“Who… who are you?” Yin asked in Chinese. The nurses looked at each other, then turned back toward him and shook their heads, replying something in English that obviously meant they did not understand him. But a nurse bent forward to wipe sweat and mucus from his face and eyes, and he was able to see—
— several Filipino soldiers marching into the room, with M-16 rifles slung on their shoulders. So. He was a prisoner of the wretched Philippine Army, or worse, the damned Americans. Even though he saw no American-looking faces, he assumed he would be turned over to them soon.
Presently, a physician in a white lab coat appeared before him, along with, to his great surprise, the senior ship’s doctor from the
Commander Tran bowed to Admiral Yin. “Thank the gods you are well, Comrade Admiral.”
Yin struggled to rise to a sitting position, and Tran helped him. “Report, Doctor. Who are these men? What is the status of the ship? What of the crew?”
“The men are well, Admiral,” Tran replied. “Many casualties, but we can speak of that later. The ship is damaged but safe. It is secured in Ulugan Bay, not far from here. Several other ships of our task force are there as well.”
Ulugan Bay. Palawan Province, the Philippines. So they
Tran motioned toward the officer at the foot of the bed. “This is General Robert Munoz di Silva, commander of the provincial defense force,” he said. “He is our… host. He speaks no Chinese. I know English, sir; I can interpret for you.”
“Ask him then if we are his prisoners,” Yin said, “and what sort of treatment my crew and myself can expect from them.”
Tran looked puzzled, then relieved. “No, sir, you do not understand…”
“Ask him,” Yin ordered.
Tran was about to speak once again, but, at a stern glance from Yin, bowed and relayed the question in broken, hesitant English. But obviously General di Silva understood, because the pig-faced bastard threw back his head and laughed out loud, right in Admiral Yin’s face!
Then, to Yin’s complete surprise, the Philippine General walked over to Yin and kissed him on both cheeks! Yin stared at the man, flabbergasted, while General di Silva babbled on enthusiastically about something or other.
Yin shook his head warily. They must have given him morphine. Or worse. Something was wrong here.
Dr. Tran read his thoughts: “You do not understand, Comrade Admiral. We are not prisoners of General di Silva — we are their liberators and allies.”
“What?” Yin asked, sitting up straight. “What are you saying? Their liberators? But—”
“According to General di Silva, he no longer considers his force to be part of the Philippine military,” Tran said. “He and his men have been secretly opposed to the capitalist pro-American government in Manila for over forty years. They’ve been waiting for such an opportunity to strike out at the puppet of the Americans. He is asking for our help in supporting his movement and assisting him and his fellow Communists in severing ties with the rest of the Philippines and establishing a pro-Communist state here on Palawan.” With that, they watched in complete surprise as di Silva stripped off his blue and gold epaulets of the Philippine Integrated National Police and tossed them over his shoulder. A few of the nurses and doctors who had filled the room looked ashen at the demonstration, but most of the others were smiling broadly, some even applauding.
But Admiral Yin couldn’t believe his eyes. Although he knew a potential enemy would go to extreme lengths to confuse a prisoner into cooperating or giving up information, this di Silva seemed sincere. Could they have drugged him? Was this all some kind of grand hoax…? “Doctor, ask him what is happening. Ask him if we have been drugged. Tell him I wish to be released immediately and reunited with my crew.”
Commander Tran had to raise his voice a bit over the impromptu celebration there in the room, but eventually he communicated the Admiral’s question and received a reply: “Sir, he says he is empowered to release all of us and our vessels if we so desire,” the physician translated, “but he wishes to say that the revolution has begun and that you are the catalyst for constructive change in Palawan, and perhaps all the Philippines, for all true Communists. He is prepared to offer us protection until we are well enough to function, then he pledges that his loyal forces will rally behind us to free Palawan and create a powerful, respected Communist nation.” Di Silva spoke again, and Tran added, “General di Silva is putting you in command of his provincial defense force, sir. You may order him and his men to do as you please. But he asks that you accept the challenge. It would be a dishonor for you and the Republic of China not to…”
