Rain and wind all day at Courtenay. The bowling was dbisappointing as the organizers cut out almost all the bowling and concentrated on their fund raising. Two accidents along the highway on the trip back to Nanaimo, probably rain related. Although the bowling was disappointing we were happy to have Jo, Glenda and Don  and Linda to come by for a visit.

 While the soldiers set about their duties, John signaled to Machrus and the two moved away a few yards and sat down together on the grass.

 “Machrus.” John said. “My heart is full of hate, I shall not be returning with the soldiers, but I need your help.” There was no reply so he went on, “I know I am not experienced in your world, nor have I ever killed anything but a few small animals. But I have brought weapons, you know that I learn quickly. Will you teach me what I need to know, will you be my brother so that together we can avenge what those animals have done to the both of us?”

 Machrus reached out and took one of John’s hands in his, leaning forward he stared deeply into John’s eyes, a minute passed then perhaps another. Finally he nodded and sat up straight, “Yes bwana Jin, me too have much need for finding dem nigras, I will teach you d’ways, we will get my fellas out der and we will kill all dem nigras.

 John said, “Thank you Machrus, now the Colonel won’t be happy, he may even try and force me to leave.”

 Machrus, smiled, “Tell de boss man that dos guns are a present me. You give me dem now, this night I come get you.”

 “But the sentries uh guards --.”

 “You neva mind dem, be ready when moon go sleep.”

 The two rose and went back to where the Colonel was busy writing a report. “ Uh Colonel, I brought a couple of cartons as a gift for Machrus, I knew the odds were against me, but I had hoped to find him, I would like to give them to him now so he can go back to his people, he said he would see us off in the morning.”

 “Of course John, I’ll send some one --.”

 “No, that’s alright, I can get it, just make sure that he is safe to visit as we leave.”

 The Colonel nodded and turned back to his report.

 “Oh one more thing Colonel, I would like to sleep beside the graveyard, would that be difficult for the sentries?”

 The Colonel thought for a second, he knew that the risk was slight, there was nothing left to attract any scavengers or outlaws, he could make the cemetery as one sentry point eventhough it was a hundred feet beyond the circle he had chosen. “Of course not m’lad. I understand. Our circle will just be slightly elliptic. I’ll have one of the boys set up a small tent for you.”

 John and Machrus went to the trailer that had been towed behind the third vehicle and pulled out the long carton containing the two rifles, his duffle bag which contained the revolver and spare clothes and a carton containing ammunition for all three weapons.

 They then walked slowly over to the little graveyard, talking quietly as they went. They made a show of saying goodbye then carrying the two cartons, Machrus slipped off into the jungle.

 John helped put up the pup-tent that had been assigned to him then answering a call from where the soldiers were grouped he went back and joined them for a meal of army rations.

 After dinner, John and Colonel Bromely sat together and talked, John swung the conversation around to the tribes of the region and listened intently as the Colonel outlined what his experience in the area had taught him.

 As darkness fell, John stood up and stretched, “Thank you Colonel Bromely, thank you for what you and your men have done and your compassion as well.” He put out his hand and the two men briefly clasped hands.