Chapter 55
Indonesia, the Riau Archipelago
Nov 13, 2006, 12:00 local time
Malik saw the twin engined plane approaching from the direction of Singapore. It was flying low over the water, down the center of the channel between Batam and Bintan islands. At first, he thought it was heading toward them and he told Saiful to steer the boat closer to shore. He searched for a place they could land and hide until the plane left.
He realized the plane would pass about five kilometers west of their location. He still thought its low level and closeness meant it was searching for them. He pointed toward a rocky inlet on a small island and told Saiful to head in that direction. He continued to watch the small plane as they approached the island. Malik thought he saw something drop from the plane, which then climbed and started to circle above the ocean.
Malik told Saiful to stop the boat beside the rock-walled inlet. It wasn't a good place to hide, as there was nowhere to go if they needed to leave the boat.
As the plane circled, it disappeared behind the island. Malik waited for the plane to come back into view.
When the plane reappeared, it was still circling over the ocean. Almost as if it was searching for something except it was searching in the same place all the time. Malik continued to watch the plane until it once again disappeared behind the small island.
Just after the plane reappeared from behind the island for the fourth time, he saw it turn and head back toward Singapore. A couple of minutes later, a military jet flying high in the sky came from the direction of the Sumatran mainland. He recognized the small single-engined jet from his time in Aceh, where the Government used them to bomb rebel and civilian targets. It looked like the Indonesian Air Force had driven off the Singaporean intruder. For the first time in his life, he was happy to see an Indonesian military aircraft.
Malik told Saiful it was safe for them to continue their journey.
Saiful had used the time to refuel the boat's engine from the container they found on the island.
Saiful said. “That's the last of the fuel. We need to stop soon and buy more.”
“How much further can we go with the fuel we have?”
“Maybe, thirty kilometers if we go slowly.”
Malik took out his GPS and checked their position relative to towns along the Bintan coast. The largest town was Tanjungpinang about thirty kilometers ahead. The map showed several smaller towns along the way.
The advantage of a larger town was that strangers wouldn't attract attention the way they would in a smaller place. The disadvantage was they were more likely to have a police or military presence. Malik decided on a place called Sebauk about twenty kilometers ahead.
Saiful started the engine and the wooden boat headed back out into the channel, and continued south. The small plane was now far to their left, heading back toward Singapore. The Indonesian Air Force plane circled high above them. Malik didn't think the plane was watching them, as a dozen other small boats were in view and doubtless many more could be seen from the plane. Nothing would distinguish their boat from the others.
***
When Sebauk's harbor came into view in the middle of the afternoon, Malik had to decide what to do with the weapon. Taking it into the harbor would be too risky, but he was still reluctant to drop it into the ocean. He told Saiful to land on a patch of sand on a small island just ahead of them. He would hide the weapon there and return for it on their way back.
The first thing they did when they arrived in the small town was to buy a decent meal. In the late afternoon, they were the only customers in the small coffee shop on a narrow side street. Paradoxically the service was slow, and it took over an hour for them to receive and eat their meal.
When they had finished eating, Malik gave Saiful some money and told him a list of things to buy. Malik got up to leave, telling Saiful he would meet him back at the boat in less than an hour. They needed to get out of the town well before dusk, in order to find somewhere to camp for the night.
Malik went into a nondescript shop with a Telekom Indonesia sign outside. He handed over fifty thousand Rupiah as a deposit, and the man behind the counter dialed the number Malik requested, then gave him the telephone handset.
A man answered with, “Pradha Guest House.”
Malik said, “I'd like to speak to Madam Walandari.”
“Please wait, while I get her.”
Malik waited, then heard a woman's voice on the line.
“Yes.”
“Mother, there’s been a change of plan. I'm on my way to Jakarta now. How is Kade?”
“She is fine and I have found a school for her. She misses her friends from Medan, but understands we are here to protect her.”
“I'll be there in a couple of days.”
“I will pray for your safe arrival, my son.”
Chapter 56
Nov 13, 2006, 12:00 local time
Malik saw the twin engined plane approaching from the direction of Singapore. It was flying low over the water, down the center of the channel between Batam and Bintan islands. At first, he thought it was heading toward them and he told Saiful to steer the boat closer to shore. He searched for a place they could land and hide until the plane left.
He realized the plane would pass about five kilometers west of their location. He still thought its low level and closeness meant it was searching for them. He pointed toward a rocky inlet on a small island and told Saiful to head in that direction. He continued to watch the small plane as they approached the island. Malik thought he saw something drop from the plane, which then climbed and started to circle above the ocean.
Malik told Saiful to stop the boat beside the rock-walled inlet. It wasn't a good place to hide, as there was nowhere to go if they needed to leave the boat.
As the plane circled, it disappeared behind the island. Malik waited for the plane to come back into view.
When the plane reappeared, it was still circling over the ocean. Almost as if it was searching for something except it was searching in the same place all the time. Malik continued to watch the plane until it once again disappeared behind the small island.
Just after the plane reappeared from behind the island for the fourth time, he saw it turn and head back toward Singapore. A couple of minutes later, a military jet flying high in the sky came from the direction of the Sumatran mainland. He recognized the small single-engined jet from his time in Aceh, where the Government used them to bomb rebel and civilian targets. It looked like the Indonesian Air Force had driven off the Singaporean intruder. For the first time in his life, he was happy to see an Indonesian military aircraft.
Malik told Saiful it was safe for them to continue their journey.
Saiful had used the time to refuel the boat's engine from the container they found on the island.
Saiful said. “That's the last of the fuel. We need to stop soon and buy more.”
“How much further can we go with the fuel we have?”
“Maybe, thirty kilometers if we go slowly.”
Malik took out his GPS and checked their position relative to towns along the Bintan coast. The largest town was Tanjungpinang about thirty kilometers ahead. The map showed several smaller towns along the way.
The advantage of a larger town was that strangers wouldn't attract attention the way they would in a smaller place. The disadvantage was they were more likely to have a police or military presence. Malik decided on a place called Sebauk about twenty kilometers ahead.
Saiful started the engine and the wooden boat headed back out into the channel, and continued south. The small plane was now far to their left, heading back toward Singapore. The Indonesian Air Force plane circled high above them. Malik didn't think the plane was watching them, as a dozen other small boats were in view and doubtless many more could be seen from the plane. Nothing would distinguish their boat from the others.
***
When Sebauk's harbor came into view in the middle of the afternoon, Malik had to decide what to do with the weapon. Taking it into the harbor would be too risky, but he was still reluctant to drop it into the ocean. He told Saiful to land on a patch of sand on a small island just ahead of them. He would hide the weapon there and return for it on their way back.
The first thing they did when they arrived in the small town was to buy a decent meal. In the late afternoon, they were the only customers in the small coffee shop on a narrow side street. Paradoxically the service was slow, and it took over an hour for them to receive and eat their meal.
When they had finished eating, Malik gave Saiful some money and told him a list of things to buy. Malik got up to leave, telling Saiful he would meet him back at the boat in less than an hour. They needed to get out of the town well before dusk, in order to find somewhere to camp for the night.
Malik went into a nondescript shop with a Telekom Indonesia sign outside. He handed over fifty thousand Rupiah as a deposit, and the man behind the counter dialed the number Malik requested, then gave him the telephone handset.
A man answered with, “Pradha Guest House.”
Malik said, “I'd like to speak to Madam Walandari.”
“Please wait, while I get her.”
Malik waited, then heard a woman's voice on the line.
“Yes.”
“Mother, there’s been a change of plan. I'm on my way to Jakarta now. How is Kade?”
“She is fine and I have found a school for her. She misses her friends from Medan, but understands we are here to protect her.”
“I'll be there in a couple of days.”
“I will pray for your safe arrival, my son.”
Chapter 56
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