Aman looked at the man who had introduced himself as Rahman. The tension in the air felt almost palpable as Aman followed him through the woods, unsure of what to expect. He had thought he'd be heading to Kuala Lumpur alone, but it seemed like the Major had decided to send someone after him. Was it coincidence that he happened to meet someone from KMM, or had the Major instructed them to track him down? It didn't sit right with Aman. His instincts told him it wasn't a coincidence.
"What's your name?" Aman asked, breaking the silence.
Rahman glanced at him, a lazy smile curling on his lips. "Ah, call me Rahman," he said, his voice thick with a drawl.
"Rahman, huh?" Aman repeated, turning the name over in his mind. Something about it seemed familiar, but he didn't press further.
"Yeah," Rahman replied, lighting a cigarette with a match. He took a long drag before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke into the cool evening air. "Well, that Major really sent a damn child for this job, huh? At least you can follow the plan, I guess." Rahman chuckled bitterly, taking another puff.
Aman's lips curled into a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm 14. Not exactly a child, I guess."
Rahman let out a low, amused laugh. "Right. A teenager doing grown men's work." He led Aman through the woods until they reached a small, dilapidated cottage hidden among the trees. There was a large shape covered with a cloth beside it, and Rahman approached it, pulling the cloth away to reveal a car.
Aman's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What's this?" he asked, stepping closer to get a better look.
Rahman flicked the cigarette butt onto the ground and stomped it out with his boot. "It's a Ford Prefect. A British car, kind of new. And don't ask how I got it just know that it'll take us to Kuala Lumpur faster than you think." He pulled back the cloth fully to reveal the car a sleek sedan, its metal body gleaming faintly in the dim light. "This beauty's got a 1.2L side valve inline four engine, with a top speed of around 96 km/h. Pretty fast, eh? You think horses are fast? This'll outrun 'em easily. It's got a 3 speed manual gearbox, leaf spring suspension for smoother rides on rough roads, and mechanical drum brakes." Rahman grinned as he explained the car's details, almost as if proud of his knowledge.
Aman stared at the car, bewildered. He wasn't a car expert, but this was definitely no ordinary vehicle. Cars weren't something regular people had especially not in this region. Usually, they belonged to the wealthy, colonial elites, Malay aristocrat, or people with powerful connections. How Rahman had gotten his hands on this one was a mystery.
"You really know a lot about cars," Aman said, trying to sound nonchalant despite his confusion. "I don't really get what you're saying, but will this thing take us to Kuala Lumpur quickly?"
Rahman smirked, taking another drag from his cigarette before flicking it away. "It'll take us there just fine, kid. Don't worry about that."
Aman, trying to ignore the smoke, followed Rahman into the cottage. Inside, there were several wooden boxes stacked in the corner. Rahman pointed at them. "Help me carry these. We're putting them in the car."
Aman nodded and began moving the boxes, curious about what they contained. He couldn't help but ask, "What's inside these?"
Rahman walked over to one of the boxes, opened it, and pulled out several weapons rifles, pistols, ammunition, and even bombs. There was also a machete and a bayonet, which caught Aman's eye.
"Where the hell did you get all this stuff?" Aman asked, picking up a British rifle and an Arisaka rifle. The weight of them felt unfamiliar in his hands he was used to carrying only his small snub nosed revolver, the one Henry had given him. He turned the rifles over, inspecting them. "An Arisaka and a Lee Enfield. Fascinating. You've got both, huh?"
Rahman chuckled, watching Aman closely. "You know your weapons. Guess that's why they sent you. But how I got my hands on this stuff isn't important. What matters is that we've got what we need. Plenty of firepower to take care of business."
Aman set the rifles back in the box, carefully. "So, what exactly am I doing here? What do you expect from me?"
Rahman tilted his head, staring at Aman for a moment. "What do I expect? Simple usefulness."
Aman clicked his tongue, a bitter laugh escaping him. "I guess I should've figured that out. I'm not here for spying. The Japanese already have their own network for that. I'm here to help your organization. I guess that's the deal, huh?"
Rahman nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing as if trying to assess Aman's character. "Yeah, something like that. But you're not the only one who's curious. That japanese Major sent us your description, said you were reliable. I'm starting to believe it."
Aman stared at Rahman, trying to read him. He didn't know much about this organization, but he'd heard rumors. They were anti colonial, involved in fighting against the British. If the Major had sent him here, it meant he had a role to play. But what exactly that was, Aman still didn't know. The KMM.
Rahman smirked and pulled out another cigarette, offering one to Aman. "Here. Take one. I know you've been eyeing my smokes. You're gonna need it."
Aman hesitated but took the cigarette. He hadn't smoked much before, but if it helped fit in, he'd try. He sniffed it and then asked for matches. Rahman passed them over without a word.
Aman lit the cigarette, took a drag, and immediately began coughing. The smoke was harsh, but after a few moments, he got used to it. He'd never been a smoker, but he could understand why soldiers used cigarettes. They were a quick fix for stress, a way to feel some relief in the chaos of war.
Rahman chuckled as he watched Aman's reaction. "You'll get used to it. Everyone does. Just don't choke yourself out."
Aman nodded, then put the cigarette down for a moment. "So, where exactly are we headed?"
"Out of the woods, and then to Kuala Lumpur," Rahman replied, walking to the car. He opened the door and gestured for Aman to get in. "Get in. We'll talk more on the road."
Aman slid into the passenger seat, watching Rahman as he started the car. The engine sputtered before roaring to life, and the car lurched forward. It was shaky at first, but once Rahman got the hang of it, the car began to pick up speed.
Aman's eyes widened. "This is the first time I've been in a car. And it's moving... how did you learn to drive?"
Rahman grinned sheepishly. "Well, I didn't. I just hoped the damn thing would start, and it did. Been driving since last month. Just had to figure it out, you know?" He sounded almost proud of his inexperience, like it was some great achievement.
Aman raised an eyebrow. "Stop bullshitting me. You're telling me you just got in and hoped it would work?"
"It worked, didn't it?" Rahman laughed, the sound grating, but there was something endearing about his carefree attitude.
The road stretched ahead of them, and Aman felt a strange mix of unease and anticipation. They were close now. Kuala Lumpur was just a few miles away. What would he find there? Was Mei Lian safe? And what had the Major planned for him?
The car rumbled down the road, leaving the forest behind. As they neared the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Aman couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The city wasn't well defended, and there were hardly any troops around. The streets were eerily quiet. Aman had expected more soldiers, but instead, he saw empty streets and abandoned buildings. Something didn't add up. Had the British really given up?
Rahman pulled the car over near a secluded spot before the city center. "Well, help me carry the stuff inside, okay?" he said.
Aman nodded, though he couldn't help but feel uneasy. The weapons were being smuggled into the city. His gut told him that the situation was about to get much more complicated.
He glanced around, taking in the sparse defenses. The lack of a visible military presence made him uneasy. What had happened here? Why was Kuala Lumpur so poorly defended?
After loading the weapons into the building, Aman stood for a moment, looking around. He couldn't help but wonder what the Major's true intentions were. Jitra, Kampar, Slim River they were all pieces of a much larger puzzle, and Aman was starting to realize that he might be deeper into this conflict than he ever expected.
As the city loomed ahead of him, Aman felt the weight of his decision press on his shoulders. The next steps would determine everything. Would the British truly surrender? Would he find Mei Lian? And what role would he play in all of this?
One thing was for sure nothing was going to be simple from here on out.