Sandra sprung into action since she was the only woman among the group. She took out one-meter linen from her backpack and spreads it even in the solid gra.s.sy ground. Then she opened her husband"s backpack. Romeo helps her took out the large bucket of fried chicken, rice, packed meals, burgers, bottled drinks, plastic spoon, and fork as well as plastic cups and plate and placed them in the linen."Let"s eat guys!" Sandra said.
They started eating picnic style in an open-air surrounded by tall trees and mountains. It"s a nice experience for all of them, especially that the foods they were eating were deliciously yummy and tasty!
Done eating, they rested for another ten minutes, then Sandra began disposing of their trash, wrapping it in the cellophane and putting it back into Romeo"s backpack to be disposed of properly when they returned in the village.
They resumed their walking for another hour. The green scenery was abundant everywhere they fixed their eyes. It"s nature"s way of displaying its charm and grandeur to the visitors in the forest.
Their nonstop walking finally brought them into a clearing, with five houses scattered nearby. A few children were playing in the backyard and some women can be seen hanging clothes in the ropes to dry. There were goats, chicken, roosters, cows, and horse grazing in the green gra.s.s nearby. It was such a peaceful sleepy place.
One of the women waved at Mang Kanor acknowledging his arrival. "Mang Kanor! Long-time no see!"
"Yes, am back! How are you guys doing?" Mang Kanor answered.
"Were fine," replied the women in unison.
Mang Kanor and his entourage pa.s.s by on the houses and they were heading straight to the last house on the west side, which was the soothsayer"s residence.
Outside the house, in the backyard...
They were greeted by a man on his early forties which happens to be Mang Kanor"s friend. They chatted for a few minutes and they were welcomed inside the backyard and into a hut with wooden tables and chairs which was the extension of the main house.
"Kids, I will go inside to greet Aling Pacing, the woman healer. I will talk to her first. Just stay here and have some rest," Mang Kanor said to his companions. Then he turned to his friend and asked him if the visitors can have a fresh buko as their refreshment while resting.
"No problem, I will ask my son to climb the coconut tree and get some buko for them, but I will bring you to my mother first so that you can explain the reason why you guys are here," said the man.
They entered the nipa hut and talked to Aling Pacing who was sitting on the wooden chair, her eyes facing the window looking at the mountain top outside their house.
"Mother... Mang Kanor is here and he brought some visitor from the city. Mother, please talk to them," said the man and he left.
Aling Pacing a 70 years old woman stared at the man in front of her. "Kanor, why your friends are here?"
"Auntie, one of my friend has his wife missing for two months already, that woman was gone missing out of the blue and she was one month pregnant during the time she suddenly disappeared, please help my friend find his wife," there was a tone of pleading in Mang Kanor"s voice.
Aling Pacing released a deep sigh. "I"m in retirement already yet you keep bringing people here? How am I able to rest?" she grumbled softly.
"I"m sorry Auntie, but please have mercy on the pregnant woman and the grieving husband!" he begged again.
The old woman went silent for a total of fifteen minutes, she was in deep thoughts. She already retired, distances herself away from the people because they come to her even with just the slightest problem, they were already become dependent on her even with just a simple toothache, stomach ache, simple wife and husband problem and a lot of common and simple problem. It became annoying and irritating already. Now that she was so far away, only serious people with a serious problem would willingly cross the six rivers just to seek her help. She was looking forward to a full retirement but some people are persistent enough to seek her help and she can"t refuse them when they were already waiting patiently and weary outside her house after a long journey crossing the rivers.
"Okay, bring the husband inside, only the husband! Then prepare the offering, I want fresh blood, you know the ritual," she said and sighed again.
Mang Kanor went outside to fetch John. He brought him inside the nipa hut to talk with Aling Pacing.
"Good afternoon Aling Pacing my name is John," he said his greeting and sat down on the chair facing the old woman.
"Your pregnant wife was missing for two months already, is that right?" asked the old woman.
John nodded his head. "Yes!"
"What is her name?"
"Catherine," answered John.
"Did you bring with you her photo and her clothing?" Aling Pacing asked.
John took Catherine"s photo from his wallet and fished out her favorite pink blouse from his backpack and handed it to the old woman.
Aling Pacing stared at the beautiful smiling woman in the photo for the longest time while holding the pink blouse. "She has a twin sister?" she blurted all of a sudden.
John"s eyes widen his heart was beating faster, looks like this woman is a real deal. How did she know that Catherine has a twin?
"Yes," John answered.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.
"Catherine gives birth to your first child which is a boy before she disappeared, am I right?"
"Yes!" John swallowed the lump in his throat. Holy Christ! How did she know? A chill runs down his spine.