Sharing Love: Puspita East & West

Become a Prisoner

Thundering sounds rang out like streaks of thunder in broad daylight. Hot reddened metal balls came out from the muzzles of the cannon. Lojie's emissary ships that were about to dock were scattered on the city's lips.

"Protect the main ship!" exclaimed Peter de Raiziger, captain of the brigantin ship assigned to escort the expedition to Kalapa. This situation is really unexpected. Though they have seen the Port of Banten separated from the power of Pakuan. Just because the Cisadane Estuary was still safe, they got so caught off guard like this. They think, Pakuan country is still sovereign over it.

"Captain, we can't hold out much longer" one crew member reported.

Peter gritted his teeth. He looked to the side, making sure the main ship was still holding up. His condition is really worrying. Only one screen remained standing. His body was destroyed here.

"Hurry, Duarte! Hurry along! You have to report this situation to Lojie in Malacca, " Peter's mind is restless. The ship had to hold on a little more. The main brigantine was almost away from the pier. He'll be safe as long as no barricades block him.

The sound of cannons was heard. His bullets fiercely hit the remaining escort ship. Not yet the cannons stopped attacking, arrows came looking for prey. The unlucky crew died instantly.

"Dad!" the call of a young girl disbands Peter's concentration. The man with the mustache and thick beard was surprised to see his daughter appear on the deck of the ship. So worried, he shouted out loud, "Anastasia! Why are you out of the cabin?"

"I'll die if I stay inside. We must immediately save ourselves now," Anastasia replied by exclaiming to fight the cacophony of battle, "This ship is hollow. We'll drown if we don't hurry. Dad, get on the lifeboat."

"Asya," a young man who was following Anastasia from behind exclaimed. A hue of uneasiness was clearly etched on his face. He was very surprised when suddenly his sister ran to the middle of the brigantin deck, "You should be the one who immediately boarded the lifeboat. We'll last a little longer for the others to survive."

Anastasia looked at her brother sharply. In the matan the girl was as if there were embers containing anger. Without saying anything, he pulled the young man's collar until it fell onto the deck. The sound of the impact was so loud that it shocked the crew around him.

Bruk!!!

"What ...!?" the young man fell silent as soon as he saw an arrow stuck in front of him. Anastasia breathes a sigh of relief. His eyes swept around with care. There is not the slightest chance of winning. If they don't escape now, they will completely perish.

"Schultz, take your sister to the lifeboat right now!" peter told the young man. The brigantine's gonna be sinking in a minute. Many of the ships have already died. The middle-aged man did not care even if he had to die as long as his two children survived.

"Dad too! I also have to get to the lifeboats!" take Anastasia who has been worrying about Peter ever since. He has been working hard to stay with his family. Since his mother died, he had no one but his brother and father. Her life in the West was miserable, especially as a woman. If only his father had not defected to the new sect, he would have suffered even more by now.

"Schultz, don't waste time! Quickly take Asya to the lifeboats!" snapped Peter hard. Schultz immediately pulled the small arm of Anastasia. The girl who had just reached adulthood was about to fight back, but the power of the older brother was greater than her.

The lifeboat on the ship had only one left. Schultz forced Anastasia to go up there and immediately lowered her into the water. If lucky, they can meet with Laskar Pakuan at Muara Cisadane later. They had to row away as fast as possible.

Cannon bullets rained down on the ship. This brigantine will no longer be defensible. The main ship had already drifted away, and Peter's brigantine task was completed. Peter orders his remaining crew to jump into the sea. This will be a gamble for him later. If he is lucky, he can still live even as a prisoner. The last lifeboat to jump off the ship. The lifeboat had moved away from the firing range of the cannon. They'll be safe. With a smile of affection on his face, Peter jumped into the sea with his remaining crew.

Anastasia called out to her father. He urges Schultz to get closer to where Peter is plunging. However, his brother refused. If they approach, they will perish. Schultz could not have imagined that.

"Quick! Dad's there," Anastasia's fussy pinta. Schultz who was holding the paddle had trouble controlling his lifeboat. He was annoyed by his sister's behavior which was more concerned with feeling than rationality. Though he could have saved the father with Laskar Pakuan.

"That's impossible! We'll get caught if we go there" explains Schultz in annoyance. Her sister is very difficult to manage. Anastasia is still chatty about asking her father to be saved immediately. Schultz could barely bear to hear it.

"I'll jump in and save you if you don't want to" Anastasia threatened to infuriate her brother. The young man snapped, "How are you going to do it? Dad's ability is even better than yours. You will only be a troublesome burden to father in the enemy camp!"

Anastasia was hurt by Schultz's words. However, he could still understand that he would only be a burden there. Thank goodness the lifeboat had moved away from the lips of the pier. They'll be safe once they get to Muara Cisadane.

"Damn!" umpat Schultz dongkol. Anastasia was shocked by him. His sister said softly, "Asya, be prepared! We're gonna break through that barricade."

Anastasia immediately glanced forward. The large ships of the Java Sea Fleet were there. It feels so stupid to break through. There was no way this little lifeboat could break through the barricades of those giant ships.

An arrow shot and hit the end of Anastasia's lifeboat. Schultz growled furiously. His two hands that were holding the oars were goosebumps violently. His eyes swept across the sky full of anger. When the next warning arrow was launched, Schultz fell for thinking that the arrow was going to pierce his head.

Anastasia sustained Schutlz's trembling body helplessly. The fate of the pair of brothers. Two small jungs were unloaded from the ships of the Java Sea Fleet. Each was loaded with two men armed with spears and swords.

The incident passed quickly. Anastasia and Schultz were placed in separate detention cells. They are prisoners of war now. Their fate is like an egg on the tip of a horn. Very vulnerable to being dragged to death. Only God can change their destiny now.

Anastasia shouted out in protest many times. He was held in a room more like a room than iron bars. His premonition got bad because of that. Maybe he'll be made a mistress later. The destruction of all the tools in that room. His commotion to the point of making the master of the room astonished. Let everyone think he's crazy. After exhaustion, he calmed down.

“She's the only woman who survived?” the foreign voices disturbed Anastasia who was clutched in the corner of the room. He was scared. Was his attempt to look crazy in vain? How is his father? How is her brother? Those thoughts ran through his mind.

“True, she is the daughter of Captain Peter,” the voice of a woman who usually delivers meals to Anastasia replied, “What a poor girl. It looks like he's in shock. His condition has not improved since yesterday.”

Anastasia smiled bitterly. He was considered insane. His efforts bore fruit. There would be no normal man willing to accept a mentally ill girl like her. He had to make a plan to escape after this.

“Captain Peter wants to see him before he is executed. Ki Fadil allowed him to meet the girl one last time.”

Anastasia stunned. Did that guy just say that his dad was going to be executed? Can he meet his father for the last time? Is there no other choice? Is there no way to save her father? What about Schultz? Will he be killed soon too? Those thoughts covered Anastasia's increasingly troubled heart. He's really in shock right now.

“Son, you can meet your father now,” the door of the room is opened and the woman who has been delivering the needs of Anastasia goes inside. He looked at the frightened girl with pity. There was nothing he could do to comfort her. As if he could read Asya's mind, the woman could only give advice, “Perhaps they gave amnesty to your father. Try to persuade sincerely that they accept your request.”

A little hope to greet Anastasia. Maybe that way he can do even though he has to sacrifice himself. However, he would not be able to evade fate after that. Her tears spilled instantly. A bitter smile was still on his lips. He saw a white room ceiling. In a short time, he strengthened his heart to save his father and brother.

At the place where the father was detained, Asya could not stop crying. His father said nothing but an apology and sincere affection. Once out of the room, Anastasia immediately pleaded with the guard to be reunited with the supreme leader of the Java Land Alliance.

“Tree. Forgive my father and brother. Let me take their place,” exclaimed Anastasia with a desperate hue.

Ki Fadil who was the commander in chief happened to be there. The middle-aged man was willing to listen to Asya's request and consider it. Discussion called. Peter was even invited to take part in the discussion. Somehow the tense event passed. Anastasia only got word that the amnesty proposal should be accepted and she would be married to a young commander of the Javanese Land Alliance.

...***...

The wind blows softly and Asya's blonde hair dances. He sat on the terrace of the joglo which is now his residence. His hands were nimble knitting and embroidery fabrics. Ever since Maimunah taught her, she has enjoyed spending time with it.

A few days have passed. Anastasia wasn't sure, could it be that she was getting used to this life? Nah! This was just the beginning of his life. He never knew how his future would be etched. He could not see his father for the first time next month. Her smile that was now expanding was an expression of happiness. His day is going well. Well, really good except for when his two step-children come to visit and tease. The disturbance of the two boys was still the toughest test for him right now. Somehow he had to respond to their mischief.