Darkness Dissolves When the Door Opens

The Dutch

Glenn’s face formed like bliss after the truck’s door swung open. 

“We’re here.”

“And where’s here?” Asher frowned when the bright sunlight shot his eyes.

“Step down and you’ll see.”

And outside was like a masterpiece of painting. Double rainbows spread over the distance were the first things Jules saw. It was in the middle of nowhere, and two small houses sat confidently surrounded by endless greens of corn fields. Mini gazebos full of crops decorated the area, and local farmers worked here and there in the hectares of land also helped please the eyes.

An old man came out of the sweet house with his pink summer clothing with that amazing white fedora. He had only one leg and was walking with stretchers.

Rake smiled after seeing the guy. “Well, he’s rich.”

“Stop it, Rake.”

“Welcome, all of you.”

The abundant of soldiers coming out of the two trucks looked like they’d been buried in mud and transformed into zombies. Their soaking clothes already filthed the entire area, but the rich guy seemed to not care.

“Who are you?” Asher asked without any courteous.

“Who am I? I’m the wealthiest man in this damn island!” His accent, yet again, very thick. Dutchman for sure. Blonde, blue eyes, talks like a German-English, he must be a Dutch.

“How do you get here?” Blake asked to Glenn.

“Ask Jai.”

“Mr. Visser helped me some years back. He’s a really good person and we have nowhere left to go. His fields are the most concealed part of the island.”

“My boy Jai is correct. You are all safe here. You have plentious food and warm baths. Also, call me Cortland. Don’t be too formal.”

Jules walked with Rake, Jai, John, and Cortland toward the first simple house. It was amazing and very open to the nature. They had three balconies and the kitchen was technically outside, just with a roof, and there were too many dogs to count. The house itself was bigger than a soccer field.

A surprisingly young woman welcomed them at the first house with tens of dry towels and handed them to each one of the wet soldiers.

“God gracious you’re all soaking. You’ll catch come colds.”

That damn nice lady sounded British to Jules’ ears. She seemed a bit humbler than the man, and probably half his age also.

The first house was full of giant storage rooms, giant balconies, giant areas full of plantations, giant communal rooms, and dozens of bathrooms and toilets. Jules learned that the first home was for the workers and farmers living here, but the place was twice bigger than they intended when they first built it.

Jules received the t-shirt and the rugged Jeans from Cortland’s wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Visser, and went straight to the bathroom.

All of the soldiers occupied the same room, and there were still plenty of spaces left. Mrs. Visser prepared them giant mats and comfortable blankets. For pillows, they had to use their backpacks.

The farmers, after retired from their works, cooked them fried rice and served them watermelons for dinner. That night was pretty amazing for all of them, so Jules wanted to personally say thank you to the two hosts.

Some were already snoring, some were walking outside, some were playing cards or even just stared at the skies at the balconies. Jules stood above his mat, straightened his back, and made sure that Rake was asleep before walking to the other house.