Ulong Dagger

Where is my Friend

Awang embraced and patted Ulong's shoulder while laughing.

Didn't know how he expressed admiration for his friend.

"It turns out there aren't many enemies left in here" Ulong said before the gate as his friends praised the two of them.

Laksmi just smiled and nodded confirming the words of her lover.

Indeed, other than the three people he had crippled in the backyard, there were only three more people left in the two buildings facing in front.

It was easy for him and Laksmi to take them down, without a fight.

But what makes Awang and others amazed is not only the skill of Ulong managed to break through the enemy's defense, but because of all his tactics.

From the beginning they attacked the bridge, burning the field of weeds, it was all at Ulong's direction.

Although there are several times Ulong asked for advice and discussed with Awang and his trusted people, it is because Ulong understands that Awang better understands the situation here.

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The son handed over the task of guarding the horses to Mardiani and Salhah and rushed into the enemy defense post complex.

Together with Laksmi and Anggu Razak he released all the prisoners they found.

It turned out that the building extending south that Ulong saw earlier was the prison where the other prisoners were sealed.

The building is divided into three cells.

In addition to the prisoners tied up in the backyard, there were twenty more people they found in the cells.

Some of those detained are irregulars, there are also community leaders, while the rest are ordinary criminals and people who are wrongly arrested.

The son and Laksmi question them, but none of them recognize Siti and Paijo.

Meanwhile, along with the freed prisoners, Ulong and his entourage seized what they could carry, then burned the entire building.

"Don't leave anything for the enemy, anything we can't burn or destroy!!" ulong Order.

Arman and Mat Kecik found a cannon in the front yard with several iron balls as bullets were piled nearby, as well as a barrel filled with gunpowder.

Seeing that they looked at each other and then poked.

Mat Kecik and Arman filled the cannon with gunpowder and put iron balls into it.

Mat Kecik grinned and then distilled the fire into a small hole above the cannon shaft.

The fire burned the gunpowder inside, the burning gunpowder exploded and threw out a hot iron ball.

"Get out!!!!"

"Bledummm", the front gate and part of the wall collapsed in the shell.

Arman and Mat Kecik jumped in shock, then looked at and laughed at the same time, it was the first time they fired cannons.

It turned out so loud his voice.

Ulong and Awang heard the sound of explosions rushing to come, they looked at the collapsed gate and shook their heads after knowing it was the work of Mat Kecik and Arman.

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In the early morning, smoke and burning smell still filled the complex of Defense Post company that was ravaged.

The building was left with rubble, some parts of the building made of wood were still embers that lit yellowish red.

The walls collapsed and perforated here.

Last night after Ulong and his entourage left with the prisoners, Mat Kecik and Arman stayed for a while to revel in the gunpowder and a dozen cannon bullets, shooting here and there inside the wall knocking down anything hit by a cannonball.

Now when the company reinforcements from Sunggal arrive they only find everything falling apart.

Lieutenant Heidrich was seen standing furiously staring at the flagpole in the courtyard.

His face was flushed with anger.

These soldiers were not enough to burn bridges, destroy their posts and kill their soldiers.

And now he saw something else that made him even more angry.

Their flags lying nearby stood, covered in dirt and torn up here and there.

While on the flagpole, fluttering a shabby color pants are brownish white.

Hundreds of troops were there, no one dared to speak, all waiting in silence.

Two Dutch soldiers rushed down the "clumsy flag" at the behest of sergeant Jhon before their commander grew angry.

After that they raised their flag which was torn and dirty.

Last night after news that some of the soldiers had attacked the bridge, Heidrich and his confidant John immediately took two hundred horsemen in the middle of the night blind.

But once they got there they found only a vast field of reeds still burning and a bridge crossing in a state of disintegration, could no longer be used.

They also had time to meet with reinforcements from Klambir Lima which was across the river where they were.

Since it was impossible to fix the bridge that night, they had to turn the road to the west and turn here and arrive this morning.

"Jhon Sergeant", said Lieutenant Heidrich.

"Ready commander", replied Jhon sparingly.

"Call the commander of this post" he ordered.

Jhon saluted and ran towards the soldiers who were standing not far from it.

He soon returned with a large, moustached Dutch soldier.

Lieutenant Heidrich walked away from the crowd followed by sergeant Jhon and the commander of the guard post who also held the rank of sergeant.

"Tell me what happened" Heidrich said as he walked.

Fearingly the commander of the Post told him in detail what he knew, starting from two patrolmen who reported that the bridge was attacked, until finally he decided to bring his men to the bridge.

He also said that in the middle of the road he found the bodies of the patrol troops about a kilometer before the bridge.

Heidrich gritted his jaw, so angry at the story.

But he realized there was no point in scolding his subordinates. This sergeant was fooled by the guerrillas, and had he been the commander of this post he would have been most likely fooled as well.

"Twenty of my soldiers were sent home as soon as I found the bodies of the soldiers on patrol, at that time I realized that the enemy was tricking us into leaving the post" said the sergeant.

"Those who I ordered to go home first still had time to hear several cannon shots blaring from here, unfortunately when they arrived here the complex was destroyed and some were in the face of fire" he said again.

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"It is quite far from the company headquarters" said a traditional leader who joined Ulong.

"I think we have to separate ourselves from the group of masters" he continued.

"Is it safe for you?", asked Ulong.

"We are from the village around here, our family is also here and they can hide us quite well" the old man replied.

Then he continued, "some of these injured people have agreed to come with us until they recover, so as not to burden your journey" he concluded.

After saying a big thank you, they finally separated from the Ulong group moving west.

From there Awang and his two confidants continued to lead the way to their hiding place.

They continued riding for a few more kilometers until they were absolutely sure the enemy could not find, then stopped near a spring in the forest to fill their stomachs and rest.

Ulong watched around where they were resting, there was only a vast field of weeds on the interspersed with many large trees.

The wind is quite strong and always blows here, the sea breeze. If you walk a few more kilometers to the North it will meet the strait of Malacca.

This place is really very far from their village in Bahorok, the distance may be about one daily horseback riding or more to arrive there.

Ulong remembered his friends, and he again remembered his old friend Siti, and his partner Paijo.

Ulong sighed deeply.

"Hopefully they are fine" said Laksmi who knew already beside him.

Ulong turned his head and said, "we did not find them here, no news was heard. If they were still alive, they might have returned to the village in Bahorok".

Laksmi looked at Ulong, right also thought.

"After things are safe enough we have to go back there to ensure that" Ulong continued.

Laksmi turned his head to look towards the group of those who were resting.

There are only nine of them at the moment.

The same number as before they released the prisoners.

It was now their turn to both stand guard, him and Ulong.

At first Putra insisted on staying on guard because he kept thinking about his brother and could not possibly fall asleep, but Laksmi forbade him because since yesterday they had not rested.

Laksmi smiled to see now the Son looks asleep leaning on a tree, sound like a baby.

The son he knew since he was five years old, when he was with Siti trained to be a female lascar.

And he took care of the Son like his own brother.

"The place where you are", whispered Siti lirih.

The atmosphere was so calm, the wind blew a little louder flying a few strands of dry weeds away.