The Incarnates

CHAPTER III : Treehouse

"Jose? Are you alright?" he didn't notice that Gertrude had already sat down in front of him after lighting the bedside lamp as he was traveling down memory lane. She drew her face close to his, her expression that of a person who is trying to figure out something in front of her.

Jose's eyes grew wide at the proximity of Gertrude's face to his. "Huh?" he replied, his face flushed, he looked away and tried to compose himself.

"I was asking you earlier about what happened to you and you just stared at me, so I was wondering if you're alright," she looked at his face and arms, and his torn clothing. The blood had dried, but it was still there along with the dirt which made him look as if he had rolled on the ground all day.

"I was with my friend," he replied. She looked at him attentively as he narrated to her the events that led to him now sitting there in front of her.

"...we were on our way home from our work at a hacienda. It was growing dark and since not all the streets are lighted like here in yours, while we were walking, we did not notice a group of the Spanish militia standing at a makeshift station on the side of the road. It was the first time it was there, so we didn't expect that there will be soldiers on our way home. They said they are searching for Katipuneros among the workers of every hacienda. My friend, who is always nervous about seeing the militia since his brother was killed during one of the inspections, tried to run away. I didn't know that he was trying to get away as fast as he could, so when he grabbed me to run, I ended up getting dragged. This attracted the attention of the militia, and they all ran after us. My friend ended up releasing me, and as I lay on the ground, a group of men took me, not letting me stand and walk but by dragging me along."

"So that explains your clothes and the blood on you?"

"Yes. You need not worry, I did not kill anyone," he smiled and then continue on his narration, "I thought to myself, I would definitely die if I don't escape-- so when the opportunity came, I ran away... which made me lose my shoes."

"I'm sure they wouldn't kill you. They would just ask you questions and then set you free. I have a lot of friends in the militia, I know they would have spared you." Gertrude replied.

"They would have spared any other person, but not me," he muttered.

"Why so?"

"Because I am a Katipunero."

Gertrude gasped and scuttled away from the bed as fast as she could. She could not believe she just helped this man get away after committing a crime against the Spanish government.

"Please don't be afraid. I'm not a bad person."

"But, you're a Katipunero! You steal from the rich people's homes and you fight against the government!" Gertrude is now in front of her bedroom door, hugging her pillow tight. "I shouldn't have helped you."

"First of all Señorita, I don't steal. I work for my keep. Whatever I own, I had acquired through my honest efforts, through hard labor. Secondly, yes, I admit that I am fighting against the government, but not because I want to, not because I like to, but because I have to."

"Why? The government is doing the best that they could, the government had provided us with good things! The government is good!"

"Perhaps it is Señorita, I would agree that this government works for some people... It is a good government for your people, but not for mine. That's why I have to fight, for my people's sake, for my survival."