Dada 4

After we got in the car, Iskra seemed enormously relieved. He told us one joke after another. I had a feeling he was attracted to Mo. Mo barely said a word to him but every now and again he would look at him and laugh.

‘Sarawak I thought, fucking Sarawak Borneo, where no one looks at each other and when they do it’s either with jealousy or desire.

We passed Damai, one of the main beach resort area on the Santubong Peninsula. We had been driving for 35 minutes. I felt sick again. The area has sandy beaches at the foot of the jungle-covered mountains. But we didn’t want to see the world-class resort hotels like the Damai Beach Resort, or the Damai Puri Resort and Spa or the One Hotel. We didn’t want the private beaches, swimming pools or Jet Ski’s .We didn’t want water-skiing, windsurfing or mountain biking, squash or fitness centres. Nor did we need the international standard 18-hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer. Who the fuck was Arnie to us? We were going to Lundu Beach with its rocky pebbles and rough sand and from where you can see the Port. It’s a nice the place where our drugs come from, close to Sematan. Iskra was driving

Dada 3

No one had verified my statement. While we were standing by the door, we talked about it for a bit with Iskra. We then decided to take the car to the rocks. The beach wasn’t far but we`d get there faster that way. Iskra thought his friend would be pleased if we got there early. We were just about to leave when Iskra suddenly gestured to me look across the street. I saw a group of ‘Mantans leaning against the window of the tobacco shop. They were watching us in silence, but in a way that was particular to them; looking through us as if we were stones or dead trees.

Iskra said that the guy second from left was one that he`d told me about; the girl’s brother. He seemed worried but then he added that it was all ancient history now. Mo didn’t understand what was going on and asked us what was wrong. I told him they were Indos who had a grudge against Iskra.

He wanted us to leave right away. Iskra stood up tall and laughed, saying we`d better hurry up. We got to the car, a bit further a long and Iskra asked if they were following us. I turned around. They hadn’t moved; they just kept staring at the same spot with the same air of indifference, one wore a flowered shirt. 

Dada 2

But I was tired and also because last night we`d kept the shutters closed it felt like a slap across my face; an irritation.

Mo was really excited and kept on saying what a beautiful day if was and we would be serene after I was feeling a bit better. I realized I was hungry. I said to Mo and he pointed to the fish market where I worked. We laughed.

I would have to wait; then we heard Iskra closing the door and coming to the street.

He was wearing blue trousers and a short sleeved white shirt.

But he`d put on a baseball cap which made Mo laugh. His skin was very pale under the dark hair on his fore arms. His grandfather would never have got into the engine room  of the Blue Funnel line  like Dada

I found it a little repulsive. He was whistling as he came down the stairs and looked happy. He said “Hello my men’ to Mo and me and called us ‘his little gangsters’. The day before, I had gone to the police station and I`d given my statement, saying that his Indonesian woman had been ‘disrespectful’ towards him. He got off with a warning but they slapped him around a bit first. 

Dada One

On Sunday, I found it difficult to wake up and Mo had to call my name and shake me. They were burning wood in Kalimantan. Here on this side of the border we did not eat because we wanted to go for a swim. I felt completely empty and my head hurt a little. My cigarette tasted bitter. Mo made fun of me because he said I “looked like death”. Mo wore a white suit and left his hair down. I told him life was beautiful if we weren’t all mixed up together like sea snails in a sack here. He laughed and sounded pleased. On the way down we knocked on Iskra`s door. Wood smoke crossed the whole island and almost drowned the hills with the smell of that lousy crew. The poor will burn anything. It was two weeks since Dada died.