The Dusk of the Middle East

Episode 37's

Sergeant Akio didn't take it for granted.

The debate finally took place and deadlocked, until finally the crew who was in charge of writing the names of the passengers who left the ship said if, Sergeant Heiho came out this morning with two other people named Fahri and Rio. Two diplomats from Indonesia.

The ship's start also added that Fahri and Rio had already returned to the ship.

It didn't take long, Fahri and Rio in intent were already on the deck of the ship, the scene of the debate. Captain Diego had one of the crew call the two men.

"Is there a problem calling both of us?" Rio asked.

"From what we heard Sergeant Heiho came out with you two?" Akio asked

Rio nodded.

"Then where's Sergeant Major?"

"Oh, my God, I forgot about that. I'm sorry." Rio hit his jidat.

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Sergeant Heiho said he had business in Manila and had to stay longer, so he handed a letter to his men." Rio took out a piece of paper from inside his jacket.

Sergeant Akio grabbed the piece of paper quickly.

"Sergeant Heiho knows exactly if later the Japanese army will make trouble if he is not found on board. That's why he wrote the letter and tasted it."

Akio squinted his eyes at Rio, not liking the man's words just now. Akio read the letter carefully. The handwriting clearly belonged to Sergeant Heiho with the Sergeant Major's stamp. The contents were short, saying if he had any business in Manila so as to have the ship leave first, he would follow using another ship.

Mei who saw Akio's face seemed to be dissatisfied with the sheet in her hand, took the paper from Akio's hand. Follow me word by word from that piece of paper, "This is Heiho's handwriting and his stamp." May confirmed.

Akio took a heavy breath, he knew about it too. He and Heiho had been friends since childhood, until he knew very well how the handwriting of Sergeant Heiho. With a heavy heart Akio told the soldiers to lower the weapons. Rushed back to the special cabin of the soldiers. It means he let Captain Diego take over the ship.

The rope finally came off. The wind whistle of the ship is long, a sign of the departure process is ready to begin. Captain Diego is already standing in the wheelhouse. His eyes stared at the harbor waters. The walls of the Karel Ambo ship began to escape from the lips of the dock.

The ship leaves without Sergeant Heiho, the troublemaker.

The deck of the ship, as usual crowded by passengers standing there waved to the dock which was padded by the introductory relatives and people watching.

Robin and Robert did not have time to pretend to wave their hands on the deck. His brother forbade them from going anywhere. Finish bathing, changing clothes, just playing in the cabin until entering Maghrib prayer time.

The two of them just watched the departure process of the ship through a small round window in the cabin. Robin wants a cabin like Saleh's.

Sky orange. Seagulls as well as thousands of kites fly over the harbor. Busy kilo transport stopped for a moment, also workers loading and unloading cargo ships. They stared at Karel Ambo's ship which had begun to leave the dock.

The whistle sounded, longer. It's a sign of "goodbye". Replied by the whistle wind other ships also moaned long. Saying "good road".

The canteen was getting crowded, the head chef told the canteen crew to add two at a time a table where to put food in order to reduce the passenger queue. Long tables where the dining area that had been empty in the corners of the canteen also eat that had been empty in the corners of the canteen began to be full

Two-thirds of the passengers boarded the ship. There are still four more stops, San Fernando, Vigan, Laoag, and Pagudpud, but not many passengers.

Mei and her sisters had been sitting at one of the long tables. Have met new passengers while waiting in line to take food.just a pleasantries, ask where it came from, and other light conversations.

"Why is there a passenger wearing fake documents, brother? Do they mean evil?" Robert asked.

They were at a table with Eyang Ran and Eyang Putri and the Riau sultanate troupe, talking about the incident this afternoon.

"Not all bad intentions, Robert." Mei shook her head, "The two passengers were for example. One of them simply neglected to repair the documents. He was clearly a legitimate passenger. It's just that his photo is different because when he first signed up, he didn't have a photo. So, he used a picture of someone else. He thought it wouldn't be a problem as long as the requirements were complete."

"While the other one did not use his documents. But the intention is good. The legal owner of the ticket and the correspondence is his sibling who died a week ago. He did not have time to take care of the cancellation letter. He decided to replace his brother, rather than have his ticket forfeited."

"So can they get on a boat?"

"Initially it should not, the Japanese Army vehemently refused. But the problem is not as easy as I thought. It's an old trip, because it's people saving money a long time ago."

"It is impossible to leave just because of the photo. After a dispute, Captain Diego decides the first passenger can board. The second passenger got off. He can take care of the replacement money at the Rotterdam Lloyd coninklijke office in Manila. That's the wisest solution."

"But there are still instances of bad people using fake documents, Lady." One of the passengers sitting at the long table spoke.

"Yes that's very possible. Therefore, during the discussion we also thought about that possibility. We're being careful." Mei agreed, "Only, investigating well and informing appropriately is better than being as angry as the Japanese soldiers do."

The people at the table nodded, "I heard earlier that the soldiers also made a fuss about their Sergeant Major who had not boarded the ship." Ask the same person.

Mei confirmed, then silence did not want to discuss about Heiho. He planned to ask Saleh what was really going on. He believes that if Heiho's disappearance there is Saleh's involvement in it.

"It's a good thing the Japanese Sergeant Major wasn't on board, otherwise he would have made a big deal earlier." Knock someone.

"May I ask, son?" Eyang Ran raised his hand

People turned to Eyang Ran. Mei nodded.

"What happened on the deck of the ship? Why have people been on boats for so long?" Eyang Ran asked seriously, looking at Mei

Well, Robin patted him on the forehead. Since then the whole table talked about it, from starting to eat to want to finish the plate. Why did Eyang Ran even suddenly ask what happened. Ow hell!

The dining table was crowded with laughter.