Paku Point: 30 years ago
On the second night in The Secret Place, Hiang felt refreshed after waking up from that long sleep. It was the most restful, refreshing sleep she had ever had. The temperature was perfect, the storage room was all darkness, not a single light anywhere. She wondered for a moment where she was and then remembered.
She felt around in the tight space, looking for the wall switch that would turn the lights on. She flipped it on and the light illuminated a tiny 10 ft x 5 ft rectangle room, which have stacks of boxes around the walls. Two layers of sleeping bags lay on the floor where she had just been, and a blanket.
She staggered out of the room and was in a corridor and saw a light coming through the ceiling space at the end of the corridor where stood a vertical ladder.
She went towards the ladder and climbed to the next level and found herself in the kitchen. She got a glass of water and then checked her cousins who were sleeping in the bunk next door. They seemed sound asleep.
She couldn't see the Major anywhere. Next she went to the Control Center, and he wasn't there either. Could he be at the top?
She went up to the final level where the 800 foot ladder was and she looked up at the column wondering if she could make the climb. She started climbing the ladder.
The climb was challenging. The space to wriggle wasn't much. She couldn't tell how far she had gone except the lighted circle she left behind kept getting smaller and smaller. It was a good thing she wasn't claustrophobic. After sometime she reached the top of the ladder and wondered how she could gain access to the top. She felt something like a wheel on the ceiling and tried turning it. It turned easily and she pushed on the ceiling and the ceiling moved upwards as if a hatch had been swung open.
Fresh night air flooded the space and she could see the stars and clouds. Hiang lifted herself above the opening, her eyes just above the level with the ground. She spotted the Major prone on the ground his head in the direction of the horizon. The profiles of nearby islands were clearly visible and she recognized the largest profile, Tioman.
She remembered the golden rule. Here was a Catch 22. How can she get his permission to go to the top without having to step out first and asking that permission when he is already outside. She called out to him.
"Major Nur!" she cried out.
He didn't budge.
She called out twice again and still no response.
Finally she clambered out of the hole and crawled towards him.
As she rested beside him, she tapped his shoulder, and that made him turn his head.
He was looking through his night vision binoculars, and had headphones with a mike near his mouth. He gestured to her to wait. It seems he was conversing with someone.
"Kris dua ke Gading," he said,"Repeat Gading, Repeat."
"Roger, over," he said after a few seconds.
He didn't seem upset but said simply "The golden rule has been forgotten."
"No I didn't forget, I couldn't get your attention from the ladder so I had to climb out and get your attention."
"Ok stay where you are and enjoy the fresh air."
"What's going on?"
"Fresh supplies have arrived, new tanks and fuel supply."
"I am dying of news of Singapore."
"Still holding out, but the enemy's about 100 km away from the causeway. Singapore activated their forward defense strategy with Malaysia's consent, and the SAF are in Johor. Don't know how long they can hold out."
"Are we winning?"
"We are giving them a run for their money. Looks like the Americans were caught off guard. The SNA struck at three spots, Mersing, Manila, and Darwin. And they managed to create beachheads on the 2nd day of invasion. The 7th fleet headed to Manila and tried to stop the invasion. But they weren't successful. The SNA had 4 aircraft carriers in Manila and easily thwarted the Abraham Lincoln's F35 sorties."
"It doesn't look good," she summarized the situation.
"What do you and your cousins do?"
"I graduated from NUS in journalism 2 months ago and Ken is an engineer with a consultancy firm, John's still doing his Science 3rd year."
"Kris dua sini, go ahead Gading," he waved his hand to stop the conversation.
Hiang felt she had enough fresh air and started the crawl back to the hole.
"Evelyn," he called out her name. "Don't turn the wheel once you are on the ladder. Or you will lock the hatch and I won't be able to get down."
"Ok," she looked at him and exited Paku Point.
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