The Beaver flew over the Rajang River and made a circle round the runway. It dropped lower and lower. Then the boys left the three wheels running over the shot grass of the runway. They had arrived at Sibu airport.
We shan’t be here long. There are only a few parcels and letters to leave and to collect Captain Ibrahim said. I and do not think anyone has a ticket from here. Muthu he went on you can sit in the front seat when we take off for Kapit.
There was only a small airport building at Sibu. The plane stopped near it and Captain Ibrahim turned off the engine. You can get out and walk around he said. He looked out of the window and said I was wrong. We are going to have another passenger.
The boy climbed out of the plane and looked around them. A tall thin man leaving the airport building. He was wearing a dark coat and a hat was pulled down over his eyes. He carried a small bag. Other man came from the building to fill the plane with petrol and the tall man came up to one of them. The talked to see that it was ten dollars. Then they walked across to the building to get a cold drink.
Why did that passenger give ten dollars to that man ? Muthu asked.
It was a strange thing to Lim said.
We must tell the Captain about this said Ali but Lim said I do not know. Perhaps there is nothing. Here comes the Captain. Do not say anything to him now.
The boys followed the Captain to the plane. When they came nearer they saw that the stranger had put on dark glasses. He said loudly I am going with you to Kapit. And I will take the front the front seat. He smiled at the boys.
Ali do not like that smile at all. He could not see the man’s eyes but he know that the stranger was not really smiling.
I am sorry but someone is already sitting here Captain Ibrahim said. It is this student’s place.
I will sit at the back Captain. The new passenger can sit at the from Muthu said quietly. The man could not hear him.
It is very good of you the Captain. The new passenger can sit at the front Muthu. I am very difficult. Captain Ibrahim then said loudly to the man this young man is giving you his seat. Can I see your ticket please? The man gave him the ticket. The Captain looked at it and gave it back saying Thank you Mr. Cheong.
The thin man climbed in and set down in the front seat. He did not speak. Some men brought his luggage to the plane and lifted it in. the students stood in the shade of the plane and the Captain walked back to the airport building.
“What a strange man” Ali said
“Why does he want to sit in the front seat?” Lim asked.
The Beaver flew over the Rajang River and made a circle round the runway. It dropped lower and lower. Then the boys left the three wheels running over the shot grass of the runway. They had arrived at Sibu airport.
We shan’t be here long. There are only a few parcels and letters to leave and to collect Captain Ibrahim said. I and do not think anyone has a ticket from here. Muthu he went on you can sit in the front seat when we take off for Kapit.
There was only a small airport building at Sibu. The plane stopped near it and Captain Ibrahim turned off the engine. You can get out and walk around he said. He looked out of the window and said I was wrong. We are going to have another passenger.
The boy climbed out of the plane and looked around them. A tall thin man leaving the airport building. He was wearing a dark coat and a hat was pulled down over his eyes. He carried a small bag. Other man came from the building to fill the plane with petrol and the tall man came up to one of them. The talked to see that it was ten dollars. Then they walked across to the building to get a cold drink.
Why did that passenger give ten dollars to that man ? Muthu asked.
It was a strange thing to Lim said.
We must tell the Captain about this said Ali but Lim said I do not know. Perhaps there is nothing. Here comes the Captain. Do not say anything to him now.
The boys followed the Captain to the plane. When they came nearer they saw that the stranger had put on dark glasses. He said loudly I am going with you to Kapit. And I will take the front the front seat. He smiled at the boys.
Ali do not like that smile at all. He could not see the man’s eyes but he know that the stranger was not really smiling.
I am sorry but someone is already sitting here Captain Ibrahim said. It is this student’s place.
I will sit at the back Captain. The new passenger can sit at the from Muthu said quietly. The man could not hear him.
It is very good of you the Captain. The new passenger can sit at the front Muthu. I am very difficult. Captain Ibrahim then said loudly to the man this young man is giving you his seat. Can I see your ticket please? The man gave him the ticket. The Captain looked at it and gave it back saying Thank you Mr. Cheong.
The thin man climbed in and set down in the front seat. He did not speak. Some men brought his luggage to the plane and lifted it in. the students stood in the shade of the plane and the Captain walked back to the airport building.
“What a strange man” Ali said
“Why does he want to sit in the front seat?” Lim asked.
He gave an answer before anyone spoke. “He wants to watch the propeller through the Captain’s window. Perhaps he is afraid”
“Did you see this face?” Muthu asked. “There is long knife-cut on it, I think that he had a bad fight and did not win!”
“I don’t like him at all,” Ali said.
Mr. Cheong sat in the plane and looked straight in front of him .He did not look at the boys or at the airport building. The boys looked at him closely. There was a long red mark from his eye down to his mouth which made his face look very strange. The mark made his mouth smile all the time. I was not a nice smile. Mr. Cheong was looking at his watch. He wanted to leave.
Captain Ibrahim came back “we must take off now,” He said.
They all climbed back in to the plane. Captain Ibrahim spoke to the control tower in Kuching. Then he started the engine. It made a lot of noise. Then the plane turned round and began to run along the runway. First the back wheel of the plane left the ground. The speedometer reached 100 knots. Then the plane was in the air.
They flew east again. Captain Ibrahim said, “We’ll be in Kapit in half an hour, at six o’clock.” He spoke again on the radio. “Flight 471 to Kuching control Tower. I shall be in kapit at six o’clock. I will speak to you again be for I land there.” The plane flew south-east over the jungle.
Mr. Cheong was watching the ground all the time. Then he look a map from his pocket. Ali, who was behind him, looked over his shoulder. He saw it was a map of Sarawak Brunei and some of kalimantan.
Mr. Cheong was following the flight of the plane on the map because first he looked at the rivers and the hills plane was flying over then he looked back at the map. Captain Ibrahim did not see this. He had many important things to do and no time to watch his passenger.
Then suddenly Mr. Cheong said Captain please fly this plane to the south now.
The Captain was very surprised. He said angrily. I cannot do that. That is not the way to Kapit.
Please fly south Mr. Chrong said again. His hand came up and there was a gun in it ! He turned to the three boys behind him and said The Captain will now fly this plane south. Please keep quiet. I do not want to shoot anyone. He smiled. He always smiled but this time he had a gun in his hand.