Chapter 20: Chapter 19: Survivors of the Holguin Ambush

Guantanamo, Cuba

A white ceiling, a clear sky outside the windows, and people chattering like it is just a regular day. But behind the peaceful atmosphere and cheerful faces are persons with missing limbs or arms. One of the persons laughing is even in a wheelchair because both his legs are amputated. The people present are divided into two based on their clothing, those who wear the blue patient gown and those who wear the white medical uniforms.

All of those who are wearing the blue gowns are all patients who survived the rebels’ ambush in Holguin. They can still vividly remember the carnage and brutality of that day, they tried to forget and avoid topics that would make them remember. A lot of them had traumas and nightmares just remembering anything that can relate to the ambush.

They lost their friends and comrades in their units, remembering the grotesque corpse of their allies that they could not even retrieve as they flee. A lot of the corpses of their friends are just lying in the forest with no proper burial and may have become food for the crows or predators. They can’t even save other injured men, especially those who can’t walk or move.

They know that a lot of families will have a gloomy and painful Christmas by the time they would receive the news. Such tragedy should have never happened if only they were vigilant enough, lot of the survivors had self-loathing and blamed themselves for what happened in the disaster.

One of them is Teniente Juaquin Cruz, who survived the ambush but lost two fingers of his left hand. Until now, he can always remember the faces of his men who died in the ambush. He even had trouble sleeping every night because he would have nightmares where his men is blaming their deaths because of his incompetence.

He would always drown himself in alcohol before bedtime so that he can sleep at night. The doctors and nurses would just let him have a drink because it would be better than no sleep at all. He vows that if ever he would be able to get out of the hospital and deem fit for service, he would return back to action and take revenge for the Teniente Coronel and his fallen men. When the doctors learn what the Teniente is planning, they tried their best to convince him to recuperate than to return, they know that if they let him return, then he would return to a worse state than he is now.

They even prevent news from the outside to reach inside the hospital that the beheaded heads of their comrades are sent by the Cubans to the colonial capital, Havana. They couldn’t understand such barbarity from the rebels, it seems like the rebels are not human beings but demons. The Churches and priests even condemn the actions of the rebels but they were not deterred and instead attack churches in the provinces and towns.

They heard that there are factions among the rebel groups where one of them is the one who was committing such crimes and other factions and groups tried to distance themselves from that group but the damage was already done. The rebellion had reached the point of no return and this time everything and everyone would be swept into the conflict. The Spanish would never let go of this crime unanswered, brutality would be met with brutality, blood for blood.

But not everyone is in a state of blaming themselves, one of the survivors, Hernando, is thankful to God for giving him a second chance at life. He remembers that when he was hit by a rifle in the head and sunk deep in unconsciousness, he vows that if ever he would survive, he would quit the army and goes home back to his family. That he would rather choose simple life as a farmer or laborer back in Spain than be a soldier sent in conflicts and wars.

He knows that instead of blaming their own selves, he would rather use this second chance to meet his loved ones and stay with them. And he was not alone in this kind of thinking. The majority of the survivors would use their injuries and traumas so that they could be discharged from the military with some pensions. They want to meet their families home already and they’re just waiting for ships that would bring them back to Spain.

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“How are you Teniente?”

“I’m fine. Thank God for clear skies today.”

“Yeah. Thank God.”

Hernando approaches Teniente Juaquin as he observed that he is alone today looking up at the clear skies. Hernando is thankful because it is the Teniente who carried him when he is unconscious during the ambush. Without him, Hernando may be dead right now. After a few days stuck within the hospital walls, the two become close and become friends and drinking buddies.

“Do you still want to join in fighting against the rebels Teniente?”

“Yes, I want to fight this war as my atonement to all men I lost during the ambush. I need to give justice to our men who died fighting against those dishonorable barbarians.”

“I know that I can’t stop you Teniente if that was your decision but I hope that you will also consider your family and loved ones who are left at home. It is already a big blessing that we were able to survive from such a hellish situation, but I hope you will not throw your life recklessly in pursuit of revenge or glory.”

“I know Hernando. I know.”

Both men are looking towards the sea that is near the hospital. They see birds that are flying low near the surface of the sea, hoping to catch any fish. The day is very peaceful and clear that it is like a dream, it is like the rebellion didn’t even occur. They know that not far away from here, there are a lot of people dying and fighting because of the rebellion.

Every time that there would be conflict, a lot of unnecessary casualties and victims would be involved as both sides would lose their humanity and compassion in the pursuit of victory. Even though the two of them had different plans after their stay here, both purely wished that the rebellion would end and it would not be dragged for too long.

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