Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam
***
Chapter
39: Medal
It was an evening. It was
drizzling, breaking through the golden rays of the sun. Pandian turned back
hearing the footsteps. Three men- Kasim, the chief of the North Sumathra
freedom fighters, Colonel Lubis, the liaison officer of the Republican army and
his assistant Simbolon- entered the room.
After the initial entreaties,
they all sat around the table. The attender brought them tea. Colonel Lubis
slid his hand into his pant pocket and took out “Abdullah” vial. “It is my
humble gift to Raja Uttang. We seized it from a Dutch major last week” he said.
“Thank you, colonel sir”
“He received the vial, screwed it
open, took out some cigarettes and gave it everyone. Lubis adjusted his shirt
with his left hand as he took out the cigarette from his mouth holding it
between right hand fingers.
“Major, the republican Army
carefully examined your request”. Clutching the cigarette between his lips, he
adjusted his shirt with both hands. “We understand it is extremely difficult to
stay in the jungle for long. Would you appreciate our suggestion that you could
spend some time on vocation either in Shibolka or Limpong?”
“I must go home now”
“Is there any possibility to
revisit your decision?”
“I am sorry”
A deep silence followed it for
seconds.
Captain Simbolon poured out tea
into cups from the jug. All drank it.
“If then, it is alright” Lubis
kept the cup on the table and said, “Both the government of Indonesia and its
people are well aware of the un-paralleled service you rendered. I have come
here to honor you with the top most gallantry award of the Republic on behalf
of the supreme army commander”
“Thank you so much, colonel”
A silence followed once again in the
room. They puffed on cigarettes in silence. The sun light was growing dim
outside the window.
“Major, you may be aware of the siege
of the Dutch Navy. You have to go to Malaya first while going home. Right? What
is your plan to go to Malaya?”
“By some boat”
“It would be difficult to cross the
sea. The Dutch would have gathered information about you by now”
“I believe I can make some
arrangements with the help of my friends in Medan”
“I can make an arrangement taking
the route to Philippines through Java, if you want. But it will delay your
journey. We can’t do anything immediately about it now”
“I believe I can cross the sea
from here”
“Let it be your decision. I have
one more thing to discuss. You must have a lot of friends in Malaya. Will you
be able to arrange sending the cargo from here hoodwinking the Dutch navy’s
siege?”
“I can do something about it only
after going there”
“Inje Ahamed Bin Rahman, the
Republic’s representative in Penang has the power to discuss this matter as to take
a favourable decision. I’ll send him a letter”
“Wherever I disembark in Malaya,
I would definitely go to Penang and pay him a visit for sure”
Colonel Lubis rose from his
chair, others too followed him.
Next day morning, was there a
parade of the First Division of North Sumathra Guerilla Strike force. Colonel
lubis decked Major Pandian’s shirt with the supreme gallantry medal or his
valour and gave a speech on him.
**
Pandian sent a message to Muthu
alias Kampong Dara Mukhtar.
Replay came negative. “Not
possible”
Another message went to Kampong
Dara again. “This assistance should be extended by any means possible. For
money, you can meet Jalan Kuda Haji Ruslan Ali”
Reply came from Mukhtar. “After
Monday, but before Wednesday, go to Alamelu’s house situated at western corner
and send me message from there. Do not enter Medan city in the night. A stringent
curfew is in place. Don’t enter in day time too as there wouldn’t be crowd
around. Evening 5-7 will be the correct time. Do follow the instructions from
Alamelu. Market Straat Moping master has agreed to arrange a ‘bird ride’.
***Chapter
39 “Medal” ended***
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