Ulong Dagger

Besieged

After half a day of riding Ulong and friends arrived at the meeting place.

The place that the soldiers choose to gather is a small field on the riverbank, in the lalang area (place name) surrounded by trees and bamboo groves.

There are several groups of soldiers already present there. Ulong and friends who did know them immediately approached and chatted.

Datuk Indra Sakti came to enter the field on horseback with two of his confidants.

From far away he was already smiling broadly towards Ulong.

After tying the horses, they approached Ulong and his companions.

Datuk Indra Sakti greeted and hugged Ulong.

Datuk Indra Sakti is an old warrior, a good friend of Ulong's late father.

He stared at Ulong from foot to head with a deep groan.

I used to cut this child's hair as a baby, at the naming ceremony, she said in her heart.

"My son, how are you?" datuk Indra Sakti said kindly.

"Alhamdulillah, I am fine Uncle" replied Ulong.

"How are you Uncle?" Ulong asked back.

"Alhamdulillah Pakcik is also healthy" he replied,

Ulong smiled happily at it.

"Our distance is not too far away, if there is no war we should be able to meet more often" said Datuk.

"That's how Pakcik" Ulong confirmed.

Ulong introduced Laksmi and Putra to Datuk Indra Sakti.

"This is your wife?" ask Grandpa.

Laksmi smiled shyly at Datuk's question.

"Not Uncle, we are not married" Ulong replied.

"What are you waiting for? You are old enough, if the war you are waiting for, we do not know when it will end" said Datuk.

Ulong just smiled at Datuk Indra's words.

Datuk Indra introduced his two confidants to Ulong and friends.

The two young men, named Suma and Anwar, were more or less the same age as Ulong.

These two young men looked extremely tough, especially Suma, tall and well-built. Its height is the same as Ulong about 1.8 m.

Strangely, there was an unfavorable premonition in Ulong's heart about this young man.

Ulong walked with Datuk Indra Sakti and his people towards the gathering place in the middle of the field, Laksmi, Putra and Anwar followed from behind. While Suma returned to where their horses were moored.

The building in the middle of the field is quite large, this building is only a roof and a pole without walls, under only pandan mats as the base. Some of the other lascars were already sitting there, they greeted kindly at Ulong and the others.

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Meanwhile Siti and Paijo are waiting outside. Paijo busied himself with the moored horses, while Siti accompanied sitting on the wooden bar of the horse tether watching her dear brother.

There were many members of the lascars standing guard among the trees, all of them wearing all-black clothes with yellow ribbons on the shoulders as markers. While the guests are given a white cloth ribbon as a marker, and also must be tied on the shoulder.

As time went on more and more people were present, both inside and outside the building.

Several young lascars waiting outside glanced at the sweet black Siti.

There were a few more women there.

But still the sweetest Siti among them, the skin is mature sapodilla, the nose is sharp with the tip slightly sticking up, the eyebrows are beautiful and the body is tall, really the men would find it hard to take their eyes off her.

At that time she was wearing all black clothes and a handless vest in red, a veil that was also red covered her hair. At the end of the veil is wrapped around the neck. While at the waist, wrapped around a glove that is used as a belt tucked cleaver, rencong is not visible because it is tucked in the back.

Truly a blend of beauty and toughness.

Siti did not care about the glance of the young men, her heart was already filled with a simple bang Paijonya.

It was very nice that Siti's heart was riding side by side for half a day. There had never been a chance long enough for them both, ever since Paijo set foot in the refugee camp.

Siti ventured earlier to speak, she opened the conversation by apologizing to Paijo because she was the one who kicked Paijo's shoulder to slam in Meneer Jan's tobacco ward.

Paijo just grinned and looked down, "nothing neng, I'm sincere" he said while unconsciously stroking his shoulders which had once been kicked by Siti.

Paijo himself has actually liked since the first time he saw Siti.

But he did not dare to hope, he thought too high his wish to get Siti. Later he was afraid to get a fist.

But lately Paijo can make sure that Siti also likes it.

It feels like the durian is collapsing.

The perfect person in her eyes loved it.

Very brave, intelligent, beautiful and independent female fighters love her who has nothing.

Earlier on the road Siti gave a place to drink to Paijo, Paijo hesitated to take a sip, he was worried Siti would not want to drink from it.

Eh after he drank he handed the drinking place from the skin to Siti and without hesitation Siti took a sip back from it.

Paijo glanced while gulping, his heartbeat pounding.

It's true Parman said that Siti likes him.

"Alright then, I will fight for you with all my might" Paijo said inwardly.

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The people who were in the building without walls sat cross-legged forming a circle.

There were already a dozen people there, they were still talking because the meeting had not started yet.

The White Cloud Grandfather tapped his staff on the ground.

"There's been quite a lot of people present, I think it's time we discussed the latest things we know" Datuk Awan Putih told the audience.

This grandfather was in his eighties, dressed all in white. A great legendary warrior.

Said these Datuk people have a pet of a white tiger that became his mount.

Ulong and the audience nodded in agreement to the words of the White Cloud Grandfather.

But before the White Cloud Grandfather continued speaking some people re-entered the room.

Awang with his confidants, Arman and Mat Kecik arrive.

After greeting and apologizing to those present because of the delay awang sitting next to Ulong.

"Did I miss something?" tanyanya whispered to Ulong.

"Not yet bang, the meeting has not started" Ulong replied.

Awang nodded in relief.

Awang and Ulong age adrift five years, older Awang.

Sitting side by side like that looks the face of Ulong and Awang is just as handsome even though Awang's face looks more macho.

Datuk Awan Putih asked Awang, "Abakabar ananda lama we are not together".

"Alhamdulillah good news Datuk, I hope Datuk also" replied Awang politely.

"Why don't I see Leman with you?" Datuk Awan Putih asked that because Pakcik Leman was the nephew of his late wife.

This question that Awang feared earlier when he entered the room and saw the presence of the White Cloud Grandfather.

"Sir Leman is unable to attend grandfather", replied Awang. Arman and Mat Kecik who were sitting behind Awang lowered their heads.

Datuk Awan Putih stared with a probing look at Awang, but he did not speak anything else, it was clear he became suspicious of Leman's absence, because Leman was one of Awang's advisors.

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The meeting was soon opened, Datuk Awan Putih explained about the intention of gathering irregulars here.

That is to share information and figure out how to respond to the company reinforcements that landed a few days ago.

"The bottom line is that we all have to know this situation, so that we can react to it well" said Datuk Awan Putih.

"We have twice destroyed their reinforcements before, what difference does it make to their current assistance?" said a leader with confidence.

Some other army leaders nodded and confirmed.

"Allow the servant to speak gentlemen", said Awang.

The audience went back to silence.

"In addition to the reinforcements that are clearly visible to the eye, there is another help they brought from Batavia" he said.

All eyes looked at Awang asking what Awang said just now.

Then with a furious Awang told about three members who died in the wolf stealth slaughter and Ki Bayu Ireng.

Everyone present was shocked to hear Awang's story. If it wasn't Awang telling the story maybe they wouldn't believe it.

"You mean Ananda, my niece Leman is dead?"

Awang nodded then looked down sad.

"Yes tuk, forgive me for not being able to keep my group members" said Awang sadly.

Datuk's face for a moment looked hardened.

He sighed then walked towards Awang and sat down before him, patting him on Awang's shoulder.

After that he stood facing everyone and spoke, "as a parent it is certain that I am saddened by this incident, because Leman is my nephew.

"But there's something we have to remember, this is the consequence of our struggle, and I'm sure Leman is aware of it".

Datuk was silent for a moment then looked at all those present and continued, "So don't mourn our friends who have left us first".

"Just like we are ready to die, they are like that, which makes it clear that we are still alive and that they are dead".

"Do not tarnish the sacrifices they have made with our sorrow, do not make the invaders happy because they have succeeded in making us grieve".

All who heard were silent, right said Datuk thinking they. If those who die fighting are revived, they will be happy to return to fight even if they have to be killed again.

"Decide!!" shouted one audience while clenching their hands, greeted with a thump of excitement by the others "Decide!!", "Takbir!!"

The atmosphere became bustling with low boisterous cheers.

"Bleduuum", a cannon shot exploded not far from the meeting building.

Dust and ground flew, another shot following "Outside" exploded not far from the first shot.

Ulong grabs Laksmi's hand and Putra leaves the location.

"Buum, mum, bledar" Many times cannonballs fell on that small field.

Some members of the irregulars who had not had time to escape were blown to pieces by the explosion.

Lascars running around to save themselves, cannon fire several times hit the earth shaking their legs that were there.

"Out" the building where the meeting broke out scattered in the subsequent bullet hit, the shards hit several soldiers who tried to escape.

Seeing the incident Siti immediately helped Paijo bring the horses into the bamboo grove.

"Abang here first, wait for us" said Siti then she took a bow and arrow placed next to the saddle.

Ulong, Laksmi and Putra ran towards their horses. Siti was waiting there to prepare the bow.

Shortly after the cannon eruption stopped leaving white smoke of gunpowder, and the bodies of the irregulars were scattered. Following that, a group of dozens of company soldiers entered the area from the road south of the field and immediately fired their beds.

The sound of bedil was disheveled in the aftermath of the fall of the soldiers who were hit by bullets.

"Quick, fast" Siti told her friends as she began shooting.

At a distance of about seventy meters Siti arrow repeatedly managed to hit some soldiers reduce the number of enemy troops.

Ulong manages to reach his horse, Siti follows her friends backwards while continuing to shoot.

Ulong and friends have been riding on horseback, Siti and now Laksmi are shooting from horseback.

Some lascars who did not have time to escape the fight in vain, the company army bayonet ended their struggle.

From the west of the black company army (natives who work for the company), break through the reeds and participate in raiding the field armed with swords and spears.

Ulong stared at the field and turned his horse to return. He saw Datuk Indra Sakti trying to stand there, his confidant Anwar had been lying face down beside him.

For a moment Ulong's view was blocked by the thick white smoke of gunpowder passing. He was about to return to pick up Datuk, but the son held the reins of his horse holding back.

After the white smoke passed, Ulong saw Suma holding Datuk Indra, Suma's left hand holding Datuk's chin then with her right hand she slit Datuk Indra sakti's neck.

Ulong did not blink watching it clatter its jaws furiously.

Feeling in vain to return Ulong spurred his horse to follow dozens of other members of the army moving towards the North to save themselves from the attack of the company forces.

Before long they moved, they heard the sound of the cannon that had stopped.

The cannonballs hitting the bamboo grove made a crackling sound of broken bamboo sticks before hitting the ground and exploding.

Scrapings of cannonballs, scattering of soil and pieces of bamboo flying around and around hit anyone who was on the track.

About three hundred meters they drove the horses through the clump of bamboo forest and they arrived at a somewhat open place.

It turned out that from the side a horde of company troops on horseback had been lined up waiting, they opened fire simultaneously, some of the soldiers on the right fell from the horses shot.

Warriors and horses fell and collided with each other, including Laksmi's horse.

Ulong who was behind him tilted his body to the right and quickly grabbed onto Laksmi's shoulder before the lover fell to the ground.

Ulong carried Laksmi in his arms riding with the remaining warriors.

Laksmi while sitting on Ulong's lap returned the archery many times dropping several soldiers.

The company bedil though easier to use than the bow but can only shoot once, after that it must be refilled before being fired.

As they were busy refilling the rifles, Awang appeared with two friends grabbing them from the side, Arman and Awang spears swirling around and around, knocking down the company soldiers, while Mat Kecik slashed whoever they passed.