With Toshizo, his experiences grew through times. Seeing the U.S. Army storming the fortress, he couldn't deny the fact that he must go to fight. But by how when he was lack of knowledge over those weapons like big guns?
Well know.
Antoine and Barrera just went out from here. He must find his other fives, they were his friends in his own group. He just yelled:
"BROTHERS! WHERE ARE YOU?"
Meanwhile, the Americans had blown up a stronghold outside Chapultepec Castle. On that day, the future Commander of the U.S. Army, Ulysses S. Grant, just put up his sword: "Charge, men! CHARGE!"
His fellow friend Robert E. Lee just laughed though…
…
As for Juan de la Barrera, he and Antoine just went out, until they discovered that the remaining five was holding the line in any cause they could. The fires continued with mass bombardments by the U.S. Forces. The United States troops totally outnumbered the Mexican defenders.
"Fire!"
As for the battle scene, Toshizo realized only one thing: run! He had to run, as he had to follow Juan in any costs. Even he couldn't understand their language, he had to follow.
And each of his steps, he just found more fallen Mexican soldiers. But he did not know what was Mexico at that day, it marked ton of problem.
But he had to continue.
Meanwhile, Juan finally found the other, but then, he just found there was one missing.
"Wait,… where is Escutia?"
"Juan Escutia? I thought…"
"Hang on, Barrera. I knew where is he! He is outside! And he was with the broken tower of the castle!"
"WHAT?" Juan de la Barrera yelled. He knew, if getting inside the tower would mean suicide. The tower, which had the big Mexican flag, was under siege of the U.S. Barrera must come to rescue…
"Okay. Stay here! I will go and save him!"
But suddenly, one of those boy touched Barrera's shoulder. He said:
"No, you can't leave without us. You are like our brother. You helped us, you organized La Patria, time for us to pay it back. We will follow you!"
"Really?"
"Yes."
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Toshizo, meanwhile, the 12 years old boy found Juan de la Barrera, standing with Antoine and 4 other officers. They were talking something, until they finally agreed, and then, Juan shouted and all, even Miss Antoine, also went with him. All of those officers, looked not older to Juan, might be even younger.
Toshizo just followed behind, without noticing that, the man who cursed Juan de la Barrera, had secretly opened the gate for the U.S. Army…
#####
Meanwhile, Gen. Quitman with his assistant, Thomas J. Jackson, asked for a total strike. And Jackson nodded: "God, I will make it come true soon." He soon asked a bombardment, and they agreed. Then they quickly fired up. But after the only shots, it quickly changed by a total attack led by Jackson's troops. His men quickly smashed the defenders.
And inside, Juan Escutia, the young private soldier, had been holding the line with others.
"Don't leave! The Yankees will not pass!"
But the Mexicans couldn't hold much longer. Juan Escutia found that the first American troops entered inside the tower and the building, so definitely, the Americans were invading, he must hold on. However, he just received the new from Gen. Nicolás Bravo…
And he was shocked…
"No…"
Gen. Bravo ordered to shut down, and all the troops had to withdraw from the outside fortress to defend inside. Because the gate was opened by someone suspected to be American agent. This was a problem for Escutia because he was out of ammo.
"Oh no. Please don't leave so early…"
Too late now… Escutia…
#####
Meanwhile, Barrera and his men, with Antoine, found that the Americans were everywhere. All the Mexican defenders were killed.
"Impossible!"
"The Yankees had destroyed all of defenders outside…"
"Maybe Escutia was stuck in somewhere. We must find him, he might be still alive!"
"GO GO GO!"
As for Toshizo, he soon discovered many death bodies: both two sides got high casualties, but seeing the situation, he guessed that his side was losing…
He also impressed on the way those Mexicans, led by Barrera were doing, so he decided to follow them. Might be he could learn something for his future. And he went out.
What was happening to Juan Escutia?
Well, he defended well, but when his brothers started to fall due to the overwhelming American troops moving inside, Escutia managed to escape, with the big Mexican flag. However, he was surrounded later…
Barrera, and his friends, they might be too late…
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…
…
"Escutia!"
They yelled, however, Antoine, from the destroyed tower, she had shouted: "Is he there?" They looked to the scene, in another defending tower, but this time was Escutia vs. Americans. The U.S. troops were everywhere!
They aimed guns…
"Surrender, young boy, or you die with them!"
Escutia was lack of English, but he still understood what those Americans want. So…
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"ESCUTIA! PLEASE…"
Barrera shouted when he saw Juan Escutia, Escutia was in deep trouble, but he showed no fear at all. Might be with him, it was the last moment to become hero…
"Brother Barrera… I know what you want… thank you…"
Then, from the height, he just looked for the last time, and said… in deep of tears…
"Thank you… and I am proud to be brother… La Patria brothers… Good luck… in the next life! God, Nation, Honor and Trust! VIVA MEXICO!"
Toshizo just followed up. He had managed to escape from the hell fire, but when he climbed up, he just found that those others were looking to the one, and Toshizo…
"Hey, aren't they…"
Toshizo soon heard the last words, before he saw the scene through a broken window:
…
Juan Escutia wrapped the flag to himself, and jumped off… Farewell, young cadet… Meanwhile, the U.S. troops, couldn't believe what they just saw, tried to look down, but finally, Escutia had fallen…
…like a fallen blossom…
With Toshizo, it was the first experience for him to see a foreign sacrifice, and it was truly heroic, for him…
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