15.2 S-O-S

Muskan and Nuzhan among the topless brown girls were bathing in the water. Muskan noticed a boat approaching and it didn’t stop at the reef or slow down. She was terrified. She turned towards the island. She could see thick vegetation and tall palms standing together without a gap in the sky from south to west. The island was lying so near but she could not make it. The boat rolled towards her at fast speed, immersed in water rather than floating. This lagoon was filled with seaweed in vast areas close to the beach. Many sandbanks and islets scattered inside the greenish lagoon that extended miles out.

Then the craft crawled over the nearest sandbank on wheels; a thirty-footer and eight feet high. There were shirtless white men wearing pants on its back. The bathing girls waved at them and they waved back.

It was a DUKW known as ‘Duck’ – an amphibious vehicle transported with the regiment. It was painted a khaki green with two headlights fixed on the bonnet. Addu folks called it a ‘kandi-divva-lorry’. Later in the 60’s, it was replaced by an Alvis Stalwart amphibious and ‘kandi-divva-lorry’ was called to the ‘Stolly’.

The radio buzzed and the driver picked a call. “Tune on Eight-One-One-Zero. They are calling,” said Charlie Longbridge.

Aircraftman Mathew switched on the RDF; Radio Direction Finder. Another rotated its manual antenna to obtain the strongest signal direction.

Sayye Saeed on the radio was saying, “Three names of the lost boys are caught in a photographed letter. I am assuming this is a typed letter from ‘Jack’ to hali. Direct Thirty-Two to search files in kaféra. I want images of the onu-feeni in and out.”

Charlie Longbridge was recording the conversation and an RDF engaged to derive a direction. At the same time, the Target Towing Launch 1374 entering Kuda Kandu Channel picked the signal.

The Duck turned in the lagoon towards northeast and sped away.

When Charlie Longbridge assumed its triangulation, it fell on a spot over land in the woods of north Hittadu. Sgt Ferner thought of the most ridiculous idea, “It could be a midget submarine in the estuary! What do you call this place?”

“Eid-Gali-Klee,” answered Longbridge, “I think it falls slightly towards south.”

“Fine. Now look for the location.”

Ferner obtained a translation that read; “Three names of the lost boys photographed in a typed letter from Jack to the nest recovered. Direct Thirty-Two to search files in the cage. Take photos of the bamboo forest.”

He was left quizzed. Commander John Knet told him to contact Dirk Wyse Dwire who replied, “Absolutely! I’ve been wondering how the government folks in Malé get to know of what is going on in Colombo and vice versa. They have instant knowledge of what happens here. Now I understand. They are using radio communication at their embassy house called Evergreen linked with Malé. Maldivian representatives are buzzing around like houseflies at the British High Commission in Colombo.

“Send a vessel with a radio jamming system and if necessary, fix it on Doonidoo.”

A vessel entered and anchored in the outer waters of Doonidoo disrupting radio signals from the capital of Malé. A radio jamming system was not installed at Ranulo because things began to change.

A couple of days later, Samara stepped on the bank by the stream. It was a carroty afternoon and she wore a similar type of a halter strap backless top with a batik print of red, brown, orange and white squares. She came out of the shower and sat down beside the bushes facing the opposite bank. Samara sat down to tease eight thousand nerves of her verve in a world of her own.

Naurus crept in the bushes watching carefully Samara’s actions. She could see from thirty feet distance. That thin woman made a lot of faces that mirrored in countenance on her face.

Abruptly, she caught sight of a khaki green craft floating in the stream and crawling slowly without a noise from the bend. There were men on its back.

Naurus gave away cover and stepped to stand in Samara’s view, “Look Sama! Look at that!”

Samara could not immediately see it behind the leaves. Then it was a bit late as it came to align with her. All eyes on her as she rose to her feet. Samara waved and they waved back. Naurus on the opposite bank waved at the Brits as well – a usual custom by now.

The Duck finally found a mini estuary flowing inland from the lagoon surrounded by Kotté, Odessele, Mulekedé and the islets of a miniature atoll. They spotted clearings, shady trees, grass and forest, clothes on drying lines and huts of the villagers as they prowled pass. Nothing suspicious but dead silence. They rolled around the other side of the hidden isle; locals called haliwal to this enclaved islet. It was known only to a few as an isle that exists. The Duck rolled out into the lagoon.

Samara told Shakir, “That kandi-divva-lorry rolled down the stream.”

Shakir wondered if the Brits found the radio or getting close could mean they already suspected something.