DUMB FOUND 3

      In their barrio, his house was located near the shore. But, he never had a chance to beachcomb. His twenty-seven years in this world had been spent for working, survival and defying against tyranny of people and unfairness of life.

      He never experienced schooling. He was banned to play by his father.

      "You're not allowed to play! You have to come with me in fishing, tonight! Understand?" He was so domineering. "Don't cry! Or else I'll hit you with this paddle. Go home now, quick!"

     At the very young age, he was fishing already. He was enduring the coldness and bearing the hardships of that manly work.

      "Papa.." Hesitant, but he was determined. "I want to go.. to school like my playmates." Once, he told his father. He was then seven years old.

      "Bullshit!" His father's eyes were fiery. "Can't you see? We couldn't even have a good catch.. That's a crazy damn idea! You better profess fishing. Bullshit!"

      He could not even explain to his father. He was so scared of his furious eyes and harsh voice. He had to keep his silence and looked to his mother asking for help and back-up. However, his mother would only divert her vision. She couldn't support him. She has just given birth to a baby boy. She also has asthma that needs medication.

     It was his first time to dilly-dally in the shore. All his life he's been hastening so that he would not be reprimanded by his father.

     He sighed. Beachcombing is a stress-remover, he knew it. Though he's not stressed, he has to do it. By means of this activity, his traumatic past might be healed.

     He picked up every shells he saw, except the no good ones. Big and small. Sometimes, he made ripples out of ugly shells. He enjoyed it so much.

     Gabby plunged into the water, after setting the apparatus to his mouth and body. He then went even deeper--- deeper and deeper, till he found the wonder underneath. It was so amazing, he thought.

     He has collected so many shells. He has a clam shell which he would be his bowl or glass at the same time.

     On the way back to his tent, a dark facade near the rocky area yonder caught his attention. He came near out of curiosity.

      Gabby wanted to stay long underwater but he has to cut it short. Mang Jack would be arriving this one o'clock, not to mention his stuffs to be packed up. His penis is still his priority. The ocean could wait. His schlong could not.

      The castaway knew it's a cave, no one has ever discovered it yet. But he's not brave enough to enter it now. He has no torch anyway and he has to find food. Next time, he said to himself. Next time, I will break your silence. Then, he was enticed by the big boulders in the shore. He ran through there and climbed the highest boulder. There, he indulged in sight-seeing. He could see the expansion of the beach, as well as the portion of the forest.

      Gabby was so tired, yet satisfied. He put off his mouth apparatus and sat awhile in the white sand. "Wow! Nice experience! You always amaze me, Ocean."

     He was about to stand up when he saw a man standing in a boulder. Startled. He glanced at him intently. Confirmed! "What is he doing here? Sonofabitch!" He left his scuba and went to the man's direction. He shouted, but he was not heard. He was too far from him.

       The castaway plunged into the water.

      "Hey, you!" Gabby ran through his direction.

      The alien was underwater. He could breathe and bear underwater breathing for one minute. He could also see the sea creatures. He wowed when he saw the cluster of oysters setting in the boulder. Alas, his handmade axle was up there. He left it there, not knowing there were oysters underneath. Thus, he swam up the water to get his axle.

      "Gotcha, fucking trespasser!" Gabby was standing in the boulder, furious. Handmade axe was on his hand, ready to attack.

     Obviously, the intruder was shocked. He was speechless. He wanted to plunge again deeply into the water.

     "Who are you? What the hell are you doing in my aisle?"

     He knew the owner is a professional swimmer, apparently because of his black tight suit.

     "Answer me, intruder! Answer me!" He demanded. "How did you get in here?" He saw the shells. "Aha! You're a shell collector." He laughed a bit. "A caveman and the shells." Sarcastic. "Come out of the water now!"

     The castaway left out the water. He was shivering not due to the coldness of water but because of terror and intimidation. Gabby followed him till the sandy shore. "Where are you going? Who are you, psst?!"

     He did not know how to react. He faced Gabby and spoke signs, which made the island owner open-mouthed.

      "What?" asked Gabby.

     The intruder repeated his actions. But, it was unclear still to Gabby. "You're a mute?"

      The mute nodded. His eyes were teary. He signed for pardon. Gabby looked at his eyes. He could remember a cowardly fisherman. Then, he surveyed him toe to head. "You are castaway?" The mute just nodded. "Why? I mean, how?" He waited for answer, but when he could not understand his sign language, he changed the question. "You are once a dynamite fisherman, right?"

     The mute man did not know what to say. Yes! No! He's not using dynamite in fishing. Thus, he crossed his head thrice.

     "Liar!" Annoyed.

     The mute protested. He shook his head horizontally again. Then, he looked at his hand.

      "That's the proof! You're accidentally blasted by dynamite."

      The mute intruder ran away ---so fast.

     Gabby was a bit startled. "Hey! Mute, leave my island now!" He ran after him but the latter was so fast. "Bullshit!" He lost the track of the mute when he cut in the forest. He was cursing. "I'll gonna catch you, dumb! You better show up. I had your axe." He tried to trace the path of the intruder. "Damn! I'm gonna kill you," in lower voice. He's so furious and eager to find that man.

     The mute ran and ran. He doesn't stop. He never expected that he could hike the forest in his situation. He had planned to make it the next day but he was doing it already--with a thrill was being run after by a raging owner.

      He looked back and suddenly stopped, when he could not even hear any sound of approaching person. He sighed. His breath was pounding. The sweats were occupying his face and chest. He's so scared of him.

     Wondering where the owner went on, he still walked on. He has to go a distance. He might be killed. He's a trespasser. People are innately cruel. It was not new to him anymore. Many, many times, he has experienced humiliations ----physically and emotionally. He has been a victim of the world and people's cruelty.

     At that very moment, he was sure that it might happen again. He was vulnerable. He doesn't know how to retaliate. If the people around him are sadistic, he would give them masochism.

      Gabby was not going far. The truth is he was afraid to do so. He knew that the mute man is well-abreast of manly activities while he's not. He could not even dare to hike the forest alone. He has a fear of roaring animals.

     "Mute man, I'm warning you!" His voice was trembling. He was in halt. He had merely made a ten meter steps away from the beach. He enlarged his voice. " I'm gonna kill you. I'm gonna cut your fucking dick off. . by your fucking ax!"

     He kept his silence for a while. He could hear something. "Oh! It's Mang Jack!" He has heard the chopper approaching the aisle. "I have to go. I'll be back, dummy!" He did not put down the axle. He ran out of the forest.

      His fear of being attacked was gone when he was in the beach. He ran so fast back to his apparatus. He did not see the shelter of the mute man.. Yet he was determined to return.. with a vengeance, with Mang Jack. He thought of his gun.

      The mute man also could hear the chopper. He's mute but he is not a deaf. He also knew that it was a helicopter and it was heading to the isle, where he was.

       He moved quickly back to the shore. He decided to have a look at the chopper, even in the far view. He looked around, studying the location. He has to find where the mansion is located. He walked forward. He has seen no sign of alley. Meaning, the forest is almost virgin. Is that why the grasses are so tall? He could not even make fast-pace. He has to hit the bushes and grasses first before he could pass on.

      The chopper was getting nearer and nearer the islet. Five or six minutes, it's gonna make a landing already. He's so eager to see it. If he is fortunate enough to have a glance of the helicopter, it will be his first time. It will be dream come true. All of his childhood life, he was dreaming of a helicopter toy like his playmates'.

       Helicopter is not often visible in their place even there was, he couldn't even see the whole vehicle and its details due to his distance.

      He almost forgot that he was being run after by the island owner. Besides, he was sure, he's safe now. He was too far from the shore. He couldn't even see the ocean. All he could see are the trees, the grasses and the bushes.

      Gabby grabbed up the apparatus and rushed again to the mansion. He was not thinking of the mute intruder anymore. He was thinking of his penis. Anxious, he was, to know about the cause of his penile dysfunction and its remedy. It is his asset and greatest possession. He couldn't afford to lose it.

      Subconsciously, he still was holding the handmade ax of the mute..

      The mute man stopped. He was nowhere to go. he has to come back to the shore. His endeavor to see the helicopter seemed so impossible.

He traced back where he came from.  Slowly. Carefully. The owner might startle him and attack him with his ax, he made.

     The chopper successfully had landed near the mansion. Mang Jack jumped down after.

      Mang Jack is a professional pilot, who is in service for almost 15 years. He's now forty-four years old. Loyal and trustworthy employee of Gabby's dad and Gabby, as well. He's not only a pilot, he's also a personal guard of both father and son.

      "Sir?" He wondered why Gabby's not yet visible. Oftentimes, he is already there even before the chopper makes a landing. "Sir!" he called out loudly, approaching the mansion. "Sir, where are you?" He looked around the house. Gabby's not in his room. Not in the bathroom. He went out the house again and saw Gabby, approaching. He smiled and sighed.

       "Mang Jack, there's a trespasser in the forest! Get my gun. Get my gun, quick!" He demanded.

       Startled, Mang Jack couldn't believe what he was saying. He was asking why on his mind.

      "Mang Jack?!" repeated Gabby.

      The pilot got shocked.

      "I said, get my gun." He's not angry. He's just being dominant and anxious. "There is a man in our aisle, aside from me."

      "Sir.." He scratched his scalp. "What's that?" pointing to Gabby's ax. He knew it's an ax. He smiled a bit.

       Gabby looked at it and exclaimed, "This is the proof! There is a dweller in our place. So, come.. Let's catch him!"

       "So, where's your gun?''

      "Ok.. I will get my gun and get yours." He then entered the mansion. He' still holding the ax.

      Mang Jack went to the chopper.

      The mute man was now in the shore. He was sure that he was safe and free. The owner gave up tracking him down. Thus, he ran the direction of the rocky area of the beach. He knew that the way to mansion could be seen over there. He moved quickly.

     "Sir, do you really have to bring that queer armor?'' with a joking sound.

      Gabby thought awhile. "Nope! I will not. Let me put this first on the chopper. Come on, quickly! We have to get him out of our property. He's a threat!" He moved forward with full determination.

      "Sir, what he looks like?" in a kind, inquisitive voice.

      Gabby knew that his pilot is willing to catch the subject with all his might. "The same of my height and built. He has a brown complexion. He is a fisherman. I talked to him before he ran away from me. He's mute."

      "Mute?" His eyes widened in awe. "You mean, he can't talk?"

      Gabby nodded.

      "So, how did you know that he's a fisherman? Did you see his boat?"

      "There's no boat. He's a castaway."

      "Wait... wait..Sir!"

     "Let's keep moving. No more explaining. I assure you, he's not a good man. Come on, Mang Jack. Stop questioning me anything."

      Mang Jack shuts his mouth up. He instead followed him.

      The mute man was almost near the mansion. He already has seen the alley that will lead him to the chopper. However, he doesn't want to compromise. He knew he would be tracked down by the owner and the pilot. He instead searched for a hiding place. He saw a boulder in the sandy part of the shore. He quickly went there and hid himself. Over there, he could see and hear anyone approaching. But they could not see him.

      "Sir, you haven't had your lunch yet.", reminded Gabby.

      "No! Don't bother me. I'm not hungry yet."

     "But..Sir..Your Dad.."

     "Mang Jack!" He's a bit irked. "You will not tell him. OK?"

     "OK, Sir!"

     The mute man could now see the two. They were heading the rocky part of the isle. Any time, he could run up the valley. But, he made sure first that he would not be noticed.

     "I saw him there atop that big boulder." related Gabby.

     "And you had a conversation with him? How long he had been here?"

     "I dunno. I never asked him that."

      The intruder went up the hill quickly. He was so excited to see the helicopter. The chance of seeing that closely was all his. He can also climb up if he wants to. He has the great opportunity to make his wildest dream come true.

      He arrived on the valley. He wowed. His eyes widened. Like a child, he ran onto it. Ignorantly, he endlessly pronounced wow on his mind. He touched the outer surface of the chopper. Fascinated, he was. He then looked at its throttle and finally climbed up. He sat down at the pilot seat and touched every buttons there. Being there provided him with unlimited joy. He almost forgot that he's a trespasser and that he's being hunted--- wanted, as if he's a criminal.

      His dream comes true. He was no longer an ignoramus. He did it. He was so proud of himself that he made it. It completed his life.

     He jumped out the chopper.

     He was about to go downhill when he felt hunger. He looked back at the mansion. An idea clicked on his mind. Suddenly, he entered the house, without thinking of the two furious men. Then, directly to the kitchen, he went on, as if he knew exactly the place.

      "You're giving up?" Irritated. "What if he hurts me?"

      "I knew the possibility, Sir. Isn't it, I'm here because you have to see a psychiatrist? So why look after him?"

            "He might rob the mansion."

      "And how can he transport the units?"

      Gabby thought awhile. He remembered the incident. Then, he smiled at Mang Jack. "So. let's go! I never thought you're smart, pala!"

      They laughed out loud.