“That looks like the Tondo area,” Manfred
said. Tondo was about two miles from us and was home to thousands
of Filipinos, many of whom lived in highly flammable nipa huts. The
insurgents had clearly set those on fire. Other insurgents had
apparently reached the outskirts of Santa Cruz less than a mile
from us and were setting fire to houses. We later learned that the
first house to go up in smoke in Santa Cruz was a brothel.
“We need to get you to safety,” Manfred
said, looking at Adaline and Katharina.
“Out of the question,” Katharina said. “We
stay here together, or we leave together.”
Then looking at me, Manfred shouted,
“Christ, the horses!”
Manfred’s six Arabians were stabled about a
half-mile from us in the direction of the advancing insurgents.
“You take Carlos and ge
