6 October I met Small Cloud alone washing vegetables on the river edge. At this place it is quite pleasant, there is a small clearing sloping to the river, and the ground is firm. One can see the mangrove on the opposite bank, with its many roots like thick, water-swollen fingers grasping the water, and all around the snake-thick roots are the many thousands of small spiky mangrove shoots, sharp as needles, piercing the smooth river for many hundred paces. I said jokingly: ‘I must congratulate you, Comrade Small Cloud.’ She did not answer me, but blushed crimson and walked away.

17 October Ten of us in ambush liquidated three oppressors near the main water pipe, about seven miles from here. One red-haired devil and two Chinese traitors were executed. We tied up the four Malay special constables, removed their rifles and equipment, and lectured them. Others of our Unit lectured workers at public meetings on the estates, distributed pamphlets, planted flags, slashed trees, and so on.

30 October Today in the rubber met a Tamil tapper who ran away when he saw me. I shot him, as I was afraid that he might report to the Police. He fell on his face and kicked his legs several times. I wondered that the soles of his feet should be so pale, when the rest of his skin was so dark. On returning I reported the matter and was severely reprimanded for killing without sufficient reason. I argued, however, that it was necessary as the man was surely an enemy; why did he run away when he saw me?

1November Ah Mao is in trouble. When he was in another part of the jungle, he started a love affair with a female comrade. The Party did not approve as Ah Mao is married and his old wife is in detention camp with his three children. But the woman and he have been corresponding secretly, hoping the Party would reverse its decision. Today Ah Mao heard that his friend had been transferred up North, and has decided to break her relationship with him. So he is sad, and for once his tongue does not wag in his head.

10 December Terrible things have happened; I have been unable to write my diary, but now it is possible for me to tell what happened in the past few weeks.