The Dusk of the Middle East

Episode 41

"How's the condition?" Saleh asked slowly. Clenching his hands down, what really happened to his friend

"I don't know yet. The doctor's still checking, Saleh. We can only hope for the best now." Captain Diego shook his head.

In the treatment room also arrived Chef Ruben, who had just finished preparing breakfast, "Where was he found?" Ask Chef Ruben.

"Founded in a small room near the chimney. Looking at his condition, Joseph seemed to have been trapped a day or so there. With condition bound, as well as mouth in the chopsticks, so can not ask for help."

Chef Ruben sighed, rubbing his hair.

Lucas's the head man, the last man to arrive. He rushed into the treatment room. Pushing the door so fast, it ran, almost crashing into Saleh and Chef Ruben.

"How's the condition? How's it?" Lucas with his breath still gasping had already asked. He had just heard about Joseph, so he hurried to run from the cabin.

"Jesus Christ, Lucas." Captain Diego glared, "Your actions can interfere with the doctor's work with all the commotion you're making."

"Sorry, Captain. Sorry, I didn't mean it that way." Lucas tried to catch his breath. Joseph was his cabin mate. Although Joseph with him always seemed silent, but he worried about the man. Even all day yesterday, he had twice combed all parts of the ship, to find where Joseph was. To his desperation, he concluded that the new crew was left behind in Manila.

"Doctor's still checking, Lucas. We don't know either." Chef Reuben explained.

Actually, if only the situation was better. Chef Ruben was about to laugh. Look, the head crew was wearing only sepaha shorts and sleeveless deep shirts. Lucas apparently had not changed clothes, immediately rushed here.

Ten minutes later, the doctor pulled the curtain out. The treatment room was more than adequate. There are emergency rooms, inpatient cots, laboratories, and nurses who serve twenty-four hours during the trip. The Karel Ambo was one of the best equipped passenger ships of the era.

"How about Mr Bram?" Saleh first asked the Dutch doctor?

"He's exhausted. Serious strep throat and fever. His body condition deteriorated without treatment. An hour or two down here, maybe he's no longer helped. But now everything is under control. His physique was tough, above standard, nodding. He just needs a break until the day."

"Thank God, then, doctor."

The doctor nodded, "I'll leave it for a while with the nurse. You see, I didn't even wash my face when my cabin door was on the door."

Lucas was seen sighing in relief hearing the doctor's explanation. Saleh wiped his sweaty temple this early.

No one could find Joseph. The nurse still thinks anyone's going to see her. Joseph was fast asleep, needing a lot of rest.

The sound of the breakfast whistle sounded loud. Chef Ruben has gone first to the cafeteria. Lucas and Captain Diego return to their respective rest cabins, leaving Saleh alone who he says will be waiting for Joseph.

The ship did not stop long, only raising passengers. There are usually not many passengers departing from San Fernando. What makes the wait is to put tens of tons of coal in the hull of the ship. Dozens need to be seen carrying large sacks.

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The news of Joseph being found in a small room spread quickly. Mei heard from one of the crew members who was on guard at the glass table and the kettle, which is why Saleh went to the treatment room earlier.

"What's up, brother?" Robin asked curiously as they arrived sitting at the table.

"Joseph's in pain, Robin."

"Om Yusuf?" Robin's eyes are perfectly rounded, "Pity me." Robin's face turned sad.

"That's what gave me and Robin ginger tea?" Robert asked, interested.

"Yes, that's Yusuf." Mei nodded.

At the table there are already Eyang Ran and Eyang Putri, Mr. Hatta, Mr. Andipati, and entourage from the Riau sultanate. Fun to talk about the Cities in the Philippines, the country where the ship is now.

"I just found out" Eyang Ran suddenly spoke up. Make the others look.

"Newly know what, Eyang?" Robin asked.

"I just found out that there's a place for Joseph. It turns out that the world is so vast. The name of the place is like the name of a person."

Robin patted the forehead, ouch! This must have been because previously one table was discussing about the cities in the Philippines, then suddenly moved about Joseph. Eyang Ran whose hearing was impaired so he did not connect.

The long table was crowded with laughter.

"It's funny that place's name, isn't it? You guys just laughed at the name of the place. Joseph." Eyang Ran said confidently, while scooping the fried rice.

Robin and Robert left for temporary school after finishing breakfast. A little run along the hallway. Stop for a moment on the open deck. Staring at the busy dock, staring at the pile of coal like a small hill in black.

Robert then reminded his sister if they could be late. Robin nodded, the two continued on their way. If you can choose, Robin prefers to watch the loading and unloading at the dock this morning on appeal to go to school.

"Eh, where are we going?" Said Robin who had just arrived at the classroom, staring confusedly at the children who were walking out."

"We'll learn directly from nature, Robin. You guys must like it." Mr. Andipati smiled.

It seems like good luck is on her side. Mr. Andipati who taught science lam in the first lesson hours, actually took the children out of the classroom.

They got off the ship. Their teacher met the crew at a table near the stairs, explaining their purpose in fluent Dutch. The crew stared at the enthusiastic faces of the children. Discussed for a while with his friend, and finally nodded.

The crew pulled out a piece of paper, then recorded the names of the twelve children. Give permission to go down for an hour.

Mr. Andipati brought the children closer to the pile of coal. That morning their lesson on minerals and mines. How the mining process is carried out, ranging from site research, to the tools that are provided. Then, the produce is carried by ships around the world.

An hour of unnoticed lessons. Robin and his friends were even allowed to carry chunks of coal by port officials, after Mr. Andipati asked for permission.

Just when the time given by the crew at the deck table ran out, they went back aboard.

There is still a second lesson, which is social science. The children returned to the school room while they. Continue to notice the large map that Captain Diego lent them. Learning the geographical location of the world.

When Robin and his friends were cleaning up a notebook, they were about to put it in a bag. The whistle sounded loud as well. It was a sign that the ship was leaving.

The kids cheered cheerfully. In an instant it was already in the hallway. They scrambled to run to each other as fast as possible to the open deck. I want to watch the ship departure. They laughed at each other, then climbed the stairs.

The deck was crowded by other passengers. As usual, they waved at the dock. There were dozens of relatives and locals who also let go of the boat. Coal transport workers stopped working for a moment, followed by watching. Also the fishermen in their respective paper boats.

Robin waved his hand, exclaiming, "Goodbye all! The father! Mama! Grandpa! Grandma! Pray for a smooth ride."

Robert laughed at his sister's serious face. They are repeating the ritual every time the ship departs, pretending to know the deliverymen who are waving at the dock.

The ninth week of the journey, at twelve noon the ship Karel Ambo left the port of San Fernando. Quickly, rows of coconut trees were left behind. Also beautiful green hills. The ship's headed for the next stop, Vigan City.