Ulong Dagger

Fireworks Toward the Dawn

At dawn in the port of Belawan.

Without the sound of the wind blowing and the water splashing, the atmosphere will feel so quiet.

Land winds blowing into the sea add to the cold atmosphere, making most people pull their blankets and fall asleep.

In the dim light of several torches set on the dock were seen five large sailing ships belonging to the Dutch navy. The five ships were located quite far from the other ships docked at the dock. It was the only Dutch warship left in the port at this time. A dozen others who more than a month ago delivered the help of company soldiers were not seen there again, had sailed from the port of Belawan.

Not far from the company's navy ships, five small boats were paddled slowly cruising silently in the dark.

Each boat had five passengers on board. They were the entourage of Ulong and the inhabitants of the fishing village.

They rowed the boat closer to the company's moored ship. The one they were heading for was the middle ship.

After arriving at the intended place, the stern of the middle ship is dark because the light of the torches can not reach it, Ulong use a dagger tied with a rope to the pointed milestone at the end of the stern.

Then after the rope that was given many knots wrapped around the milestone, he pulled it several times to be sure.

"Safe to climb", whispered Ulong.

Awang, Arman, and Mat Kecik took turns climbing the ropes without sound.

At the same time that Laksmi, Mardiani and Salhah were approaching the pier from the darkness in the west to settle soundlessly, another boat had just brought them to land there with Putra and Angku Razak.

They noticed that three native guards were standing on the edge of the pier. They wait for Ulong to signal or if there is a commotion on the ship then they will immediately finish off the three standing soldiers.

Back to the ship.

In the darkness of Awang, Mat Kecik and Arman managed to board the ship without any guards noticing. Just as Ulong had expected, the company did not place special guard on their warships.

As his friends climbed up, Ulong stood on a boat guarding two daggers in hand.

There were only two guards standing on the deck of the ship at that time, quickly and without any sound Awang and Arman finished them off with the spear he had been carrying on his back while climbing.

After the two guard soldiers were killed they lay down and then crawled forward, pulling out the spear that was stuck in the enemy's body and then Arman entered the hull of the ship to check the remaining enemy. While Mat Kecik helped the others to get on the boat.

The crew did not enter the hull but waited near the neighbor's door to board the ship. He was waiting for an enemy who could suddenly board this ship.

And so far there was no sign of an enemy noticing their presence, and one by one the men of the small boats climbed up the ship.

Once on board, the fishing villagers prepared with bows that they made themselves from bamboo sticks and rattan roots as rope, for more than a week they practiced archery on Laksmi, Mardiani, and others, and Salhah.

Not too proficient but enough for them to understand how to shoot, and that too is deadly.

Twenty-five of Ulong and Awang's men managed to board the ship undetected, a far greater number than the enemy on guard - two men each on each warship.

Ulong mimicked the owl's voice, a gesture for Laksmi and the other two girls.

Laksmi and the others shot out of the darkness in the shadows of the building.

"Crep!! Crep!! Crep!!" almost simultaneously their three arrows stuck in the bodies of three guards, the three guards immediately collapsed stuck in arrows, one in the head and two in the heart.

After the archery collapsed onto the three enemies, they quickly moved forward remaining in the shadows of the building untouched by light, to avoid other guards that might not be visible to them.

Two more guards on a nearby ship were knocked down by their arrows, one fell into the sea making a sound. Guards on the other ship heard the sound, they looked towards the origin of the sound.

"Now!!" said Ulong who lurks the existence of the enemy. The villagers immediately got up from their beds and crouched behind the wall of the fence and shot, partly to the two guards on the ship on the left and partly to the guards on the two ships on the right.

Although the villagers were not very proficient but the number of arrows they were leaning was very large, the soldiers guard also fell on the hunjam several arrows at once.

After the archery the villagers returned to shelter, just like Laksmi had taught them.

One of the guards on the ship furthest to the right had apparently not been killed, this guard was the lucky type, not a single arrow had managed to hit it. But his luck this time ended, Awang who was lurking threw a spear in his hand right through the heart of the soldier before the soldier had made a fuss by firing a rifle in his hand.

No more fighting, the whole guard is dead. The small boats that had taken them now they boarded the ship according to Ulong's message before they set out to leave no evidence.

After that together they hooked the landing board to the other ships next to him connect. Then they carefully moved the cannonballs and gunpowder as well as other weapons sufficiently to the ship they were about to steal. It's important that they don't run out of ammunition at sea.

After all their needs were removed, they poured oil on the decks of the ships they were about to leave behind.

Then Laksmi, Mardiani, and Salhah who had been watching from the darkness followed the ship.

After that they wait for Anggu Razak and Putra who are in charge of bringing Rustam as they agreed before.

Shortly from the darkness in the northeast direction came the voice of an owl, it was the voice of the Son.

Ulong replied by mimicking the same voice twice.

Hearing a reply, Son, Anggu Razak, and Rustam ran towards the ship.

Anggu Razak and Rustam climbed up through the lowered rope ladder, after being on board Rustam immediately took a standing position behind the ship's rudder.

The son later got on the ship, he first removed the rope fastening the ship at the dock, only after that he deftly climbed the rope with the help of Ulong who pulled it from the top of the deck.

The residents entered the hull, partly helping Arman and Mat Kecik prepare cannons. Others prepare paddles to move ships out of port.

And slowly the ship they boarded was paddled away from the port.

After being about fifty meters away from the moored ships, the ship they were riding on turned towards the west.

Many fishermen filled the gunpowder and then inserted iron balls of cannon bullets. After that the windows where the south-facing cannon was opened, and the cannon was ready to fire, Mat Kecik shouted "Close your ears!!!".

Those on the ship simultaneously covered their ears including those standing on deck.

Mat Kecik and Arman who were holding torches looked at each other and chuckled.

"Bledar!!!, Duar!!, Dar!!!" the sound of cannons fired towards the warships moored on the dock.

The night was suddenly bright with a flash of cannon fired.

Cannon bullets could be seen penetrating the bodies of the ships, splashing pieces of wood everywhere.

Those on the hull of the stolen warship rushed up to the deck, preparing bows and special arrows that had been provided beforehand. Together they lit up the arrows, and the night was again bright because the flaming arrows were set in their bows.

"Direct your arrows, follow me!!" Laksmi. They took aim following the direction of Laksmi's arrow directed towards the sky.

"Pull!!!".

"Shoot!!!", cried Laksmi. The flaming arrows flew like fireworks gliding towards the ships that had not been completely destroyed.

At once they cheered to see the enemy warships starting to burn.

The fire spread quickly on the ships that were hit by the fire arrows.

The sky before dawn in this port became brightly lit by light from burning ships.

Then before long the sound of explosions was heard, the fire had reached the gunpowder warehouses on the ships.

"Bledum!!!, Duar!!, Bledar!!!"

They cheered back.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

The ship has moved away from the port of Belawan, there is no possibility of the enemy to pursue.

A fisherman replaced Rustam holding the wheel. Then Ulong and his friends with Rustam now enter the command room located at the very top end under the wheel.

They entered into a fairly spacious room measuring five by seven meters.

Inside the room were several chairs and a table with a map and a globe on it.

Mat Kecik, Angku Razak, Laksmi and Mardiani sat on the chairs available around the table, while the rest stood staring at Rustam.

Rustam did not linger directly convey his findings at the company headquarters.

"There's some recent information I've got" Rustam said.

"After I told Lieutenant Heidrich the company's head in the Kemambir Lima area, as Ulong had taught me. The lieutenant departed with more than a hundred troops" said Rustam.

"At first I thought he was going after you guys who I said ran towards Binjai, but he turned out to lead his army towards the silver expanse" Rustam continued.

All were silent listening and watching Rustam's words.

"I became suspicious, why they instead of chasing you and instead followed towards Ki Bayu. Then I turned to Klambir Lima for information. From the stories of some soldiers there I can conclude that Ki Bayu is no longer on the side of the company, the man is said to have massacred more than a dozen troops of indigenous companies under the command of Suma at the location of your headquarters Wang" Rustam said.

Those who were there were shocked.

Ulong thought for a while and then spoke, "don't you mean they are soldiers of the indigenous companies we defeated" Ulong said.

"If true, it means Ki Bayu was hit by a trap set by Suma" he continued.

Awang and the others nodded in understanding, as they were all engaged in battle with the forces of the indigenous companies in Awang's hideout.

"It can be" said Awang chimed.

"Alright we discuss it later, please continue Pakcik" said Ulong.

"There's one more piece of information that might be important but it should be a relief for you" Rustam looked at Awang and his two friends standing nearby.

Rustam took out from his pocket a mini cup made of lead, then he came forward and handed it to Awang.

"What is this, Uncle?" tanya Awang was confused.

Rustam also told me about the thing in his hand, about Heidrich who was just present in the room and then took the object out of his pocket and put it on the table. Also about his nephew called Nilam.

Awang, Mat Kecik, and Arman were flabbergasted, "is that really Uncle?" ask Awang.

Rustam nodded and spoke again, "because I heard the name from you several times, I became curious, and when no one saw me take the toy and pocket it as proof to show you", Rustam chuckled considering how sneaky he was.

"But that's not all" he continued.

"In addition to finding information about Ki Bayu I also searched for information about Nilam and his whereabouts. True your favorite little girl Nilam is still alive, she lives in one of the houses occupied by kebon workers named Lik Pardi and Mbok Marni if I'm not wrong, I went there and saw Nilam in good health".

Crew up to tears his eyes touched to hear the story of Rustam.

Mat Kecik stroked his chest in relief,.

"Alhamdulillah" said Arman.

"According to the story I heard, Nilam was found by a company patrol with two members of your army, they had run far enough from the base before crossing the company patrol" Rustam told Awang.

"Both of your men were killed in the firing of the company's troops, while Nilam brought them to their superior Lieutenant Heidrich".

"On the basis of Lieutenant Heidrich's orders also Nilam entrusted in the kebon labor house".

"A little extra, maybe not very important. From the story I heard and witnessed while talking directly to Lieutenant Heidrich, also about how he financed Nilam's life, I can conclude it looks like Lieutenant Heidrich was opposite to us but he is a good man", Rustam said.