Chapter 5
Something to Fight For
It's now midday. Mahriana fixed me breakfast earlier this morning: honey on flatbread with slices of mango on the side (I guess these people really love mango). I remember her little brother Joachim sitting across from me at the table, uneasy eating in my presence. Who could blame him? I did kill his parents. Poor kid. But now he's leading me by the hand down a dusty street.
Before we left earlier today, Mahriana dressed me in some of her father's clothes. Now, not in uniform, I completely blend in with the crowd. She explained to her brother what I wanted to do today before I had to return to the base. He was surprised but I still don't think it was enough to get him to like me.
"Hey, Joachim! Slow down! I can't keep up."
"We have to hurry if you're serious about this. We're late as it is."
Just then I feel Joachim stop. He falls back into my arms. I look up and see a Yuktobanian soldier. I look at his face and see that it's the same soldier from before: the one who roughed me up in the alley yesterday. I can feel my side ache at the sight of him.
"Hey kid watch where you're going!" He raises the butt of his rifle about to bring it down on Joachim's head. "You little piece of…"
"It was just an accident sir," I say to him. "Look we're in a rush. He's just a kid who wasn't looking where he was going. Please just let us pass."
The soldier looks at my face, studying it closely. He seems fixated on the shiner he gave me on my forehead. Crap. He recognizes me.
"Whatever. Just keep your little friend in line and there won't be any trouble. You get me?"
"Oh yes of course." Thank God.
The squad of soldiers continues on its way and I pick up Joachim and bring him to his feet. I would expect a thank you but with this kid, I know I won't be getting one.
"Come on, we're really late now." He slowed down his pace just a little bit.
We continued past a few street vendors that Joachim respectfully turned away. We were now far from the heart of the city, approaching the outskirts when Joachim led me down an alley behind a seedy looking bar. Leaning against the rear wall of the establishment were two men, one tall and lanky, dark skinned with a noticeable 5 o'clock shadow; the other short and portly but clean shaven. They would have been perfect as a comedy duo.
Joachim exchanges words with the men, words I don't comprehend considering my minimal grasp of their language. The tall one points at me, a look of aggravation on his face, but the fat one motions for me to come forward. He then grabs my right arm and presses me against the wall and starts frisking me. When he's satisfied that I'm not carrying any bombs or weapons, he lets me go. I can see the tall one kicking some dirt around on the ground. From under the sand he pulls on a latch which opens a door leading into the basement of the building. Joachim descends into the dark hallway and takes my hand pulling me with him down the rabbit hole.
The descent wasn't too far and we were eventually in a corridor lit by small construction lamps, men armed with rifles were standing at either side of the hall. Their weapons were woefully outdated, some of them armed with bolt-action rifles from the earlier 20th century. How in the hell did they stand any chance against the combined might of the Osean and Yuktobanian militaries?
The hall opened into a large room with several old men standing around a large table. On it was a map of the town, red pins scattered across the paper. I ponder what these could possibly be for, but I don't have much time to think as I am grabbed on each arm by two large men and taken away from Joachim. He waves goodbye to me: certainly a good sign.
I find myself in a dark room, unlit save for a naked bulb hanging from the ceiling. I am put in a chair and see one of the old men from the other room walk in. He stands over me, a cigarette in his mouth and crumbs of bread in his large gray beard. He puffs smoke in my face and speaks to me in a very heavy accent.
"What the hell are you doing here!?"
"I'm here to help."
"I hear from the boy that you've helped enough. You were the one responsible for the bombing of the shelter the other day?"
"Yes sir I am."
"Oh so the boy has respect for his elders. That's good. You'll see that will take you far in our culture. However, you will also find that respect and trust must be earned, and so far I don't feel you have done anything warranting my trust."
"Sir, I don't want to see this war go on anymore."
"Why? Miss your home? Wanna go see your precious Osean sweetheart again? I won't endorse you just because you want to go home."
"No sir, that's not why. You might not believe it, but I care about what happens to the people here. I don't want things like what I did that night to keep ruining the lives of the people of Rhaz Ma'en." The old man was taken aback by my words.
"Normally such a plea wouldn't faze me but I'm surprised: you called this place Rhaz Ma'en and not New Glubina. Either you've been studying our culture or you hate the Yuke occupation as much as we do."
"Believe me sir, I care about what happens to this place. I care about the people and I don't want to see them suffer anymore."
"You mean you don't want to see Mahriana suffer anymore." This time I'm taken aback. "Oh the boy called me early this morning and told me all about it. He knows how you feel about his sister and he's a little less than happy. Though, I think you're growing on him." I begin to relax a feel a little more relieved as I can observe the man's manner softening.
"That doesn't mean you have my complete faith. You must do something for us before we can trust you, and also before we can put your particular skills to work."
"My skills, sir?"
"You're a pilot aren't you? That would come in handy for us. You've seen the weapons we use, the tactics we resort to. A top of the line jet fighter would be a great asset to us."
"How am I supposed to acquire a jet for your purposes?"
"You'll have to figure that out. What I can do is bring you in the next room and give you the coordinates of a friendly airport, one of the few left in Romnian hands. I'll give you a number that you can call from your airbase in order to coordinate plans. When do you return there?"
"Tomorrow morning sir."
"Call this number from your base as soon as you have time tomorrow." He hands me a small slip of paper which I place in my pocket. "It's important that you establish a line of communication with us as soon as possible. Now get out of here and take that boy with you. He's trustworthy but I can't deny that he's a bit of a nuisance sometimes."
"Yes sir!" The old man opens the door and lets me out. I grab Joachim's hand and lead him through the corridor and up the stairs. We were back in the alley and bid farewell to the two "guards" outside. This time they smile at me and we continue on our way back home.
Back at Joachim and Mahriana's house, I prepare for my return back to base tomorrow. I let Mahriana know that I am now involved with liberating this place, but I can't let her know in what capacity.
"What time do you leave tomorrow?"
"The truck picking me up will be passing through the market at 1000."
"Do you know when you'll return?"
"To be honest, I don't know if I ever will."
"Don't say that!" She grabs onto me and it feels like she'll never let go. "Never say that. I will see you again, right?"
"Sure." I feel the need to reassure her or she may never let me leave and accomplish my new mission.
She gets up to put Joachim to bed and I lie back on the couch and try to sleep. I can't. But just then, I hear footsteps in the darkness.
"You will come back won't you?" I feel Mahriana lie down next to me and we hold each other in an embrace sweeter than any I have ever felt. We hold on tighter and tighter and consummate our relationship in the darkness of the room.