TIKAM SAMURAI :EPISODE 1 (WASHING THE FACE WITH BLOOD)
TIKAM SAMURAI (EPISODE 29) THE FEAR OF THE JAPANESE ARMY AND MAJOR ERAITO

For a while, the Bungsu is safe. At least not so many Japanese soldiers know, that there is currently a Minang child who roams with a deadly samurai in his hands. Who killed dozens of Japanese soldiers this year. But the actions of Major Sin Ichi Eraito, the commander of the Japanese army in Payakumbuh, who hid the death of his men to Colonel Fujiyama in Bukittinggi, the Supreme Commander of the Japanese Army in Sumatra only lasted a few months.

The discovery of the death began with letters of duty from the Japanese Army Headquarters in Bukittinggi. There were some officers who were pulled to Bukittinggi from Payakumbuh. Well among those drawn there are dead at the hands of the Bungsu. It would still be covered by mentioning that the officer was seriously ill, and was being treated. A few days later it was reported that the officer died of his illness.

Yep. For a while the event was not smelled. But then there was another order for promotion for two officers. And the two officers were required to report to the Headquarters in Bukittinggi. Again Eraito gave an answer that the two officers were sick. Suspicions began to arise at the Headquarters. Eraito asked for a week to take care of the officer, then sent him for a promotion ceremony in Bukittinggi.

Eraito hoped that a week would be enough for him for the reason that the two officers died in treatment. And his death from drinking poison before going to the hospital. Burial as usual can be done alone without the presence of Colonel Fujiyama. Because it is common to die very much in battle like the years in the raging world war II. That is the hope of Eraito. Colonel Fujiyama hasn't kissed this tactician. But undersecret Intelligence Officer Fujiyama smells something wrong in Eraito's report. That Intelligence officer was Chu Sha (Lieutenant Colonel) Fugirawa. This Chu Sha secretly sent two of his Intelligence men to Payakumbuh on the day of the Eraito report.

The two spies headed straight for the hospital. Checking the patient list. They did not find the names of the two officers there. They then inspected the headquarters and rosters on command posts throughout Luhak 50 City. It turned out that the names of the two officers, and several other names, including several Kempetai warriors, had vanished. Both intelligence agencies stopped their investigation. Go straight to Bukittinggi and report to Chu Sha Fugirawa.

The Chief Intelligence Lieutenant Colonel gave Fujiyama a report and analysis of the staff. Fujiyama immediately smelled something wrong in Eraito's report. He wrote a letter to Eraito, so that he would immediately come to report to the Headquarters. He had to come with the two officers he reported ill. When both of them are dead, then he must come with his corpse.

Eraito received the letter. What's he supposed to do? The two officers had died a few months ago in a brothel in Lawang. Dead by a samurai unknown. Will he come to Bukittinggi by first digging the graves of the two officers and carrying their rotten bodies? Finally he opened the second parcel sent by Colonel Fujiyama. The package is yellow. Inside there is a long object of two jengkal wrapped in a Japanese flag with a picture of the sun. He opened the flag. The two-pointed thing was exactly what he had expected, a short samurai! He nodded at the three Captains who were carrying the warrant. The three Captains saluted him.

Eraito wrapped the flag around his head. Then salute towards the rising sun. The Tenno Haika Emperor. Then he sat on his knees on the floor. The three Captains sent from Bukit Tinggi also knelt down.

”Tai-I Sambu .. ” Eraito calling. The one called, a Tai-I (Captain) came in saluting. He was surprised to see the four people kneeling. When his eyes were on the flag wrapped around his commander-in-chief, then on the samurai in front of Eraito, the Captain was immediately aware of what was to come. He nodded in respect. He sat in front of his commander.

”Hai ..!!” the officer nodded deeply.

Then Eraito took the samurai. Open it. His mouth is kamit. Then he threw the samurai out of his stomach. With the pressure of a strong, sharp samurai, he iriskan left. Blood gritting. He was still kneeling with breath. Then fall. His head cracked the floor. He was like a Muslim who prostrated himself. And this officer died in that state. He has performed Seppuku, which is also called Harakiri.

Immediately after his death, the captain of his deputy submitted the death file report of the officers to the three Captains of the Fujiyama Emissary. The file on it covers it. No one has the right to read it, except Colonel Fujiyama. Even Lieutenant Colonel Fugirawa himself, despite his position as Chief of Intelligence, still has no right to read the report. The file was taken to Bukittinggi. Fujiyama read it carefully. The report, among others, contains:

”There was a Minang boy who wandered around with a deathly samurai in his hand. This young man was out of nowhere to learn samurai, his samurai science though ngawur, but very high. It is suspected that he is looking for someone to take revenge for his family. Perhaps what he was looking for was Tai-I Saburo, who used to serve as Cho (Platoon Commander) Kempetai in Payakumbuh. Saburo is famous for being too ferocious in Payakumbuh. That is why he was proposed to move from this small town. Some are demanding revenge for his cruelty. It is suspected that more than twenty Japanese soldiers, officers and soldiers, had died eaten by the samurai Minang's son. But this secret is firmly held, the investigation continues. Efforts to find and bend young people who reportedly named the Bungsu (the smallest child) from Situjuh Village Lawang laweh was still pursued strictly. But until now the young man had never met. He vanished like an eagle flying into the sky. Hopefully with the blessing of Tenno Haika, for the sake of his glory, the young man can soon be arrested.”

Thus the sound and the end of the report Major Eraito who is domiciled as Bu Tei Cho (Commander of Battalion) Japanese army in Payakumbuh. Within

the report was attached to the names of the alleged dead at the hands of the Bungsu. Colonel Fujuyama took a breath and closed the report. Eraito has done his job well. Close the secret tightly. But he did have to die, because at the top of his own nose many of his men died. Death is not in battle. The punishment for his commanding officer was a gunshot or Harakiri. Eraito chose the second one.

SERIATE....