SHORT STORY

The tower

When Dumangan reached 30, he achieved so many things in life. He was a rich man whe owned a business empire. He live in the comfort of his acquired properties with his beautiful wife Idianale and two children Dumakelum and anitun tabu Dumangan did not have any real sense in happiness at all He, could not stop searching for more until one time of his trips to different places. He discovered a huge tower at peak of a mountain What do people find in the place he asked of his guides Apolake people who are unwell go there and came back healed one of the native answered A place for healing asked Dumangan Yes anything that people could not find a cure for something would seek for this tower the man added.” Sonat would have to go there or foot bathala wished to protect the senserity of the place, so no found of machines should disturb any living soul on the place the native man interrupted Dumangan asked who is Bathala “ he lives in a village near the tower in a healer who welcome the travelers.

I am going to build a tower a great one that Dumangan told his friend bayugin when he returned home Dumangan high rise building was complete in less than a couple of year he was pleased by the acomplishment. He called his best men to find a good healer they will find here the best comfort in life

One day, a old woman appeared at hallway of Dumangan building she was at the middle of an argument with the guards. What is this trouble silangan Dumangan asked on the one guards. Sir the lady insist that she wanted to talk to you. We tired to talk her that you are resting forgive me sir but I need to talk to you, My son Hukloban sent me, the woman interrupted  Dumangan remembered him so well. He was one of those men he had sent to the tower “ ah, pershaps you wish to tell me that he had lost all his courage to show up here and explain his misconduct? So, I believe you need my help. Oo not worry madam. I will see to it that your son Hukloban recieves proper medical attention,” Dumangan said. But the woman objected,” No sir It is not like what you are thinking at all. I came here to being you’re my son’s message he was that he found the secret to happiness Dumangan at the woman is disbelief. “You actually came here to tell me the secret?” the woman shook her head. “ He told me that you will have to find the secret youself the following week, another man whom Dumangan sent to the tower came back and told the same thing the woman had said. Another man showed up after a few days. The news that this trusted men brought left him dejected “ those men whom I trusted dound the secret and focused to the share it with me. Now they are on their own,” Dumangan thought bitterly. Dumangan grew weary and unhappy with in the confines of his home. He could not trust his men anymore to do the job for him. So, his men anymore he decided to go out on a secret mission to discover what his hometown working as a carpents. Dumangan dismay to found out that the man had given up his week paid job in his company just to take a low paying job with the community people. Hukloban turned out to be a village minister. The rest of his men were unlike the two they had pup up their own business but none had been as great as his own business empire. Through it was a great wonder to Dumangan to find that these men seemed so happy and contented in spite of the simplicity of life that they chess to live with Dumangan began to respet that some aurborne disease must havce polliated the mids of these men.

That tower is not safe. Someone is responsible for living there people to that building and this is comfresing their minds. I have to stop whoever his is Dumangan decided one day. To that place they prepare enough food, clothing and medical supplies to protect himself from possible harm in going, he fade farewell to his wife and children and set or his journey. During the first week Dumangan trusted along the sides of the mountain until he found a village his exhaussion was accident to the man whom he had first encourtable on the road.

Good day to you, my name is Dumangan and I came from the city he told man was quite indifferent. I am on my way to the tower, “ Dumangan pointed at the top of the mountain. I need a place to rest for the night. I could pay for a cetain illness. Most of the folks here are I am graid you would catch the same disease if you would not leave soon.” The man told him.

But Dumangan was touched with pity He remembered his medical supplies he imediately brought them to the village square the asked someone to do the task Soon the sick children, men and woman were treated This made Dumangan happy for the first time he stayed longer in the village After sometimes Dumangan remembered the tower, so he decided to leave the village.

On his way, he saw three farmers lying on the ground. They were breathing shallow and freezing from the old wind without thinking. Dumangan were looking for the village reasest the tower. It seems that we got them said “ well sent on until they saw the village a man with third beared welcomed them and Dumangan companies were so happy. At least Dumangan reached the tower it was majestic and ancient like it was built by thousand men during the older times. He aimed for the entrace and was to admit visitors there was no sign of bathala.

Dumangan  climbed through the stairways and expressed the place. He was unware that he almost reached the top of the tower. Yet , he did not find any living soul where are those people who seek healing from this place, “ he wondered from one of the tower windows Dumangan seamed the area below. A thought came into his mind. Bathala and the travellers must have  gone somewhere else,like a sacred ground, pershaps. So Dumangan went down again and searched the area Then, he heared rustling of the leaves and twig breaking under heavy footsteps they were getting was from behind him. He stopped two men.

“ hey, we got a big shot delivery today our boss need us to work. One mind said. “seak, but we have careful He would not want us to spoil this deaks.” The other one answered Dumangan followed the two they were moving further downwards until they entered is a hidden case. Once insideDumangan could not believe what he had discovered it was laboratory Dumangan went on with his investigation until the realization came at last

This drugs laboratory Dumangan she wered with horror. He look his camera and did what he had to go with extra case. After a few minutes he managed to leave the plan unnoticed when Dumangan was often , he secured his camera in his jacked pocket then immediately he started to retrace his path back.

He stop! “ someone had spotted him Dumangan did not dare to look back but he kept on running. After a while dumangan heard shouts and footsteps. They were after him! He could not tell where he was going all he wanted was to stay away from those. In his haste to get away, he slipped and began to fall down the slope.

The next moring, one of the village men found him frozen and unconscious on the ground. They brought him to their village the bearded man was these when he cameto.

I can bathala and you are safe here, he told Dumangan. I have been searching for you in that legen dary tower. But I found something else. Instead please do me favor kindly send this to my wife ideanale as soon as possible,” Dumangan handed him the camera. Jose finally closed his eyes and smiled he died in his sleep.

Bathala understood the urgency of dumangan he brought  dumgangan body to his wife idianale and told her everything about durg syndicate the police were over the place and cought the men responsible for the illegal drug trade during his wake Dumangan men came. They saw the smile and serenity on the faceof Dumangan face “ he found has happiness at least hukloban commented.

What did find that tower Dumangan Idianale as hukloban we have not gone to that tower we met people is a lot of villages and discouraged that happiness.