The Dusk of the Middle East

Episode 16's

Day six of the journey.

Karel Ambo ship is still anchored in the port of Labuan Brunei, I don't know what the problem is that the ship has not yet been deployed.

Saleh is awake. Feeling bored, he got off the couch. Saleh decided to take a walk around the bed.

"Forth, Om Saleh and Om Yusuf." Robin exclaimed, then laughed to see the faces of the two men who looked shocked at his arrival.

"I brought you chicken porridge, Om. Nice, Aunt Siti's cooking." Robin placed the bowl on the table, pushing it closer towards the bed. Mei behind him put a warm tea glass.

"Eh" Saleh sat on top of the bed feeling confused. He just finished breakfast. Joseph brought him food.

"You should eat the porridge, man or else they'll be disappointed. Both of them tried to bring me that meal." Joseph whispered.

But I've eaten. Saleh glared, as was the meaning of his gaze.

Joseph laughed, shrugging his shoulders.

"Come, Om. Eaten up! Robin urged, his face looking impatient waiting.

"Yes, let's get eaten. The porridge is cold." Mei said adding.

For the sake of looking at the adorable oval face of Mei and Robin who looked similar, the face of Asian and European fusion, Saleh took a deep breath. He relented. Saleh receives a spoon from May's hand, opens the lid of the bowl.

"Well, I'll eat "

With great difficulty, the contents of the bowl finally ran out ten minutes later. Saleh points the empty bowl at Mei and Robin as evidence.

"Enak right? You want some more?" Tanya Mei was enthusiastic.

Saleh hurriedly shook his head quickly. The stomach is already very full, can explode if filled again.

Joseph laughed loudly next to him.

.

.

After yesterday's incident, today there are no more passengers interested in getting off the ship. Conversations about the incident filled the hallways of the ship, the canteen, and wherever the passengers gathered.

There were other passengers trapped in the market. But unlike Robin, they managed to escape and return to the ship without difficulty.

When Robin and Mei were visiting Saleh. The other passengers were having breakfast in the cafeteria. The desks, which were empty, began to fill up.

There were two hundred passengers boarding from the port of Labuan. Most of them are of course men, eager to watch the world cup. Among the two hundred passengers, there were six small children aged eight to fourteen.

It was only known if the ship could not leave that day because the ship's engine was still dead. The ship had been docked for nearly twenty-four hours. The water barrel is fully filled, the crate of groceries is transported, passengers have boarded.

Engineers are still struggling to check for damage, ship engines are unloaded. The coal furnace that was normally lit, was still extinguished. The Chief Engine Room Officer (KM) requested an extension of the berthing time. The engine condition is a top priority.

They could not force the ship to leave at the risk that the engine would die completely. If it happens in offshore waters, the ship will be tossed for days in the middle of the open ocean.

On every steam engine ship, including Karel Ambo. There is a furnace in the true sense. Reply crew members are in charge of putting coal into the fireplace. The faster the ship goes, the greater the flame it needs.

The most famous steam engine ship was the Titanic. The ship that sank due to hit the ice on the fifth day of its first voyage in 1912. The Titanic was twice the size of the Karel Ambo that was built eleven years later.

"One of the pistons in the engine doesn't work smoothly, Captain. We could lose the whole engine if the piston stops working." Report one of the officers

"All machines?"

"Yes, Captain. Whole machine"

"Didn't you guys bring the spare parts?"

"That's a part that doesn't have any spare parts, Captain. And it can only be repaired in major ports like Singapore and the Philippines." KKM officers shook their heads.

"The Karel Ambo route does not pass through to Singapore. We're passing through the northwestern coast of the Philippines. But we've only arrived after four weeks of travel." Captain Diego is counting fast.

"You can double-check it, hopefully the ship's engine is not seriously damaged or just needs a little maintenance." Captain Diego spoke strongly

After nodding, and not forgetting to pay your respects. The KKM officer then left Captain Diego's office.

Shortly after. Two Japanese soldiers and Sergeant Heiho enter Captain Diego's study. They had a very heated conversation there.

The new Heiho appeared out of nowhere, in the typical neat clothes of nobles. He accused Saleh of being one of the perpetrators of yesterday's uprising.

"He was at the scene when the shootout happened, he must have been the mastermind." Heiho said, "I'll leave it to the Japanese Army who served in the labuan."

"You don't make the atmosphere grow runyam, Heiho. You just came, and you don't know anything. Saleh is also a victim, you can go to the treatment room and see his terrible condition." Captain Diego replied calmly.

Captain Diego stared at the two Japanese soldiers who had been silent beside Heiho, "Or you can ask the two people beside you. I remember, they petrified Mei yesterday looking for cousin Robin's sister. And as you know. God who saved that little boy."

"Alas, at most it's his wits to escape from the snare of the law. It could have been.."

"Enough." Sela Captain Diego is fast. Talking to someone like Sergeant Heiho does require a lot of patience. Captain Diego knows, however, Heiho will continue to seek blame in order to blame Saleh.

"Well, then you can go see and interrogate him directly. But if, he's proven innocent, you're gonna have to apologize to him and me." Said Captain Diego.

"What the fuck is that." Sergeant Heiho won't take it.

"You don't forget, Heiho. This ship is under my control, and I'm a Dutchman. I obviously don't have to bow to you who's a Japanese." Captain Diego took a deep breath.

"It could be, it is Japan that is ruling Indonesia now. But on this ship I'm the one who rules, not Japan. Didn't I tell you that this ship isn't a warship."

"Stop acting at will, our position is almost the same here. You don't act like I'm your subordinate. So remember to apologize"

"Don't say much. I'm not gonna apologize to you, let alone to that damn neighborhood. Because he must be guilty." Heiho immediately rushed out of the room.

Five minutes later, after making a ruckus along the way. Heiho, and the two Japanese soldiers arrived in front of the treatment room. One of the soldiers opened the door violently.