His bare chest was wet from perspiration. His hair and face too.

He drew his blade away and spoke softly, "Don’t you ever do that again, Rogayah. Don’t you ever, ever; sneak up behind me like that. I could have killed you by accident."

Rogayah felt her knees weakened; her heart pounding fast. She was too surprised to say anything. She only stared at him wearing an empty expression on her face.

Rausin walked away from her to get a glass of water. Before he got too far he realized that she was still standing there. He came back and touched her shoulder.

"Gayah .. Gayah .. are you all right?"

She felt her heartbeat slowing down. She turned to him and gave him a smile, "I .. I .. am fine, Bang."

Rausin took her hand and led her inside. He offered her a glass of water. She took it and drank it fast.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you." He apologized.

She shook her head, "No, Bang. It was my fault. You don’t owe me any apologies."

He smiled, "Just make sure you don’t do that anymore."

She nodded. Rausin put the burner aside and sat beside her.

They sat side by side, each one speaking no word at all. They were both consumed by their own thoughts.

"Gayah." He started a conversation. "I’m gonna need you to do me a big favor." He continued.

Rogayah looked up to him. She smiled and looked very happy.

"Oh yes, anything. I’ll do anything for you, Bang." She answered quickly.

Rausin turned his body to face her, his face was dead serious.

"We have to get married today."

She nodded.

"You don’t have to be afraid that I’m going to force you to do your duties as a wife. You know.. you know what I mean. We both know that this is just a false marriage. But I want you to do something. Something quite hard."

Rausin spoke the words slowly as if hesitated. While Rogayah was impatient to know more about this favor she had to do for him.

"What is it, Bang? Please tell me. I will do it even though it means I have to sacrifice my life. I owe that much to you."

Rausin nodded and smiled, "Have Mak told you about Cornelius Janssen?"

"Yes, Bang. She told me everything about everyone in this village."

"Good. I need you to work in his mansion."

Rogayah face suddenly turned pale. She hardly forgot the tragedy in her life that was caused by the VOC and now suddenly she had to work for one.

Rausin saw the change in her face and all of a sudden he regretted his decision to involve her in his plan. But he had no other option.

"I’m sorry, Gayah. I know I’m asking too much. Believe me I know how you feel about Dutch officers. If I had other options I wouldn’t have asked you to do it."

She looked into his eyes for a moment as if to find the right words to say. But finally she said, "I will do it, Bang. I will do it for you. Just tell me when to start." Her face was full of confidence now.

Rausin nodded, "Today, after our marriage ceremony, I’ll take you to the mansion. You’ll be working as a chambermaid for his daughter Katrina."

"Yes, Bang."

"Good. Good." He smiled and rose from his seat.

Rogayah hesitated for a while but then she urged herself to say, "Bang, may I say something?"

Rausin turned his back, "Yes."

"Well, I never told you this before, but I already told Mak that I can sew. I can make kebayas and man’s clothes too. I can get more money from sewing then being a chambermaid, Bang. Please don’t misunderstood me, it’s not that I don’t listen to the words you said, but . ."

Rausin sat beside her and cut her words, "Gayah. . it’s not about the money." He said softly.

Rogayah looked at him, confused. "No?"

Rausin sighed deeply and shook his head. "No. It’s not about money. It’s far more. .complicated."

"Rogayah,. ." He continued. His expression changed to a more serious look. ". . I’m not what you think I am. I need your help to do something in the mansion. Not a dangerous thing to do, but very tricky. So I guess it is only fair if I tell you the truth."

"Have Mak told you about the Masked Murderers?" He asked.

"Yes. She told me that they are a bunch of guys wearing black masks. They go out at night killing and robbing the Dutch. Yet they never keep the money and food for themselves. They distribute them to the villagers. Mak also told me that the Dutch call them the Masked Murderers, but the villagers prefer to name them the Masked Heroes."

Rausin nodded, he moved closer to Rogayah. Very close that Rogayah could feel him breathing on her ear.

"I’m one of them." He whispered in her ear. As he inhaled, he could smell the scent of her hair. It was relaxing, yet exciting at the same time. He had never smell that kind of scent before. He expected her to be surprised and moved away from him, yet she remained still and said nothing.

"You don’t seem to be surprised." He whispered once more. This time inhaling her scent deeper into his lung.

Rogayah looked down to the floor, shaking her head. She felt him too close, she knew he wanted to do something to her. She was afraid. Her heart was beating faster with fear.

"It is only logical." She managed to say. "Mak told me that you found me lying on the street. Why did you go out with your friends in the middle of the night? Besides, Mak gave me a very good meal when I came around. And she told me that she got the rice from the masked murderers. It was given at the same night when you found me."

Rausin didn’t quite hear what she had said, for he was drowned by the burning sensations inside. He could barely control himself. He wanted her so badly. He wanted to hold her in his arms.

He moved even closer to her. His lips were touching her ears as he whispered the words, "You’re a smart woman."

Rogayah felt the chill along her spine. She was prepared for this night. She knew that sooner or later, this man would want her to serve him. Yet she knew that she owed much more to this man. She didn’t have any choice. However she tried to justify the matter, her pride took over her logic.

"I was born under the sign of an Earth Dog, Bang. I’m smart, and loyal too. But… I bite." She said softly, her hands were shaking with fear.

Rausin tried hard to control himself, "Rogayah,.." He said more seriously. "I need you to draw a map of the mansion. I don’t know if you can draw, but all you need is to memorize the location of every room and door, and window. If possible, the locks too. I will draw myself if necessary. I need a clear access to get inside the house. Do you understand me?"

Rogayah nodded again, her fear was subsided. "I can draw, Bang. I know measurement too. I told you that I can sew kebaya and clothes. I usually draw the pattern before cutting the material. I think I can manage to draw a map."

Rausin was now leaning towards her. He said, "Good…." And suddenly he lost control. He held her shoulders and kissed her cheek. It felt so good to him, but it surprised Rogayah. She reflectively drew back and swung her hand slapping the right side of his face.

Rausin immediately stood away from her, surprised. "I… I’m sorry." He said in a hurry.

Rogayah walked away from him, but he chased her and grabbed her elbow. She struggled, but he was much stronger. He took her to his arms and held her tight. She fought to break free in vain. Rausin held her tight still until she realized that it was no use to fight.

When finally she stood still, he caressed her hair and spoke softly to her ear.

"Ssh… don’t be afraid, Gayah. Please don’t be afraid of me. I want you to know this." He let go one arm but his other arm was still holding her. He looked at her again and spoke softly yet firmly, "I will not take anything from you by force. You understand me? I won’t take you by force! You don’t have to be afraid of me, Gayah. Look at me."

Rogayah lifted her head and looked at him with teary eyes.

Rausin wiped the tears from her cheeks with his hands and held her back in his arms. He whispered to her again, "I’m sorry if I scared the hell out of you. But please trust me, Gayah. I won’t take any advantages from you. I know you’re not some cheap girls who sell their bodies for money. If you were, you would have married that old china man to save your father from his debts. You are a descent woman. And I do not want to be the man who robbed your dignity away." He smiled at her caressing her hair, then let go of her.

Rogayah stood still in front of him, looking into his eyes like a watchdog inspecting a visitor.

"Are you still afraid of me?" He asked again.

She suddenly threw herself to him and put her head on his chest. She was crying. Rausin caressed her back softly, wondering why she acted that way.

"Sshh.. Sshh… why are you crying, Gayah? Did I say something wrong?"

She broke free from him, still crying saying, "Bang Usin, please forgive me. Please…"

"Sshh.. don’t cry, Gayah. It was my fault. You didn’t do anything wrong."

"Oh yes. Yes I did. I slapped you on the face, thinking that you might take me by force. I was so foolish. If you wanted to take me that way, you would have done it in the first place, that night when you found me unconscious…. Please forgive me…. please. I had such a dirty thought towards you."

Rausin led her to sit on the bamboo divan. He smiled and lifted her chin up with his finger.

"Look at me, Gayah. We did make mistakes tonight. So let us forget about this embarrassing thing and start over. … if it’s all right with you." He spoke softly to her. She was such a baby, he thought. She was totally different from the woman who once had been very close to him. Marni had been great in bed. She had been a sex machine and she had made him do many things he never did to women before. He had been like her student and she the mentor. With this woman it was the other way around. She was so naïve and pure. She was shy. It was up to him to make her feel comfortable, and he enjoyed that role very much. He was the mentor now…. And protector of this poor young woman. Rausin liked the feeling.

"Rogayah, may I ask you to do me a favor?" He asked.

Rogayah nodded and smiled faintly.

"I need you to work in Cornelius Janssen’s mansion as a chambermaid…." Rausin didn’t finish the sentence because she cut his words.

"I will draw the map, Bang." She looked at him very seriously. "What just happened do not change it." She confirmed.

"Thank you." He took her hand in his. "May I ask you another favor?" He continued.

Rogayah’s smile widened. She was happy that he needed her. She was glad to be useful. That way she can at least repay the hospitality she had received from both Rausin and his mother. She nodded her head in confirmation.

Rausin moved closer and spoke very softly to her, "May I kiss you? ….. On the cheek?"

Rogayah’s heart was beating faster, yet she dared not locking her gaze into his eyes. She looked down at the floor instead. Rausin thought that it was a nod, so he came closer and kissed her lightly on her left cheek. Then he put his arm around her and pulled her towards his chest. She buried her blushing face in his chest. They held on to each other for a moment. Each one enjoying the presence and the warmth of the other. Rogayah listened to his beating heart and felt so secure. She closed her eyes and wished that time would stop at that moment. Rausin breathed her scent deeply into his lungs. He loved the scent. Her hair fell on his arms, smooth and soft like silk. He closed his eyes and imagine making love to her.

As he was drifting in his imagination, he suddenly realized that Rogayah was asleep in his arms. She was sleeping soundly, like a child. He laid her carefully on the divan and then lied beside her. He pulled her closer to him to hold her. He closed his eyes thinking there was still time to sleep before dawn.

Ali, Rozak, Rausin and Rogayah waited in the terrace of Janssen’s mansion. They were standing barefooted on the cold yet smooth alabaster floor. Bek Yanto came out and motioned them to follow him in.

"Meneer Janssen’s waiting." He said coldly.

The four of them followed him into the house. They were amazed by the luxury and the gorgeous design of the house. The ceiling was so high above them and they saw large paintings hun in many places. The furniture was made of beautifully carved teakwood that was usually made by Javanese slaves in Batavia. There was one big clock at the corner of the hall.

"… and this is only the living room…" Rozak murmured.

They went further in until Bek Yanto motioned them to go inside a room. They could see the Meneer from outside. It seemed that the room functioned as a study room. Rausin paid attention on every detail of the house. From the location of the windows and doors, to the types of the locks. While Rogayah could hardly believe she was about to work in these marvelous place.

Drawing a map of the whole house was probably harder that she had thought. Yet her mind was set on finishing the job, even before starting it. She had been impatient the whole morning, waiting for this opportunity. She had gone through the wedding ceremony with even less attention than this moment. She repeated the Penghulu’s words like a robot, because her mind was too preoccupied with the task. Penghulu was the religious leader in a village. His job was to lead a marriage of burrial ceremonies. Ali & Rozak were the only people invited to the wedding.

Her mind wondered as she stood behind Rausin who was listening to Meneer Janssen’s words. She was startled as Rausin took her arm to bring her forward.

"This is my wife, Rogayah, Meneer. I hope she is fit for the job." He said.

Janssen motioned her to step forward. He was quite impressed with her beauty. She was much younger then Mirah and she had a much more beautiful body. Never before he had seen a woman as wonderful as her in this village.

"How old are you?" He asked her.

"I’m 16, Meneer." She bowed her head she spoke to him.

Meneer Janssen smiled. His eyes explored her entire body carefully. Then he fixed his gaze at her breasts. Rausin didn’t like what he saw, but he kept his innocent face as a mask. He halfway regretted his decision to get her involved in his plan, realizing that he had fallen in love with this woman.

"You’ll start working today, Rogayah. Your main job is to take care of my daughter Katrina. She’s about the same age as you. Make sure you see to her every need. You’ll be working starting 8 o’clock everyday. You can go home after dusk. Understood?"

"Yes, Meneer, I understand." She bowed her head again.

With that, he motioned all of them to leave and Bek Yanto closed the door as he went out.

They were laughing and cheering by the side of the river that flowed behind the mansion. Katrina held a rattan basket full of flowers in her hand. She was a blond girl with blue eyes. He skin was pale that she looked somehow ghostly. She was not a beautiful woman, but very attractive in a manner of speaking. She was very polite and a little bit shy. Her character did not differ very much from Rogayah. As soon as they were introduced, they liked each other in a matter of minutes. Katrina was 17 years old, only one year older than Rogayah. She had a tour around the house before meeting Katrina, and had memorized two rooms located near the hallway. She would draw the two rooms tonight, she thought.