up to Diana. Jake was flattened also, next to Nancy.

  It was a nice view, the sun hung on the middle, shining on the landscape of the forest.

  “Nice view huh?” said Alvin.

  “Oh yeah,” said Diana, breathing deeply. Alvin grunted and sat down.

  “Thinking about ditching that thing?” asked Diana, looking at the bullet box.

  “Nah it’s nothing,” grinned Alvin.

  “Aww, I can help you carry some.”

  “Nah,” Alvin waved off.

  “You are really sweet,” said Diana, kissing Alvin on his cheek. Alvin sat down and was gulping down the water, having some rest. The sky was clear and the air was fresh.

  “Do you remember what the joyful sailor in the school play?” muttered Alvin, looking at the blue sky.

  “Yes of course, you have written it last week. Do you mean that sailor disappeared in the sea?” said Diana.

  “Yes, he was the man who escaped from the pirates with a small boat. The crews weren’t suspecting any escape, because at that time, there was a raging storm,” said Alvin.

  “Oh yes I remember that scene. He went straight into the maelstrom,” said Diana.

  “Yes he did, do you remember his last line?” said Alvin.

  “Umm… yes.” said Diana. “If a man cannot be happy, what is the difference between us and pig? Isn’t the man’s greatest happiness lies in rejoicing in God’s grace? Like a lone sailor in the midst of the stormy sea. Let’s shout with courage and joy!”

  “Excellent memory,” said Alvin.

  “Why did you bring it up?” asked Diana; blushing a little.

  “It helps when you are feeling down and scared,” said Alvin, chuckling. Diana looked at Alvin, smiling dearly.

  “I think I’ve found where we are,” said Alvin, putting the map inside his bag, wheeled around, and went down to Nancy and children, and Diana followed him.

  In the mean time, in the island of the riddle, Sharine and Kevin were walking on the marshy road.

  “Ahh!” Sharine screamed. She was trying to step on the log so she doesn’t get wet shoes. But it didn’t work out. Kevin was jumping like a mountain goat, stepping on a thick log on the marsh.

  “Arrrgggh!” Sharine screamed again, the gluey mud came into her shoe. Kevin was laughing in purpose just to make her mad. The mud almost came to her knees. She surely hoped that this wasn’t a swamp, because it felt like one. She caught her boots and threw it over to Kevin and tried to get across.

  “Almost there, almost there,” said Kevin, cheering her up. She struggled and Kevin offered his hand. Sharine grabbed his hand but Kevin just let it go, and she fell into the mud.

  Kevin ran away. Sharine, filled with rage, grabbed her shoes which were deep inside the mud, stepped on the dry land and ran toward him. Sharine saw Kevin from a distance, he was gazing at something. Sharine went up to him. Cursing with her muddy reddish face, she grabbed his back. Kevin turned around, gestured ‘Shh…’ for her to be quiet.

  “You hear that?” whispered Kevin.

  “Hear what?” said Sharine, angrily. Kevin lowered his stature. Sharine looked over and there were men talking.

  “Are they from the caves?” said Sharine.

  “I don’t know,” said Kevin.

  “What do you know?” Sharine sneered.

  “… There are men talking,” said Kevin, checking the device. Sharine groaned.

  “Do we pursue?” asked Sharine, cracking her knuckles.

  “Well, there is a hatch nearby, which leads to the tunnel.”

  “Perfect,” said Sharine.

  “Indeed,” Kevin smiled.

  In Cassandra, Sarah was ridding one of the assault choppers, screaming at James, who was flying the chopper. The sounds of chopper were loudly wringing.

  “What was that?!” yelled Sarah, asking for a third time.

  “Your job is to create confusion in Veron’s infantry!” yelled James.

  “Ok!” said Sarah, making an okay sign with her hand. “How many are the infantry?!”

  “See for yourself! We are almost there!” shouted James.

  “What?!” screamed Sarah.

  James pointed his hand violently at the window. Sarah leaned forward, looking through the cloud. She stared for a moment for the clouds to wipe off and saw the building which resembled Veron’s face.

  “Did they paint the building?” shouted Sarah.

  “What?”

  “Did they paint the building?!”

  “That’s not the building!” screamed James. Sarah grabbed the binocular and looked at closely, her mouth half opened. It was Veron’s soldiers, innumerous numbers of soldiers.

  “Are we going down there!?” shouted Sarah.

  “Yeah!” answered James.

  “Captain! Pardon me but, Are you fucking nuts?!” screamed Sarah.

  “You got the cloaking device!” yelled James.

  “Still!! Urghhgrr!” grunted Sarah, holding the seat firmly.

  “It’s almost a time!” said James, raising his arm to show her his watch.

  “Alright! Alright! Give a signal to the rest of the choppers!” barked Sarah, clutching a gun.

  “Maybe I’ll see you again!” shouted James. “… Maybe not!” he added and burst into laughter.

  “Same here, Captain!” shouted Sarah, grabbing his shoulder. He put his hand on the top of hers, nodding.

  “Good luck! You will be alright!” yelled James. r />
  Sarah looked down at the swarm of soldiers. She gulped, tapped on James shoulder; she walked back to the paratroopers. She opened the door of the chopper, the wind gushed in. She could see the land, Sarah turned to the paratroopers who were standing before her.

  “My babies! Are you fired up?!” shouted Sarah to the paratroopers.

  “FIRED UP, FIRED UP, FIRED UP SIR!” they screamed at Sarah.

  “ARE YOU FIRED UP?!” shouted Sarah, on the top of her voice.

  “FIRED UP! FIRED UP! FIRED UP, SIR!”

  “Mighty Mighty Air Force!” Sarah sang; her voice cracked due to too much yelling, thumping on the floor, swinging her fists.

  “MIGHTY MIGHTY AIRFORCE!” they did the same, shaking the chopper.

  “WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE YOU? WHO THE FUUUCCK ARE YOU?” screamed Sarah.

  “MIGHTY MIGHTY AIRFORCE!” they screamed.

  “YES! YE BUNCH OF MAGGOTS!! CHAAARRRGGE!!!” Sarah jumped off from the chopper, dropped into the air like a bird and went straight down, and others jumped out too, following her. They howled and dived from the sky.