And now that some of my worries have left me, I can give full attention to this fic!
Chapter 7: Cagayan Valley
There is a certain hour when the dense cloak of the night meets the rosy scarf of day. Being a stubborn thing, Day pulls at Night, but of course, stodgy Night will not allow this upstart to usurp his throne. Day will just smile and pull harder, knowing that this battle will not last forever.
In the process, her scarf, filled with clouds and streaks of blue and new hope will be tangled with a cloak beset with tears, silence and stars. Night will berate her impatience; Day will call for help. It is then when the sleeping Sun decides to wake up and break the deadlock between Day and Night.
The force of the fiery giant would send Night hurtling halfway across the earth, where its residents are waiting. Night will go back to his throne and send for the moon to help him. Day will be thrown out. The struggle is eternal.
Just at that hour, Roderich was awakened by the crowing of spectators to this endless show. He peered at his companions. Gilberto and his grandmother were still asleep on the wooden floor. Paulita was still sound asleep; her expression matched that of an angel floating in air.
His mind suddenly crashed upon noticing the absence of little Lucia. Did anyone take her away while we were sleeping? He walked quietly to the door, watching shadows fall on the west-facing house.
He opened the door and stepped out, making sure that no one was roused. He was greeted by the sight of the green rice plants stained with a red liquid suddenly turning into golden stalks bursting with grain. In the middle of it all was Lucia, who was holding a clay pot with mysterious inscriptions.
She seemed to notice his presence, if her little wink and silencing gesture were of any indication. Of course, the Austrian was too dumbfounded to say a word. The girl ran across the field, with the stalks moving away to make a path for her.
"I'll tell you a little secret, Kuya Roddy. Only you and Itay should be the other nations who know about this…" "Wait, who's your Itay? I thought Paulita raised you alone." Roderich asked.
"My Itay is a hero named Alfred F. Jones! Itay and Inay aren't married but they act like some mushy, corny movie couple and I'm waiting for the wedding so that I'll be a flower girl!" Lucia said, "And of course, Tita Poland will design Inay's gown."
"Did he or your mother ask you to call him Itay?" "No. Inay's in denial, which she says is a river in Kuya Gupta's land. Though Alfred isn't Inay's husband yet, he's a really cool dad. As much as I'd like to tell you about our bonding moments with Itay, telling you about this pot is more important.." Lucia beamed.
Lucia held out the clay pot, with what seemed to be a spell inscribed on its neck. It was probably written in the old Tagalog alphabet. "Inay is a practitioner of magic, and she taught it to the tribesmen before Kuya Antonio arrived." Austria was surprised. Antonio had never mentioned this to him.
"Her magic is special, because it makes use of her blood. Her blood can seal pacts between men. On some days, she just uses it to thank people. But there was this time when we had to stop her from allowing her entire arm to bleed just to bring rain." Luzon said.
"Inay keeps telling me that some nations use violence and fraud to get what they want, but why is she always so kind? She would give until it hurts, and even if she seems not to show any concern, I know that deep inside, she wouldn't think twice before jumping into the jungles for a rescue mission." Lucia's eyes were wide and glassy with misunderstanding.
Austria's heart clenched painfully. Here was a daughter who would not allow her mother to get hurt. The mother, in turn, wouldn't mind taking a bullet for her daughter (or anyone, for that matter).
In the past, he had entered into unions and alliances for the sake of his people, but never did he give himself up like a lamb on an altar. Maybe that was the reason why Paulita, in spite of her industry and talents, never became one of those cocky superpowers. She did not know how to take. She only knew how to give. Austria could only hope that the man (or nation) who loved her could do the same.
The aristocrat lifted the child, who was sobbing on his nightshirt. "Hush, Lucia. Your mother is the noblest creature to ever show her face on this planet. I should be the one taking after her. She knows what she's doing, but don't hesitate to protect her. Now come on, little one. You said that Gilberto and Loreto shouldn't know about this."
"Thank you, Kuya Roddy. I'll miss you when you leave. Only a few people really understand Inay and the three of us." Roderich carried the girl into the house with a sad smile on his face. Meanwhile, Day had spread out her chameleon of a scarf over the brightening sky.
"Paulita Isabel del Pilar-Bonifacio, I understand that flying must be done in style, but…"
Roderich couldn't help but stare blankly at her 'flight gear'. She was dressed in tight fatigues tucked into combat boots. She had a bomber jacket zipped up, filled with odd patches from various military units. Apparently, her former colonizer's antics never left her.
"Mr. Edelstein, meet my trusty companion for fast travel, rescue operations, relief operations and escape. Pag-asa, this is Austria. Roderich, this is Pag-asa. Pag-asa means 'hope'." Paulita seemed not to hear him.
Paulita beamed at her Cessna Skylane 182T. It was a blinding white chariot with red and blue stripes, three stars and eight-ray sun. Ever the streetwise haggler (well-versed in the markets of Divisoria and Tutuban), she was able to get an old plane at one-fourth the price of a brand new Skylane.
"Back in 1990, I visited Alfred. I told him that I wanted to buy a plane. He took me to Kansas and we saw an old man in his hangar. He was trying to fix this plane and he said that it was pretty much done for. Alfred told him that he wanted to buy it. Said old man laughed but sold it to us anyway." She said, patting its wings.
"Alfred and I worked on this for days, but it was mostly him. He didn't want me getting tired and even though I try to tell him that I've experienced warmer days back home, he'd still tell me to just give him the necessary tools."
She didn't feel the need to tell him how many mornings she spent in the confessional of the nearest church "leading herself away from temptation" (since the American always worked shirtless).
"Paulita, are you sure you can fly? You seem…flushed. I know you're tired from touring me around and everything, you don't have to. I think I can go around the Philippines on my own." Roderich said.
"Yeah, Inay. I could take Kuya Roddy around Luzon, you know." Lucia said, genuinely concerned.
"I'm alright, please, it's just the heat. I'll just remove my jacket. You're right, why did I even bother to wear this jacket?" she said, swiftly removing it and tucking it under her arm.
"Come on, Kuya Roddy! Put your bags in the back and strap yourself in! We're going to have a great ride!" Lucia piped up from behind him.
"I hope so."
As Paulita prepared for takeoff, Lucia could swear that she saw Roderich's fingernails digging into his seat. She gave a little giggle at this. I've been on more than 30 flights with Mama. I even sleep while she drives!
Roderich's fears were assuaged when they were finally above ground. The clear blue skies were very inviting and the wind blowing from the southwest seemed to put the pilot in a good mood.
"Less than an hour, perhaps." She replied when asked about the travel time.
Lucia, in spite of the many times she had been on this plane, looked with wonder upon the mountaintops and plains below. She could see the sapphire-and-jade ocean inviting her to jump in.
Roderich, on the other hand, was busy snapping photographs of the view. He could send those postcard-worthy shots back home for Ludwig and Elizabeta…and Gilbert, perhaps. He looked at the camera. It was Hungary's. She told him to keep it. You'll need it.
Austria checked the memory card of the camera, making sure that no sensitive images were left. The card was left empty. He had around 1000 photos to take. At the rate that he was going, he would have to take out another of his memory cards when they go to the next region of the Philippines.
I should be happy for you. I shouldn't be selfish.
"Cessna, you are currently 14 miles from Basco. A SEAIR Delta 328 dash 100 is following you at four o' clock, seven miles." An air traffic controller from the Basco Airport called out to Paulita.
"Copied. Link me to SEAIR." she said into the microphone. "SEAIR speaking." The captain said. "SEAIR cleared for landing. I repeat, SEAIR cleared for landing. Ground and SEAIR, I'm taking a detour to show my friend Batanes Hills. This is Paulita Bonifacio speaking."
"Roger that, Inang Bayan."
Paulita changed course and bypassed the airport. She brought the plane closer to the shores of Basco. The plane was only 500 feet above the ground, giving Roderich the best opportunity to shoot.
Ebony cliffs hung over the white waves of the sapphire sea. The hills were high and green, an untouched paradise in a world where grass turned into concrete and asphalt. A few cows wandered here and there. A whitewashed lighthouse stood with the vigilance of a lone guard. It wasn't really alone. The ruins of an Ivatan house perched on a high hill kept the lighthouse company.
"That's just the aerial view, Roderich. Wait until we land." Paulita turned the plane in the direction of Basco Airport. "You are cleared for landing. The SEAIR plane has returned to Manila. Do you read me?"
"Loud and clear."
In a few moments, the Cessna made a smooth touchdown on the asphalt runway.
"This is Batanes."
Lucia rolled around in the emerald grass, bumping into a cow grazing nearby. "Hi, cow!" she stroked its hide. The animal bowed its head towards its new master, displaying its rather impressive horns. "Lucia, you shouldn't be playing with cows." The Austrian said. "Don't worry about her. Animals seem to take a liking to all my children." Paulita said, smiling.
The woman strode to the edge, perched only on the narrow plain which separated two steep slopes which could send her hurtling to her death. Her aviator's clothes did not make her seem less feminine. Her gait and raven hair flying in the wind made up for it. "Come. You will not fall." She assured him as he nervously walked towards her.
The aristocrat took shaky steps. He looked at the sky and saw a magnificent eagle rounding the three of them. Alapaap, perhaps? With the wind mocking him from the east, it was apparent that he would fall, but he managed to grab onto one of the wooden posts on the slope and look into the sea.
So much green… the color burned into his mind. It was as if her eyes were planted all over the island and opened all at the same time. I came to forget, not to remember. He sat down, forlorn-looking and blankly staring into the blue sea. No one truly special to him had blue eyes.
"You remember her eyes, don't you?" "No, of course not. They are not of the same hue. I was looking at the sea, not the hills." Roderich pulled his coat tighter. "Why are you facing the other hill, then?" Paulita asked, smirking. "I was using my peripheral vision, thank you very much. It would be nice to see two things and take in the beauty of both."
Paulita seemed to be satisfied with the answer. Silence reigned until Lucia squealed in delight. The cow apparently decided to take her on a ride through the hills. The woman looked at the sky fondly. It was the brightest blue it had ever been and the sea reflected a more intense hue. She remembered her Cessna and its first flight. She remembered the twinkle in the pilot's eyes. Not even the sky could compare to them. The sea couldn't hold those blue depths.
Roderich cleared his throat with an almost mocking smile. "I see that somebody longs for her lover from the other side of the sea." Paulita blushed instantaneously. "Excuse me! Very well, let's admit it. We're both longing for our lovers from different sides of the world." She said. Roderich was still facing west. She was still facing towards the Pacific.
"Inaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Let's go see those old stone houses and the Honesty Coffee Shop before we head to Cagayan!" Lucia jumped off her bovine friend and bade the animal goodbye.
"And what makes that establishment so honest?" Roderich asked with an eyebrow raised. "Nobody watches over it. You just get what you want, pay for it and write down in the logbook. Only the dog stays there." Lucia said.
Ilocos is dry, warm yet steeped in frugality. Batanes is quaint…like Paulita.
Both of the nations stood up and brushed the grass from their clothes and started walking back to the trail which led down the rolling hills.
After feasting with the locals and visiting the famous unmanned café, they were in the skies again, this time, off to Cagayan.
"Tuguegarao, am I cleared for landing? I repeat, Tuguegarao, am I cleared for landing?" Paulita asked. "We detected a private airplane. Landing, are you the last transmitter?" the tower operators asked. "Yes." "You are cleared for landing. Do you copy?" "Yes."
The plane descended.
"By the way, Roderich, get ready. Tuguegarao is the warmest place in this country." The aristocrat removed the thin jacket he wore in the windy islands of Batanes. He took out a hat and slathered sunscreen, just as the lady told him. Lucia, on the other hand, was nonchalantly looking for shapes in the clouds.
Roderich always wondered how Paulita made any trip (whether on land, water or air) seem like a whirlwind. This time, she had asked one of her countrymen to bring them (via jeepney) to the site. Probably it was his excitement to finally see a cavern near the sea.
Just as he seemed to be easing into the bumpy roads and the thick forests on either side of the asphalt, Paulita announced their arrival. She paid the driver a considerable amount and thanked him.
Lucia shot out of the car like a firecracker. "Where are you going, dear?" Paulita asked, immediately catching her daughter by the shoulder. "Inay, don't tell me we're going to wait for Alapaap before Kuya Roddy and I enter the cave!" she pouted.
"Lucia, I have things to settle in the town. As much as I trust you and your few hundred years of experience on Earth, things can be dangerous. It is best if you have a messenger." Lucia promptly huffed. "Alright." she said. Just as immediately, the eagle swooped down and landed on a nearby rock.
"At your service," Alapaap said. "Alapaap, do guide my guest and my child in the Callao caves. I shall see both of you at the banks of the Pinacanauan River.
"Come on, Kuya Roddy! We have to climb up one hundred eighty-four steps before getting there. And pack up your water and extra clothes! We're going boating and swimming!"
Austria glowered in disbelief. "One hundred eighty-four? Are you mad, Lucia—ahhh!" he was tugged by a small hand up the steps. It was like the constant struggle in the skies. Adventure was calling him in the form of Lucia yet his fear of the unexplored held him back. Just like Day, adventure won him over and forced him to climb up the stairs.
"Lucia del Pilar-Bonifacio, if this cave is anything short of majestic, I will ask—"
There were few things which made Roderich Edelstein slack-jawed, but the Philippines had brought out that hidden side of him. After all, whose jaw wouldn't drop at the huge limestone walls and an enormous skylight which turned the chamber into a natural cathedral?
Pews had been installed by the locals, but the buttresses, the walls, and what seemed to be a pulpit were all carved by glorious rock.
A scrawny child was kneeling in one of the pews, the sole recipient of the golden rays of the sun. The child's eyes were shut in prayer. Lucia had wandered the place with Alapaap standing on one protrusion of rock. Roderich nodded at the eagle, a silent plea to protect the girl. For now, he was intrigued by this child.
The aristocrat knelt beside the girl, looking at the 'cathedral' altar. I will not lie. I love her still and I want her to be with me once again. And grant whatever this child beside me wants.
He looked over and glanced at the girl, who was still fervently clutching onto her rosary beads. Under the sunlight, she was blinding in a white frock stained by age and poverty. She did the sign of the cross, sat on the pew and opened her eyes.
She looked at the man. With his pale skin, kempt hair the same color as chocolate…and were those eyes violet? Maybe it was one of those weird colored plastic things teenagers liked putting in their eyes. No, those violet eyes were real. He was wearing eyeglasses. Would he need those plastic domes?
He's a prince...like in Mama's storybooks. No, he's an angel. I'll marry a man like him someday.
She was distracted when he sat down on the pews, still with the sun giving him a heavenly glow.
"Hello po!" she said, putting on her best smile for the foreigner. Roderich faced her, with an uneasy smile, afraid that she would be intimidated. "Hello. What brings you into this cave?" he asked. "My Mama will give birth to her sixth child. I wish it would be a girl. If it's a boy, he'll be as mean as my older brothers. I want her to come out safely." She beamed up at him.
Six children! How could they support such a family? "If you don't mind my asking, what is your father's job?" "Tatay plants rice and vegetables. The harvest wasn't good this year, though. Mama takes care of chickens." She said. Roderich couldn't help but feel some pity on the girl. Gilberto and his grandmother had shown him the life of a Filipino farmer. Two could barely make ends meet, how much more would farmers with six children?
"Here, take this." He held out one of the bills he had exchanged while they were in Pangasinan. The sight of two yellow bills made the child's brown eyes swell into the size of saucers. It was probably the highest denomination of money she had ever seen in her life. She took it shyly, not taking her eyes away from the beautiful purple eyes of the man in front of her.
"Thank you." She said, before sobbing into Roderich's shirt. "Mister, you're rich. You won't understand how much this means to me…but thank you." He had no choice but to wait for the child to stop crying.
"I'll see you again, Mister. I'll be older and I'll repay you with more 500-peso bills than you can ever imagine!" she ran off to the mouth of the cave, but not without looking back and waving to him.
You don't have to pay me…but I'll ask Paulita about you, Angela Calayag.
"Kuya Roddy! Hurry up! Look at this formation, it looks like an angel!" Lucia called out in wonder. Alapaap shook his head. The young mistress was bubbling with energy. "It would be best if we entertain the impatient child." Roderich nodded his head.
"You are a good man, Master Edelstein." The eagle said, bowing to the aristocratic nation. "You saw?" he almost forgot the eagle's presence. "Yes, and it makes me glad that you are willing to help a complete stranger."
"Alapaap, you're so slow! Next time, I'll ask Inay to make Tito Yao my guardian during trips!"
"Don't trouble your uncle! He has been here much longer than you and he might not be able to keep up with you and your carousing!"
Lucia made them chase her through all seven chambers of Callao. They ended up in a jungle, where the aristocrat tried not to show panic in spite of his poor navigational skills. Alapaap guided him, though. The eagle had spent many years chasing Lucia out of the forest when she was enjoying herself too much. They crossed a river with the help of the local boys, who were all too eager to make him ride a bamboo raft.
Of course, it wasn't everyday that these boys saw a foreigner accompanied by a Philippine monkey-eating eagle trying to catch up with energetic little Lucia, who was known in these parts as the child who never aged and represented the island of Luzon.
It was also a wonder how Roderich was able to protect his camera from rocks, water, naughty local boys, eagles, a hyperactive island personification and jungles and still get beautiful shots.
At the foot of the caves, they found the island's personification, tiredly soaking her feet in the Pinacanauan River, a tributary of the Cagayan River. "Inay said she'd meet us here. What's taking her so long?" Lucia pouted.
The skies turned into lovely shades of red and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon. The battle between Day and Night had started again.
"Kuya Roddy, I'll tell you another secret." She said, scooting closer to the man who was taking pictures of rock silhouettes and dusty skies. "I'm listening, Lucia." He said, putting down the camera. "I'm afraid of the dark. If Inay doesn't come here by nightfall…"
"We have Alapaap to guide us. And I'm sure your mother is worried sick about you. After all your exploits, I'm sure she wants to give you a bath and scold you if you have any gashes. How could she forget you, her daughter who looks exactly like her?" Roderich said, patting the girl's head.
Lucia broke into a smile. "Aw, shucks. You're the best kuya ever. But don't tell Harun I said that. He'll make sumbong to Inay." She enveloped Roderich into a hug, almost strangling him.
"Don't worry, Lucia, I won't tell Harun."
At the sound of a familiar voice, Lucia separated herself from Roderich and ran up to her mother. "Inay! I missed you soooo much. I thought you forgot about us. I had so much fun making them chase me in the caves. Alapaap was so slow and Kuya Roddy was praying like a saint." She babbled, jumping into the older woman's arms.
"Alapaap, thank you for putting up with my daughter. Let's get you cleaned up, Lucia. You have algae on your clothes. Come, Roderich, we'll stay at an inn tonight before we fly to Benguet tomorrow morning. I hope the heat was not too much for you." She said, rather worried.
The midday sun was a form of torture that these citizens had to endure almost every day. The moisture of the cave spared him but upon leaving, he was a sticky, sweaty mess and the cool, running waters of the river were a welcome option.
"I am not used to this weather, but I am alright. Please do not worry about me. Going to that inn is a good idea. Look at Lucia, though. She was babbling one moment and now she's fast asleep in your arms." He said, smiling at the bundle in Paulita's arms.
Paulita merely gave a nod as she glanced down at her snoozing Lucia, whose head was pressed firmly on her breast. "Let's get some rest now, shall we?" she offered. Roderich followed suit. Alapaap stayed in the jungle and promised to see them in their next destination.
As they traveled towards one of the inns surrounding the caves, the sunset somehow slowed down, as if waiting for them to reach sanctuary before dark. Before long, Night had won the battle again, and it was a tapestry of black silk and diamonds which painted the sky once more.
I hope I got the Air Traffic Controller and pilot thing right. I had fun making Paulita a pilot. Also, please check out the NATO military alphabet. You'll understand this chapter better that way.
XD After so many distractions, I'm done with this chapter! I'm excited for the Cordilleras. Roddy will attend a traditional Ifugao wedding feast!
Thank you for the reviews. You guys are really kind.