The Dusk of the Middle East

Episode 21

"Wait, Brother." Robin called out to her brother.

Robert ignored Robin's call. He was thinking why Saleh, the man was walking from the direction of his cabin? Robert remembered very well that Saleh's cabin was one floor below their cabin. So what's that guy doing in this hallway?

Robert only stopped when Mang Jajan's steps first stopped suddenly in front of the cabin door. Mang jajan was talking to some Japanese soldiers, who had been in front of the cabin since when.

Not caring about adult conversations. Robin excitedly pushed the cabin door, he could not wait to tell Mei, his brother, about the incident at the dinner. Robin was about to shout calling his brother's name, but it didn't.

The cabin is very crowded. The number of Japanese soldiers inside the cabin was more than those outside. What are the adults doing here? They just sat quietly, their eyes all directed to Mei's slightly open room. Robin rushed straight to her brother's room.

Mei smiled at the arrival of the youngest.

"Aren't you okay?" Robin asked worriedly, as if her brother was crying.

"Your brother's fine, Robin." Hihi answered.

"No. Brother's not okay, and what's Brother Heiho doing in

in sister Mei's room?"

Heiho's face, which had been flat, was getting bent. I was not happy with Robin's question.

"Sister Heiho only came to see your sister because he heard her nausea and vomiting. Tomorrow the doctor will confirm whether your sister is pregnant or not." Heiho explained.

Robin still doesn't understand. It took him a few seconds to digest his cousin's words.

Unlike the case with Robert, the fourteen-year-old boy prayed that his brother would not really be pregnant. How can an unmarried woman get pregnant first?

After Heiho and the Japanese soldiers came out of the cabin. Mei and Bi Siti continue dinner. Both of them had not eaten. Bi Siti cooks in the cabin kitchen, she says she makes Miss Mei's corny cooking. His name is Nasi Palekko, a typical food of the Makassar people in the form of duck or sometimes also spicy sour duck. Rice means to cook, while palekko means pot or land value.

The young duck that they had bought at the Labuan market three weeks ago, wrapped in such a way that when used is still fresh. The smell of food smelled all over the cabin as Bi Siti served food on the table.

Robin's stomach rang. He only listened to the sound of his own stomach, but he had eaten a lot of lobster and vegetables.

"Is his stomach a sack? Keep asking for it." Robert intentionally bullied his sister.

Robin glares.

Robert laughed, but soon his stomach also sounded even bigger than the sound of Robin's stomach.

"Is your stomach the hull of the ship?" Now it was Robin's turn to ask, mimicking Robert's way of speaking, "Have asked to be filled again."

Robert glared back.

Elsewhere, Saleh walked with slow steps to the canteen. He needs to talk to his friend, Joseph.

The night wind was getting stronger, drizzling down the hallways. Karel Ambo ship continues to accelerate on the waves. Saleh walked slowly up the stairs, the road slippery watery, no matter where the water came from. Saleh gripped the stairs, because the hallway lights turned off into a dark hallway. He almost slipped, his mind everywhere.

Canteen of lenggang. The lamp has also been extinguished, only one lamp is left in the middle that lights up so that the canteen is not completely dark. Seeing this, Saleh thought that Joseph had returned to his cabin. But just as he was about to turn around, the corner of his eye saw that there were two people inside the canteen.

They both appear to be wearing the uniform of the crew. One was eating and the other was standing next to a lamp. Saleh knew Joseph's posture exactly with the man who was standing. He decided to go into the canteen.

Saleh pushed the cabin door, his guess was right.

Lucas immediately stood up to look at the person who entered, then nodded politely, "Good night sir, Saleh."

Joseph gawked, walked, and sat down without replying to Saleh.

"Hey, you should have answered." Lucas whispers.

Joseph looked at Lucas, and I must answer, I think that is the meaning of Joseph's gaze.

"Watashi no yujin, don't you know him? This young man was very famous in Batavia. Captain Diego even asked the entire crew so that he was sure to get good service. So you should welcome him well too." Lucas kicked Joseph slowly, his eyes reminded.

Joseph doesn't seem to care.

Saleh stepped closer to the two people. Step limp.

"May I join?" Ask Saleh, "I need to talk to you seriously." Saleh spoke while looking at Joseph.

Lucas was confused. Do they, Joseph and Saleh know?

"Otherwise this time?" Joseph made two glasses of tea for him and Saleh. He put it on the table, sat in front of his friend.

"I heard Mei was sick.."

Joseph waited for Saleh's words.

"Lady Mei is not feeling well, she is nauseous and vomiting. Sergeant Heiho was checking on her condition" Lucas added, "Say she's pregnant." Lucas whispers. Protest why Joseph only made two cups of tea.

Joseph looked surprised. He looked at Saleh for an explanation. Saleh could only duck, confused as to what to say.

"We're leaving first, Lucas. I'll go to Saleh's cabin, talk to him for a second. You can drink those two glasses of tea, take it easy we haven't tasted the tea." Joseph pulled Saleh's hand out of the canteen.

Lucas looked at the two men's disappearance confused, "So they both knew each other very well." Lucas mutters.

.

.

.

Tomorrow morning. Mei's cabin in the air covered the tense air. The Japanese army doctor who was included in the platoon was confirming Mei's condition. Mang Jajan, Bi Siti, Robert looked agitated. Heiho's face had been flat since entering the room, only Robin seemed to be calm.

Mei lay weakly on her bed. At dawn he was spewing out the contents in his stomach, a food container last night that had not been well digested. He had absolutely no energy to fight Heiho, since last night his cousin's brother came. He had a fight, a fierce fight with Heiho. Denying that she is not pregnant. But it's the same. The thought of the colossal people of that era, if a nauseous woman included vomiting her sign she was pregnant. Therefore, Mei resigned in check.

Mei knows once. If she was really pregnant, then Heiho would not let this be easy. It's only been seven weeks they've been over the ocean, there's still eight months until they arrive in Japan. That means most likely Heiho will make him suffer for the rest of the trip.

"Anzen. Congratulations to you on your pregnancy. Your gestational age is currently entering the seventh week. May God bless you with a safe pregnancy with a healthy and happy baby." Say the doctor after finishing checking, then withdraw.