*Note this story is in Tagalog
May isang bata na ngalan ay Edgardo. Siya ay maliit at tahimik, at mas nainin niyang magbasa ng atlat kaysa makipaglaro sa ibang mga bata. Ang mga libro ay xahirap makarating sa munting mabundok na komunidad at nanyang pinapahalagahan and mga panahong pupunta siya sa siyudad, pinapanood din niya ang kanyang ama sa pagpapalit ng ginto galing sa minahan para sa salapi at pambili sa gustong niyang mga libro.
Isang draw siya ay nilapitan ni Faustino, batting lalaki na madalas siyang iniiwasan. Ibang bagay ang pagiging iba, ngunit kung making iba sa komunidad na may higit kumulang sa isang daan na tao. Nakaramdam si Egardo na para bang nasa mata siya ng pagkilatis sa kanya.
“Maaari bang umupo rito?” Ang tanong ni Faustino sa kanya.
“Oo, wala naman pipigil sa iyo,” Ang sagot ni Edgardo.
“Narinig mo ba kung ano ang nangyari?” Sinubukan ni Faustino tumingin sa kanyang mata pero mas nangibabaw ang pagyuko niya at tinignan ang kanyang pahila na paglakad ng paa.
“Hindi ba lahat?” Sinabi ni Edgardo habang hindi niya inaalis ang kayang mata mula sa pahina na kanyang binabasa.
“Kasama si Veronica ay tattle na sila simula noong Pebrero.” Umupo sa tabi niya si Faustino.
Hindi na bago kung may kabataang nawawala sa bundok. Kahit saan ay may panganib. Isang saglit ng pagkawala ng pagiging mapagmasid sa paligid ay lubos na mapanganib. Ang mga minahan ay nakakabahala rin. Madalas ang kanilang ama o kapatıd ay hindi na bumabalik. Ang kumpanya ng minahan ay magpapadala ng pakikiramay sa pagpanaw- kung ano man ang halaga nito.
“Sabi naman naman na kinukuha na lamang ang anak.” Saad ni Faustino, muli, sinubukan ngunit bigo niyang tignan ang kanyang mata.
Binaba ni Edgardo ang kanyang aklat at sumagot naman, “Sino ang may nais na cumula ng mga bata? Kung para ito sa pera maaaring naman sila magpadala ng sulat? Maulan na panahon, ang mga tao ay naglalakbay sa bundok at hindi na bumabalik. Ganun yun.”
“Hindi.”Nilagay ni Faustino ang kanyang kamay sa balikat ni Edgardo. “Ito ay iba sa ganyang pangyayari, kutob ko ito. Dapat tayong magkasama. Tinanong sila Melinda, Pepito at Belen. Maaari namin subaybayan kung ano man ang mangyari sa amin.
“Ligtas ka sa amin,” Nakangiting sabi ni Faustino. Sumimagot si Edgardo. “Kung sabi mo.”
Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na may nagpangako ng ganito. Naisip niya ang kanyang nakatatandang kapatid. Mga gabing pumunta sila sa kweba ng magkasama para maghanap ng mga ginto. Noong isang pagkakataon na hindi siya maingat. Mga bagay na nangyari at hayaan na maganap. Isang gabi si Edgardo ay nakarinig ng bulong ng ibang bata.
“Edgardo—— psssst——— gising, ito ay importante,” sabi ng boses. Lumipas ang ilang minuto kay Edgardo bago bumalik sa realidad. Makatotohanan ang kanyang panaginip: isang bahay na puno ng mga aklat para sa kanya. Malinaw ang kanyang panaginip at nangako na isang araw ito ay magkakatotoo.
“Belen?!”
“Sshhhhhh- huwag mo hayaan na may makarinig sa iyo.” Tinakpan ni Belen ang bibig ni Edgardo. “Anong ginagawa mo rito?” Sabi niya sa pamamagitan ng paguusap gamit ang mga daliri sa senyales.
“Ito ay si Faustino.” Nag-aalala na mukha ni Belen. “Siya ay nawawala.”
“Sigurado ka ba?” Mas tahimik si Edgardo sa pagkakataon na ito, “baka lumabas lamang para maglakad?”
“Kalagitnaan na ng gabi! Wala pa siya sa kanyang bahay. Sumama ka sa akin. Nasa likod ng isang malaking puno na malapit sa bahay ni Faustino si Pepito at Melinda. Kailangan natin siyang hanapin.”
Kinuskos ni Edgardo ang kanyang mga mata at humikab ulit. “Sige, baka nga naman.” Nandoon si Melinda at Pepito sa lugar na sinabi ni Belen kung saan dapat sila matagpuan, ang mga alitaptap sa puno ay nakakatakot sa pakiramdam.
“Sa tingin ko ay nakakita ako ng bakas.” Saad ni Pepito. “May mga bakas papunta sa kweba malapit sa burol.
Napangiwi lahat ng bata. Ang mga kweba na malapit sa minahan ay mapanganib sa mga matanda, lalo naman sa apat na batang nakagrupo. “Kailangan na natin umalis,” sabi ni Belen, “Gagawin ko rin ang parehas para sa amin.”
“Ano ang dapat nating gawin kapag nahanap na natin siya? Meron dapat na maging responsable sa mga pagkawala nila. Paano natin lalaban ito?” Sambit ni Melinda na malapit nang umiyak.
“Hindi natin kailangan kalabanin ito, kailangan mahanap si Faustino at maibalik natin dito, kung saan ligtas,” sabi ni Pepito.
Tumingin sila sa isa’t isa at naghawak kamay. Ang bawat isa ay may solusyon na mahanap ang kanilang kaibigan si Edgardo hanggang maaari. Siya ay nagagalak sa kanyan panaginip.
Sinundan nila ang bakas sa abot ng kanilang makakaya, matuklap man ang kanilang mga balat mula sa mga bato at ugat ng halaman. Noong malapit na silang maabot ang pagkapagod, narating naman nila ang kanilang destinasyon, isang kakaibang kweba na pasukan sa mga maraming lagusan at maaaring hindi na sila makabalik.
Pinamunuan ni Belen ang grupo. Siya ay kumuha ng lampara mula sa kanyang magulang at isang beses ay naisama na rin siya ng kanyang mga kapatid sa kweba. Hindi sa pamumuno ang kanyang lakas, ngunit dapat niyang siguraduhin na meron gagabay sa iba. Kailangan niya itong gawin para kay Faustino.
Si Melinda ang nauna.
Hindi niya kailangan sumigaw. Isang beses na si Belen ang nagsinag ng lampara sa entrada ng ibang lagusan at sa sumunod, noonf tumawag siya ng mga pangalan ng kanyang kasama. Hindi siya natakot sa katahimikan ngunit na pagkakataon na ito, hindi malilimutan sa buong buhay niya.
Sinikap ni Pedro na manatili sa paglalakbay. Naghawak kamay silang lahat at naramdaman ni Belen nanginginig ang kanyang kamay. Sinubukan nitong pakalmahin siya.
“Magiging maayos din ang lahat. Mahahanap natin silang pareho, pangako ko ito.” Sinubukang hindi umiyak ni Pepito habang tumango, ngunit nangibabaw ang kanyang takot.
“Hindi!” Sigaw niya. “Kailangan nating umuwi!”
Sinubukan ni Edgardo sa abot ng kanyang makakaya na pakalmahin siya.” Pepito, kailangan nating manatiling magkasama, ito lamang ang tanging paraan para maka-alis dito!”
Hindi siya nakinig, tinulak niya si Edgardo palayo sa kanya at tumakbo sa kadiliman.
Ang katahimikan ay nagpabigat ng pakiramdam sa dalawang naiiwan.
“Ang tanga ko para isipin na gagana nitong plano.” Nagsimulang bumigat ang paghinga ni Belen at kanyang binaba ang hawak na lampara. “Dapat tayong manatiling magkakasama. Ngayon hindi lamang si Faustino. Lubusang humihingi ako ng patawad. Patawad Melinda, at Pepito! Kailangan nating bumalik, siguro kung sinabi natin sa ating pamilya na pupunta tayo dito at pwede nating hanapin silang lahat. Mahahanap natin sila.” Kinuha ni Edgardo ang lampara at sinabi, “sumama kayo sa akin”.
Walang pagpipilian si Belen kung hindi sumunod sa kanyang bagong kaibigan. Ang ilaw sa lampara ay unti unting naglalaho at ang landas na tinatahak ay mas dumudulas sa daanan. Sinubukan niyang humawak sa pader para maging balanse, ngunit nalaman niyang mamasa-masa din pala. Nakita na rin niya kung ano man iyon noong binigay ni Edgardo ang lampara.
Kulay pula sa kahit saang lugar. Namantsahan ang kanyang mga kamay at damit pati na rin ang mga tumutulo mula sa kisame.
“Hindi ko maitindihan—-” Sinubukang sabihin ni Belen.
Ngunit may panibagong ilaw na tanglaw ni Edgardo, nagbigay liwanag sa isang nilalang na may dalang mabigat na supot ng ginto.
“Dapat kang nakinig sa kanila. Kung nakinig ka maaaring si Faustino lamang.”
“Ako—-Ako—-” Naparalisa si Belen, sinibukan niyang sumigaw habang dinala siya nitong nilalang sa malalim na bahagi ng lagusan.
Noong sumikat na ang araw kay Edgardo habang naglilinis ng kanyang sarili sa ilog, napag-isipan niya:
“Nais kong malaman kung ilang libro ang aking maaaring makuha sa pamamagitan nito.”
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English Version
There was once a child named Edgardo. He was small and quiet and preferred to read books instead of playing with the other children. Books were hard to get in his small mountain community and he treasured the moments when he would go to the city, watch his father exchange the gold they mined for money and buy the books he wanted.
One day he was approached by Faustino, a boy who would usually avoid him. It was one thing to be different, but to be different in a community of a few hundred people made Edgardo feel like he was under a microscope.
“Can I sit here?” Faustino asked him.
“Sure, no one’s stopping you,” Edgardo replied.
“Did you hear about what happened?” Faustino tried to look him in the eye but only succeeded at putting his head down and staring at his shuffling feet.
“Didn’t everyone?” Edgardo said without moving his eyes away from the page he was reading.
“With Veronica that makes 3 since February.” Faustino sat beside him.
It wasn’t uncommon for children to go missing up in the mountains. Danger was everywhere. One moment of absentmindedness could cost you dearly.
The mines were also an issue. Too often their fathers or brothers would just not come home and the mining companies would send their condolences – for whatever that was worth.
“They say someone is taking the children away.” Faustino, again, tried and failed to look him in the eye.
Edgardo put down his book and replied, “Who would possibly want to take the children? If it was for money then wouldn’t they have sent a note? It’s rainy season, people walk around the mountain and don’t come back. Just leave it be.”
“No.” Faustino put his hands on Edgardo’s shoulders. “This is different from that, I can feel it. We have to stick together. I asked Melinda, Pepito and Belen. The five of us can watch what happens with each other.”
“You’ll be safe with us,” Faustino says with a smile.
Edgardo frowns. “If you say so.”
This wasn’t the first time someone made that promise. He thought back to his elder brother. Those nights when they went to the caves together to find gold for themselves. That one time he wasn’t careful. Things would happen and you just had to let them be.
One night Edgardo was awakened by the whispers of another child.
“Edgardo —- psssst —— wake up, it’s important,” the voice said.
It took a few minutes for Edgardo to snap back into reality. The dream that he had was so vivid: a house filled with books all to himself. He was lucid in his dream and he swore that one day it would come true.
“Belen?!”
“Sshhhhhh—don’t let anyone hear you.” She put her hand over his mouth.
“What are you doing here?” he managed to say through her fingers.
“It’s Faustino.” Her face was grim. “He’s missing.”
“Are you sure?” Edgardo was quieter this time, “maybe he just went out for a walk?”
“It’s the middle of the night! He’s not in his house. Come with me. Pepito and Melinda are by the big tree near Faustino’s house. We need to find him.”
Edgardo rubbed his eyes and yawned again. “Fine, might as well.”
Melinda and Pepito were where Belen said they would be, the fireflies giving the tree an eerie aura.
“I think I found a trail,” Pepito said. “There are footprints leading to the caves over by the hills.”
The children all grimaced. Those caves were near the mines and they were dangerous enough for adults, much less a group of four children.
“We have to go,” Belen said, “he’d do the same for us.”
“What are we going to do when we find him? There must be something responsible for the disappearances. How do we fight it?” Melinda was close to tears.
“We don’t need to fight it, we just have to find Faustino and bring him back here, where it’s safe,” Pepito said.
They all looked at each other and put their hands together.
Each had a resolve to find their friend, Edgardo less so. He was still enraptured by his dream.
They followed the trail as best as they could, scraping their skins against the rocks and the roots. And as soon as they were about to fall from exhaustion, they reached their destination, a nondescript cave that they knew was an entrance to a network of tunnels they might not return from.
Belen lead the group. She had taken a lamp from her parents and her siblings had taken her to the caves once. Leadership was not her strength, but she had to make sure the others had a guide. She had to do it, for Faustino.
Melinda was the first.
She didn’t even scream. One moment Belen was shining the lamp on the entrance to another tunnel and the next, when she called out for the names of her companions. She had never feared silence until that moment, it was one she would remember for the rest of her life.
Pepito tried to stay the course. They all held hands and Belen could feel his shaking. She tried to console him.
“It will be alright. We’ll find both of them, I promise.”
Pepito tried to hold back tears as he nodded, yet fear had overtaken him.
“No!” He shouted. “We have to go back home!”
Edgardo tried his best to hold him down.
“Pepito, we have to stay together, it’s the only way we can make it out of here!”
He didn’t listen, he pushed Edgardo off him and ran into the darkness.
The silence weighed heavy on the remaining two.
“I was so stupid to think this would work.” Belen’s breath started to become rapid and she put the lantern down. “We should have stayed together. Now it’s not just Faustino. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry Melinda, Pepito! We have to go back, maybe if we tell our families they can go here and we can all search for them. We’ll find them. We have to find them.”
Edgardo took the lantern and said, “come with me”.
Belen had no other choice but to follow her new friend.
The light from the lantern was slowly fading and the path was getting more slippery as they went along. She tried to grab the wall to balance, but she found that it was damp as well.
She finally saw what it was when Edgardo handed her the lantern.
It was red everywhere. It stained her hands and clothes and drops fell from the ceiling.
“I don’t understand—-” Belen tried to say.
But another light glowed by Edgardo, illuminating a creature carrying a hefty bag of gold.
“You should have listened to them. If you did maybe it would have just been Faustino.”
“I—-I—-” Belen was paralyzed, she tried to scream as the creature carried her deeper into the tunnel.
And as the daylight shined on Edgardo as he cleaned himself in the river, he thought:
“I wonder how many books I can get with this.”
Inspired by the Sagay description in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.
Sagay Illustration by Christian Bitao
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