On 2 Nov. our camp was suddenly attacked by troops newly come to the area. Luckily half of us had moved away two days before, but the other half were not to move for a week. We rushed for our weapons when the alarm was given, but already the troops were upon us, firing. Luckily they were not the Gurkhas, but red-haired devil troops; many of us were able to run away. I was lucky for I was dressed and preparing to go to work, and saved all my equipment and my diary. But it was not so for others. With Ah Mao and Ah Kei I crept through the spear-grass and escaped, but then I heard the sound of weeping and crying. I could not see but I knew it was Small Cloud that they had caught.
For two days and two nights we walked, resting only a few hours at a time, crossing the jungle and the swamps. The soldiers did not follow us. We came to a resting place where we had some workers. There we found some more of our people. We rested and after a few days we received a message to come to this place. So here we are.
I heard through our workers and the tappers and our friends, how Small Cloud was captured, and four comrades were killed, how she was twisting her arms and weeping as the pig-faces dragged her away.
15 December We have been reorganized. In twos and threes we are to proceed to another area. Our main task will be to look after our communications with Singapore. We shall be based near Todak. Todak has nearly 8,000 people, many of them Hakkas, whose men are with us, the People Inside
It is important for us, Comrade Sen said, to keep supplies coming to our camps in the jungle. Food and equipment. Food we would get from the women of Todak, for it is only natural that the women outside should pass food to the friends of their husbands, their husbands, brothers, and sons. Thus we shall always have enough to eat.
Finally Sen said: ‘Remember that in the Organization there is no such thing as defeat. There is only change of tactics.’ I watched his face; it was the same as usual. As if Small Cloud were still with us …
I am to protect one of our courier lines to Singapore from here. Perhaps I shall see my mother again. She has been an Aunt, a courier worker in the Movement for nearly ten years.
- ‘Uncle’ is the jungle term for courier. ↵
- Lallang: long grass. ↵
- Changkol: a sharp spade. ↵
- Parang: a heavy-bladed short sword. ↵