Last night the guards all gathered on the road without any fear of traffic, below the high bank at the hospital, Here under a sort of cheerleader they shouted and roared rhythmic calls or cheers across the wide valley. It sounded like many voices, echoing and reechoing, They kept it up for half an hour in great variety of cheers, between rest periods. Someone said they heard that the soldiers did it in New Guinea to frighten the Americans. Perhaps it is like Gideon’s trumpet blasts against the Walls of Jericho—to frighten the guerrillas and Igorots in the mountains, making them think they are many and only waiting, warming up, More probably it is only to cheer themselves up, a sort of pep talk before the fray, a boost to morale, after cold, wind, rain and boredom. They brought a bucket of meat up to our kitchen to have it ground, and gave enough meat in payment to make a large hamburger for the one who ground it.
Jerry was up at five to make muffins and says he can’t give up, he has to keep going. June came down and whispered, giggling, “Mums, I must tell you something funny. | asked Daddy what was that marvelous soup he made for this noon and he said, “My dear, that was pure, concentrated essence of garbage!”
June looks well and is happy again.