Haros makasunog hin panit an kapaso han adlaw dida hadto nga ligas.  Makikita ha mga gurugudti nga tanom an panruydoy han mga dahon nga baga hin gindangdang ha kalayo.  Waray bisan usa nga dampog nga nagpapasipara ha pagtahub han kapintas han adlaw samtang nalutaw ha maasul nga kalangitan.  Amo tingali nga bisan an katamsihan nanago ha mga kahudluman.

 Dida han gutiay nga linaw  han nagtitikahubas nga sapa dara han kawaray uran-uran, mababati an tigapsaw han nagkikinataktak nga mga bunga hin tikalaya nga puno hin urukay; tigapsaw nga amo la an nakakaaringasa han mamingaw nga kapaligiran.

 Peru an kapintas han adlaw diri sadang makatupong han kahapdos ha surok-surok nga gin-aabat ni Cardo tungod han grabe nga gutom samtang hiya nalingkod ha sirong hin usa nga kahoy ha ligid han sapa.  Ginpipirit niya nga mahingalimtan an gutom bisan la ha madaliay para la makapaminsar hin maupay.  Oo gad, yana naiilub pa niya an gutom peru maaram hiya nga ha dayuday, diri na niya makakaya sugad han gin-aabat han iya asawa ngan mga anak nga hadto nga takna, nakadto han ira payag ha pungkay han bulod.

 Daku nga pakiana an nag-uukay han iya panhuna-huna: mag-aano dawla kami yana?  Karuyag niya hin baton hini, baton nga gin-aapura han iya nangangadal nga mga kamot ngan maghagkot nga balhas nga nakahumoy ha likuran nga parte han iya kamisita nga labot nga gisi-gisi, nag-iiritum na pa gud pareho han iya panit nga marumanghud la an kamaitum han iya aarutan nga buhok.

 Usa nga banog in tigda nga suminggit samtang naglilinupad-lupad ha igbaw nga baga hin nareklamo han kapaso ngan kadiri paghuyop han hangin.  Nakuha hadto nga huni an pansin ni Cardo nga tigda lumingi ngadto ha may bulod nga dapit diin nakadto an ira payag.  Nakita  niya an mga laya nga dahon hin kugon nga iya ginharas dida han bulod para tamnan hin bilanghoy peru waray niya padayuna dara han kahulop nga diri gud bubuhion bisan ano pa man an igtanum.  Nagplano nala hiya pangutang para han ira makakaon dida han maubos an ira mga dara nga balon ma-duha na ka adlaw an nakalabay, peru hagrayo an ira mga kaamyaw.  Ngan usa pa, waray niya kilala bisan usa dida hito nga lugar.  Magduduha pala hira ka-semana tikang hira kumada hito nga waray mag-ektarya nga tuna han iya sangkay nga maiha na nga nag-iistar ha Catbalogan, Samar tungod hin pira nga negosyo. 

 Waray na hi Cardo iba nga nahunahunaan pa.  Bug-os na an iya disisyon han pagbalik niya ngadto han ira payag.  Bisan kon ano pa it mahitabu pinsar niya, titindugan niya an iya nagin plano.

 “Mabalik kita ngadto, Menang, bahala na,”  marig-on nga siring ni Cardo, dungan hubo han iya mahulos nga kamisita para ipalaypay ha tukod han bintana.

 “Inaano ka ngani nga tawo ka,” dayon baton han natigdaan ngan nahipausa nga asawa.  :Nag-uungara ka nga manhibalyo it aton mga kinabuhi?”

 Baga hin waray nahibatian hi Cardo kan Menang.  “Timaha an mga importante nga aton darad-on.  Babalikon ko nala it diri ta madara yana.”  Waray na ginyakan nga iba pa hi Cardo, nagtikang hiya panulod han ira mga butang ha sako.

 Sugad-sugad hin nahiulian hin gutom hi Menang samtang an iya nandagku nga mga mata nagsisinunod-sunod han iya asawa.  Waray hiya makabuhat tikang han iya pinupuruk-an labis na nga kinugos niya an ira minasus-an.  Diri ma-itago ha iya namumusay nga bayhon an kabaraka bisan kon natatahuban han iya natatabakay nga buhok.  Naabat ni Cardo an kan Menang pagkagupong ngan pagruhaduha tungod tingali nga maaram hiya kon ano nga klase an situwasyon nga ira kakadtuan.  Nagkaada hiya hin pagtan-aw kon ano it mahitatabu ha ira.  Peru maano pa man, waray hiya mahihimo ha pagpugong han iya determinado nga asawa labi kay hiya an ulo han pamilya.

 Pira ka minuto an naglabay nga waray hira iruisturya ha kada tagsa samtang nagpipinanima, peru an ira mga huna-huna ha panguna ni Cardo ngadto-ngadi an pagpinaminsar kon ano ba an maupay nga angay himoon.

 Ha pag-apura, nahibuhian ni Menang an takop han kaldero; matunog an harangkaul ha salug.  Bumungkaras tikang ha pagkaturog hi Junior.  “Nanay, makaon ako, magutom na hin duro,” nagtatangis nga hangyo han bata.  Mag-uupat pala an iya edad, peru sugad han obserbasyon ni Cardo, baltok ini nga bata.

 “Oo sige, mangangaon gad kita,” palibang nga baton ni Menang.  “Peru dida nala hit pag-abot ta ha balay ha?  Buutan man ikaw, natuod dayon.  Pukawa lugod hi iday sige na kay mangunguli kita yana.”

 “Kay ano man liwat nga pagkinalakat ta nganhi?”  pakiana ni Junior nga may sakot nga kasina.  “Damo lugod an mga pagkaon ta didto ha balay, nagkinanhi kita.”

 Waray makabaton hi Menang; pumasangil nala hiya pamutos han iba pa nga darad-on.  Samtang, nanmaso an talinga ni Cardo han pakabati.  Tama hi Junior.  Talawan la it angay mamatay hin gutom tungod la ha pag-iwas hin sitwasyon nga puwede man masugpo kon aatubangon hin kaisug ngan tama nga rason.

 Mga alas tres na han kulop han tikangan nira pagbaktas adto nga maabut utso-kilometros nga kaharayo hin dalan.  Mabug-at hin duro an sininanglay nga dara ni Cardo.  Diri hiya puwede maglinaksi kay hibabayaan hi Menang nga nag-aawis han ira minasus-an samtang nag-aagbay kan Iday kasunod ni Junior.  Mapaso la gihapon an adlaw, salamat nala kay may pira nga kahoy ha tagliligid an nakakahudlom han ira pagsagka-lusad han mga bulod nga gin-aagian.

 Haros matunod na an adlaw han abuton nira an kahagnaan nga gintatamdan han mga bukid nga kon diin nakikita an ira umhanan nga labut nga halu-ag, damo pa gud an mga tanom nga puwede makuhaan hin pagkaon ha ano man nga oras; mga tanom nga diri naabat han huraw kay ginpapahagkot han madakmol nga kagugub-an didto han iru-igbaw.  Ha wala nga parte han ira uma, nakada liwat an haluag nga kalubian nga pinananum ni Cardo pira na ka tuig an nakalabay.

 “Hayy, nakaabot gihapon kita,” paginhawa hin halawig nga siring ni Cardo han mahibutang an dara ha balkon han ira balay nga may tunga hin kilometro tikang han ira umhanan ha iru-igbaw.  Daku an ira balay.  Bisan kon hinimo tikang  hin kabugawan ngan inatupan hin anahaw, maupay nga puruy-an kay napapalibutan hin mga kahoy nga prutas ngan hin kasagingan.

 “Hala Menang, tipiga nala ini nga mga dara, madali-dali ako pagkadi ha uma panguha hin hikaraon para hit aton tigab-ihon.”  Kumuha hin bulo hi Cardo ngan iginsulod han alat ha iya likuran.  Medyo masighot na an iya gintarap nga dalan.

 Didto han ira uma, nabuhi an paglaum ni Cardo han makita an iya produktibo gna mga tanum sugad han mga bungaan nga saging, unuran nga mga gaway, magrabong nga kamote, ngan berde nga mga utanon ug damo pa nga iba.  Umandar na liwat an iya pagpinaminsar samtang nangunguha hiya hin hikaraon.  Kay ano nga kinahanglan niya bayaan an iya mga tanum?  Ginbabasol niya an iya kapobrehan ngan kawaray aram.  Nakabati na hiya han programa ha ilarum han Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program han gobyerno peru diri hiya maaram kon ano an iya angay himuon sugad nga usa nga saop ngan waray liwat hiya sadang mapakianhan kon paonan-o makatagamtam han nasabi nga programa.

 Masirum-sirum na salit waray makabantay hi Cardo nga tikang han iya talikuran, ha may mga saging dapit, tigda nga may humugot hin sundang ngan tigbason hiya ha talikuran.  Nagpanhangin an parte nga dapit han iya li-og, maupay nala kay nakahimo hiya hin pagkaub.

 “Hino an nasiring nga magkabalik kamo nganhi nga kamanampan kamo?”  nagngingidut nga pakiana han nagsisibu han waray nahimo nga hi Cardo.

 Dumalagan hi Cardo hin pas-pas, diri tungod  han kahadluk sumala han iya pag-inu-inu, kundi tungod han pagpaubos ngan pagtan-aw han hingangadtuan han iya pamilya kon maungay la hiya.  Waray makaabut an nagsibo ha iya salit, bisan kon waray dayon hiya sumaka ha ira balay, nakauli gihapon hiya nga libre.

 Ha ira balay, pagkatapos nira mangaon han iya nadara nga saging, hi Cardo in waray hingangaturog dida hadto nga gabi.  Waray naman la hiya aabat han iya mga kapagalan.  Gindidinumdum niya an nahitabu—mahagkot nga minatay na unta hiya kon waray pa hiya tabangi han makagarahum.  Kilala niya an boses hadto nga tawo bisan kon waray hiya makakita han nawong dara hin kawaray na panahon paglingi.  Boses adto han tag-iya han tuna—hi Man Tonio.

 “Cardo, inaano ka ngani nga tawo ka?  Kanina ka pa waray aru-aringasa,” pakiana ni Menang nga bisan kon nahigda na, kanina pa nagkikinita-kita  kan Cardo samtang nalingkod ha may bintana ngan nagkikinita han kasisidman ha gawas.  “Katurog na didi kay kagugu-ol nimo,” dugang pa ni Menang.

 “Pag-una nala, diri pa ako pinipiraw,” hinay-hinay nga baton ni Cardo dungan dagpi han namok ha iya tu-o nga bayhon.  Waray niya sumati hi Menang han nahitabu bisan kon maaram na ini han tarhug ha ira han tag-iya han tuna nga pamamatayon hira kon diri hira mangiwas dida hito nga lugar.  Gutiay nala matuman adto nga ira hulga hadto nga takna, ngan diri hira mahunong Samtang aada pa hira Cardo hito nga ira tuna.

 Pirit nga gindudumdum ni Cardo kon ano ba an ira sala kay baman, nahatag man hira han ngatanan nga parte han ira mga produkto ngadto han tag-iya han tuna.  Sabagay, nabatasanan na niya an pagpinananum hin mga kahoy nga prutas harani han iya balay, an pagpinananum hin lubi ngan pagpinanhawan hini.  Asya ba ini an iya mga sala nga kon huhuna-hunaon, asya man ini an siring han tag-iya ha siyahan pala nira nga pagkada?

 Tigda nga nahinumdum hi Cardo kan Oscar, an suhag nga anak ni Man Tonio.  Han nakadto pa hi Oscar ha Manila, diri sugad an pagdara ha ira han tigurang.  Peru han pag-istar na ni Oscar dida hito nga lugar kahuman kaputo han iya mga negosyo, nagin arogante na hi Man Tonio han ira nag-uusaan nga saop, hi Cardo.

 Samtang nagliliningkuron, nakahuna-huna hi Cardo hin usa nga plano.  Tama, kakadtuun niya hi Oscar pagkabuwas; iya sasangkayon hin maupay, pakikiinuman, ngan dadad-an hin matambok nga manok.  Ha bug-os nga pagpa-ubos ngan pakimalu-oy, iya hihimu-on an ngatanan para la hira diri pagkinuntrahon.  Ha iya huna-huna, hi Oscar gudla an susi hini ngatanan.

 Nakahiyum hiya nga bumuhat tikang han iya linilingkuran ngan malipayon nga ginsumatan niya han iya plano hi Menang nga waray pa gihapon hingangaturog.  Nakada ha bayhon ni Cardo an paglaum, an kasiguruhan nga magbubunga an iya plano hin maupay.  Nakahigda hira nga nag-isturya nga bisan kon gudtiay an ira mga boses agud diri madisturbo an nangangaturog nga mga bata, nakada an pagrayhak ngan kalipay.  Nasundan ini hin maupay nga pangaturog.

 Kinabuwasan, han tilakat na hi Cardo mga alas-nueve an oras, waray nahimo hi Menang kon diri ipadara an ugang nga pinaurahan ni Junior kay total, siring pa niya, diri man ito karag.  Ha kamatuuran ngani, humanga hiya han naplano han iya asawa;  resulta gudman liwat hin maiha nga pagpinaminsar.

 “Maupay, maupay nga aga,” naghumatag hi Cardo ha balay ni Oscar. 

 Umabre an portahan.  “Oy, Man Cardo, ikaw man ngayan.  Kadi na, uswag,” baton ni Oscar nga ha pagkita ni Cardo, tigda la nga namusag.  “Ano unta it aton?” pakiana ni Oscar nga may pagduda ha nawong ngan ha boses samtang nasenyas an kamot pagpalingkod han iya bisita ha sala.

 “Pagpasyada gadla it akon; baga nahihidlaw la ako hit inum salit aadi, nagdara ako hin tuba ngan ihawon nga manok,” hinayhinay nga baton ni Cardo ha iya pakalingkod.  “Nahuhubya man liwat ako pag-ininum nga usa la didto ha balay, amo nga ikaw an akon nahinumduman.  Waray ka man ada yana karadtu-on?”

 “Ah, baga waray gad.”  Ikmat an mga mata ni Oscar, ngadto-ngadi an pangita samtang natukdaw hin apartar tikang kan Cardo.

 “Maupay gudman it sugad ha imo nga waray asawa kay libre,” nag-intrimis hi Cardo.

 Dagmit nga naminsar hi Oscar, pinanlupo an iya mga karamoy.  “Kakadtu-on ko lugud anay hi Roger kay basi mayda gihapon kita kaatubang; duduha-duha manla kita hini.”

 Waray dayon makabaton hi Cardo pagbati han ngaran ni Roger, an parapangawat han iya mga tanum ngan kamanukan.  Kahuman hin madaliay nga paminsar, hinay-hinay hiya nga bumaton:  “Kay ambot gadla ha imo.  Ayaw la kamo pag-iniha gud.”

 Naabat ni Cardo nga may iginhatag nga kahulugan hi Oscar han iya katigdai ngan pag-alang-alang pagbaton.  Ngan sugad han kan Oscar kamatinik hin mga plano, baga maaram na ini kon ano an iya sadang himu-on.

 Nag-usaan hi Cardo dida han haros mapuno hin mga sako hin humay nga balay ni Oscar han lumakat ini.  Sige gihapon an iya pagpinanhuna-huna hin mag-upay nga mga butang nga iya ig-iisturya kan Oscar, bisan pa kon kumada an nakakapuling han iya mga mata—hi Roger, nga labut hin kamakawat, kilala pa gud nga matigas ha ira lugar.

 Ha luyo nga bahin, malipayon nga nagpinanlimpiyo hi Menang han ira balay ngan libong.  Pinangarigusan liwat niya an mga bata para waray mahisiring hi Cardo pag-uli.  Diri na mag-iiha, mga oras nala an huhulaton, masusulbar na an gidadakui nira nga problema nga gin-aatubang.  Amo ini an nakada pirmi ha huna-huna ni Menang samtang nag-aandam han pinakamarasa nga iklopon.  Nagsaad hi Cardo nga mag-uurusa hira hin pangiklop para magsilibrar, ha daku nga kalipay, han ira kadaugan.

 An kaagahon ginsaliwanan han kakurulpon, ngan an kakurulpon ginpirdi han kasirum.

 “Nanay, gab-I naman waray pa man hi Tatay, hain hiya?” paki-ana han nahipapausa nga hi Junior.  Nabatasanan na hini an pagpinaki-uyag han iya tatay labis na kon gab-I antis mangaturog.

 “Maabut na adto, dina mag-iiha kay ma alas-utso na ada yana,” nakakaaghat nga baton ni Menang.  “Pag-una nala lugod kamo panga-on, ako nala it mahulat kan imo Tatay.”

 Umabot an katutnga, waray la gihapon hi Cardo.  Mamingaw ngan masirum hin duro an kagab-ihon.  Sige an hiling-hiling ni Menang dida han luho han ira bintana.  Nagtikakusog an putok han iya kasingkasing samtang sige an kataktak han tun-og ha mga dahon han saging ha ligid han ira balay dara han huyog han mahagkot nga hangin.

Tigda hiya nga nakaginhawa hin halawig ngan nabuhian hin paglaumhan mag-usig an ira magasa ngan katulon nga ayam didto han ira sirong.  Gindagkutan niya an suga nga maiha na nga iya ginkikinaputan para siwakan an nagsasagka tipakada han ira balay nga maaram hiya nga an iya na asawa.

 “Mana Menang!”  naghahangos nga sangpit hin bata nga lalaki.

 Nagsu-ot an dughan ni Menang han pakabati nga diri an iya higugma-on nga asawa an umabot.  Matutumba unta hiya kon waray hiya makakapot dida han harigi.  “Diyos ko, ano an nahitabu?  Hain man hi Cardo?  Kay ano nga waray hiya?”  Nagpapakatangis ha kabaraka hi Menang.

 Grabe an hangos han bata tikang ha pagdinalagan hin maabut usa ka kilometro nga kahirayu-on.  Makikita ha iya bayhon an gulpi nga kahadluk nga daw sugad hin nakakita hin aswang.

 Nagkakalisang nga gintapo ni Menang an bata ha may bungsuran.

 “Mana Menang,” nagkakautod-utod an yakan han bata, “hi Man Cardo…aadto kanda Mano Oscar, gintigbas ni Roger, yana pala.”

 “Ano?”  guliat nga pakiana ni Menang.  “Agi daw, Ginoo ko, Cardooo!  Inano dawla an akon asawa, waray man ada sala?”  Nagngunguynguy nga gintakpo ni Menang na iya baba han iya nangangadal nga mga kamot.

 “Ambot kay waray naman adto makabuhat, patay na ada,” dugang nga baton han bata nga waray hiuulii han pamusay.

 Nagtirok hi Menang hin kusog, pinanmahid an luha dungan kapot ha sugbong han bata.  “Intoy, pabilina anay ako dinhi ha balay, bantayi anay it kabataan kay kakadtu-on ko.”

 Dumalagan dayon hi Menang tipaubos, tipakadto han balay nira Oscar.  An iya busag nga saya ngan halaba nga buhok iginpapalid han hangin samtang hiya ginkakaon han kasirum.  Haros hiya mawarayan hin bu-ot han gintatarap niya an kaitum han kagab-ihon.  Nakada an iya paghipakulob-kulob nga daw haros nala hiya magkamang ha dalan.  Waray iba ha iya huna-huna kon diri an hinigugma nga asawa ngan han dinangatan hini ha luyo han kawaray sala.

 Ha iya pagdagmit, tigda hiya nga natumba dara hin paghisalaki han iya wala nga tiil.  Tumama an iya ulo dida han matig-a peru mahagkot nga tuna.  Nalipngaw hiya, waray dayon makabuhat.  Samtang nakakulob, inagihan hiya hin mataghum nga hangin nga daw sugad hin nagpapamatu-od hin usa nga kamatuuran, masakit nga kamatuuran:  binawian na an iya asawa han iya huram nga kinabuhi.

 Nawarayan na hi Menang hin kusog ha pagbuhat.  Waray na nababati nga bakho ha iya mga im-im.  Kon may mensahe man nga iginguguli-at han iya dughan, masasabtan nala ini pinaagi han iya masulog nga mga luha nga nagpadugang hin kasirum han iya pagkita.

 Samtang nga nakadukot an iya bayhon ha tuna, nasimhot niya an utbo hini; utbo nga nagpahinumdum ha iya hin usa nga butang nga kon diri tungod hini, diri unta nasugad an ira mga kinabuhi.
 
 

 The sun’s heat could burn one’s skin in that early afternoon.  It could be seen from the smaller plants the drooping of the leaves as though they have been exposed to the fire.  Not a cloud dared to cover the sun’s glare as it floated in the blue sky.  That was perhaps why even the birds hid themselves under the shades.

 From a brook that was drying due to the absence of rain, tiny splashes caused by the falling urukay fruits could be heard as the only source of sound that occasionally stirred the moment’s stillness.

 But the fierce sunlight was nothing compared to the sting of hunger that Cardo felt while he was seated under a tree at the brook’s side.  He was trying to dismiss his hunger even just for a moment so he could think very well.  Yes indeed, presently he can still bear this hunger but he knew that in the long run, he no longer could just like what his wife and their children were experiencing at the moment there in the hut standing on top of the hill.

 A big question plagued his mind: what are we to do now?  He wanted an answer to this, an answer that was being hastened by his trembling hands and cold perspiration that had already soaked the back portion of his shirt which, aside from being torn all over, had already darkened just like his skin that only paled a little bit against his long hair.

 An eagle uttered a sudden cry while on its wings in a seeming complaint against the absence of a breeze.  That sound caught the attention of Cardo who then turned a worried look upon the hill where their hut stood.  He caught sight of the dried cogon leaves on the hillside that he had cleared so it could be planted to cassava but he abandoned it knowing that no plant will ever grow there.  He just resolved to borrow some amount when their food supply ran out two days ago, but their neighbors were too far.  Besides, he knew no one in that place.  It was just their second week since they came to that less-than-a-hectare land owned by a friend based in Catbalogan , Samar for certain businesses.

 Cardo could think of no other recourse.  His mind was made up when he went back to their hut.  No matter what happens according to him, he would pursue his plan.

 “We will go back there, Menang, no matter what,” Cardo said firmly, taking off his damp shirt so he could dry it on the window support stick.

 “What’s the matter with you,” his wife answered, surprised.  “Are you seeking to lose our lives?”

 It seemed as though Cardo heard nothing.  “You prepare our important belongings.  I’ll just come back here for those things that we might fail to bring now.”  He said nothing anymore, he started filling up the sack with stuffs.

 Menang seemingly lost her hunger while her gaze fixed upon her husband.  She could not rise from where she sat, especially that she their baby in her arms.  Terror showed on her pale face though it was a bit concealed by her long hair in wild disorder.  Cardo felt her confusion and hesitation perhaps due to her knowledge about the situation that would confront them.  Nevertheless, she could  do nothing to stop her determined husband, the head of their family.

 Minutes had passed in silence while they were packing up, but their minds led by Cardo were busy thinking about what they should do.

 In their haste, the kettle’s cover accidentally fell off Menang’s hand; its sound was loud on the bamboo floor.  Junior was roused from sleep.  “Nanay, I want to eat, I’m so hungry,” the child said in tears.  He was just turning four, but as Cardo observed, he was a bright boy.

 “Yes of course, we will have to eat,” comforted Menang.  “But just when we get home, huh?  You are a good boy, very obedient.  Try to wake up Iday instead because we will go home now.”

 “Why did we have to come?” asked Junior with anger.  “We have plenty of food back home, yet we still came.”

 “Menang failed to answer back; she just pretended to pick up the rest of their things.  Meanwhile, Cardo’s ears ignited when he heard it.  Junior was right.  Only the coward must die of hunger as a result of avoiding a situation that could actually be suppressed if confronted with courage and reason.

 It was already about three o’ clock in the afternoon when they started to walk down the eight-kilometer stretch of the way.  Cardo baggage was so heavy.  He could not walk fast as Menang, who was carrying the baby while assisting Iday after Junior, would be left behind.  The sun was still hot, thanks to a number of trees that provided them with shades in their ascent and descent of the hills along the way.

 The sun had almost set when they reached the plains fronting the mountains where their farm could be seen, wide and green with crops that could provide them with food anytime; plants that did not feel the drought due to the cool, thick forest nearby.  To the south could be seen the sprawling coconut plantation which Cardo had planted many years ago.

 “Hayy, here we are at last,”  Cardo sighed after putting down his baggage at the porch of their house standing about half a kilometer away from their farm.  Their house was big.  Though it was made of bamboo and roofed with anahaw leaves, it made a good shelter for it was surrounded with fruit trees and clusters of banana.

 “Go ahead, Menang, just attend to our things, I’ll just go to the farm to get something for our supper.”  Cardo took his bolo and placed it in his alat at the back.  Then he started to tread a grassy trail.

 There in their farm, Cardo’s hope was revived when he saw his productive plants like the fruit-laden bananas, huge gabis, growing kamote, green vegetables and many more.  He fell to musing once more as he looked for something to eat.  Why did have to abandon his plants?  He was blaming his poverty and ignorance.  He had heard about the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the government but he did not know what to do as a tenant and he had no one to consult on how to avail of the said program.

 Dusk has fallen so Cardo did not notice that from behind him, from a cluster of bananas, someone unsheathed his bolo and hacked him at the back.  Cardo felt the strong impact of the air on his nape; good that he was able to stoop.

 “Who told you to come back here, you beasts?” asked a furious man who at once pursued Cardo.

 Cardo ran as fast as he could, not for fear as he had it, but out of humility and to avoid what might happen to his family should he engage himself in a fight.  The pursuer did not get him so, even if lingered outside, he was able to reach home at last.

 After they ate the boiled banana, Cardo stayed awake.  He did not seem affected by  tiredness.  He was thinking of what had happened—he should have been dead had it not been for the grace of God.  He knew the voice of the attacker though he failed to see the face for lack of chances.  It was the voice of the landowner—Man Tonio.

 “Cardo, what’s the matter with you?  You have been so silent,”  observed Menang whose eyes, though lying down and poised for sleep, had been glancing at Cardo who was seated by the window feasting his eyes on the darkness outside.  “Go to sleep now for you are dead tired.”

 “Just go ahead, I’m not yet sleepy,” Cardo answered gently, slapping the mosquito on his right cheek.  He did not tell Menang about the incident despite her knowledge about the threat of the landowner to kill them should they not leave that place.  The threat  almost came true that night, and it would not stop so long as they remain there.

 Cardo tried to figure out what their offense was knowing that they always gave a share of their produce to the landowner.  However, he had been customarily planting fruit trees near their house, as well as coconut trees that he always looked after.  Was this his offense when in fact, this was what the landowner urged him to do at first?

 Cardo suddenly remembered Oscar, The eldest son of Man Tonio.  When Oscar was still staying in Manila, Man Tonio treated him so well.  But when Oscar returned to their place after his businesses in the city went bankrupt, Man Tonio started to become arrogant to their lone tenant, to Cardo.

 While sitting down, Cardo came to devise a plan.  That’s right, he would visit Oscar the next morning; he would befriend the young man, drink with him, and offer him a fatted chicken.  In great humility, he will do everything just so they would not be hated.  In his mind, Oscar was the only key to all this.

 He was all smiles when he rose to his feet and was so happy when he shared his plan to Menang who at the moment was still awake.  Hope showed on his face, an assurance that his plan would yield good.  They conversed while lying down, and though their voices were soft so as not to disturb the sleeping kids, they were marked with jubilation.  This was followed by a good sleep.

 The next morning, when Cardo was set to go at around nine, Menang got no recourse but to give away the hen that Junior loved so much anyway, as she said, it was not a waste.  As a matter of fact, she admired the plan of her husband; it really was a result of an extended analysis.

 “Good morning,”  Cardo politely approached Oscar’s house.

 The door opened.  “Oy, Man Cardo, it’s you.  Come on in,”  answered Oscar who, as Cardo observed, suddenly went pale.

 “What is it that we want?”  Oscar asked with a doubting face and voice, his hand signalling Cardo to take a seat in the sala.

 “I came for  no important reason; I just long for a drinking spree that’s why here, I brought along with me this tuba and a chicken to butcher,” Cardo answered slowly after he was seated.  “I did not like to be drinking alone that’s why I remembered you.  Anyway, you are not going anywhere, are you?”

 “Ah, not at all.”  Oscar’s eyes turned vigilant, darting here and there while he stood with marked distance from Cardo.

 “That’s the good thing about being single because you are free,” Cardo tried a joke.

 Oscar mused hastily, cracking his knuckles.  “Perhaps I should fetch Roger first so we can have someone for a companion, there are just two of us.”

 Cardo was dumbstruck upon hearing the name of Roger, the one responsible for stealing his farm products as well as his chickens.  Nevertheless, after a brief hesitation, he answered softly: “It’s up to you.  Just don’t stay so long.”

 Cardo felt that Oscar had given meaning to his jolt and reluctance to answer back.  And as Oscar had been noted for being shrewd in business, Cardo had already sensed what the young man would do.

 Cardo was left alone in Oscar’s house which was almost occupied with sacks of rice when the latter took his leave.  He was still thinking about the nice things that he would share with Oscar even with the presence of the man he hated most—Roger, who was not only noted for his thievery but was also known as a bully in their place.

 Meanwhile, Menang happily spent the morning clearing their house and the yard.  She bathed the children so that Cardo would have no complaint at his return.  It will not take long, just a matter of hours, and the biggest problem they were facing would be resolved.  This is what had occupied her mind while she was preparing for a delicious meal.  Cardo promised that they would be together for their supper to celebrate, in great jubilation, their certain victory.

 The morning was replaced with the afternoon, and the afternoon was conquered by the evening.

 “Nanay, it’s evening already, but Tatay is not yet here, where is he?”  Junior asked in surprise.  It had been his hobby playing with his father at night before going to sleep.

 “He  is coming, it won’t be long because it’s now going on nine, I guess,” Menang sounded comforting.  “You just eat ahead, instead.  I’ll just be the one to wait for your father.”

 Midnight came, but Cardo still did not show up.  The night was so dark and silent.  Menang kept on peering through the whole by the window.  Her heartbeat grew faster while outside, dew kept falling off the banana leaves at the side of their house because of the cold breeze.

 She took a deep breath and regained her hope when their skinny and sickly dog barked under the house.  She lighted the kerosene lamp that she had been holding in order to brighten the path of the one who was approaching their house, one she figured to her husband.

 “Mana Menang!”  a boy shouted, catching his breath.

 Menang’s chest seemed to burst when she heard that it was not her beloved husband who arrived.  She should have fallen down had she not gotten hold of the post.  “My God, what happened?  Where is Cardo?  Why is he not here?”  She wept, immensely worried.

 The boy was breathing heavily from running a kilometer distance.  Terror could be seen on his face as though he had seen a monster.

 Menang frantically met the boy at the threshold.

 “Mana Menang,”  the boy stammered.  “Man Cardo...there at Mano Oscar’s house..was hacked by Roger, just now.”

 “What?”  Menang shouted out her query.  “Agi daw, My Lord, Cardooo!  What was done to my husband, he did no wrong!”  Lamenting, Menang covered her mouth with her trembling hands.

 “I don’t know, but he was not able to get up anymore, he is perhaps dead,” answered the boy whose face remained bloodless.

 Menang gathered her strength, wiped her tears and, holding the boy’s shoulders, she said: “Intoy, please stay here, look after the children because I will go.”

 Quickly, Menang ran down the hill towards the house of Oscar.  Her white skirt and her long hair swayed in the air as she was eaten up by the dark.  She was almost losing her reason as she braved the blackness of the night.  She stumbled every now and then, almost to point of just crawling.  There was nothing in her mind but her husband and the fate that he succumbed to despite his innocence.

 In her haste, she suddenly fell flat on the ground as her left foot stumbled.  Her head hit the hard but cold soil.  She almost fainted and failed to rise once more.  While lying on her stomach, she was passed over by a cold wind which seemed to prove something, a painful truth: her husband’s borrowed life had been retrieved.

 Menang lost the strength to rise up.  No more sobs came out of her lips.  If there was ever a message that her heart trying to express, it could only be seen through her abundant tears that further blurred her vision.

 While her cheek pressed against the soil, she smelt the scent of it; an aroma that reminded her of one thing which, if not for it, their lives should not have been the way it was.