THE BATTLE
OF SURABAYA
Oleh Ahmad Fachry Agam.
The
war began…
Boots tramped.
Mud splattered as the men slowly marched their way across the desolate plains.
A melancholy feeling descended as I, and probably all the others fighting this cold
war thought about all our family we left at home. The kampong, villages we used to live in back
in the lush forests of Surabaya, or I should say the beautiful lands of
Indonesia. I could see the other army climb down the rugged hills, once a
paradise, now abandoned and destroyed as their expressionless eyes met ours.
Suddenly a huge
explosion rocked our world. My eyes were blinded and I slowly stood up, numb.
That was a mistake. Gunfire exploded and I quickly threw myself flat to the
ground. Bullets whizzed above and I could feel the tremors as mortars blew
earth and mud. I felt the ground shake and was swept in front of the men
charging. I braced my long, yet seemingly strong bamboo spear in front of me as
I slowly descended into a world of mud and war.
I remembered
once, there was a time when we lived in peace. We lived with harmony, obeying
the laws of nature and being kind and helpful. And not being greedy. To love
and share. But now…
I could see my
comrades falling to the ground all around me. Slammed my rifle butt into the
head onto an enemy beside me. Suddenly my rifle discharged, exploding and
cinders shooting out. I quickly threw it away to the ground beside me. Smoke
billowed and I suddenly saw all their guns aimed at me as they looked where the
smokescreen had come from. I quickly ducked down as I saw bullets spray the
ground around me. Pew Pew Pew! And
then the noise was lot to the war. Swords locked, rain started to fall in big
splashes, and soon we were sinking into mud. I could hear more guns firing as
the scene dissolved into chaos. I jumped back as a bullet seemingly
sprouted into the ground beside me. I could see mud, blood and dust, like a
dark storm, fly into my face and mud in my eyes as I shouted my war cry and
stabbed my spear forward. A young man sliced his bayonet and I quickly
discovered their way of fighting was very different. Grabbing my spear with two
hands, I slammed it at the man’s gun. His bayonet locked against my spear, both
straining to overcome the other.
Suddenly we
were lost by a rush of men running to, the reinforcements. But there was no
cheer. The war was just prolonged. And then we charged again. Mortars struck,
mines exploded and I could see men flying through the air. A metallic taste
filled my mouth as we struck down man after man. Soon we were lost in the
pattern: Stab, duck, stab, parry. The sky was blood red, and the ground same.
Soon we were staggering across no man’s land. I drew my sabre as a man swung
his broad sword at me. I quickly knocked him out with the flat of my blade,
then ducked as a sword sang threw the air above me. A man with a long, long
mustache swung his sword, and we locked hilt. Suddenly he twisted in one of
those strange sword moves, and disarmed me. I kicked him in the stomach. Ouch.
Then explosions shook the ground and all I could see was mud everywhere. Wet
and muddy, we struggled through the mud, our hands slippery and our morale low.
When was this
war going to end?
Grabbing my
spear, I stabbed at the young man in front of me. The Dutch soldier drew back,
and with one swift swipe of his sword he lopped of the head of my spear.
Splinters from the stick spiked into my hands and I could feel the raw sting.
But instead of standing there in shock, I smashed the bamboo stick at him,
causing his hand to spasm and his sword to fall. Grabbing the sabre, I slammed
the hilt into his stomach then kicked, the thin man falling back then finally
slipping into the sticky mud. I prepared to end the man’s life. But then I
realized that it’s also my
war, so I have a choice. My
sword wavered in the air as I pondered on my decision. I drew back sword and
tossed it away. Holding out my hand, I help the man up. Shocked, but relived to
be alive, the man stared for a seconded and then jumped back into the melee. I
looked at the battle, and knew that this was a war, worlds away from me. I have to stop this war. To save
the people.
Suddenly the
earth shook. The few trees left in shivered. A tank drew up, its massive size
out scaling all the men.
But deep inside
I knew what to do.
“Stop!” I
commanded, running up to the tank. “We have to stop this war!”
I looked up to
the great tank. The army froze its fight. And then suddenly a blinding flash
seared my senses. I could see darkness drawing and I let go.
But now, in
most places thanks to the acts of many people, should I say Heroes, the world
is safe and we can roam with freedom and happiness. So far the war maybe over, but the battle is still going in Indonesia for
the best and free education. So we should help those who aren’t so lucky.
