174 Incompetence (1/2)
Day 6 – 8:23 PM – Southbound E3 Expressway, Parañaque, Metro Manila
”What do you mean?”
Major Lopez ignored the two that called out to Mark and asked with his eyebrows knitted tightly. His expression told how much pressure the military officer felt towards their current situation. What Mark had just said was damping water on their confused heads without even explaining his side at all.
Mark turned towards the Major.
”That stone woman there knew that there are people here and anyone that will try to escape will be targeted by that woman first. It's not a coincidence that those two were getting closer and closer unto us when they are fighting each other. Look closely…”
He gestured the people to look at the two. That moment, the stone clad woman whipped away the frog headed infected with a swipe of her right hand. Before the infected could recover and attack once more, the stone clad woman had already taken three steps back towards the direction where the convoy was.
”See? She's going our direction.”
The expression of everyone that heard him turned grave. They did not notice at first but now that Mark mentioned it, those small movements would not escape their eyes anymore.
”What do you suggest that we should do?”
Major Lopez asked after turning back to Mark once more.
”Major! Why are you asking a civilian for-”
An unfamiliar soldier tried to interrupt but he was stopped by the Major.
”We can't fight and we can't escape. Either way, all of us will get killed. Even if half of us fight while the others escape, how long can we hold those monsters out? We are also under equipped for this. Unless the reinforcements from Bay City arrive, we have no way surviving this and no one knows if we are still alive by the time they reach this place.”
”But Major…”
”Enough, Julian. If you're not convinced, then think of a good plan yourself.”
The soldier finally stopped. It may be degrading as soldiers that they needed to consult a civilian for a plan but he could really not think of a way.
”Now, say your piece. I doubt you're here just to ridicule us right?”
Major could not help but ask when he saw Mark sneering.
”There's no time so I'll get straight to the point and make it simple. You all stay here and don't leave. I will lure those two away as far as I can. When the people from Bay City arrived and I'm not here yet, you all should escape. Just wait for me at Bay City.”
What Mark said was really simple but to do it was not simple at all.
”Isn't that dangerous for you to lure those two?”
Captain Dela Rosa worriedly asked.
”If you can name someone who can replace me and last long enough till the people from Bay City arrive, then, I'll gladly give the task.”
None of them speak after that. The cue here was not to defeat those two but to last long as much as possible. Back in Citta Italia, Mark already showed that he had enough skill to react and dodge fast attacks.
”Besides…”
Mark continued.
”I'm not going to fight them. I'm just luring them away. You all needed to stay here to make sure that that stone woman won't he attracted to all of you suddenly escaping. As I said, the people to escape first will be targeted.”
”What if you fail to bide for time? How are you sure that those that will escape will get attack first? Also, how are you sure that those two monsters will follow you in the first place?”
Councilor Palabrica posed several questions in succession.
”If I fail, then you can do whatever you want. For the second question, why don't you try to do it yourself? As for how I am sure that they will follow me, I already said it. Those who flee will become the first targets.”
***
When Mark returned to where his group was positioned, almost everyone was nervously watching the fight between the two large monsters. The fight had already reached the forested area just on the other side of the expressway. The trees and buildings were already toppled and the fight between the two was getting more and more intense. Loud sounds were more audible to everyone every time the jumping frog headed monster landed on the ground or every time the stone woman stomp her stone covered hands.
He did not watch any of those scenes and started to prepare. Now, he started to feel thankful that the frog headed infected was there trying to kill the stone clad woman. If not, despite knowing what would happen he would lose the chance to think of what to do and prepare. Around him, Odelina and Mei waited for his instructions.
”Mei'er, Odel, mount this on the bike. Also get several M16 magazines and fill that box on the handle bar.”
Mark said as he handed his M16 and bag to the two.
The box he was talking about was a metal box made of thin metal sheets and small metal bars. The gun mount he made the military install in front of the motorbike was something he designed. Following the design, that box there could be attached, slide and detached from the mount and the use of it was to make it easier for the M16 to be reloaded even if he was driving the motorbike. Mounting a machine gun at the motorbike could also do the same but the weight would surely hinder the maneuvering and that was why he came up with this.
While the two were following his instructions, he began to work on the multi-cab carrying the LPG tanks. Checking the now metal covered and tightly sealed back carrier of the multi-cab he noticed a smell of petroleum faintly escaping from the carrier. When he opened that door behind, he smelled the pungent smell of leaking gas and noticed that the metal roofing had a hole. Looking on the LPG tanks under the hole, one tank was pierced by a pointed rock.
”Odel, can you get me the duct tape from the car?”
Mark called out which Odelina immediately replied to.
Using the duct tape, he sealed the hole on the roof from the inside. The next thing he did was to open the valve of every single tank inside the sealed carrier. Upon closing the door, he also covered the spaces around the door with duct tape completely sealing the leaking gas inside.
”Oscar right?”
Mark called unto the soldier that had driven the multi-cab.
”Yes sir!”
”Your task here is done. Call your captain here and you can go back to your unit.”