CHAPTER SEVEN

AVOIDING ARROGANCE

My comrade and I had not been meetings since I was silently transferred to the Intellegence Unit of the PLA(People's Liberation Army). I know and I had met the enemy more than once. So I myself won't be that arrogant. 

The enemy (The Americans) are not as simple minded as the Filipino people. They will relentlessly pursue their goal and do anything at all costs to achieve their goals. I was in a meeting with the circle and the elders. The elders themselves most of them are Korean War Veterans. They had fought american troops in the Korean Peninsula  during the 1950s. 

So I presume they know what the Americans can do, what kind of attitude they have, and in how many ways possible they could be relentless. In our group There were a batch of new recruits from the mainland china who just graduated from the military school. They are trained under the supervision of the skillful commander and war veterans. 

One time during the meeting on the 'Secret Bunker' I myself was silent and listening to everything the elders discussed about our missions and the changes in the battlefield. We are all old dogs there who had experiences on killing and taking the lives of others. 

The young private who is only 19 by age came from Guangxi province. He along with other new recruits sent by Beijing to South East Asia are our main front lines on facing the opponent( The Philippine Government and the American cooperatives). They are the ones who are trained in rifles, rocket launchers, and snipers. 

During Break time of the meeting with the Circle, I was sitting on the bench and just near the big door of the 'Secret Bunker'. He approached me and smoking his cigarette. he said,"Comrade, I heard a lot from you. MY CO(Commanding Officer) told me you are one of the 'From Hell and Back Squads' boys. "

I looked at him and nodded. 

"I know from the look in that eyes you are a silent but deadly type of assassin." He said

I humbly replied,"Boy, it is not important how people think of you. It is important what you think of yourself and what you can do."

He smiled at me and gave me a handshake. He introduced himself to me,"I am 2nd class Private Lim. I am from Guangxi. Nice to meet you veteran." I shook his hand and smiled back. I told him my name. He then told me the story why he is here in the Philippines and what kind of missions they have. 

I gave him a piece of advice in a nice way,"Boy, be careful of who you are talking to especially if it is a special operative mission. Secrets like that are supposed to be kept secret without any instructions from your superior."

He smiled at me and arrogantly spoked how he wanted to send Americans to hell. I told him I know we are on the same boat and we are on the same front line. But it doesn't mean the americans are easy targets. I warned him the same qoutations as our forefathers used to say. 

"Don't Mistaken the eagle for a chicken cause it might cause you your life."

He knows I hated the Americans much more than he do. But I was never arrogant when it comes to fighting an enemy who is relentless and without any hindrance of actions. Although China right now has the military might equivalent to the american armed forces but it doesn't mean it is sure shot. In war, there is no such thing as sure shot. This is also applicable to the American Front lines. 

He offered me his cigarette but I refused to get one. I never smoked at all. I just smiled at him and see him leave with a smile in the face. I am pretty sure he got the idea of what I meant.