Freedom Fighters

28. Genesis

Houses that were little more than mud hovels flocked around listless fields of crops. A few tired men could be seen tending to the fields under the blazing morning sun. Chickens ran amok amongst excited children under the haggard eyes of their mothers.

As the rows of revolutionaries approached this unsuspecting village, it seemed that nothing stirred within the villagers. A young child or two would shout and point their fingers at the armed men, but nobody else looked surprised.

"You doing okay?" Juanita asked Dario as he panted, trudging up the slope. "It hasn't been long since you recovered. Don't exert yourself too much."

Dario bowed over, raising his hand. "I will be fine. Don't worry."

A man stood at the perceived entrance of this small village, his relaxed posture suggesting he had been waiting for them. He had dark skin, toughened and tanned from years of farmwork. His drooping grey eyes stared out of a creased face.

"Who are you?" he questioned in an even tone as soon as the revolutionaries stopped before him.

"We are of the Movement," Celia answered for them.

The man nodded, his eyes scanning through the crowd with indifference. Finally, he said, "I am Eutimio Guerra, a humble peasant. Follow me. Fidel is waiting."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the next half of the day, Eutimio the guide led them through the thick jungle that fed into the Sierra Maestra. Sometimes, he would take sharp turns and bash into unsuspecting vegetation, only to find a hidden trail. After a long while, Dario found that he could not keep track of his surroundings anymore. It was just trees after trees. And it seemed that the deeper they went, the thicker the vegetation became. He can only hope this Eutimio person would lead them to the destination, where he would hopefully find Camilo. Alive.

When his recovering wound started to ache with an uncomfortable throbbing pain, Dario stopped in his tracks and sat on the ground, while Juanita called for Eutimio to stop.

"Eutimio," Dario said weakly in between sips of water from his canteen. "How long more is it?"

"Not much longer," he answered. "We should reach there before sunset."

Further along the trek, Dario knew that he could not keep up anymore. The Almeidas, with their strong arms, supported him as the trio, with Juanita, walked behind Celia and her men. The next hour passed this way.

"We are here," Eutimio announced after an exhausting hike up a steep knoll, much to the relief of the group.

Dario gritted his teeth as he made it through the last of the slope with the help of the Almeidas. Muttering his thanks to the twins, he looked around him and saw nothing but more trees and bushes.

Out of nowhere, a voice called out, shocking all but the guide. "Halt! Hands up!"

Everybody obeyed. A wave of joy overcame Dario. He recognised the voice.

"Password?"

"Dove," Eutimio answered after a pause.

"Proceed," the voice said. Then, there was a rustling in the bush, and out stepped Camilo Cienfuegos, covered in leaves.

The very instant his gaze landed upon Dario, his eyes widened like a child's when receiving a gift. With overflowing euphoria.

"DARIO!" he shouted.

Dario smiled. Oh, how much he had missed his best friend.

"Camilo."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------