THE PLIfiHTED I¥0RD And Flora? Sima choked on a hdf chcwcd morsel of fish.
3hc coughed vio1cnuy
Narciso Re es auJ came in her eyes Wiping them with the sleeves nf her camixa she lcfi the table
|‘Wc Riyfltcd W0rd“ is 8 story of • ^*•shicr who sacnticcd hcrhappincss so or«r ca!ing. Dzmian pu! on his hat, lighted annihcr of his home-made cigars and
tha
bCf fZ/07 COUld #W§ fIi5 agrd Of holXlf. wcnl out. The rcighborhcod zzsnciation was having u mccting. As vicc•ywsidcnt. he had
io & present. Ftcra*x hmfhzr, Pastor, had gore ahead to reminJ be memhcr« and prg[
drc the mccting•placu•. Moihcr and daughter were Fch alnnc in !hc house.
Having said whathaJ a he slid, Demi:ci xtood xpwJ cruxhM ihc lightattndof Ms
tigarin be bzmboo ash may. Sima sat quic't mill, hlrdiy discernible in Mhz ‹lutnrrs of Now Ifiis silent woman, who in twenty years or w d in haJ nof once faiscd
Ifo sâla. The si\cacc IX;twccn them dwpcncd, amc ¥ live ar¥l pdpzbic prcxrzc. her voice against her husband, and who had nnl said a word wkcn he tolé her he had
chosen a mate for ftcr doubiitcr, begs to Uh. Quietly she iold Plnra all that asian had
"ii's for Flora's ay.c goal.*' Dzmsinsaid. zs dough tkc.si\cncc hcd spotcn aod told her. Then, gravely, she said:
Is wzs giv ng answtr. “Mamas is a good man. Flan wilt be happy w th him."
‘be word is a\I-important—the plightcd word. Your fajhcr's word, once gjvcn.
sim‹na‹a›.r:r‹h‹‹nd«ioa/xrr«iit. carmot be broken. Better dcaih rhan dishonor. as the saying goes. the ponr have onJy one
word: Ificy caztnoi afford tbz luxury of dupIiCi\y.
"Come." sai4 Damian. leading its way to ldc kitchen. "Syppcr will gcl co]d."
"On Sunday Marcos' marker will come and perhaps also his uncle, Don Luis him-
Willful a word Sima xood vp zrb followcJ him. self. YDur falter wi[t give Ns word—on fii‹nrIav. The is • week frqm now. Seven days
I urdtnia«d, she kooghl, zs she watched Damian and Flora cal their mca) Of rice
aflâ bf0i|câ bj,sh, ) SIMON, I lt80w
unul zl›chad become his wife. He was rich in his ourt right, zn4 he wcs the ncphcw and
»:raranL»:›, wlloowned half IfIc province and two ords towns in the ncxt arc. Icas
UDd8\. â Ok ff0M FIOW, Cf1tt.6gtnCS Vr0/g COfTIO IO UIF fDrfrlt)ly fDr fiOra’S
hand. Dalriian would lx suipriscd: hc would grafted Plnrz's unworthirc and
otlxivisc di!ly•dañy ccc0fdirtg IO anc Cm cu.com. But in Ihccn‹l kc ould lx prevailed “£°hrisuna'• tx nu1y tu‹› u'cck away. fl'liLrc is u :›\o¿ thut d1o Tncu in tie hillx arc
conning ‹Jnwn In Nyx:nd Chrislmax a'iIh thcir f‹wniIics. icy h:we \cft their camps, ij is
upxi. thigh reluctantly, to give his conscrt. A dale would be xl, and Ihc maITia@ w0uld Inc
.said, and arc no x' in ihc nullyng villages, wanting for a chnrx:u In xl ip Il\rough \hc
&4 go0d a$ Int mmn(rd
guards. Can Antonlhcymyifulof+ncmcnanJmmcuf+«wJ l adAths sq.
biiAnloniS
".Nof cvcy'Pnr can wander abnut."
RFC \¥d1 4 big, i\I.5h f8M1 Jt0flf the track, Damian had often stnppcJ there. and
wa clxd, zzid walkcd the Icng\it and thc hzadfh Of it, ord pictc8 up the rich umtd canh, "1 hey w'eave tcaaiil'ul piñn Clrtili iil San :tntoil. 1 ml iliiiib iiit of sending
scanning lo weigh it in his rough.z rongh nds, Marcos would but him in charge, at perhaps Paser them to buy me a ne ' recur.i' i io w'car on Chris an.ts Day."
fl6’It IO IiM 0Utnghl. A\ )00g lBSt hg \¥DUlLl 0\t'fi )5nd, glld IN things lh0l g0 wilft bging
in
owner of lanJ.
Pxsinrlcfl hcfnrc dawn. Lcfnrc kis fatlxr hzrt zwzkcn. He borrowed his friend Mcntc's She remembered ihc laxi ‹imc xls had xtcn him. ftc was in mgs and had a u.'ound
bicycjc, in\cndi»g a rtdc to Kfx4iwag and fmm there cut acmss tic fields on foot to in hir left shouldcr, buf he walked wilh I ia I cmd JcijjI› anJ his fc‹dc s eye.x sh niny. II w,zs
Sart Anion. Hc T ad an uncle in MaTiwag with› whom Tx cnuld lccvc \hc hike, Sch Antpn I:hc l2• nLApril, km dsy affcr ific fat) uf HiMaan. ftp Cllr cw£u it›n nf Thu xuru:nJcr, hc
was 8 well-known guerrilla outpost. The main approaches to fhz village were closely hM escaped and air- on his way to flx Sien-a hlMrc foothills. He had pasxed by, the
guarded hr Japanese and Corrslahulary \rocys. saict. to gtve them news of Pastor. whom be had seen amoi›g ‹he prisoiurs nf v• ar.
Demin *skc‹l him.
Flc had smiled and shaken hir head. "Tlx .air in the town dncs nnt aj;rce with mc." he
Aad said. “I*)I suiy in lhc hills For a while."
Gu3Jalupc was fbnio'* cousin and Flom's closest friend and conrdani. The
In ano0›cr ionc he had a‹tdcd, glancing ai Floru: “€iod willing. I shall oomc b«ct.
mes- sage was: “After Sunday. Icl*fn Rio Consider mC zs one dcxd. Lci him torgci mc
utt0ñ y and 1ivC his life *s though he h5d never tnown mc."
Arzl he had , takittg with him. 5ima felt. pan of themselves and of
lfTonip was in Serf union with his men, zs rumor had it. he would be staying in thnusselvm Brat of things they wishnd to be ...
Gu•datupc's house. If he was anywhere whin call. Guzddupc could find a way la
reach him, Ifhc wasouiofiouchwithGucdz\upc.\hcncw.sIhatamzui‹gc was king a Parlor had come homc wikouf mishap and zzovz it was a maucr of waiting Nc
angcd in Ivtaytubig might yci fetch him. had boughi the cloth his mother wanicd and dc1i'rczod Flora's rnsssagc ‹o Guadalupc, 3bnlo
had gor›e to Sia. hfonicz on a mission. buc u'ou\d Ie luck in Ssri Anton Friday momi
Seven dll Pz'ttor lc8wd fonvard like z racer and squeezed a li\Plc mom spcctl Friday a Surday was Ihrcs days. Three days, Guadalups kad remarked, was a long
out of Mmtc*s bicycle. His father would miss him tcday. He htJ started Ixicing ‹be tizoc.
vcge«tbk patch ad Damien wanted it ftnishcJ fcforc ihc cools became loo Finl. Pastnr
sj›ni on the zoad. If ihc old tyrant wanted Itic wnrk done. ICT him do i‹ h:emir. ml It was Vdcdnesdsy eRcirKxxn when Pailnr returt›ed. He had expected to be
h‹s a ‹he big fgm near Ifc creek. too, if xc can get iL Pastor ihoughf of Mcroos and Dun ldwl- md wac surpnscd wtien his father gmeted hlm ctvttty. atmost cordially. at tneugR
Luis, and anger caughi at his ihroa and madc btca0›ing diITicuT‹. He cursod them. moilng h a happened. Tium war a cuno i gkans in K old maa's cunning eyus. "He'»
Wealthy, go‹xI-for- nothing leeches who thought they could buy anything 4xy fw‹cd, happy" non tia4 e•piained. *Oon Luis ant ror bin this morning. They nad e tong talk
Pzclor yul his wcigk on tbe pz‹laIs until tic chccls hummed and W cold air bii inlo his erm after lunch they went to to man hall togt0icr,"
face.
Sima had her answcn zcady, hut Dzmia› w'<s riot derived.
On Thursday, samclhing framed. A large contingent ofJap t rzinfarczzl by
“I kzxsw Tania is in S3n Anion." he said. cutting shon ter uxplanxti0n of Pasior $ Ouec companies ofthc ConszabMary. •idcd SanArnorc Tfc village wes razed io0 eg › ad;
absaxc. "I know, no, that Iz cannol come tn Mayi«hig. I fhc docs .. ." Damian gl the men capurcd were filled on tbe spot. Tlut night, the neightx›ring vfllagcs wnta
drugged his shoulders. "'You kxou' hnw the Joys gujtish Mr‹lits."
“He's not a bandil.”
"He calls himself a guerrilla. What's the di flcrcncc“' ldc Izkcs rice fmm iJx' farmers.
eggs and chickens from tic ;›outtrymcn. hogs from trc rziscn of live fnck. money from
*”He has to live llkc u5." Sima and Pastor listened, ozJc «nd izht-lioocd. tn uc tatc of horsor.
“How long wilt if fast?" Fior8 cotJJd not help asking
Damian looked a her unfit xhc lowered hcr eyes. “A wcck or Iwrt." Ie uñ d. 'P-
As alwa wlxn Ixr lean tric‹J out in pruicst, Sina was siJcrn. She was prouJ of
lainly not soomr than Sunday ..."
fcr son whn J›a5 Fought in aatau, bui sA’ ao1 prouder yc of that u‹1r t›nc wlo had
ncycr slopped ftghtinji.
“How long will ii Inst?“ Flora could not help ackin6' now on I‘ll go to town whenever I wmt to go io too.“
Damian lookrd a her until xh« In*crcd her cycx. "A tvcck ur two.” he satd. 'p-
lainly not sooner th3n Sunday ...“
Three day. Guadalupc hcd .aid. wax a long cimc. FIOra and Sima Couldn't find
cz1ou@ things to do in Lhc house Lhat long, terror-charged J-riday. Ilstor h3d a bcl\cr
time. He was out in Ihc fields, where a man could expend his strength zzid tire himself out.
In the evening he came home hungry srid silent, ate a melt of cold rice and fish, and •x’cnt to
sleep wizlxnii saying a word.
Dauiiun, howr'ver, »'a* In finE »yiriLs. He had gorx fishiny in Lhe creek by ttw
big rz«• m‹ unknown. He b« ¿t ‹ h‹›mc a wiring uf mudfish, khc biggest of which was
just s bit smaller the Flora's fnrccrm. oamian meaned it himalf and rallied ic over iAc
emfers, whistling air he worked. His mirtJ wo.t nn fhe fziiurc.
What a farm," hC iJ , fit}', io nn nnc n plKicular. “.host fcniJc land in BuJacazi
and rieht by ihc creek, loo. with it.s sw«rms nr F fi. li I u.s never been fully cxptoiizd. yet i\
has rhe btggea rirld per heaarz in its wrote province. Hatr rue Scar it Vics idle, a
paauze for suzy catabaos . . . Ea9y la double or jziglc its yicld . . , A good strong
fenos . .. rich, com. and vegetables in solution ... amango orchant back of I ie house
...”
He had rrever been more geniai. He insisted that Sima eat the choices mm1s of
fun md depiecaie Fiora‘s lack of uppeii[e.
“When I was your age.” he said.’*I ‹x›uld eat a whole pig, at br mymit. How old
are
"I shxI1 be niurf•m on Christmas Eve.'
"A good xge to get married. Not no young. not loo old."
*‘I—I'm no‹ so desirous of gcrung marñ cd."
DdmiAn pu5hcd back his empty plaic, m:u‹ing e ifuc clatter on ihc table. “Don
Luis himscJf is coraing on Sunday evening,” be said, addressing Sima. "XiLt Lie suckling
pig an4 rhe faoest of“M rhi•Lrn• "
Hc sixx›d up. ligfiTed a cigxr. and wmt to bed.
That nJght passed somehow and it was Saturday, anJ SunJay wee only a day oR.
After beaLrs Sima called Pastor aside. “thai's the news7 she asked. ”Can pmplc go
through nov ‹o Sta. ktonica or San Anton?“
Pasior shook his head.
"Be on ›e I kout for anyone coming from Jovm.” she begged. “You might hear
someling new.”
“I'll go to town nwsnlf.”
'*Your father might get angry.”
Pasmr lated deep inJx› his mother's eyes. “1 don't care.” he said quietly. "From
wound
In his nght lhtgh. He zcachc‹t DzmiM”s farm a huJc after midnight.
Pastor rx>dde0. "I ”JI borrow fi4cntc”s bike.””
He uood *‹ ldc gate md F\on. who had liken into numbed slumber, stirred and
He came back late in Gc aftenioon. depressed and grim. There had t•sen a opcnod her cycs zs thnygh her name had been callod.
fight ritar Sta. _Mnnica in day before. Tbnio's party tial tees waylaid hj a
batiaiioa of Japs. Tnnio had been wounded bui had got away. Pasior heard the
siory from a giñ win› had teen there az \hc timc and wbu had later teen allowed
to pass through i1›e lines on the strength of a pass issued by the pzovinCial
commander.
'Wuadalupc must have managed to send word ‹omchnw w Jonio."said
Pastor. “Hc must have been on Ills way tn h1ayrubig when he wax nmA›•hrfl He
may aili he ahtc tn fflakC tl. LIC ‹10Cfi TtOt gIYC yg C&6tTy.“
“But he i.s wounded!" czied Atom.
"He has a nigh\ and day to do it," said Sim a. “AftCf Sundcy night. it u'on*t
aiaccr
whether be cr›mcs or -t."
Tbnio aiu not come turf night, nnr Jim he shnw up Ihc next day. zi
sur›dovzn, Sima gave him up. Don Luis would be ooming a‹ supper iime. ARer
Damizn h2d given his word, the betrothal wuuId be a public LompzLt which
riciihcr pony could but w›rhout incurring tasting dr glee.
”Resign y»urscif, my child.” she told Atos. "Perhaps if 's G‹›d’s will that this
xhould
"1 u’i.sI ! were dcazl.” said worn.
“Don'i buy such things, ct ld. who snows'* r«map.x i's for ‹hc ecsc“
“J u'ish I had r cvCY
bcCn bcm.“ “Hush. Finn,
flush ...” ”m•at1i
would be sweeter.“
”Bill rnu disfienor yriur riwit fstfter, clti I d7 Wlll you hrinp di sgrncc uprin u,s
all*”
Flora wn silent. 8utyitig tier face in her mother‘s lap. she wept like a cttild.
tin Luis camC al the 0ppcin\cd fimc. tic fnrmalt\ics were punctiliously
observed. Thc scale und quad-uttlcc nf cuamm and convention were cCremowous\
y imprc<sc4 upon thc hctrn'AaI. When 1onin finally camu, 0s tlting we done.
For Tontp did come. lie cmmc alonc. ldc came on foot, limping fFDm 2 sober
He pu had itie gate open and limped across he yard. From was wide awake now and
acutely aware of ffic ntshi xnd in ‹tramc sounds. ftcr moihcr lay beside her in the
room. Hcr brother Astor sIc{x in ‹he sal2. her fa\htr lay, snonng, ncJr the door to the
kitchen Ftora tumcd over on her belly xnd \it‹rnod to 0›c nniscs ou\sidC.
The houS2 I'M bu.iJt hibh. The lower part wax unfcnccd and Toni0 h@ no difficulty
gerting under IJx room when Florc !•r T1c knew She would be thcr2. a» akc and
wailing. He «ood quite shit ie case his heart and he r«iad his face Grid cilcJ her
r.«mc.
"Flora,“he .saia sufUy and Fl0 z, jist niiJg, negro music md felt again the quick
wild nish Of wonder his Oicc had CvokcJ, \h0\ flat \imc, u'hCn he had lookcd txoIdly
into her cyCs and seen his own ifnagC lJtc , iransFtgurcd in ihc clearer, lumin0iJs dCpth .
Ag2in it was harvest time and they were alone, for a moment, ai thc fool of nld
comma's hzysiack, ard be war saying. “J ahzll wait for ynu ice toniyI\I, Flora," in a
voice nf hnncy and fire.
Tnnio called her nsmc « second lime cn‹I Flora. her face pressed h3rd 4goin‹z her
{›i1t0w. knew cg0in the fcCl nd.straw in her hair 3nJ Lc tree cf fmgr0nt onL‹ in her mouth.
Tanio'r strength wz5 a cToxk abnui her ml lhc .tche in hir voice cas in her be:irt also.
1mc mo>'cd Ip a icy' pitch and mca,xurc; firm weller u‹JrTd dogs Worked :md 8 cock
crew: 6e
‹•rni•fl air wz nf a new clump”
A Ihird ttme Tonio czllcd her 2nd now Ftnra, weeping s lcntty upon her pillow, knew
whai it was to be aJonc, and What 1£ mcimt tn hnvc part of her Olwmcd fry thinp•a and
ptaCcs shc knew only fry name: patriotism aitd 2 hC2Ch czltCd LingayCn, democracy and a
pcmin• fiLtl2 7l3ñ tcd Butzan, fax:dam and .strange hill.x md ran#cs in Central Luzon's
unmappcd sicrr8.s. She knew, then, that rhc wnuld »uvt:r he whot« 2gain until flit: war u'ar
over urtd the last soMigr safely cnmc hnmc.
There was a silcncc and rinw TofiiP .said. "Gondhje, Flnrn," and ii wa.s as lhough
he spr›ke also in air and space, and Fiora z'zs aware nf ihe stars shining in tllc darkness
and again the wand WaS d littic ball in the hollow of her palm, ju.st is it was when
Tonio had asked her IG he his wife.
He waxed a moment. conscious oftfic dis«mcc to thc gate, his wcighl on his wounded
\cg \o see if he could rrust ir in that deepening silcncc. He fixed it a little and was satisfied,
ard he moved out ard waJkcd stmi@I acm.<s Ihc yard and .shut the g:lie behind him.
