The Dusk of the Middle East

Episode 9

Day two of the journey.

"Wake up, Robin. You want to pray in the mosque or not." Robert tried to wake his sister by swerving Robin's ears.

"What prayer?" Robin asked with her eyes closed.

Robert held back a laugh, "The dawn prayer, Robin. You sleep not waking up all night, morning until day until night again like a polar bear." Robert Ledek.

"Don't bother your brother Robert." May warns "Let's hurry Robin. You guys are better, right? we'll pray dawn in the ship's mosque together."

Robin nodded. He went down and glared at Robert. He went to the bathroom to clean himself up.

"Are you coming too?" Robin asked.

"No! Yeah, um, I mean no. I didn't go inside, just waited outside." Answer Robert.

Robin just said oh. with a still wet face walking in the steps of her brother and mang Jajan.

After the dawn prayer, as mentioned earlier, Saleh established a science assembly. Almost all the old and young worshippers remained in the mosque, including Robin. He sat next to Mang Jajan, taking a serious look at every speech given by the man who was talking.

Saleh only briefly discussed religious issues, then gave the opportunity to ask the congregation twice, then closed the assembly.

"Salit." Call Jajan forward to the front of the mosque after people have disbanded.

"Make my young master, Robin."

Without waiting at Robin's command forward to greet Saleh's hand.

"Didn't you say there were two bangs?"

"Oh the other one's waiting outside."

"Outside?" Saleh asked as he felt more confused.

Instead of answering, Jajan scratched his head like a confused person.

"That's because Robert hasn't learned to be a Muslim yet." Robin is the one who answers.

Robin's reply made Saleh laugh, now he understood. "Not yet does not mean not."

Robin agreed.

The call from Mei in front of the entrance turned attention to the three men. Robin and Jajan immediately rush to walk towards Mei, while Saleh stands in his place glued to Mei's beauty.

"He is Muslim, and he is beautiful with that face." Saleh left the musholla with the thought of Mei's face.

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At seven o'clock exactly, the whistle of the ship rang out loud twice. The breakfast schedule has arrived. Passengers coming out of their cabins filled the hallways, while talking leisurely they walked towards the cafeteria.

Robin and Robert were standing on an open deck near the cabin, staring at a flock of pigeons that were seen busy catching fish. The two brothers looked seriously attentive to not mind the call from bi Siti to take breakfast.

The two boys had just turned their heads when her brother who was exclaiming in a slow but creepy voice sounded. Eventually the two ran small joining their entourage.

"Auntie doesn't cook in the cabin?" Robert asked.

"No sir." Their aunt shook her head, "But aunt brought something of your favorite in case you don't like kitchen cooking"

"Ah spicy dried potatoes." Robin exclaimed glad to see the contents of the plastic bag that her aunt had brought. They do carry a lot of dry food that lasts for weeks.

The canteen was crowded, there were a few lines. Mei greets some people past her while Robin and Robert have already taken the plates and spoons and immediately go to the queue line to pick up food.

"For me." Robin greeted the crew who served on the glass table with a familiar snob.

The crew simply returned Robin's greeting with a small nod. Then without talking anything back busy putting additional glasses, filling the empty kettle until it is full again.

"Do you know him?" Robert whispered in the back.

"Know that yesterday gave us ginger drinks, didn't you?

"But you're in cuekin, pity." Robert is teasing his brother.

"Who's in cuekin, you didn't see that he nodded?" Robin said in self-defense, "Maybe he's busy, so he keeps working."

That morning the breakfast menu is still fried rice, but this time the side dish is not fish but omelet, tempeh, and tofu. There are also crackers and tucked sambal.

Mei's family group chooses a table near the pole. There already sat a group of entourage from the Sultanate of Riau. The group of six, consisting of two women and four men, had boarded the ship two weeks earlier from Riau.

At first they did not give much attention to May's friendly greetings, because clearly the stature of the face and expensive clothes belonging to Mei and her two younger siblings showed that they were nobles of the Foreign Country.

But it did not last long, because the discussion about the price of spices that Mei explained. Then the adults also began to discuss the news of the failure of the Maluku Governorate to create three new provinces, and what effect it has on the trade in produce.

The breakfast was going well. Suddenly two Japanese soldiers and Lucas the Bousun entered the canteen.

Their arrival stopped hand gestures and passenger conversations. "Why do Japanese soldiers come to the cafeteria? Are they going to eat? But don't they have their own canteen?" It was roughly like that a question that arose from the puzzled look on people's faces.

Lucas looked around the tables, like he was looking for someone. And when his eyes saw Mei, he immediately stepped up quickly, followed by the two Japanese soldiers behind him.

Lucas smiled kindly as he arrived at the table of Mei's family, the two Japanese soldiers behind him bowed respectfully, clearly knowing who the woman in front of them was.

"What's wrong?" Mei asked firmly, she seemed to be disturbed by the presence of 3 people in front of her.

"Sorry to disturb your breakfast Lady. Captain Diego asked you to his work cabin." Lucas speaks politely in Japanese.

"Didn't you see if I was having breakfast? Go, ten more minutes I'll be there." Answer May.

"Bang. Sorry miss but Gunso Heiho is asking you to come along right now!" One of the Japanese soldiers interrupted quickly, "There's a Saleh troublemaker there too."

Tension soon entered the atmosphere of the canteen. Although they did not understand what the Japanese were talking about, they clearly heard Saleh's name mentioned. Obviously, it brings whispers from people around.

Mei was silent for a moment, trying to guess what was really going on. "Other brother this time." Mumbles Mei slowly.

"Sergeant Heiho who asked for a meeting soon. Maybe Lady should follow us now." Lucas said again.

"What's up, brother?" Robin asked.

"You two want to go see Brother Heiho or not?" Mei asked kindly while rubbing the youngest's head.

"So leave, we'll continue our breakfast." Robert replied, he seemed very disturbed.

Mei smiled, "Well you guys continue the breakfast."

While the Riau Sultanate entourage stared at the two Japanese soldiers sharply, given how the invaders tortured the indigenous people. All the attention of the passengers was also on the two Japanese soldiers.

Mei stood up from her chair, raised her hand up trying to calm the situation by saying everything was fine, then took a step towards the canteen door.

Lucas the head of the crew walked quickly, trying to get ahead of Mei, "Let me show you the way, Lady."

"No need, I know the way." Answer Mei friendly.

Although Mei is upset that her breakfast is disturbed, but surely she knows that this problem did not come from Captain Diego or the man named Saleh. This must be Heiho. I don't know what else the problem is this time, to disturb the breakfast in the morning.