"Come lie down and take up your blouse. I’ll make it better." He said smiling.

Surprisingly, Rogayah followed his words and lied down. Once again, he channeled his inner energy into her belly. Once finished he asked her, "How do you feel now?"

She smiled, "The pain is gone, Bang. It feels warm inside me."

He smiled back at her and kissed her on the cheek. "Good, now drink this." He helped her sit and supported her back with his strong arm.

Mpok Ati handed him a glass of hot milk. She drank a little.

Rausin held a bowl of porridge and started to feed her. She smiled and shook her head.

"I’ll eat by myself, Bang. It’s not proper for you to feed me this way."

Rausin chuckled, "Who cares? You’re my wife, and I’m feeding you the way I like it. Now open your mouth and eat." He pretended to get mad.

She smiled and followed his orders. Mpok Ati left them both and sighed in relief. It seemed that she was all right after all, she thanked Allah.

Days went by as Rogayah fast recovered from her wounds. The purple marks on her face were hardly visible and she could walk around and help Mak cooking or washing clothes. Yet, Rausin had not let her go back to the mansion to finish the map. Deep down inside she was glad that she didn’t have to go back, but some parts of her kept reminding her that she should keep her promise to her savior.

She often had bad dreams that awakened her in the middle of the night. Mostly they were about the rapes and the killings of her parents. But there was one dream that troubled her mostly. The dream that she would get pregnant and gave birth to Janssen’s child. Sometimes Rausin was by her side when she woke up, but mostly he was out doing his job as a night guard. She often spent the night crying alone. But when Rausin came back home, he seemed to know what she had been through and held her tight in his arms. Some nights they made love and she would usually forget all her troubles while drowning in the ecstasy. Rausin brought her pleasures and wiped her pain away. She loved making love with him and it seemed to her that Rausin did too. For there was no night passing away without them making love.

However, Rogayah noticed that he was getting more and more closed towards her. He rarely spoke with her about his plans anymore. When she asked him about it, he suddenly got overprotective towards her. Sometimes she wondered if he had known what had happened to her that night in the mansion.

One afternoon, she felt sick. Her head was spinning and she kept on vomiting everything she had eaten. Mpok Ati advised her to rest. This went on for three more days, until one night Mpok Ati have them all sat down and said: "Congratulation, Rausin. You’re going to be a father."

The words felt like an arrow to Rogayah as she realized that the chance she might be pregnant with Janssen’s child was as big as Rausin’s.

Rausin too, knowing the circumstances concluded the same thought. But when he looked into his mother’s eyes and he saw that slight painful thought, he pretended to be surprised and quickly hugged and kissed Rogayah.

"I’m going to be a proud father of a healthy son…. or daughter." He said, kissing her more and more to distract her from her doubt.

Rogayah could hardly hide her doubt. She began to cry. Both Rausin and his mother knew that it was not a cry of happiness. She was confused. Rausin kept her in his arms for a long moment. He wanted so much to tell her that he knew how she was feeling. She had been hurt physically, she had been deprived of her dignity, and Rausin didn’t want to be the one who hurt her pride.

Days flew for Rausin as he was getting closer to carry out his attack plans. On the contrary, it felt like ages just to wait for the sunset for Rogayah. She had been thinking to kill herself to end this misery. But the thought of Rausin brought her back to reality. What if it was Rausin’s child she was carrying? Day in and day out, she was drowned in doubts.

One afternoon, Rausin had prepared a carriage to take her and Mpok Ati to Bekasi. Marwan will escort them to reach the city. Once in Bekasi, Marwan would take them to his contact person who would protect and shelter them for temporary.

She knew that it was time for him to carry out his plans.

"Bang, the map is not complete…" She said to him.

"Don’t worry about the map, dear. Just take care of yourself and our baby. We’ll meet again soon. Mak, will you take care of her?" He asked looking up to his mother who was already in the carriage.

"Yes. Just think about your mission, my son. Don’t you worry about us. We can take care of ourselves."

Rausin carried Rogayah up the carriage. He kissed her lips lightly. Rogayah held him tight not willing to let go. She kissed him more. Rausin broke the kiss and let himself go.

"Go now." He ordered to Marwan, who quickly paced the horses to gallop.

Rogayah waved goodbye, mouthing words: I love you.

Rausin turned his head away, afraid of letting his tears to fall. He hated parting with Rogayah, but it was the safest way for them. Tonight they will attack the mansion and destroy the plantation. If he got caught or killed, he didn’t want them to see.

It was almost 10 o’clock. The mansion was quiet as everybody seemed to have gone to their beds. There were many guards around the house. Each one carrying a gun or a rifle. The masked murderers had surrounded the mansion. There were around 35 men, armed with blades and spears.

Rausin’s plan was simple. The 35 men would split into groups. A group of 5 men consisted of Rausin, Ali and 3 more people would go into the mansion. Their responsibilities were to rob the valuables, burn the documents of the cultuurstelsel and burn the mansion too. The job of killing Janssen was left to Rausin, as per his request.

The 30 men were divided into two groups. One group was to kill all the guards and burn the sugar cane plantation. The other group was to attack the warehouse, rob the logistics and then burn it to the ground.

Those were for one kampung only. Kampung Gula was led by Rozak. Their responsibilities were much easier that only 7 men were enough to carry them out. They were to kill all the guards, destroy the sugar factory and burn it.

Rausin gave the signal to charge. A second later, shadows of black figures charging forward, taking the guards down. The guards didn’t give up easily, though. Some of the masked men fell down as bullets went through their bodies.

Surprisingly, there were more guards coming out of the left side of the mansion. They were all armed with guns and rifles. "Traitor… we have a traitor…" Some of them shouted to Rausin. But he replied with a loud cry "Allahu akbar!! Fight till death!!"

They charged further forward. Rausin jumped up using his inner strength and landed on the terrace of the mansion. He burst inside the house. The map that Rogayah had drawn was exact to the detail. He and the other 4 companions had memorized it. More guards coming out from the house. He was surprised to see there were so many back up guards tonight that made them outnumbered. Rausin had think of one name in his head. The name of the traitor, but he could not think about it further for more and more guards were surrounding him. He fought bravely and took down half of them. Yet he was just one man against 5 more guards now. One of them fired a gun. The bullet hit his left arm, yet he kept on fighting. Suddenly a loud cry came from behind him. He recognized it as Ali’s. A second later they both fought against the 5 guards and managed to kill them all.

The sound of the battle from the outside was heard. The clinking of blades against blades, the thunderous noise of shotguns and the deafening sounds of loud cries were overwhelmed.

Rausin ran inside the house starting to find Janssen’s room. He kicked a door and found Katrina curled under the bed, instead of Janssen. She didn’t recognize him for he was wearing mask. "Run. Run through the back of the house and hide by the river banks if you want to survive." He said.

She looked at him in fear, unable to move.

"Run now!" he commanded her. In a second later, Katrina was already running through the hall towards the backside of the mansion.

Rausin moved on to the next room. Ali followed him, watching out for more guards, but it seemed there were no more people inside. He reported that the other 3 were managed to rob some money and gold from the safe and were gone out of the house now. A blaze of red color lighted up the sky as some of the masked murderers managed to burn the plantation. A minute later the warehouse was also on fire.

Rausin saw someone running towards the back of the house. The part of the house that Rogayah had not mapped yet. He ran after him for he recognized that it was Janssen.

Ali shouted, "No, leave him. There are more guards coming. Let’s flee, Usin. We’re outnumbered."

Rausin didn’t answer Ali. He caught him by the arm and didn’t bother to waste anymore time on him. He quickly drew his blade and stabbed it to his stomach. As Janssen fell down on his knees in pain, he moved his blade across his neck and cut his head off.

"That’s for what you’ve done to my wife!" He murmured.

"Come, Usin. Let’s get out of this house. The others have fled away. We lost the battle."

Rausin joined him running out of the house. More guards came and surrounded the house, trapping them inside. Ali motioned him to jump up to the roof. Rausin nodded and they ran across the roof beam. The guards shot at them. From up the roof they could see there were more masked murderers already captured. There were around 5of them. But those who took the valuables were safely out of sight. Rausin smiled under his mask. The mission was a success tonight, he thought, with the price of the lives of some of his men and the 7 of them to surrender.

Suddenly the shooting stops. From inside the right part of the house some guards appeared holding two women. One of the guards lighted up a torch and held it close to the hostages for Ali and Rausin to see.

Surprisingly, a very familiar voice addressed him by name.

"I know it’s you up there, Rausin. Give up or you’re gonna see your mother and your wife get killed." He laughed devilishly.

Ali whispered in disbelief, "That’s… that’s Marwan …."

They both didn’t move an inch.

A blade was suddenly placed next to her mother’s neck.

"I will count to three, Rausin, and your mother will die. One. Two…."

"Why would I surrender if you would kill them after all?" Rausin shouted.

Marwan looked up, "I’ll let them go in exchange of your life. I’ve no use of them anyway. Well… I could use your wife, but what good is a pregnant woman anyway? I’m also a man of honor, Rausin. Now come down and surrender yourself!"

Rausin jumped down and Ali followed him. They had no other choice.

As they landed on the ground, the guards pointed guns on their heads. Marwan walked to them and unmasked them.

Rausin looked around to see his mother and wife.

"Release those useless women. And get the prisoners on the carriage. Janssen is dead, so I’m taking command here as a Bek." Marwan ordered.

Some guards tied Rausin hands and pushed him to join his friends.

Rogayah cried and ran after Rausin, "Where are you taking him?"

Some guards prevented her from being too close to Rausin.

Marwan turned to her, "Batavia of course, to stand trial on murdering a VOC officer."

Rogayah kicked the guard away she cried in anger, "Why are you doing this?"

"You traitor. You’re as low as a pig." She spat.

Marwan came to her and slapped her face. "Shut up, woman. You’re lucky that I don’t do pregnant women. Do you think I can stand living in poverty like your stupid husband, eh? Do you think I’m stupid to reject an offer of money and career? Look at your silly husband, woman. Look at him. He’s just a pathetic man! He thinks he fooled us. But it was him who was fooled. Janssen had suspected him as the leader of this pathetic circus and sent me to disguise as one of the member. Hah! You fool. He also sent Bek Yanto to get him hired. And that stupid Yanto didn’t even suspect anything. It’s good that he’s dead now, that worthless man. Now I’m in charge. So go away from here, before I change my mind and have you killed."

"Go home Rogayah. Go now." Rausin’s deep and charismatic voice calling her.

She cried and shook her head, "No…."

"Go now. Take care of our baby. Take care of Mak. Go. Go home." Rogayah could see now that there was blood dripping from his shoulder. He was hurt.

She cried harder, but she turned her back and ran anyway. It was too painful for her to watch him get caught. But he was right, there was nothing she could do for him here. She took Mpok Ati’s hand and they both fled from the scene. They had to follow Rausin to Batavia. She knew he would be imprisoned in the city hall, waiting for the trial like her father had. It would take months before he could appear in front of the judge. She knew well that most prisoners would die even before facing the trials. The prison was a hell on earth. She wanted to be there for him in each and every way she could.

Eight months later…

Rogayah carried the canteen of food in her right hand. She was walking towards the city hall to meet Rausin. She had been working hard for the past two months to save more money for the bribe. Finally, yesterday the prison guard told Mak that she could meet him this afternoon.

From the eight months of time, she had only seen him three times. This time will be the fourth. The bribe was getting more expensive. She usually worked at home, sewing kebaya to get the money. Mpok Ati cooked and delivered the food to Rausin everyday. Although he received regular food from them once everyday, he got thinner and thinner. He had been down with the malaria last month, but surprisingly survived.

Ali had died two months ago of dengue fever. Rozak and his 6 men had been killed in action, but after they successfully burn the sugar factory. From all 7 men who had been captured, only 3 survived to face the trial, including Rausin. Words had been around that the trials might took place in the next 2 weeks.

Mpok Ati and Rogayah lived in the old house that used to belong to Rogayah’s parents. The house was still there, empty but clean. It was Rogayah’s aunt who took care of the house, hoping that she would come back one day. The day she arrived in Batavia, she had been welcomed with tears and happiness.

The city hall looked the same as two months ago when she visited Rausin the last time. It was big, white, and menacing. She climbed the stairs at the entrance and talked to the guard, handing him the envelope full of money. The guard let her in to see Rausin. However, they didn’t get a private room. They could only meet and talked in front of Rausin’s cell. She brought extra food for Rausin’s two friends and gave it to them. Rausin stepped out of the cell and the guard locked it again.

Rogayah was surprised how two more months in the cell changed him. He looked pale and thin and much older. His hair had been cut short at the first day he entered the prison, but now it already grew even longer than before. His beard covered his face. He had grown much gray hair too. But his voice was the same. That sexy deep comforting voice no doubt belonged to Rausin, the man she loved dearly.

She stepped closer to him to hug him, but he stepped back. "No, Gayah. I’m not clean. Only Allah knows what disease I carry with me. You have to think of our baby. Don’t come too close to me."

"But Bang, I want to hold you… I miss you…" She started crying.

"I miss you too, my dear. But you can’t be selfish. The baby might catch the disease I carry."

Rogayah’s face changed. She opened the canteen and gave it to Rausin. Rausin ate it fast. In seven minutes he had finished eating them all and drank the water. Rogayah didn’t say one word during the time. She seemed to be preoccupied with something else.

"It was delicious, my dear." Rausin saw the change on her face. He could easily guess what was bothering her.

"I want you to keep the baby, even though it’s not mine." He said.

Rogayah startled. She looked at him with surprise. "You… you knew?" She started crying again.