Firewood

Chapter 8

Armando walked fast to the municipal hall. He is thinking nothing but to ask the officials there their reasons of withholding the right of his wife to be buried in the public cemetery.

As he reached the municipal hall, the two guards blocked the way for him.

“Sorry but you are not allowed to come inside”, says the first guard.

“I have something very important to ask to Mayor Salcedo”, answered Armando who was trying to control his temper again. “Please let me come inside!”

“Sorry but this is the order”, answered the second.

Armando, who didn’t have a choice, tackled the two guards, as hard as he could, only to enter the hall. But he was unfortunate. The two guards were bigger than him; they knocked him down.

While he was lying on the ground, someone familiar spoke to him, “So what brought the traitors here?”. It was Mayor Salcedo.

“If I were you, I will now continue to be silent just to avoid another uprising of the revolutionaries”, continued the mayor.

Fabian, who was hiding at Armando’s back since they left the house, ran to his brother to help him stood up.

Still in Fabian’s shoulders, and holding his chest, Armando asked the Mayor, “Why did you order the officials to withhold a land for my wife’s burial?”

“Because she is a betrayer; she is a great criminal to the whole nation after she helped that should-have-been-dead Japanese captain”, answered Mayor Salcedo proudly.

“My wife is not a betrayer!”

Armando tried to knock down the mayor who was standing on front of him but he was stopped by Fabian who was still holding him.

“Come Armando, let’s go home. We couldn’t do anything with this”, says Fabian who was more afraid now because of what was happening.

The two left the municipal building, frustrated; but the guards and the Mayor laughed on their thought victory.

Mayor Salcedo entered his office. He was still smiling, delighted by how he acted outside. He knew that there were lots of people watching them and this would be a great point on his next year’s candidacy.

Inside his office sat Mr. and Mrs. Villarino. They were the one who told Mayor Salcedo about Elena’s treating of the sick soldier.

“Good day Mr. and Mrs. Villarino!” greeted the mayor happily.

“Good day Mayor!”, answered the two.

“You were a great help with all of these; thank you for telling me about it. You just don’t know how these people will look up to you because of what you did”, praised the mayor. “You are indeed a hero in our sight!”

The mayor shook their hands in thankfulness, inwardly selfish.

“Tell me, what made you report it to me?”

Mr. Villarino answered, “While I was washing my boots in the river, I heard Armando and Elena arguing about something. I sneaked to them and saw Armando carrying a Japanese soldier. I followed them and I saw they brought him inside their house. Armando was against it but Elena was really committed to help that soldier”.

“And Elena said she would rather die for that she called service”, Mrs. Villarino joined the conversation. “One time, I saw her gathering herbs from their backyard. I looked in an opening of their window just to see who the victim of the war was again”. The woman held her arms tightly and said, “I couldn’t believe what I saw; she was treating a Japanese soldier, even the captain of the troop!” and she cried, “My heart started to beat fast upon seeing that. She is helping the soldier who killed my parents!”

Mr. Villarino embraced his crying wife.

“I know you gave justice to your parents’ death Mrs. Villarino. Their souls are now resting in peace”, comforted the mayor, though pretending, to the weeping couple. “Here, receive this simple gift of honor for your heroic act Mr. and Mrs. Villarino”, said the mayor on handling a bundle of money to them.

The couple left the office with their reward.

When knowing that there was no one in the office anymore, the mayor called his trusted mentor Fred.

“Yes Salcedo”, he answered. He rather call him this way because he knew how this mayor, unlearned to his eye, respect his words most.

“Our plan is now beginning to burn!” says the mayor joyfully as he stood up looking to his small window.

“You are beginning to learn now Salcedo. Now, the next plan should follow. Make sure you always visit the people and join their conversation each time they talk about Elena’s death. Talk in a professional manner while condemning the support to the Japanese forces. But make sure to do this indirectly or else the Japanese will hunt you”, lectured Fred.

“I know! I know that!”, argued the mayor. “But make sure the people are always talking about that incident for us to gain their trust. Can you imagine it? I will be gaining the trust of the majority of the people and the next term will be mine again!”

The mentor left the mayor even though he was not finished talking yet, and imagining. The mayor used to do this and Fred just can’t take it always. “The baby is starting to daydream again”, he used to say.