The Dusk of the Middle East

Episode 12's

Robin and Robert were busy impatiently waiting for the ship to arrive at Labuan. They have been two days and three nights over the ocean, again seeing the land will be pleasant for them.

After lunch, the two played on the deck of the ship. Stand holding on to the fence, staring at the right side of the ship. Brunei has been visible since two hours ago but is still unclear because the distance is still far, it only looks green in the distance.

They both occasionally noticed passing fishing boats and found more seagulls flying freely. Both of them had just returned to the cabin when Ashar's Adhan was heard.

Robin took ablution. While Robert though he did not pray he took writing equipment, he will also learn to teach in musholla, he thought writing and knowing Arabic letters are exciting.

"The water should not be wasteful, Robin" Robert reminded.

From earlier instead of ablution, Robin even daydreamed. Letting water continue to flow from the tap. Robin washes his face.

That afternoon, it was not Saleh who became the imam of the Ashar prayer. I don't know where the man is, there's nothing in that little musholla.

After the completion of the prayer, the adults return to the cabin, or some do other activities. Robin and Robert, as well as four other children, headed toward the center of the mosque. Anna's mother was waiting there, Anna's mother was their teacher.

"How are you? Anna's mother said hello.

"Good news, Mother." The children answered simultaneously.

Robin looked at the clothes Anna's mother was wearing. The teacher taught her to wear brightly colored clothes with red, yellow motifs.

"Is Anna's mother Chinese?" robin asked, whispering softly to Robert. He whispered as quietly as possible, so that only the two of them could hear.

Robert glared at his sister, "It's rude to ask such a strange thing about someone we just met, Robin" Robert reminded.

The six children began to take turns depositing readings. Anna was already far away in juz eleven, depositing two pages.

While Robert just arrived at An-nisa, although only the first juz but Robert was very quick to learn. It even only takes a few hours to instantly memorize one iqro directly by reading, as well as the laws of reading.

It was not difficult for Robert, because Anna's mother was a friendly teacher. Patently improve the deposit of children and occasionally ask them to repeat until correct. Not for an hour, all the children were done facing.

The children were saying goodbye, kissing Anna's mother's hand in an orderly manner, when the whistle of the ship rang loud and long. It was not a sign of eating because it was only five in the afternoon.

The children exclaimed cheerfully, immediately running outside the musholla. Labuan Port is still about two kilometers away, but it is clear in plain sight.

The closer the ship is to the port, the Karel Ambo further reduces the speed. Captain Diego led the docking process himself. Already fifteen minutes ago, a dozen crew members prepared in their respective positions.

Orange color filled the sky, the sign almost nightfall. Robin and Robert and the other children were standing by the deck fence, staring around.

The port of Labuan is very large, its dermagaga is long. There are three other large ships that have docked at the port, one of the ships is a ship owned by the Japanese army. The flag was clearly visible, there were several cannon muzzles lined up on top of that ship.

Fifteen minutes later, the ship docked perfectly at the dock. The crew threw ropes at the dock attendant, then the officer tied the ropes to the big milestones.

The perfect sun is sinking. The lights of the ship interjected, as well as the lights of the dock. Robert invited his sister to hurry to the cabin. Their brother must have been looking since.

Robin nodded, his mood was good. The city of Labuan was far more powerful than he had imagined. And tomorrow, he'll go to the market to buy new clothes. About that, he was tired of making fun of Robert because some days Robin wears his brother's clothes.

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"Oyasuminasai, my cabin mate who's always missing, has gone nowhere." Lucas greeted Yusuf cheerfully.

The accosted one nodded, answering short, "Yoru"

"When have you been in the cabin? usually I never find you in here."

Joseph did not answer, he just shrugged his shoulders. His mood was bad thinking about godly activities, not wanting to take a dizzy serving the words of one of the Japanese in front of him.

"For you, Joseph." Lucas handed him a brown envelope.

"That's the travel papers you need, there's also some guilders. Captain Diego told the finance department to give you a month's up-front salary for you to buy necessities." Lucas answered before Joseph could ask.

Joseph pulled out the envelope. Some documents are known as documents needed when the ship passes in the country lai. He also pulled out a few pieces of Gulden notes. At that time, it was still using Dutch currency.

"Two hundred guilders?" Joseph looked at Lucas.

"Yes that's your salary. Is it too small?" Lucas asked in a joking manner.

Joseph chuckled, for the first time showing his teeth to Lucas. The Japanese are staring at him.

"Don't gawk like that, Lucas. Or flies will be in your mouth." Joseph laughed even more. His frustration with Saleh was gone when he saw the amount of money he got so much.

Lucas awoke from his daydream, he took the hat off his head. He threw the hat at Joseph. He was still shocked to see Joseph laughing, because Joseph had been quieter all this time. It seems like the natives have always shied away from people from foreign countries.

"You're going down to the grocery store tomorrow?" Ask Lucas for a little talk.

"Of course, I've had two days wearing your shirt, sir."

"Don't call me that. Ah, how about tomorrow I go around the labuan? I know enough about the city. Who knows if you're lost and can't go back to port, it's not funny if you're left on the ship."

Joseph shook his head, answering later, "No need. My friend has been here more than five times, he will accompany me tomorrow."

Lucas laughed, "Oh, are you always coming to his cabin?"

Yusuf nodded.

"I wonder how beautiful that woman is, what___"

"Looks like you were wrong, my friend is a gentleman. His name, sir may know."

"Saluh?" Lucas tried to remember where he had heard the name, "Oh, Saleh. The oration pioneer that Sergeant Heiho doesn't like."

Yusuf's face turned sour hearing the answer from Lucas.

"Don't be so uptight Yusuf, well I'm sorry." Lucas said back to whistling casually. He then grabbed a towel and toiletries, went to the special bathroom the crew left Joseph alone in the cabin.