BESERK! Page 9

  He stayed there till the tears ebbed. As he turned away, he realized he still clutched Sithayu’s gift. With an angry swear he flung it in the sea. He watched it sink and disappear just as Sithayu had. Biting down angry tears he turned away.

  September 2004.

  Phut was a young man now but there was not a single day he did not remember Sithayu. For the last eight years he had scoured most of the islands in the vicinity. But Sithayu was nowhere to be found. She and her family had disappeared like a pebble in the Andaman Sea. Every sunrise and sunset he would look fondly in the direction of Buro Island.

  He took it to be his destiny and never let anyone know his grief. Maybe he had greater things to achieve, he consoled himself. Silently, he worked hard with his father and brother. He even accepted the marriage proposal of Caloe without a murmur. Though he was sure he did not love her the way he loved Sithayu. He was also sure, Caloe too, knew about it. But as usual destiny had other plans.

  December 2004

  A few months before Phut’s marriage, Tiga was in Buro Island. Mipi was pregnant and was to deliver soon. This would be their third child. The first two were stillborn.

  Early one morning the little flotilla of Phut and his colony was surrounded by Burmese naval boats. The kabangs were quickly herded together with gunfire from machine guns mounted on the deck.

  When the guns grew silence Captain Foki’s bald head appeared, grinning. Two dark red lines marred his face. It seemed like he was scratched by a cat. “Welcome Moken filth, this probably is our last meeting. But I have one favor to ask from you.” He turned to his men. “Get the young sows and swines!”

  More than a dozen gun-toting naval men climbed on to the kabangs. The Moken elders shuddered in fear. They realized what the captain was up to. Chief Po, the pirate leader, had warned them about the rounding-up getting severer…The Moken were being trapped and caged like wild animals. The Myanmar government was trying to create a permanent Moken national park as a tourist attraction. The government of Thailand had done it and was successful. If it was so, the end of the Moken was imminent.

  The realization brought silent wailing and sobbing. It was certain they would never see the young men and women ever again.

  Just as the gun-toting men landed on a kabang, there was a sound of splashing water. One of the Moken youth had leaped into the sea to escape capture.

  The men looked at the captain. He guffawed. “Shoot one of the swine’s parents!” The captain’s men grabbed an elderly man from the kabang, placed him on the edge of the kabang and put a gun to his head.

  From above the captain barked. “Shoot the old swine!”

  A single shot rang and the old man toppled lifelessly into the water.

  The youth in the water, instinctively turned, his sight sought his kabang. In a glance he measured the situation. He saw the old man’s corpse bobbing on the water surface. Even worse, up on the kabang the captain’s men were preparing to kill another member of his family, a child of four. With a scream of surrender he turned around and headed for the kabang.

  As the men hauled him out off the water. The captain laughed aloud. “Fool, nobody escapes me!”

  Within minutes the naval ratings had selected over three dozen young men and women. Their hands were bound and were paraded before the captain. Then they were sent to the lower holding deck. None resisted, they had seen the captain’s cruelty.

  Phut was one of the men selected for the Moken national park. He bravely walked before the captain. “Good I like fiery men! You are a marked man, Moken swine.”

  After watching the misery and sobbing around him, he knew he had to kill the captain or die trying. The swine of the captain had brought a lot of suffering to the Moken colonies. In a moment he realized this was what destiny had in store for him. This was why destiny had taken away Sithayu.

  Just before he could step onto the lower deck, he turned and waved to his parents. He was sure he would never see them again. Not after what he had planned.

  Matu and his wife watched their son disappear into the lower deck. A wave of grief washed over them. The old parents hugged each other and wept inconsolably.

  Matu recalled the shaman’s prophetic words; Was the dismal prophecy coming true?

  A while later the naval boats left leaving behind only pain and loud wailing. Deep grief enveloped Matu with Phut’s departure. Could this be the end of the Moken?

  x x x

  Kurvin Islands close to the Myanmar mainland.

  The young captives were taken to an island close to the mainland. More wailing and sobbing greeted them. As soon as Phut’s hands were released, he immediately began a recce of the place.

  They were put in a large open-aired pen like enclosure. Razor-tipped, cyclone barbed wire ran around its perimeter. Four watchtowers were erected in which men armed with machine guns watched the captives day and night. A simple thatch roof of palm branches was the only shelter for the captives against the hot summer sun and the cold night chill.

  A few dozen yards away was a double-storied structure, undoubtedly the guards and the officers’ quarters. Behind it lay the open Andaman Sea.

  Young Moken men and women forcibly taken away from other colonies were stationed here too. From here they were to be taken to their captive national parks.

  Chained to one of the watchtower’s post was a wretched creature. His clothes were in tatters, his face was bruised, swollen and sun burnt. One of his arms was useless… injured with what looked like a bullet wound. He seemed to be living in his own filth, a day or two old. Flies buzzed around and a stench arose from him.

  Curious, Phut moved closer to inspect. The hapless man struggled to open his bruised eye. Looking at Phut, his swollen lips moved feebly. “Water…water Little Octopus…water…”

  Phut was stunned. Only one person on the earth addressed him thus, he looked closely. The tortured man was the pirate leader Chief Po!

  The terrible plight of Chief Po pained him. The pirate had always been kind to him. He hurried to the cement water trough and filled a bowl weaved from bamboo strips. Taking it he raced across the ground.

  Barely, a yard away from Chief Po, a barrage of machine gun bullets cut across his path. Angrily, Phut looked up at the guard in the watch tower.

  Over the smoking muzzle of the machine gun, the guard signaled him away. “No food or water for the filthy pirate…Captain Foki’s orders!”

  Phut looked at the pirate. The man was looking hopefully at him. He could not step back. Within a moment he made a decision. Swiftly, he dashed across, towards the chief. Grabbed a part of the watchtower’s post so as to conceal himself from the guard above. Safely, away from the watch guard’s sight, he gave the drink to the parched man.

  Before the other guards could arrive, the pirate had drunk every drop of water. “Thank you Little Octopus…” Chief Po called as they dragged the smiling Phut away.

  Chapter 7: The Moken Prophecy

  As Phut was a new arrival, he was given a lenient punishment. He was chained to another watchtower’s post and was to be kept thirsty and hungry for the next eight hours.

  Later when he was alone, other Moken youth came to congratulate him. After all Po had been endearing to all Moken, only no one dared to do what Phut had done.

  From them he learnt that somehow Captain Foki had discovered Chief Po’s hideout. He had raided the pirates’ den and massacred all the men. He had taken Po alive along with his three wives.

  To humiliate Po, the captain and his men had ravished the two elder wives. However, the younger one had behaved feisty, clawing the captain’s face. Angered, the captain had declared that Po would be treated worse than a swine till the little sow would not give up herself to him willingly. A day had past since the declaration.

  Just then a bell rang, it was a bell of summon. All eyes turned to the double-storey building. A half-dressed Captain Foki appeared on the top floor. The two dark red lines on his face looked livid. Phut now realized the sourc
e of it.

  The captain dragged a scantily dressed woman by her hair. A lusty roar of applause rose from the guards. Phut presumed this was Po’s unfortunate third wife. She had accepted the captain’s proposal and now he was extracting revenge.

  The captain dragged her all the way into the Moken’s enclosure and stood before Po. When he was sure he had everyone’s attention, he wagged his tongue at the pirate. Slowly, he ran his tongue on the woman’s face and neck, leaving a slimy line of saliva. “This is what I do with filth!” He flung her to the ground. Unconsciously, he caressed the scar on his face. He guffawed when she tried to hide her modesty.

  Turning to his men, he ordered. “Get the pirate cleaned and ready for execution! Free him, but keep the constraints on his hands and feet!” With that he walked away.

  From the other side of the yard Phut watched it all. The decision to kill the captain hardened. His attention turned to Po. Someone had given the wife clothes to cover her nakedness. Others had brought water to drink and clean. He watched as she cleaned Po and gave him a drink of water. Then they rested and talked, it was clear she adored Po.

  Occasionally, they looked across the yard at him and talked. It was obvious he was the topic of discussion. Just as the noon heat subsided he saw them coming towards him. Po hobbled painfully, aided by his wife, the constraints adding to his discomfort.

  Half way down the yard, Phut jerked to attention. Po’s wife too stopped, she turned pale and trembled slightly. Po looked alarmed.

  “Sithayu!” Phut called aloud springing to his feet. Po’s wife was Sithayu! He could not make a mistake. Her image was imprinted in his memory. There was not a day he had not imagined her.

  “Phut!” Po’s wife answered back.

  Po’s wife was indeed Sithayu! Phut could not believe his Sithayu was back. His elation was intense. For the moment he felt like screaming with joy… leaping around…grabbing her in a tight embrace. But he stood statue-like, drinking in her beauty.

  Sithayu had changed she was now a woman. But she still bore the resemblance of the Sithayu he had seen eight years ago. She had lost her baby fat; she was now taller and fairer. Her hair was longer. But her innocence and beauty had not changed. She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

  The two stood looking at each other, oblivious of the surroundings.

  “Do the two of you know each other?” Po interrupted the embarrassing silence.

  “Yes…yes…” Phut answered breathlessly. “Why did you leave suddenly, Sithayu?” He turned to her.

  Po and Sithayu looked at each other, he nodded. Very reluctantly Sithayu began. “We did not leave. We were coerced to leave! Sent to dwell with the pirates! If Po had not sheltered us we would be living the life of beggars. My parents worked for the pirates. After their death Po married me. It was the only thing he could do to save me from others.”

  Phut was bristling with anger. “Who forced you out off the colony?”

  Once again Sithayu sought Po’s permission. “Your shaman and father Matu!”

  “My father and the shaman!” Phut echoed the words in disbelief. “Impossible!”

  But Sithayu was shaking her head. “A day or two after Tiga’s marriage, your shaman, father Matu and my shaman came to meet my parents. After a lot of discussion my father got ready to leave. Father never told me the reason till the day he died.”

  “Why would they do so?” Phut turned to Po for an explanation. But all he got was a sad nod. It just did not make sense. If only he could meet his father! Anger began to build in him. Why...Why... Why had father played such a cruel trick?

  When he turned to Sithayu he noticed her eyes were misty with tears.

  It pained him to see her cry, he felt like taking her in his arms. Just then a painful thought scythed through his heart. She was no longer his Sithayu! She was Po’s wife.

  The thought brought tears to his eyes but he bravely kept them at bay. He stood there watching her, cursing his luck. A squall of childhood memories erupted cauterizing his heart like acid. For a life-time he yearned to meet her, yet when he finally did he could not make her his wife.

  “Little Flower, let’s settle down here for the night with Little Octopus.” Po had a strange look in his eye when he spoke to Sithayu.

  Just before nightfall the guards unchained Phut from the post. Sithayu brought him food and drink. Po watched in silence.

  As they settled down Phut noticed the stress and weariness in her eyes. He remembered how the captain had humiliated her. His anger now grew stronger towards the captain. There were just two goals in his life, kill the captain and get back to his father.

  That night no sleep came to him. He watched Sithayu sleep. She looked so beautiful and innocent almost like an angel. Sometime at dawn he fell asleep.

  x x x

  26 December 2004

  It was nearly sunrise when Phut was urgently awoken, two guards towered over him. “Hurry.” they urged him. “The captain wants to see you and Po’s wife!”

  He immediately grew alert. His eyes sought Sithayu, she sat huddled in fear. The pirate chief was nowhere to be seen. “Where is Po?” Phut asked the guards.

  “Hurry!”Was the only answer he recived.

  He moved towards Sithayu. “Where is Po?” she whispered, there was fear in her eyes. Clutching her hand, he helped her up. “Let’s go and find Po.” A fresh dread filled Phut.

  Silently, they followed the guards. They w-ere taken to the captain’s room. Inside they found Po. He was dressed in fresh clothes and drinking wine with the captain. He waved a walking stick to them. “Come in Little Flower and Octopus! I have just bought your freedom from the captain!”

  An alarm went off in Phut’s head. “Chief Po it’s bad…”

  “Little Octopus, not another word.” Po interrupted. “The captain has been gracious enough to free us…in exchange of a small sum of money that I have promised. So the two of you get ready to leave.”

  The captain laughed aloud, smacking his lips as he sipped his wine. The laughter could be anything from ridicule to mockery.

  Phut began to speak but Po cut him. “Get ready to leave!” Then dropping his voice, he whispered “Keep your eyes on me all the time.”

  x x x

  Sometime after sunrise they set out in the trawler. Phut was surprised to see that the four of them were the only occupants. Captain Foki drove the craft while Po navigated it as they continued to drink wine. He was sure the pirate chief had a plan.

  Finding himself alone with Sithayu suddenly made him nervous. Even small talk seemed difficult. They were million things he wanted to tell her. Things that he had locked in his heart for years.

  He remembered how he had kissed her…it made him blush. He wished to do it again. But now it would be wrong. Even to speak of his feelings were wrong. So he just watched her, cursing his luck.

  She too seemed uncommunicative. Was she nervous too in his presence or was she worried about their fate? Phut wondered.

  They watched the open sea, occasionally smiling at each other. When the silence grew suffocating, he asked. “Do you know where Po is taking us?”

  She smiled apologetically. “Po has always been mysterious and secretive.”

  Just hearing her voice and seeing her smile made his heart thump harder.

  Chapter 8: The Moken Prophecy

  Nearly two hours later the craft halted near an island. Just as Po walked by Phut a knowing look passed through his eyes. Keep your eyes on me all the time.

  Po was first to disembark, followed by Phut and Sithayu with Captain Foki bringing up the rear. The beach was desolate with scraggly vegetation. For long distances there was no sign of human inhabitants. Phut realized they were on one of those several small islands which did not measure more than a few square kilometers in area.

  The moment they landed the captain asked, “Where is the hidden loot Po?”

  “Relax Foki, just a few minutes walk up there!” Po pointed to a hill ahead with hi
s walking stick. It was a volcanic hill lying less than half a mile away. “Little Octopus, could you help me to the hill?”

  Phut obliged. Again Po’s eyes seem to say. Keep your eyes on me all the time.

  Silently, the group began towards the hill. The sun was beating down relentlessly. The path uphill was treacherous as it was scattered with loose rocks, but they trudged on.

  The top of the hill was the highest point of the island. It offered a complete view of the sea. The island was fringed with vegetation, sand and treacherous rocks.

  Foki looked around; this was no place to hide any loot. “Where is the damn loot, Po?” He asked dubiously. “Where is it?”

  Po exhaled laboriously. “What loot Foki?”

  “Pyas…kyat…gold… Filthy pirate!”

  Po grinned in return. “I just wanted to free Little Flower and Octopus, Foki!”

  Phut looked questioningly at Po. “Don’t be surprised Octopus. Can’t I read the love in your and her eyes? Am I blind?”

  Phut could not believe. He looked at Sithayu, she avoided his stare.

  “Damn you Po I don’t have time for your games!” Enraged, Foki whipped out his pistol. “For the last time pirate, where is the gold?”

  “What are you going to do Foki? Kill me? I really don’t care!”

  “No! Not you, one these love birds!” Foki signaled with the pistol.

  Gripping Sithayu’s hand Phut shielded her with his body. He felt his body go taut. Till he was alive nobody could harm her. And definitely not Foki!

  “Ahh!” Foki directed the pistol at him. “So we have a pair of Moken love birds!”

  The pirate took a step forward, his eyes on the captain.

  “Stand back, pirate swine!” Foki pulled back the hammer.

  Po stopped, without a warning he leaped at Foki. Simultaneously, Foki pulled the trigger firing a couple of rounds into Po, but he stayed on to the captain.

  “No Chief Po!” Phut cried in anguish.

  “Run, Octopus … Save Little Flower …Go!” Po yelled. In a moment the two were on the ground, struggling.

  Phut looked unsurely at Sithayu. He could not think of leaving the pirate by himself but there was Sithayu to protect. Reading his mind she urged him, “Please save Po. He needs us.”