The Lion and the Sun – Chapter 11 – Part 2 (The Rising Sun) – Cont’d

  The next morning, around 9:00 a.m., a truck, laden with soldiers, stopped by the side of the road in front of the bungalow.  A young soldier with a rifle slung across his shoulder, quickly jumped out before the truck sped away.  It was the soldier’s first day of his assignment as a sentry.  

   Ma Shwe looked out the window and noticed the sentry striding across the lawn of the bungalow.  He stopped for a while, as he began surveying the environment, pausing for a while to feast his eyes upon the variety of flowers.  Moments later, he ventured around the bungalow, gazing at the little houses that were used by the employees.  The houses were recently painted and appeared immaculately neat, with an entire row of shrubs of fragrant jasmine along their front. 

   Then, as if he had realized that it was time to end his cursory survey,  he hastened across the portico leading to the front door and pushed the doorbell.  The tune of the Big Ben seemed to have startled him, as he stepped back for a few moments.

   Cecil answered the doorbell as he remembered that he should bow at the same time.  The sentry returned the courtesy with aplomb.  

   “My name is Igeta,” he informed. “I’ll be permanently posted here from now on.”

   “My name is Cecil and I’m pleased to meet you.  Come in.”

    Igeta crossed  the threshold and began to survey his surrounding.  After a while, he took out a piece of paper from the front pocket of his shirt. “Nobody move,”  he began.  

    It was a moment of suspense as he continued to scrutinize the contents of the paper and began reading. ”I want everybody here to listen carefully to what I am about to say,” he said.  “I have strict orders to shoot anybody on sight – anybody that tries to escape.  Remember, you are allowed to go out only once in the morning to buy your groceries. Then you come back and go nowhere. No hanky panky.  You understand?”   

    ”Yes, sir,” came the simultaneous response.

    “Now I need accommodation,” Igeta continued.  “I see you have good quarters here.”

    “Indeed, we do,” Cecil assured.  “We’ll be glad to accommodate you in one of those.

     Suddenly, without a word of thanks,  Igeta pointed a finger at Maung Ba.  “You, come along with me and show me where I can stay.”

      Maung Ba was taken aback and was suddenly gripped with fear.  He stepped out with Igeta and wasted no time showing him his quarters.

      “You must clean this place everyday,” Igeta ordered. 

        It was Maung Ba’s first experience that ran contrary to his colleagues summation of Suzuku’s statement that his country would be liberated from the British.