Excerpt from HG’s book CHEKOV AND HIS BOYS

 Excerpt from HG’s book CHEKOV AND HIS BOYS :

War and Peace

“War destroys humanity” I said disapprovingly.

“War also wakes up humanity”, Sekharattan replied.

Those of us who had been prodding on with thedescription and analysis of the war that just ended heaved a sigh of relief seeing Sekharettan.

Sekharettanwasone who had seen wars aplenty. It is said that the reports he sent from the warfront had the blaze of bullets. 

“How?” was our collective query.

Sekharattan began another of his favorite retelling.

It was during the height of World War II in a small town in the Philippines.

Toma was an ordinary farmer whose house became a refuge for his numerous relatives. It was Uncle Ciano's arrival that Jonjo, the eldest son, was most excited about.

Jonjo reminisced about Uncle Ciano andaunt Clara. Their town was bombed to doom. Their son Manuel too, had perished inthe war. 

Aunt Clara felt like she had lost everything. She hated soldiers, and cursed war.

One night, Uncle Ciano did not come back home until midnight.When he did, there was a stranger accompanying him: an American soldier whose fighter plane was shot down by the Japanese. After seven days of lingering in the woods without food, he was taken along by Uncle Ciano out of mercy. "The Americans have come to rescue our nation from the Japanese," he said. "So isn't it my duty to save them? 

“Well, if the Jap army smells this, it would be a different story altogether.", was a counter-thought.

The next morning, everyone woke up with curiosity about the guest except for Aunt Clara, who disapproved of him. "I lost my son Manuel due to these fella," she said. "To me, any soldier is alike, the cause of my son's death."

Other kids and I liked the American.

 I asked his name. 

“Michael, but call me Mike”, he replied in his trademark American accent.

To keep Mike safe from the Japanese, he was hidden in the cellar where they used to hide during bombing. Jonjo and the other kids would visit him in the mornings, and Mike would chat and play with them while describing things about America.

Jonjo developed a wish to see America and its skyscrapers, to flow along the river in a boat. Mike said, "Jonjo, I'll take you to America. Let the war be over and I get back home. I'll send you the air ticket."

Aunt Clara would murmur, "He is bluffing. Escaping from here, he'll forget everything. You won't even see his dust." Dad also said, "America is a good ten thousand miles away. Is it practical for us to go there?"

Despite the doubts, Jonjo believed in Mike. 

One day, Uncle Ciano came back home with a neighbor, Nicolas, who said he could get word to the American camp in Australia about Mike. The guerilla team he was part of had the facility to do so, and the American military could save Mike by sending a submarine.

The night before the submarine was set to arrive, there were sounds of boots outside their house followed by bangs at the door. A Japanese commander was standing outside, 

accompanied by some soldiers, looking for an American soldier in hiding. 

Dad said, “we have enough penury at hand. Then how can we accommodate another one too?”

The commander growled, “I don’t want to hear your economics.”

They left eventually.

“Had it been aunt Clara who had opened the door?”. The thought itselfsent shivers down our spine.

Uncle Ciano took Mike in the cover of dark and did as Nicolas had said.

A submarine was on its wayfrom the American camp in Australia. 

We were relieved that Mike would escape tonight.

As time ticked by, uncle Ciano didn’t come back.

All of us were anxious.

When he did come back, there were bloodstains on his shoulders. "On the way, the Jap army spotted us and fired," he said. "One bullet just scraped my shoulders. A little blood bruised, but no further mishaps." When Mom asked about Mike, Aunt Clara couldn't bear the rage and grief anymore, saying, "You are concerned with that American, not my husband."

One day, we heard that the American military had liberated the Philippines, and the Japanese were routed. We jumped about in glee. And ran to the American military camp, to congratulate them.

We asked for Mike, but he was missing. When we asked the commander of the American military, he said that there was no such guy with them.

However, he gave an assurance that if any information came by, they would inform us of Mike if we left our address there.

Aunt Clara continued to babble, "He has forgotten you. After all, they are in such need of help they would come to you. Once that is over, all is over."

We, the kids, were the most disheartened. 

It was into this ambiance that Sekharettan had landed in the Philippines accompanied by an officer of the American embassy.  It was an opportunity to mingle with the natives post-war.

That scene was unforgettable to Jonjo. 

An Indian, along with an American, was at their doorstep. The American introduced himself, "I'm an officer at the embassy. Major Jones has sent me here. Remember, you had left your address with the commander the other day. This is with regard to that."

The visitor continued, "I received a letter from the parents of a soldier named Michael. The letter mentions a kid, Jonjo, and a man, Ciano." 

"I'm Jonjo,"

 "I'm Ciano,"

Uncle and I said in tandem.

Uncle and I said in tandem.

"Fine. I've come in search of you. The letter says something," he opened a box with him. 

"This packet is for Ciano, some work-tools. Ciano is a carpenter, right?"

 "Yes," Uncle replied.

"These garments are for Toma's wife and children. This jacket is for Toma. The light blue blouse is for Clara."

"I'm Clara," Aunt Clara said excitedly.

"From Australia, Mike had written about you to his parents."

"Where is Mike? That's what we want to know", all of us blurted in unison.

"When McArthur's army entered here, Mike was part of the airforceto help them."

“Then?”

"Mike's sortie was felled by the enemy."

The visitor was seemingly reluctant to proceed any further. 

We could only mutely look at him. 

He concluded in withering tone, “Mike is no more”.

Mom cried out. I too cried, hugging uncle Ciano.

The visitor went on,  “I’m entrusted with the responsibility to escort Jonjo to the US. Here is Jonjo’s air ticket”

We were not in the mood to hear anything more.

Our minds were filled with Mike, just him.

I ran to the cellar he had been using. 

Now there were only our chickens where Mike was hiding.

I went to Aunt Clara's room. She was praying, beads rolling in her hand. We too joined her in prayer. Aunt Clara wept throughout her prayers.

Aunt Clara  murmured, "Mike. He was valorous. Like my Manuel."

Sekharettan's description was transformed into fiction by the master storyteller of the Philippines, Celso Al Carunungan, "Like A Big Brave Man."