10 Years After

Chapter 23

It is customary for Bartolome,Gina,Ramon and Igor to attend the Sunday mass.It is also a time for meeting their fellow Filipinos.They also ate at Filipino owned restaurants.Attend gatherings and gossip.Chikahan to the max.Bartolome ,who had just come from the Philippines had been cornered by other Filipinos hungry for news from the Philippines.They are very interested in politics.They want to know how the Filipinos react to the newly elected president.He is being tagged as the Dirty Harry of the Philippines.
A Septuagenarian asked Bartolome if the rumors are true.There are lots of killings going on in the Philippines.Had the Philippines become a drug haven for Drug lords.
Others who are in their late thirties are also asking Gina about the hottest love team in Philippine Cinema.They also talked about the latest happenings in the Filipino colmmunity.It's nice meeting them but Igor is feeling sleepy.Ramon picked him up.The boy put his head on his fathet's shoulder."Uwi na tayo papa".They bid goodbye to their new found friends.They are sure they will meet again.in the future.
Next morning,having slept for more than 10 hours,the boy is in a good mood.He obeyed his lolo and lola.He is still in good mood when his father arrived.He is carrying a small bundle and gave it to Igor.Ramon went to his room to change his clothes.He wants to teach the boy how to read.He bought books for him to look at.There are pictures that would attract the attention of little boys.He went out in search of his kid.Suddenly he heard his excited voice."papa,papa nakita ko na yung malalaking tao".Bumilis ang lakad niya.Tumatak sa isip nya yung sinabi ni Igor.Ang mama daw niya nasa bahay ng malalaking tao.Pati ang lolo at lola nahinto sa ginagawa nila.Tumingin sila sa pintuan.Walang tao.Wala rin silang nakita sa bintana.Nilapitan ni Ramon ang anak."Nasan yung taong malalaki?"Hinatak ng bata ang ama
"Eto papa".Tinignan ni Ramon ang tinuturo ng anak.Indian,mga Indian.Kinilabutan siya.Nag emergency landing sila malapit sa Nevada desert.Gosh,his son is telling the truth.His mama is alive and under the care of a shaman,an Indian doctor.
"Nay,tay,tama ang sabi ng apo nyo.Buhay si Heart.Wala tayong nakitang katawan di ba?Bag lang.Tumilapon siya sa malayo.Nakita siya ng mga Indians.Di siya nakita ng rescue party dahil siguro sa mas malayo sya napunta.Nakita siya ng mga Indians,ginagamot siya ngayon."
"Sana ganun nga ang nangyari.Mga santo sa langit,sana ganun nga ang nangyari."Maluha luhang sabi ni Gina.
"Ano anng balak mo ngayon?"
"Pupunta ako ng Vegas tay.Marami tayong kababayan na nagtratrabaho dun.Pupuntahan ko din ang mga Indian community dun.Anak ng kambing,sobra akong excited tay.Para akong nakainom ng Cobra."
"Sasama ako sa yo.Mas magandang dalawa tayo. Maghiwalay tayo ng mga lokasyon.Mas marami tayong maiikutan."
"Tama ka tay.Nay bahala kka na kay Igor."
. "Sama ko papa.Alam ko yung bahay.Malaki.May malaking garden na may malalaking ulo."Nag isip si Ramon."Sige.Pero wag kang magulo dun.Hahanapin natin si mama."
Naglulundag si Igor."Yehey,babalik na si mama."Naiyak ng tuluyan si
Gina.
"Matulog tayo ng maaga.Malayo din ang Vegas.Lalakad tayo ng maaga."Paalala ni Bartolome.
Ganun nga ang nangyari.Lumakad sila kinabukasan.Pagdating sa Vegas,naghiwalay sila.Magkasama ang mag ama.Nagsolo si Bartolome.Nagpunta si Ramon sa mga hotels na may mga empleyadong Filipino.Very cooperative ang mga ito."Pare,may nakapagsabi sa min na mayroon daw survivor iyong plane crash last month."Nag isip si Rody."Pare,wala akong nabalitaang ganun.Ang alam ko may memorial na inilagay.Pare magtanong ka sa kabilanng hotel.Maraming valet dun na kababayan natin.Magtanong ka dun.Magtatanong din ako sa iba nating kababayan.Mag iwan ka ng contact number."
Kung saan saan nagpunta ang mag ama.Nung gumabi na nagkita ang mag biyenan sa isang hotel.Parehong pagod.Maaga silang nakatulog.Wala silang nakuhang
magandang balita.
Kinabukasan maaga uli silang lumakad.Sa Indian community ang punta ni Ramon at Igor.May nakapagsabi sa kanila na may Indian na manggamot sa outskirt ng Vegas.Madali nila itong natunton
Dinala sila ng guide nila sa isang bahay.Bungallow ito.Nagpatao po si Ramon.Naalala niya wala sila sa Pilipinas.Kumatok siya.May lumabas."Gud morning mam.Someone told us that there is a medicine man here.Can we see him?"The woman showed them to a room."Be seated.I'll go and fetch him"Lumilibot ang mata ni Igor."Wala dito si mama"Tinignan no Igor ang anak."Behave anak.May kakausapin akong doktor.Indian siya".Maya maya may lumabas.Tumayo si Ramon.Nakipagkamay."Good morning sir.I'm Ramon.Sorry if we intrude on you sir but we need your help.The Indian told him to sit down.He also sat down on a huge chair."How can I help you gentlemen.You look healthy to me".
"Sir,we do not seek medical help.We are survivors of the plane crash.But my wife is missing.Someone told us that she is being treated by an Indian doctor.Do you have Filipino patient now,:sir?"
. "I have treated Filipinos before.But right now I have none.You can ask another doctor.He lives further.Mayde 50 meters away."Ramon thanked the Indian.He and his son looked for the other doctor but he can"t help them also.
. "There's another shaman in downtown Vegas.He owns a curio shop.I'll.give you a letter.Just show it to the one tending the shop.He'll see you.I"m sorry that I can't be of help to you."said the Indian.
"On the contrary sir,you'd been very helpful.You have provided us another lead.Thank you sir"Ramon shook hands with the Indian.They are now going to downtown Vegas.He hopes they could be lucky this time.
They found the curioshop.They went inside and looked around.There are many interesting pieces that caught his attention.Heart would love to have this things.
An Indian woman approached them."Did you see anything that interests you sir?"Ramon smiled."You have beautiful pieces here and my wife would love them.But I'm here for another reason."Ramon gave the letter to the woman."Excuse me for a moment sir".The woman entered another door.After 15minutes she returned."He would see you sir.Please follow me."
They entered the door.The light is dim.He could see that the space is getting narrow.At the end of the alley the woman stopped.Knocked four times.Then another '3.It's obvious that it's a sign.A green light went on.The woman proceeded to open the door.It's bright there.There are plants inside.It's like a green house.They heard a voice."Be seated.Ona give us some coffee.Ice cream for the little one."The girl he called Ona went out to get coffee and ice cream.
"According to the letter written by my brother you have visited my Indian brothers.You have gained their sympathy otherwise you wont be here now.This place as you can see is hidden.Even my being here is a secret.Now tell me your story"
"I'm Ramon sir.Almost a month ago on our way to Vegas our plane made an emergency landing in Nevada desert.Many died ,including my mother.The authorities declared my wife is one of those who died.Only,her body was not found.They said her body was burned beyond recognition.We accepted it.But now we have reasons to believe that she had survived and is badly hurt."
The old man listened carefully.He was about to lit his pipe but changed his mind."What are those reasons.?When authorities say a person is dead,they had already checked everything systematically.Thus they come to that conclusion."
"My son keeps dreaming of his mother.He says his mom is asleep.He called but his mom didn't hear him.He said she is in a room.There are two big mem thereThe house.is made of logs.It has a big garden.There are also big stone heads in their yard."
The old man closed his eyes
He had seen a house like that.Could it be it?The house of The Eagle.This curioshop is being funded by The Eagle.Indians with
problems either financially or legally come to this shop.It is then relayed to The Eagle.
An Indian had visited him last week.He was looking for The Eagle.He can't be found anywhere.His secretary says he is on leave indefinitely.There are rumors that a month ago,the family,Nara,The Eagle and.Old Man Bear had brought home a dying woman in their home.Also the old man had performed the life and death dance.He didn't believe what the Indian told him.Old Man Bear is not a fool.He will not give up his life for another.
But here is Ramon,looking for his wife.He had a hunch that his wife and the dying woman in The Eagle 's home is one and the same.His Indian brothers had the same idea.So that's the reason why he was.sent here.It is he ,who will decide in the end.
"Ramon,I'm sorry.As you can see I ' m not treating anyone now.I"m old.But give me your contact number.I'll ask around."He looked at the little boy.He has a different aura.He can see auras.The boy has white light emanating from his shoulder ,then it covered the boy' s head and ended om the other shoulder.That's a good aura.But it is followed by a black one.He was troubled by what he saw.
"Come here boy,show me your hands."The boy went near him and showed him his hands.He studied them carefully.Then he told his Ramon."Your son's heart will be torn to pieces.He would experience agony and despair.He would experience pain that no child is supposed to have.But in the end he will do what is right.He will be a great man.You'll be proud of him."
Ona appeared.She told them that the old man would rest.She escorted them out.
Bartolome didn't find anything.They decided to come home.But something worries him .According to a Filipina doctor,2planes crashed that day.The first exploded before it could.touch down.There were no survivors.The second had an emergency landing in the.desert.Many survived.Those who are wounded were taken to the hospital.Most of them have third degree burns.She was one of the doctors that treated them.