The Dusk of the Middle East

Episode 44

At eight o'clock in the night, the ship Karel Ambo only drove at a speed of 6 knots, half the maximum speed. Climb the two-meter high waves. If only the ship was only as big as a fishing boat, it would have been overturned. But with a length of 136 meters and a width of 16 meters, the speed of the ship remains stable.

Captain Diego can't leave the wheelhouse. He received Saleh there as a guest. Asking one of the crew to make a warm coffee, they chatted in a high chair while staring at the ocean.

Sometimes they laugh, like two best friends who are spending time chatting, even though the age of the two is much different. There's a lot they talk about, about bad weather, about world cup travel, and the last one is talking about why Saleh came to see Captain Diego.

But the conversation ended without a conclusion. Finally, after an hour, Saleh gave permission to go home. Captain Diego escorted him to the door.

The clock shows at ninety and thirty, the ship's hallway is empty. There were no passengers seen outside or crew passing by. Saleh walked slowly, his eyes looking forward. Some parts of the ship were darkened because the lights were turned off after nine o'clock.

Arriving at the stairs just at the turn, as he stepped down, Saleh was aghast. Almost hit someone who also just appeared from the opposite direction, about to step up.

"Jesus! we almost collided, Mr. Saleh."

"Sorry, Lucas. I'm so focused on staring around that I don't look ahead." Saleh rubbed his face. He was shocked, his face pias. If only he hadn't held on. Maybe he and Lucas are already rolling on the floor.

"No, Old . I went up too fast. I thought, last night, when the waves were high, there wouldn't be anyone interested in hanging around the ship." Lucas the head man.

"Where are you going, Lucas?"

"I'm going to find some food, sir. Go to the canteen."

Saleh thought for a moment. He had no other activities besides sleeping. Mei may have slept in her cabin. All right, Saleh decided to go with Lucas to the cafeteria. It was possible that he could obtain a bowl of delicious warm soup.

They walk side by side in the hallway. Saleh went back up the stairs.

"Don't Mr. Saleh say these nights, the ship's passageways look a little scary." Lucas asked to break the silence.

"Awak ship like you is not used to this condition." Saleh laughed, "And it depends. What you're afraid of, Lucas."

"I mean, Mister?"

"If you're just afraid of God, nothing will scare you. But if you're afraid of ghosts or humans like that. Then, you're right. These hallways look scary."

"There are many parts of the kapa that become dark because the lights are turned off. We never know who might be hiding there. Who knows if there are criminals who are ready to stab or ghosts who are ready to pounce. Or something keeps following."

Lucas stopped for a moment. Saleh also stopped.

"Sir isn't kidding, is he?"

"If it's about criminals, I'm kidding Lucas. But when it comes to something that keeps following, I'm not kidding." Saleh smiled, his voice grew quieter, whispering, "Well, try to come with me for a moment."

"Where?" Lucas asked cautiously, his face becoming tense.

"Don't be noisy and stay hidden." Saleh reminded.

Lucas nodded, closing his mouth.

Five minutes of waiting, nothing. Lucas turned to Saleh who was standing next to him. He asked, what is it. But his mouth was instantly stuffed. From the end of the hall came a slow rhythmic knock, like the sound of shoes walking on the floor of a ship.

That's what? Lucas looked at Saleh.

The sound of the knocking was getting closer. Then stop for a while. Then the knock appeared again. This time the knock swirled in place, then away. Missing.

"Well, you heard that, didn't you?" Saleh came out of the corner. He stepped back into the light, "Now depending, if you're afraid of ghosts or humans, then obviously the ship's passage is creepy, isn't it?"

Lucas hurriedly followed Saleh's steps, "What was that?"

"Later you know for yourself. Now I feel hungry. Let's go to the cafeteria before no one's there." Saleh asked, continuing his steps. I don't intend to discuss this in detail.

Lucas sighed, taking a quick step.

"Goedenach, Chef Ruben." Saleh greeted with relief.

Almost ten o'clock in the evening, he thought there was no one in the cafeteria. But thankfully, the person she expected to be the most was there.

"Goedenach, Saleh." The big-bodied Chef Ruben laughed happily, "From this moment I guessed whether you would come to the cafeteria this late, it turned out to be true."

"I've only come here to accept an invitation from Lucas, but now I'm really hungry."

The two pretend not to know each other, remember.

"Night, Chef" Lucas greeted from behind Saleh.

"Night. How'd you leave your picket post, Lucas? High waves, aren't you all on guard?"

Lucas nodded, "True, I asked for permission for a while for the night. Because it was so busy that I missed dinner."

"alright. Please sit down you two. I've prepared a special menu."

Before long, waiting five minutes, the head chef brought back a tray with two bowls on it. He had prepared the dish from this afternoon, only he had heated it. Experienced chefs always seem to know the old advice: delicious cuisine always keeps people coming back

Saleh laughed happily looking at the bowl in front of him. The bowl contained rib soup. The steam bill was hot and the ribs were so tempting. Saleh grabbed a spoon, tasted the gravy. Not play. So delicious.

Lucas was actually still thinking about the sound of a knock in the hallway, but saw Saleh greedily scooping rib soup. He grabbed the spoon. He was the one who wanted to eat. And only need one try to enter the rib soup, the mystery of the sound of the knock was immediately forgotten Lucas.

"Well, this is delicious, Chef." Lucas praised.

Chef Ruben grinned widely, always happy to be praised.

"How are the new crew?" Chef Ruben started a conversation I, while accompanying his two guests to a meal, "That's a shame the young man. Trapped in that little room. If no one finds it soon enough, it may be tomorrow - a foul stench emanates from Dafi there."

As always. The head chef was always sharp in his mouth. When the middle person is engrossed in eating, he casually even says a foul smell.

Saleh stopped the bribe into his mouth, "I'm sure for sure if the culprit is still on this ship."

For the sake of hearing Saleh's words, the atmosphere of the room suddenly became tense. No one dared to discuss why Joseph was found bound in the small room."

"Eem, regardless of that shit, the important thing is that Joseph has been found." Lucas spoke up, tried to divert the conversation, "I got him to talk earlier."

"When?" Saleh looked quickly. He thought he could not meet Joseph because his friend still needed a lot of rest.

"I came when he woke up. I couldn't talk for long because the nurse asked me to come out. Maybe only tomorrow can we just swipe it."

Saleh was happy to hear that. Continue to eat the rib soup that was delayed.