Chapter Two - The Plot Between Two OfficersThe Tavern. Orange dusk.
"Good evening Leftenant. Looks like you are off-duty tonight. Mind if I join you?" said an officer in Red Jackets as he approached a table, occupied by a brown bearded brickman in a blue uniform.
"Nay, find another table. I drink alone. ," replied the Leftenant. In the dim light of the tavern, Leftenant Jon Kaisan didn't recognize the face of the gentlebrickman who stood still in front of him.
"Watch your tongue, sailor. You are speaking to a Captain now." Without any permission, the brickman who addressed himself as a Captain sat in front of Leftenant Jon Kaisan.
"Ah, it is you Captain Sadat. I heard the Lobster Musketeers are in town but I didn't know it was your troop. What's bring you here, Sadat Zabir? How are the boys?".
"Is this how you treat an old friend? No hug or hand shake? Where is your manners, leftenant?. Well anyway, the boys are doing fine. Their shooting skills are improving. We have Sergeant Major Sabir Miler in our squad now". Captain Sadat smiled, then he ordered two bottles of Red Sherry from the bar maid.
"I don't need a Red Jackets' wage to pay my drinks. After all we sailors drink rum," said Lt. Jon Kaisan.
"Who said I'm buying for you, you silly goat. One glass is enough, lady. And you are . . . ?" asked Captain Sadat as the bar maid sent him the Red Sherrys.
"Madam Julia, or you can ask my father over there for my full name, sir," answered the bar maid.
"Madam Julia. Hmm, beautiful name. A widower?" guessed Capt. Sadat.
"She's a divorcee. Thanks Julia. You can leave us for now," snapped Lt. Jon Kaisan. The bar maid left with a pale smile.
"What's wrong with you? I'm trying to be nice here," asked Capt. Sadat. He sipped the Red Sherry from the bottle.
"Oh shut up, Sadat. She's having a bad time since we caught her husband cheating with her own sister. I'm not going to let a playboy like you to put more salt on her wound. She's a respected lady and a good friend of mine."
"We? Friend? What rubbish is this?" The captain laughed and had another sip. He looked deep into Lt. Jon Kaisan eyes and whispered.
"Oh no Jon. You are in love with her, aren't you? So this the reason why you are still here. Jon, Jon. You should be in the Red Jackets in my troop. For sake Jon, what have the Royal Blue Coats taught you at sea? Guarding a bartender? Ha ha ."
"You are not drunk yet, mate and stop pretending to be one. Enough with this childish nonsense. Gossips are for girls. So back to our conversation just now. That old brick. He's a Sergeant Major now? And you are his commanding officer? How time flies," said Lt. Jon Kaisan.
"Yup, our most-hated instructor is the Master of Cannons in my squad. Oh don't give that look, Jon. Our musketeers now have a cannon support for artillery fire. After our batch, the sergeant left the Academy to join the 21 Gunners Regiment. He survived the 9 years Milk War at Donovan Plateau. He came back with Royal Artillery Operational Medal. Got promoted as Sergeant Major and re-assigned to my unit. I remember his face when he first saw me with this gold epaulet. A-ha ! " Captain Sadat spoke. He glanced at Madam Julia who was wiping a drinking glass behind the bar.
"I warn you, mate. Forget about her," said Lt. Jon Kaisan. He drank from a rum bottle. His eyes were as red as cherries. " So what's your troop doing here in Pearly Harbor? Are you boys having a picnic?".
"We were escorting a food convoy from the east. Enough with my stories. Tell me yours. We haven't seen each other since the Academy then. I heard you got captured. Share your escape plan, will you, friend?".
Lt. Jon Kaisan sighed.
"I couldn't tell you more. I'm still under military assessment. The Governor kept me here at Pearly Harbor as his pet."
"A pet?" asked Captain Sadat.
"You heard me mate. The Inquisitor in The Royal Blue Coats doubt that I might reveal our sensitive information to the enemy. I am a sailor without a ship. Not even a boat. Everyday I just wandering around the harbor, spending my time waiting for something I don't know. They tried jailing me several times but I'm just an escape artist. They got fed up and thought I might be useful to them one day. They let me free as long I never leave this place without the Governor's consent," explained Lt. Jon Kaisan.
"Hold on! A Governor's pet and not to be harmed. You are hiding something from me, Jon. How do you earn to live?".
"You are as smart as I knew you at the Academy, Sadat. Miss Safura. The Governor's daughter. She is so fond of me. She begged her father to let me free. Other wise I might be shot dead and my body would be thrown as food to the sea hawks. I still got paid as a leftenant. Sometimes I give talks to our young sailors about my experience during the capture and how to survive tortures and interrogations. I'm not proud of it but I have to wear this on my uniform. The Majesty had presented it personally," Lt. Jon Kaisan show a medal pinned to his chest.
"Wow, Prisoner of War Medal!" said Captain Sadat in an awe.
"I'm willing to trade this for my freedom."
"Thank you very much. But no thanks," another big gulp entered the captain's throat.
"I'm offering it once. I can't live like this forever, mate." Lt. Jon Kaisan looked so serious this time.
"That's why I'm here, Jon. Having this conversation with you," replied Captain Sadat.
"If you are looking for a friend to have a drink with, you can always find me here."
"That's not what in my mind. Do you think I came here just to fancy a Red Sherry and to woo a barmaid? Having chit-chat with a course mate sharing stories of the past?" asked Captain Sadat.
"Yeah, like Sergeant Sabir once said, . . . "
"LOOK AT THE FRONT BECAUSE THE CANNON SHOOTS FORWARD ! " yelled the both officers. Madam Julia took a stun before continued cleaning the bar desk with a smile.
The two brickmen laughed and enjoyed their drinks. There were no other customers in the tavern. It was a cold night.
"Leftenant, if you don't mind, please shut the door before you go upstairs. I'm going to bed now," said Madam Julia.
"Aye, Julia. Good night. Sweet dreams," answered Jon.
Captain Sadat gave the leftenant a nasty looks.
"What? I rent a room in this tavern," explained Jon. "...and don't forget to lock your door as well, Julia".
"Did you mentioned before, how much the Blue Coats pays you?" asked Captain Sadat.
"A leftenant's salary of course."
"Why waste it for a room. The lock-up bed is comfort enough for an ex-prisoner of war like you."
"So what were you trying to say just now?" asked Lt.Jon Kaisan.
"Well, Jon. Don't forget the bar has ears. You know that. Cigar?"
"Always a luxury. Thanks."
Captain Sadat smiled. Lt. Jon Kaisan took the offer, but he didn't lit the cigar.
"It just us, Zabir. And Madam Julia. And her father. They gone to upstairs already. Why so cautious?" Lt Jon Kaisan sip his rum.
"Wisdom words from a brickman with the medal himself. Who's the Blue Coats at the door, Jon? He never left since I entered this bar," questioned Captain Sadat.
Lt. Jon Kaisan put his hands behind his head.
"Oi, Jazman ! Are you still there? Why don't you come in for some coffee? I know it's chilling outside. I can feel it in here," yelled Lt. Jon Kaisan.
"No, thanks,sir. I'm all okay here," answered a voice at the door.
"Suit yourself then, sailor."
"Emm . . . sir?!"
"What is it Corporal?"
"At what time are you going to sleep, sir? I have to escort you to your room and make sure that you stay at the place you suppose to be. Sir."
"Well, I don't know Corporal. I have no watch."
Captain Sadat restrained himself from laughing. Lt. Jon Kaisan took out a piece of paper, scribbled some words and handed it over to Captain Sadat Zabir.
It written "Jetty. Sunrise. Lets go fishing."
"Sir, I have orders to bring you back to the lock-up if you break the curfew. I have handcuffs with me," said the corporal.
"Alright. Alright. You won, corporal. Just another five minutes, okay? I'm having a drink with an old friend here. Give me a break will ya?"
"Okay. Five minutes."
"What was that all about, Jon?"
"Well, Captain. That's Corporal Jazman Kafil. He's my baby sitter. A shadow. Where ever I go, he follows. Understood now?"
Captain Sadat didn't say a word. Smoke went out from his nostrils, like a dragon, as he finished off his cigar. Lt. Jon Kaisan took his last sip of honey-made rum. Silence filled the dim lighted tavern as both officers facing each other. Both seems lost in their own thought. Five minutes passed by.
"In that case, we'll meet tomorrow. I shall make the arrangement. Better you off to bed now, old boy. Let the corporal carries his duty," said Captain Sadat.
"I don't mind sleeping in the cell. Just I already paid the room's rate, mate," replied Lt. Jon Kaisan, yawning.
Captain Sadat stood up and put on his hat. He walked to the door, opened it and found the corporal was there and giving him a salute.
"At ease, sailor. Carry on."
"Captain. It is an honor to have you here in Pearly Harbor, sir," said Corporal Jazman.
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