Morning Morning in Nagrebcan Nagrebcan Manuel E. Arguilla
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t was was sunr sunris isee at Nagr Nagreb ebca can. n. The The fine fine,, blui bluish sh mist mist,, low low over over the tobacco fields, fields, was liftin lifting g and thinning thinning moment moment by moment moment.. A ragged ragged I I I tobacco stri strip p of mis mist, t, pulled pulled away away by the the morn morning ing breez breeze, e, had caugh caughtt on the the c umps umps of bamb bamboo oo along along the banks banks of the the strea stream m that that flowe flowed d to one side side of the barri barrio. o. Befor Beforee long long the sun would would top the Katay Katayagh aghan an hills hills,, but as yet no people people were were around. around. In the grey shadow shadow of the hills, hills, the barrio was gradua graduall lly y awaki awaking ng.. Roos Rooster terss crow crowed ed and strut strutted ted on the the ground ground whil whilee hens hens hesit hesitate ated d on thei theirr perc perches hes among among the branch branches es of the camanc camanchil hilee trees. trees. Stray Stray goats nibbled· nibbled· the weeds weeds on the sides of the road, and the bull bull caraba carabaos os tugged tugged restiv restivel ely y agains againstt their their stake stakes. s. In the tyclrl tyclrlym ymor ornin ning g the puppies puppies lay lay curled curled up togeth together er betw betwee een n their their moth mother er'$ '$ paws paws under under the ladder ladder of the house. house. Four Four puppies puppies were were all all white white like like d~e d~e mothe mother. r. They They had pink pink noses noses and pink eyeli eyelids ds and and pink pink mouths. mouths. The 'skin 'skin between between their their toes and and on the the inside inside of their their large, large, limp limp ears ears was was pi k. They They had had shor shortt slee sleek k hair hair,, for for the moth mother er lick licked ed them them often. often. The fi h puppy puppy lay lay acros acrosss the the mothe mother' r'ss neck. neck. On the the puppy' puppy'ss back back was was a big bla k spot spot like like a saddl saddle. e. The The tips of its its ears ears were were black black and so was a patch 0 hair hair on its chest chest.. The The ope ope ing of the sawali door, door, its uneven uneven bottom bottom dragging dragging noisily noisily again against st the the ba 00 floor flooring ing,, arouse aroused d the the moth mother er dog dog and she got up up and and stret stretche ched d and and sh ok herse herself lf,, scatt scatteri ering ng dust dust and and loose loose whit whitee hair. hair. A rank doggy doggy smell rose 1 the cool cool mornin morning g air. air. She took took a quick quick leap leap forw forwar ard, d, clea cleari ring ng the the pupp puppii s whic which h had had begu begun n to whi whine ne abou aboutt her, her, wanti wanting ng to suckl suckle. e. She She trotte trotted d a y and and disap disappea peared red beyon beyond d the the house house of a neigh neighbor bor.. The The pupp puppie iess sat sat ck on the their ir rump rumps, s, whin whinin ing. g. Afte Afterr a litt little le whil whilee they they lay lay down down and and went went ~k to sle sleep ep,, the the blac blackk-sp spot otte ted d pupp puppy y on top top.. Baldo Baldo stood stood at the thr~s thr~snol nold d and rubbed rubbed his his sleepsleep-he heavy avy eyes eyes with with his his fists fists.. He must have been been about about ten years years old, old, smal smalll for for his age, age, but
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comp compac actl tly y buil built, t, and and he stoo stood d stra straig ight ht on his his bony bony legs legs.. He wore one of his father's father's discar discarded ded cotton cotton unders undershir hirts ts.. ·The ·The boy boy desc descen ende ded d the the ladd ladder er,, lean leanin ing g heav heavil ily y on the the sing single le bamboo bamboo railin railing g that that served served as a banist banister. er. He sat on the lowest lowest step of the the ladder ladder,, yawnin yawning g and rubbin rubbing g his eyes one after after the other. other. Bendin Bending g down, down, he reach reached ed betw betwee een n his his legs legs for the the blac blackk-sp spot otte ted d pupp puppy. y. He held held it to him, him, stroki stroking ng its soft, soft, warm body. body. He blew blew on its nose. The puppy puppy stuck stuck out a small small red tongue, lapping the air. It whined whined eagerly. eagerly. Baldo laughedlaugheda low gurgle. He rubbe rubbed d his his face face agai agains nstt that that of the the dog. dog. He said said soft softly ly,, "My "My pupp puppy. y. My pup puppy py." ." He said said it many many times times.. The The pupp puppy y lick licked ed his his ears ears,, his cheeks cheeks.. When When it licke licked d his his mouth mouth,, Baldo Baldo straig straighte htened ned up, raised raised the pupp puppy y on a level level with with his his eyes eyes.. "You "You are are a fool foolis ish h pupp puppy, y,"" he said said,, laug laughi hing ng.. "Foo "Fooli lish sh,, fool foolis ish, h, fool foolis ish, h,"" he said, said, roll rollin ing g the the pupp puppy y on his his lap so that that it howled. howled. The four other other puppie puppiess awoke awoke and came scram scrambli bling ng about about Baldo' Baldo'ss legs legs.. He put down down the black black-s -spo pott tted ed pupp puppy y and and ran ran to the the narr narrow ow foot foot brid bridge ge of wove woven n spli splitt-ba bamb mboo oo span spanni ning ng the the road roadsi side de ditc ditch. h. Wh When en it raine rained, d, water water from from the roadway roadway flowed flowed under under the makeshi makeshift ft bridge bridge,, but it had not rained rained for a long long time time and the ground ground was dry and sandy. sandy. Baldo Baldo sat sat on the the brid bridge ge,, digg diggin ing g his his bare bare feet feet into into the the sand sand,, feel feelin ing g the the cool cool partic particles les escapi escaping ng betwee between n his toes. toes. He whistl whistled, ed, a tonele toneless ss whistl whistlee with with a curious curious trill trilling ing to it produc produced ed by placi placing ng the tongue tongue agains againstt the lower lower teflt teflth h and then then curvin curving g it up and down. The The whistle whistle excite excited d the puppies; puppies; they ran to the boy as fast as their unsteady unsteady legs could could carry carry them, them, barking barking ch~ppy ch~ppy little little barks. barks. Elang, g, the the moth mother er of Bald Baldo, o, now now appe appear ared ed in the door doorwa way y Nana Elan with with hand handfu full of rice rice stra straw. w. She call called ed Bald Baldo o and told told him to get get some some live live c Is from from the their ir neig neighb hbor or.. " et two or thre threee burn burnin ing g coal coalss and and brin bring g them them home home on the rice rice stra straw, w,"" sll sll said said.. "Do "Do not not wave the the stra straw w in the wind. wind. If you you do, do, it will will catc catch h fire fire b ore ore you get home home." ." She She watch watched ed him him run run towa toward rd Ka Ikao's hous housee wher wheree a eady eady smok smokee was was risin rising g thro throug ugh h the the nipa nipa roof roofin ing g into into the the misty misty air. air. One 0 two empty empty carrom carromata atass drawn drawn by sleep sleepy y little little ponies ponies ratt rattle led d alon along g the the p bly bly stree street, t, boun bound d for for the the rail railro road ad stat statio ion. n. Elang g muS\ muS\ha have ve been been thir thirty ty,, but but she she look looked ed at leas leastt fift fifty. y. Nana Elan She was a thin, thin, wispy worIlQ.u, worIlQ.u,with with bony hands hands and arms. She had scanty scanty,, stra straig ight ht,, gray grayin ing g hair hair whic which" h"sh shee gath gather ered ed behi behind nd her her head head in a small small,,
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tight tight knot. knot. It made made her look thinne thinnerr than than ever. ever. Her Her cheekb cheekbone oness seemed seemed on the point point of burs bursti ting ng throug through h the dry, dry, yel yellow lowish ish-br -brow own n skin. skin. Above Above a graygray-che checke ckered red skirt, skirt, she wore wore a singl singlee widewide-sle sleeve eved d cotton cotton blouse blouse that that ended ended below below her flat flat breas breasts ts.. Some Someti times mes when when she stooped stooped or reac reached hed up for anyth anythin ing, g, a glim glimps psee of the the fles flesh h at her wais waistt show showed ed in a dark, dark, purpl purplish ish band band where where the skirt skirt had had been been tied tied so often often.. She She turn turned ed from from the the door doorwa way y into into the the smal small, l, unti untidy dy kitc kitche hen. n. She She wash washed ed the the rice rice and and put put it in a pot pot whic which h she she plac placed ed on the the cold cold stov stove. e. She She made made ready ready the other other pot for for the mess mess of vegeta vegetable bless and dried dried fish. fish. When Wh en Bald Baldo o came came back back with with the rice rice stra straw w and and burn burnin ing g coal coals, s, she she told told him to start start a fire fire in the stove stove,, while while she cut the the ampalaya tendri tendrils ls and sliced sliced the eggplant eggplants. s. Wh When en the the fire fire finall finally y flam flamed ed insid insidee the the clay clay stove, stove, Baldo' Baldo'ss eyes eyes were were smart smarting ing from from the smoke smoke of the the rice rice straw straw.. "Ther "Theree is the fire, fire, mother, mother,"" he said. "Is "Is fathe fatherr awake awake alrea already? dy?"" Nana Elang Elang shook shook her head. head. Baldo Baldo went went out slowly slowly on tipto tiptoe. e. Ther Theree were were alre alread ady y many many peop people le goin going g out. out. Seve Severa rall fish fisher erme men n wear wearing ing coffee coffee-co -color lored ed shirts shirts and trouser trouserss and hats made made from from the shell shell of whit whitee pump pumpki kins ns pass passed ed by. by. The The smok smokee of thei theirr home home-m -mad adee ciga cigars rs floated floated behind behind them like shreds shreds of the morning morning mist. Women carry carrying ing big empty empty baskets baskets were were going going to the tobacco fields. fields. They They walked walked fast, fast, talking talking among among themsel themselves ves.. Each Each woman woman had gather gathered ed the loose loose folds of her her skirt skirt in front front and, twis twistin ting g the end two two or or three three times, times, passe passed d it betwe between en her legs, legs, pulli pulling ng it up at the back, back, and slippi slipping ng it inside inside her waist. waist. The women women seemed seemed to be weari wearing ng trous trousers ers that that reache reached d only only to their their knees knees and flared flared at the the thighs thighs.. Day Day was quickly quickly growi growing ng older older.. The The east east flamed flamed redly redly and Baldo Baldo called called to his mothe mother, r, "Look "Look,, mothe mother, r, God also also cooks cooks his breakf breakfas ast." t." He went went to play play with with the the pupp puppie ies. s. He sat on the the brid bridge ge and and took took them them on his his lap lap one one by one. one. He sear search ched ed for for fleas fleas whic which h he crush crushed ed betwe between en his his thumbn thumbnail ails. s. "You, "You, pupp puppy. y. You, You, pupp puppy," y," he murmu murmured red softl softly. y. When h e held the bl black-spotted puppy, he said, "My puppy. My puppy." " Ambo Ambo,, his his seve sevenn-ye year ar old old brot brothe her, r, awok awokee cryi crying ng.. Nana Elang Elang could could "'~e "'~e heard heard patien patientl tly y callin calling g him to the kitc kitchen hen.. Later Later he came came down down wit with h a ripe): ripe):>,a >,anan nanaa in his hand. Ambo Ambo was almost almost as tall tall as his older older brothe brotherr and he'bad he'bad stout stout husky husky legs. legs. Baldo Baldo often often called called him the son of an an Igorot Igorot.. The home~a-o home~a-oo-_G o-_GPtt Ptton on shirt shirt he wore was various variously ly stained. stained. The pocket pocket was was torn, torn, and it fl~pp fl~ppea ea down. down. He ate the banan bananaa with without out peeli peeling ng it.
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"You "You fooli foolish sh boy, boy, remove remove the skin," skin," Baldo Baldo said. said. "I will will not," not," Ambo Ambo said. said. "It "It is not your your banana banana." ." He took a big bite and swallow swallowed ed it with exaggerate exaggerated d relish. relish. "But "But the skin is tart. tart. It tastes tastes bad." bad." "You "You are are not eating eating it," Ambo said. said. The rest of the the banana banana vanished vanished in his mouth. mouth. He sat besid besidee Baldo Baldo and both both playe played d with with the puppies. puppies. The The mothe motherr dog dog had not not yet retu return rned ed and and the the pupp puppie iess were were beco becomi ming ng hung hungry ry and and restl restless ess.. They They sniff sniffed ed the hands of Amb Ambo, o, licked licked his fingers fingers.. They They tried tried to scr scramb amble le up his breast breast to lick lick his mouth, mouth, but he brushed brushed them them down. down. Bald Baldo o laug laughe hed. d. He held held the the blac blackk-sp spot otte ted d pupp puppy y clos closel ely, y, fond fondle led d it lovin lovingly gly.. "My "My puppy, puppy,"" he said. said. "My "My puppy. puppy."" Ambo Ambo play played ed with with the other other pupp puppie ies, s, but but he soon soon grew grew tire tired d of them them.. He want wanted ed the the blac blackk-sp spot otte ted d one. one. He sidle sidled d clos closee to Bal Baldo do and and put put out out a hand hand to care caress ss the the pupp puppy y nest nestli ling ng cont conten ente tedl dly y in the croo crook k of his brother's brother's arm. But Baldo struck struck the hand away. away. "Don "Don't 't touch touch my puppy, puppy,"" he said. "My "My puppy. puppy."" Ambo Ambo begged begged to be allowe allowed d to hold hold the blackblack-spo spott tted ed puppy. puppy. But But Baldo Baldo said said he would would not let him hold hold the black black-sp -spot otted ted puppy puppy becaus becausee he would would not not peel peel the the bana banana na.. Ambo Ambo then then said said that that he would would obey obey his olde olderr brot brothe herr next next time time,, for for all time time.. Bald Baldo o woul would d not not beli believ evee him; him; he refus refused ed to let let him him touch touch the the puppy. puppy. Ambo Ambo rose to his feet. feet. He looked looked longi longingl ngly y at the black black-s -spot potte ted d pupp puppy y in Baldo Baldo's 's arms arms.. Sudd Sudden enly ly he bent bent down down and and trie tried d to snat snatch ch the the puppy puppy away. away. But But Baldo Baldo sent him spraw sprawlin ling g in the dust dust with with a deft push. push. Ambo did not cry. He came up with a fistful of sand which he flung in his broth brother' er'ss face. face. But But as he start started ed to run run away, away, Baldo Baldo thrust thrust out his leg and trip trippe ped d him. him. In comp comple lete te sile silenc nce, e, Ambo Ambo slowl slowly y got got up from from the dus dust, t, getti getting ng to his his feet with with both both hands hands full full of sand sand which which again again he castat castat his older older brothe brother. r. Baldo Baldo put down down the the puppy puppy and and leape leaped d upon upon Ambo. Ambo. Seei Seeing ng the the blac blackk-sp spot otte ted d pupp puppy y wadd waddli ling ng away away,, Ambo Ambo turn turned ed around around and made made a dive dive for it. it. Baldo Baldo saw his his intent intention ion in time time and both both fell on the puppy wh which be began to to howl loudly, struggling to get away. Baldo cursed Am Ambo and screamed at at him as they grappled an and rolled in .._.._-~_ ~_ the th e sand sa nd. . Ambo Am bo kick ki cked ed and an d bit bi t and a nd scr s crat atch ched ed w itho it hout ut a sou s ound nd.. He got got --------- ---- h c l< L of Bald Baldo) o)~r ~r and and hair hair and tugg tugged ed with with all all his might might.. They They rolle rolled d over over and over over and and then then Baldo Baldo was sittin sitting g on Ambo' Ambo'ss back, back, pomme pommelin ling g
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him with with his fists. fists. He accompan accompanied ied every every blow with with a curse. curse. "I hope you die, die, you you littl littlee demo demon, n,"" he said said betw betwee een n sobs sobs,, for for he was cryi crying ng and and he could could hardly hardly see. see. Ambo Ambo wriggle wriggled d and struggl struggled ed and tried tried to bite bite Baldo' Baldo'ss legs legs.. Fail Failin ing, g, he buri buried ed his his face face in the sand sand and and howl howled ed lust lustil ily. y. Bald Baldo o now now left left him and and ran ran to the the blac blackk-sp spot otte ted d pupp puppy y whic which h he caught caught up in his arms, arms, holdin holding g it against against his throat. throat. Ambo Ambo followed followed,, crying crying out out thre threat atss and and curs curses es.. He grab grabbe bed d the the tail tail of the the pupp puppy y and and jerk jerked ed hard hard.. The The pupp puppy y howl howled ed shri shrill lly y and and Bald Baldo o let let it go, but but Ambo Ambo kept hold hold of the the tail tail as the dog dog fell fell to the the grou ground nd.. It turn turned ed arou around nd and and snap snappe ped d at the hand holdin holding g its tail. tail. Its sharp sharp little little teeth teeth sank sank into into the fleshy fleshy edge edge of Ambo's Ambo's palm. palm. With With a cry, Ambo Ambo snatche snatched d away away his hand from from the mouth mouth of the the enrage enraged d puppy. puppy. At that moment moment the window window of the the house house facing facing the street street was pushed pushed violen violently tly open open and the boys' boys' father, father, Tang Ciaco, Ciaco, looked looked out. out. He saw saw the the bloo blood d from from the toothm toothmar arks ks on Ambo Ambo's 's hand hand.. He call called ed out out inar inarti ticu cula late tely ly and and the the two two bro broth ther erss look looked ed up in surp surpri rise se and and fear fear.. Ambo Ambo hid hid his his bitt bitten en hand hand behi behind nd him. him. Bald Baldo o stop stoppe ped d to pic pick k up the the blac blackk-sp spot otte ted d pupp puppy, y, but but Tang Ciac Ciaco o shou shoute ted d hoar hoarse sely ly to him him not not to touc touch h the the dog. dog. At Tang Ciac Ciaco' o'ss angr angry y voic voice, e, the the pupp puppy y had had crou crouch ched ed back back snarli snarling, ng, its pink pink lips lips drawn drawn back, back, the hair hair on its its back back rising rising.. "The "The dog has has gone gone mad," the man cried, cried, coming coming down hurr hurried iedly. ly. By the the stove stove in the the kitc kitche hen, n, he stop stoppe ped d to get a size sizeab able le piec piecee of fir firew ewoo ood, d, thro throwi wing ng an angr angry y look look and a curse curse at Nana Elang Elang for lett letting ing her sons sons play play with with the the dogs dogs.. He remov removed ed a splint splinter er or two, two, then then hurr hurrie ied d down down the ladd ladder er,, cursin cursing g in a loud loud angry angry voice. voice. Nana Elang Elang ran to the doorwa doorway y and stood stood there there silent silently ly finger fingering ing her skirt. skirt. Baldo and Ambo awaited awaited the coming of their father with fear written written on thei theirr face faces. s. Bald Baldo o hate hated d his his fath father er as much much as he feare feared d him. him. He watche watched d him now with with half half a mind to flee flee as Tang Ciaco approa approached ched with the the piec piecee of fire firewo wood od held held firm firmly ly in one hand. hand. He a big, big, gaun gauntt man man with with thic thick k bony bony wrist wristss and and stoo stoop p shou should lder ers. s. A shor shortt-sl slee eeve ved d cott cotton on shir shirtt reveal revealed ed his sinewy sinewy arms on which which the blood-ve blood-vesse ssels ls stood stood out like like roots. roots. His short pants pants showed showed his bony-kn bony-kneed eed,, hard-m hard-musc uscled led legs legs covere covered d with with blac black k hair hair.. He was was a carp carpen ente ter. r. He had had come come home home drun drunk k the the nigh nightt befo before re.. He was not an habi habitu tual al drun drunka kard rd,, but but now now and and then then he drank drank great quantities of basi and came came home home and and beat beat his his wife wife and chil childr dren en.. b asi and He woul would d blam blamee them hem for for the their har hard life ife and and pove poverrty. ty. "You "You are are a pros prosttitut tute," e," he wo~ld'r6ar at his wife, and as he beat his children, he would shout, "I "I
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will will kill kill you both, both, you basta bastards rds." ." If Nana Elang Elang ventured ventured to remonstr remonstrate, ate, he would would beat beat them them harder harder and curse curse her for bein being g an interfe interferin ring g whore. whore. "I am king king in my house house," ," he would would say. say. Now Now as he appr approa oach ched ed the the two, two, Ambo Ambo cower cowered ed behi behind nd his his elde elderr brothe brother. r. He held held onto onto Baldo's Baldo's undersh undershir irt, t, keepin keeping g his wound wounded ed hand hand at his back, unable unable to remove remove his gaze from from his his father's father's close-se close-set, t, red-spec red-specked ked eyes. eyes. The puppy puppy with with a yelp yelp slunk slunk betwee between n Baldo' Baldo'ss legs. legs. Baldo Baldo looked looked at the dog, avoidi avoiding ng his father' father'ss eyes. eyes. Ciaco roared roared at them to get get away away from the the dog: dog: "Fools "Fools!! Don't Don't Tang Ciaco you you see see it is mad? mad?"" Bald Baldo o laid laid a hand hand on Ambo Ambo as they they moved oved back back hasti hastily. ly. He wanted wanted to tell tell his father father it was was not true, true, the dog was not mad, mad, it was was all all Ambo Ambo's 's faul fault, t, but but his his tong tongue ue refu refuse sed d to move move.. The The pupp puppy y attempt attempted ed to follow follow them, them, but Tang Ciaco Ciaco caught caught it with with a sweeping sweeping blow blow of the the piece piece of fir firewo ewood. od. The puppy puppy was flung flung into the air. air. It rolled rolled over once once befo before re it fel fell, l, howl howlin ing g weak weakly ly.. Agai Again n the the chun chunk k of fire firewo wood od descended, Tang Ciaco Ciaco grunti grunting ng with with the effort effort he put into into the blow, blow, and the puppy puppy ceased ceased to howl. howl. It lay on its side, side, feebly feebly moving moving its jaws jaws from from whic which h dark dark bloo blood d ooze oozed. d. Once Once more more Tang Ciac Ciaco o rais raised ed his his arm, arm, but but Bald Baldo o sudd sudden enly ly clun clung g to it with with both both hand handss and and begg begged ed him him to stop stop.. "Eno "Enoug ugh, h, fath father er,, enou enough gh.. Don' Don'tt beat beat it any anymo more re," ," he entre entreat ated ed.. Tear Tearss flowed flowed down his uprais upraised ed face. face. Tang Ciaco shook him off with an oath. Baldo fell on his face in the dust. dust. He did not rise rise,, but cried cried and sobbed sobbed and tore tore his his hair. hair. The rays of the the risi rising ng sun sun fell fell brigh brightl tly y upon upon him, him, turn turned ed to gol gold d the the dust dust that that he raise raised d with with his kicking kicking feet. feet. Ciaco dealt dealt the battere battered d puppy puppy anothe anotherr blow blow and at last last it lay lay Tang Ciaco limp limpy y stil still. l. He kick kicked ed it over over and and watc watche hed d for for a sign sign of life life.. The The pupp puppy y did not move move where where it lay twisted twisted on its side. He turned turned his attenti attention on to Baldo. Baldo. "Get "Get up," up," he said, said, hoarse hoarsely, ly, pushin pushing g the boy with with his foot. foot. Bald Baldo o was was deaf deaf.. He went on cryi crying ng and and kick kickin ing g in the dust dust.. Tang Ciac Ciaco o stru struck ck him him with with the piec piecee of wood wood in in his his hand hand and and agai again n told told him him to get get up. up. Bald Baldo o writ writhe hed d and and crie cried d hard harder er,, clas claspi ping ng his his hand handss over over the back back of his his head head.. Tang Ciac Ciaco o took took hold hold of one one of the the boy' boy'ss arms arms and and jer jerke ked d him him to his his feet feet.. Then Then he began began to bea beatt him, him, rega regard rdle less ss of wher wheree the blows fell. . .~do encircled hi h is head with his loose arm and strove to free ·~·--·~·-------------------.-.----hif hifil il8el 8elf, f, runnin running g around around his fath father, er, plungi plunging ng backwa backward, rd, duckin ducking g and
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twisting. twisting. "Shameles "Shamelesss son of a whore," whore," Tang Ciaco Ciaco roared. roared. "Stand "Stand still, still, I'll I'll teac teach h you you to obey obey me." me." He short shorten ened ed his his grip grip on the the arm arm of Bal Baldo do and and laid laid on his blows. blows. Baldo fell fell to his his knees, knees, scream screaming ing for mercy mercy.. He called called on his his mother mother to help help him. him. Nana Elang Elang came came down, down, but she hesitat hesitated ed at the foot foot of the the ladder ladder.. Ambo Ambo ran to her. her. "You "You too," too," Tang Ciaco Ciaco cried, cried, and struc struck k at the fleei fleeing ng Ambo. Ambo. The piece piece of firewo firewood od caught caught him behin behind d the knees knees and he fell fell on his face. face. Nana Elang Elang ran to the fallen fallen boy and picked picked him up, brushi brushing ng his clothes clothes with with her hands hands to shake shake off the dust. dust. Tang Ciac Ciaco o push pushed ed Bald Baldo o towa toward rd her. her. The boy boy tott totter ered ed forw forwar ard d weak weakly ly,, daze dazed d and and trem trembl blin ing. g. He had ceas ceased ed to cry cry alou aloud, d, but but he shoo shook k with with hard, hard, spasmo spasmodic dic sobs sobs which which he tried tried vainly vainly to stop. stop. "Here "Here take take your your child," child," Tang Ciaco Ciaco said, thickly. thickly. He faced faced the curiou curiouss stude students nts and neighb neighbors ors who had had gather gathered ed by the side of the road. He yelled yelled at them them to go away. away. He He said said it was none none of their their busine business ss if he he killed killed his children children.. "The "They y are are mine mine," ," he shoute shouted. d. "I feed feed them them and and I can do anyt anythi hing ng I like with with them." them." The stude students nts ran hastily hastily to schoo school. l. The neighb neighbors ors return returned ed to their their work. Ciaco went to the house, house, cursin cursing g in a loud loud voice. voice. Passin Passing g the Tang Ciaco dead dead puppy, puppy, he picked picked it up by its hind hind legs legs and flung flung it away. away. The black and and whit whitee body body soar soared ed thro throug ugh h the the sunl sunlit it air; air; fell amon among g the the tall tall corn corn behi behind nd the the hous house. e. Tang Ciac Ciaco, o, stil stilll curs cursin ing g and and grum grumbl blin ing, g, stro strode de upstai upstairs. rs. He threw the chunk chunk of firewo firewood od beside beside the stove. stove. He squatted squatted by the the low table table and began eating eating the breakfa breakfast st his wife wife had prepar prepared ed for him. Nana Elan Elang g knel kneltt by her her child childre ren n and and dust dusted ed thei theirr clot clothe hes. s. She She pass passed ed her her hand hand over over the red red welt weltss on Baldo Baldo,, but but Bald Baldo o shoo shook k hims himsel elf f away. away. He was still still trying trying to stop stop sobbin sobbing, g, wiping wiping his tears away away with his forearm. Nana Elan Elang g put put one one arm arm arou around nd Ambo Ambo.. She She suck sucked ed the the woun wound d in his hand. hand. She was crying crying silent silently. ly. When When the mother mother of the puppies puppies return returned, ed, she licked licked the remaini remaining ng four four by the small small bridge bridge of wove woven n split split bamboo bamboo.. She lay down in the dust and suckled suckled her young. young. She did not seem seem to miss miss the blackblack-spo spotte tted d puppy. puppy. , Afterward Baldo and Ambo searched among the tall corn for the ............... body ()f·th~ dead puppy. Tang Ciaco Ciaco had gone gone to work and would would not be till nigh nightf tfal all. l. In the the hous house, e, Nana Elan Elang g was was busy wash washin ing g the the ----------------------. ----------------------.------b ------b ack ... till
brea breakf kfas astt dish dishes es.. Late Laterr she she came came down down and and fed fed the the moth mother er dog. dog. The two two brot brothe hers rs were were entire entirely ly hidd hidden en by the the tall tall corn corn plants plants.. As the they y move moved d about about among among the slender slender stalks stalks,, the corn-flo corn-flower werss shook shook agitat agitatedl edly. y. Pollen Pollen scatte scattered red like like gold gold dust in the sun, falling falling on the the fuzzy· fuzzy· green green leaves leaves.. When Wh en they they foun found d the the dead dead dog, dog, they they buri buried ed it in one one corn corner er of the the field. field. Baldo dug the grove with with a sharp-po sharp-pointe inted d stake. stake. Ambo stood stood silently silently by, by, hold holdin ing g the the dead dead pupp puppy. y. When Wh en Bald Baldo o fini finish shed ed his his work work,, he and his his brot brothe herr gent gently ly plac placed ed the the pupp puppy y in the hole hole.. Then Then they they cove covere red d the the dog dog with with soft soft earth earth and and stampe stamped d on the the grave grave until until the disturb disturbed ed ground ground was flat flat and hard again. again. With With diff diffic icul ulty ty they they roll rolled ed a big stone stone on top top of the the grav grave. e. Then Then Bald Baldo o woun wound d an arm arm arou around nd the the shou should lder erss of Ambo Ambo and with withou outt a word word they they hurr hurrie ied d up to the the hous house. e. The The sun sun had had rise risen n high high abov abovee the the Kata Kataya yagh ghan an hill hills, s, and and warm warm,, gold golden en sunl sunlig ight ht fill filled ed Nagr Nagreb ebca can. n. The The mist mist on the the toba tobacc cco o fiel fields ds had had completel completely y dissolved dissolved.. Philippine Philippiness Free Press Press
Augu August st 18, 18, 1937 1937
