Chapter 23
"Not again," Bogart complained. "How many times must we face an explosion and gets thrown?"
Jamie laughed. He could not believe that in such an unholy moment, his friend could crack a wise joke. Bogart joined him laughed and rolled in the ground until tears filled their eyes.
"That was witty," Jamie admitted.
He suddenly sat up and looked around him. n.o.body noticed them, although several men were running on sight. He pointed to a nearby truck and crawled towards the vehicle. Bogart understood what he meant and followed behind him.
"How shall we find the two?" Bogart asked while catching his breath at the same time.
"I have no plan, yet," Jamie answered, "but we really need to find them immediately."
"I can't think of any plan but retracing our path."
"We can't go back there. There was just an explosion. And there may be too many people there right now."
Jamie stood up and peeped through the side of the truck where they were hiding. Indeed, there was a crowd in there. Those who rushed to the scene were helping the wounded and limping.
"Come and see, "Jamie invited Bogart." The truck is on fire. "
"Huh, " Bogart could not believe what he just heard.
Quickly, he jumped to Jamie's side and watched the chaos. The men were frantically running. While some a.s.sisted the injured, most were packing up and dumping their stuff at the back of other trucks.
"Are they leaving now?" Bogart inquired.
"I think so. They are leaving and moving fast. This place looks more dangerous with each pa.s.sing minute."
"Hey!" Bogart suddenly said excitedly. "I think I saw them."
From a distance just few vehicles from them, two small beings were hiding behind a truck. From time to time, they peeped through the side, as if waiting or watching for something. Bogart pointed which truck and Jamie smiled in disbelief.
"I think it's really them," Jamie. "Thank goodness they are safe."
Unknown to them, Kiko had also seen their shadows glancing by the truck. Their hiding spots were almost across from
"Did you see them?" Kiko asked Tonton.
Tonton nodded and said, "We have to join them."
"But how? There are too many men out there. They could easily catch us."
"Let's think of a way."
They were busy talking that they did not notice that two men were approaching their truck. Jamie and Bogart saw the men and got instantly worried. They were now within touch of the truck but their friends were oblivious to them.
"We have to do something," Jamie said in panic.
To his surprise, Bogart stood up and walked towards the men. He looked calm and relaxed, but inside, he was sweating in fear.
"Hey!" Bogart shouted at them while waving his hands up.
"Hey, kid, what are you doing here?" one of them asked.
"I'm lost."
"This place is off limits to kids," the other said. "You just don't get lost here."
"We are playing hide-and-seek," Jamie spoke up as he was getting out of his hiding place.
He sensed Bogart had really no definite plan as he was unable to clearly answer the men. Slowly, he walked towards him.
"What are you doing?" Jamie whispered.
"Saving them," he whispered back.
'Hey, hey, hey!' the second one asked in exasperation. "You can't be talking by yourselves."
"You must be the kids who saw the body and screamed," the other one chimed in.
The boys gave a puzzled look in response. Meanwhile, Kiko and Tonton were taken aback by their friends' action. They were not expecting that. They were busy conversing that they became unaware of the men.
"So they knew we saw the body," Kiko said in a low voice after a.n.a.lyzing the man's statement.
"They knew about us," Tonton answered, "and now they are after them."
"Hold your hands up," the more suspicious man ordered Jamie and Bogart. "We will take you to our commander."
Upon hearing those words, the kids realized something. The men they dealt with were not scientists but more like army men based on their clothings.
"No you can't!" Jamie yelled in panic as the men suddenly seized them.
The boys struggled in their grasp since the men were too much stronger. Fueled by rage, Tonton and Kiko leapt out from hiding and rushed at them. Tonton jumped on the man that held Jamie, knocking him down. He grunted from the sudden attack. On the other hand, Kiko bit the fingers of the man that grabbed Bogart. The person screamed and slapped Kiko, sending him on the ground. At the same time, he threw Bogart forcefully. The other two boys saw what he did and attacked him. Jamie pulled his arm and when he was almost out of balance, Tonton kicked him in the b.u.t.t, sending him over to his colleague lying on the ground. Both men groaned, both from pain and shock. The boys hugged each other, joyed knowing that they were all safe.
"You little rascals!" one of the men yelled.
The two men attempted to stand but were immediately pushed by the boys. However, one of them grabbed Kiko by the hand and both of them fell. The three boys quickly went up to them and punched the man, freeing Kiko.
They were in this state of commotion when the burning truck sent out a huge flame. A siren wailed and the trucks in the camp started their engine.
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The boys stepped back and grouped together. They were staring at the flame while the trucks began moving.
"Requesting all personnel to leave the area," the megaphone from one of the trucks announced.
The two men swiftly got up and went to their truck, unmindful of the boys.
"You boys better leave here now or get grilled in the explosion," one of them shouted. They gasped at what they heard.
"Run!" Jamie ordered and the boys immediately dashed to the end of the camp....