Ulong Dagger

Patchouly

Two days later in the hideout of the lascars in the expanse of silver.

Name of the five-year-old girl. The grandson of the late Ncik Dolah who was killed by Ki Bayu and his pet.

She is the only woman and the only toddler in the Awang group hideout.

Her adorable cute behavior more than a week gives a comforting feel to those who are there.

Especially now that he is used to it and wants to be spoken to by people here. No longer afraid and fussy as before when first brought by the Awang troupe.

They are lascars, so loving. And alternately caring for and comforting Nilam.

Especially if the little girl is sad or frightened to remember the murder of her grandfather.

Today as Ruslan sat waiting for Nilam to play near their small village by the river, he tried to make dolls.

"Typically girls play dolls" he thought.

The doll was formed from a handful of dry weeds and tied here, in his eyes pinned yellow grass flowers.

After Ruslan finished staring at his doll then frowned and chuckled to himself.

"There are arms, legs, and head despite the greatness, but it can be called a puppet" he thought judging.

He walked up to Nilam while holding his homemade doll behind his back.

At that time Nilam was watching the dragonfly that was flying a lot on the side of the river.

Nilam turned to hear Ruslan's footsteps behind him.

"The dragonfly is a lot" said Nilam pointed to dragonflies flying.

"Can Nilam catch it?" ask her.

"Don't" said Ruslan laughing.

The river is not deep, only about a bunch of adults, it will not be dangerous for Nilam to play there.

It's just that this boy is very clever, and Ruslan knows that's just the reason Nilam wants to catch a dragonfly, when in fact he wants to play with water, and if it is not prohibited he will play water all day until he forgets to eat and take a nap.

"What are you hiding?" tanya Nilam saw Ruslan's hand placed behind the body.

Ruslan smiled widely and showed Nilam his doll.

"This is for Nilam" Ruslan said.

An interesting thing happened when Ruslan gave the grass doll to Nilam. Unexpectedly the boy was so incredibly happy to receive it, his tiny lips smiled widely and his eyes widened in awe.

"Thank you Uncle, how beautiful the doll is" he said.

Staring at that innocent face and hearing such sincere thanks, made Ruslan feel truly happy. Satisfaction that cannot be measured by words.

He promised inwardly to make Nilam another toy, for the sake of seeing this boy smile like that again.

Nilam played with Ruslan's doll under a shady tree, by the river.

His soft tone of voice rang while playing, what song he was singing, only he knew.

Ruslan then sat on the grass watching.

"Seeing Nilam play with joy, it feels like the war is over" said Tama who just came and sat next to Ruslan.

Ruslan turned to look at Tama, he sighed deeply and then looked back at Nilam, a smile etched into his face.

Tama took a deep breath and lay staring at the sky.

"Quiet Lan times" said Tama

"You look at that sky, like my grandmother's conde" she said.

Ruslan doesn't care about his friend's babble. With interest he looked at Nilam who was playing.

Almost everything he knew was just war and anything related to war, it really often almost shifted his memories and feelings about other things.

Life is always about assault, and escape. People go to war, some go back and some don't.

There was only blood and tears. It is only the greed of man against the struggle of other men who want to defend his rights. It's a really exhausting cycle.

And through this little girl he just realized, although it turns out a little love and tenderness still exist in this world and must be maintained, maintained.

For things like this, they are fighting.

So that children like Nilam can grow up happy in peace.

Nilam looked up and smiled at him. Ruslan smiled back, perhaps the best smile of his life.

And so, easily the happiness and sincerity of Nilam infects those around him.

🌼la 🌻 la 🌸 la🌺

"Nilam, move to play son, the day is getting hot" Ruslan said.

Nilam looked at Ruslan and Tama, he smiled then shifted down the shadow of the trees and continued playing.

The hiding of the warriors here is also in the middle of the forest, although the tree is not as big as in the forest where the lascars hide in the bahorok.

Because this place is approaching the sea, not the mountains.

A small river about two meters wide passed not far behind their huts, where Nilam was playing at the moment.

This river is a branch of a large river that leads to the Strait of Malacca.

There are three buildings in this forest that Awang and friends established, shaped house stage, measuring about five times five meters. The walls and floor of the hut are made of wood that is arranged and nailed while the roof is made of woven rumbia.

"Sir when is he coming back?" asked Nilam while walking over.

"Aah", Ruslan so remembered Awang, his mind that had entered the realm of calm now had to face back with reality.

Likewise he tried to smile before the innocent face of Nilam, "Pakcik Awang hunting deer, do not worry he was guarded Pakcik Arman and Pakcik Amat (Mat Kecik)", ruslan answered and patted Nilam's shoulders.

He recalled one day before Awang and two of his confidants went to attend the meeting in Sunggal, Awang had ordered some of his soldiers to find out the whereabouts of the Ncik Dolah family in the village to the north of their hiding place.

And ordered them to return Nilam to his family.

Then on the next day Awang departed in the morning to the meeting accompanied by Arman and Mat Kecik, while Ruslan and three other people left a little lunch after waiting for Nilam to finish lunch.

While on the road Ruslan and his friends began to realize something was wrong that day, because so many of their company soldiers saw patrolling the streets, much more than usual.

Because of this, they decided it was impossible to continue the journey and they returned to hiding.

That's because Nilam is still with them to this day, when Awang is not known where the limb is.

And now it doesn't feel like seven days Awang has not been heard. To go looking, the situation was not possible, too many company patrols were wandering around closing their way.

"Huge damage? Can Nilam ride?" ask Nilam.

Ruslan regained his senses from the daydream, he sighed and then nodded and smiled,

Seeing Ruslan's nod, Nilam cheered cheerfully and then ran round and round holding his grass puppet.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

Not feeling dusk before the western horizon, some irregulars rest while some others stand guard.

The flames had already been extinguished to avoid being seen by the enemy from a distance.

Soon dusk was replaced by a dark night, only decorated with a half moon.

Finish their dinner, they rest.

Unusually, tonight somehow Ruslan's feeling bad. Many times he woke up from sleep, various terrifying shadows appeared flashing in his dreams.

And now he woke up again with a sweaty body, even though the night was so cold.

Beristighfar several times ago he turned to the corner of the room in front of him, in a faint Nilam looks soundly in his blanket.

It was seen his chest rising and falling breathing in the air regularly.

Suddenly Ruslan heard a thump outside.

Quickly achieved a cleaver that is always placed next to him every sleep.

He stood up then peeked out from the crack of the hut door.

Nothing was visible outside even when the moonlight was bright enough to shine.

Slowly opening the door, a soft creaking sound was heard.

Ruslan came out of the hut with a drawn machete, then slowly closed the door and stepped down the house stage.

In the dark he whispered in search of his friend.

"Who's there?" says slowly.

There was no answer, but three men were supposed to be on guard tonight.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

The next day on the run.

"We've been here too long" said Awang grumbling.

Ulong turned his head and smiled listening to Awang's grunts.

They were sitting around the fireplace. Under the trees.

The cawang sat on a rock about the size of an adult's thigh, some distance from the fireplace.

Ulong sat on a tree trunk placed on the ground, next to Laksmi who occasionally stirred a large pot of porridge.

Salhah and Mardiani crouched across the fireplace, watching.

The porridge is made with rice cooked with a lot of water to be mushy, then burned on a small fire, and stirred continuously so as not to be charred or coagulate into a crust.

As for the herbs, this morning Laksmi and the two girls together picked some plants around them, turmeric, ginger etc.

Yes this country is so fertile, all kinds of plants and animals are abundant everywhere, live pickling or hunting. And if human origin is not greedy to damage it, then nature here will continue to provide enough results for sustainable living.

Then for Laksmi side dishes use salted fish soaked in warm water so as not to become too salty before mixed into the porridge. This salted fish many miles they took from the Dutch post they destroyed.

Very much has been taken from the company last Sunday, even enough for them after being divided with the prisoners they freed before.

At that time there were only six of them waiting for Laksmi to cook lunch, because Putra, Arman, and Mat Kecik were going to check the surrounding area.

"It smells so bad" said Mardiani approaching.

Laksmi smiled then spoons some porridge and give it to Mardiani to taste.

Just now Laksmi was about to remind, "slow down - pe..".

"Well.heat" said Mardiani as she sipped from the spoon.

Open your mouth wide "haah.. Haaah.." he said, then fanned his hands in front of his mouth.

Anggu Razak chuckled at the impetuous behavior of her daughter sipping from a hot spoon.

Salhah took a spoon from Mardiani's hand and took a tasting, poked just a little at the end of the spoon "so delicious" he said.

Ulong looked at Awang, he understood why these two days Awang was careless.

He must have been upset that for a week they could not go anywhere.

And as the leader of the army in this region he hates feeling helpless because of the many companies that roam.

Unlike Awang, for Ulong and the others here is the best place for now.

"Don't be too hard on yourself Ananda, this situation is not your fault" said Anggu Razak.

For some reason the smile and answer of this old man always felt so soothing.

"Yes Anggu", replied Awang softly, then he tried to smile back.

Before long the sound of horses running closer, from his voice Ulong could suspect it was the Son and the group of scouts.

"It smells so bad, I get hungry" said Mat Kecik came after tethering the horse.

He walked with Arman, while the Son came while carrying a horn (cancel), which succeeded in his arrow on the way home.

Laksmi smiled at them, "it just so happens that lunch is ready, let's eat" he said.

As they gathered, Salhah and Mardiani handed out plates filled with porridge.

"How's it?" awang asked, he was still sitting in his place, just watching his friends start eating.

"Later at night we can move Wang" said Mat Kecik while chewing a little bit of fatigue because scooping hot porridge.

Arman sipped water and spoke to "Si Madan, the older son of Hasnah, later that night it was his turn to take salt to Belawan".

Hearing Arman's words Awang's eyes immediately sparkled, he smiled widely.

"Aaah.why don't you say it from earlier" said Awang.

He moved from his seat and approached.

"We are too hungry to tell stories" replied Mat Kecik.

"Of tell me while eating, here the plate, so my spirit to eat" said Awang.

Salhah smiled then scooped the porridge onto a canned plate and gave it to Awang.

"Hmm. very good", praise Awang after feeding a spoonful of porridge to his mouth.