Embracing Wanderlust

Love Thy Enemy

The Burmese soldiers blew through horns made out of ivory tusks. Tbus, to his pleasure, the sound of trumpets echoed in Maung's ear.

General Faisol came out of his army's tent and widely raised his hands apart to let the commander of Siam know his side had surrendered for the time being.

Relieved that their adversary had reached an agreement, Maung congratulated himself by patting his back.

Job well done Maung! It worked! But remember this moment of peacefullness will not last forever.

Wanting to walk further to  the Burmese encampment in order to shake General Faisol's hand, the commander put one foot over the other, but was abruptly stopped by one of his men. Chai placed his hand over his Commander's back to alert him that they were still their enemy no matter if there had been a form of correspondence between both parties.

"Commander, I wouldn't be so trustworthy. I've been watching you and as your second in command, I don't want you to be killed as General  Yarzar."

Maung smirked. He had an inkling on what the soldier was trying to do.

Don't sugarcoat me with those words Chai, and when did I make you my second in command? Those are your words, not mine. Yet, he does have a good point. Burma is still Burma, regardless of this mess. Very well. I won't go there.

Maung faced the officer and saluted him which signified that he heard him loud and clear. "Will do, Chai. Let's go!"

Thus, both men went back inside their home base.

- - - -

In the Infirmary

Prisana prepared the cotton sheets over the cots that lacked decent mattresses, as Rachini instructed her to do. Since this was her first day on the job, Prisana quietly hummed to herself to prevent her from being nervous.

Her thoughts soon arrived to how her father, Arkhom, predicted that the war would never be resolved before his death. Before she left the farmhouse, he took her hand and wished his eldest the best of luck.

"Prisana, the love of money is the root of all evil. But we need to find a source of living in order to survive. I am too old to continue tending the crops and your sisters are still too young to help me with the chores. Thus, you are the only breadwinner left to help us out. Promise me that you will never fall in the enemy's trap, once you arrive at the infirmary. I trust Rachini as your guardian once you reach Ayutthaya. She was your mother's best friend before tragedy struck. If I don't see you again, please remember me by my name which means Magic !"

Arkhom's body twitched at the mention of his last phrase as he remembered his late wife, Malee, who he nicknamed as his jasmine flower. On what was supposed to be an eventful day, the midwife who delivered his youngest son, Abhisit, alerted him that Malee had been experiencing discomfort after her delivery.

He was asked to leave the room to let Malee relax. He kissed Malee's forehead for the last time, before Arkhom was led by his daughters outside of the bedroom. But before they could close the doors, they heard Malee screaming for her husband before her last breath.

Even though General Faisol had a heart of stone, he wanted his soldiers to get better before they  continued fighting. Smirking that the Commander of Siam nodded in response to convey their gratitude, the General went back to his tent to rest.

The general passed one of his guardsmen on the way to his cot and left Thiha alone.

- - - -
Making sure that he did not wake his patient, Thiha carefully touched Khin's forehead. Thiha wanted to know if Khin's temperature had cooled down. But to his astonishment, Khin was awake and was able to mumble a few words, causing Thiha to stop rubbing the soldier's face altogether.

Shaking from fear, Khin tried to lift his hands, only to feel the layers of fabric that laid underneath him instead. He silently cried thinking he was in heaven and that his days of freedom were doomed

Where am I? Last thing I knew I was covering a comrade from harm in the forest and then all blacked out!

When his comrades placed him on a stretcher, Khin was still unresponsive. Never did it occur to him that he was shot.

"Why are you crying, Khin?"

Forcing his eyelids to stay open, Khin looked at the man who questioned him. Seeing eyebrows like two fat caterpillars in front of him, he smiled. At first he did not recognize Thiha; but the soldier's dark curly hair gave him away. As the only soldier with that hair style, Thiha could be spotted easily without a trace . He inherited it from his mother, and in her honor, he refused to have it straightened.

"Khin, you are awake! We are so glad you are back. But don't get up, you are still not well. Don't worry Champo and Lwin will transport you to the infirmary in Siam."

Wait, did you say Siam? Are you guys trying to kill me? That's who we are fighting against.

Khin tried to mouth out the words before he was lifted up, but his voice went dry before he could say anything.

Two men  carrying a stretcher with a bloodied soldier came into the infirmary. As they called for the person in charge, Rachini stepped forward.

"That would be me, gentlemen." Rachini announced with glee. But her face soured once she noticed they were their foes.

What are you two doing here? You know you are on enemy territory. Both of you are taking a risk if our commander knows you two are here." Looking closer at the men's attire, which consisted of a small white open jacket and a cloth tightly tied around their stomach and torso, it revealed that her hunch was correct, they were indeed Burmese soldiers; men she didn't want to attend to.

"Ma'm, we have briefly ceased fire. If you don't believe  us, go outside and take a look."
" We have a wounded soldier that badly needs medical help, can you please help us? We don't have an infirmary in our encampment, so while our General has called a truce, we come in peace!" 

Figuring out what to do next,  Rachini nodded.

She couldn't turn them away. Even though they were from Burma, she believed every soldier had a right to live. Suddenly, Rachini remembered her new recruit. 

Yes, I will give him to Prisana, she's quite young and treating this soldier would give her an opportunity to learn the basics of nursing.