“Wow, you’re 60 year old something and you can still handle the pressure?” complimented Onays.
“Whatever. Here’s the museum.” Told Doctor Azim. “Do you see that empty bay.”
“It’s like I’ve seen it before.” Said Onays.
“That is where the kampong village used to be. Come, let me show you something.”
The doctor meandered through some dense shrubs until they stumbled upon a 116 meter tall tree. Below it on the trunk, there was an initial with a large heart encompassing it.
“Anissa and Azim. Year 1578.” Read Onays.
“That was the day before they attacked us. There’s one last thing that might intrigue you.”
“Hehehe, girls can be dangerous you know. That initial is one of the symptoms. They are creatures that’s really hard for us to understand their feelings. Right?”
The doctor sneered. “That’s the most cliché and cheesy line that I hear every time in movies.” The doctor pointed at a protruding wooden plank planted in the ground. “That’s where the palace used to stand. Now it’s shrouded by vegetation and vines.”
“This place is nothing but a museum dedicated to those who fought bravely?” said Onays perplexed.
“Not entirely. Unless you’re able to change that Onays.” The doctor assured. “Do you have the feather with you?”
“In my pocket.”
“Do you use it often?”
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“Never, I’m not brave enough to use it. I’m scared that I might get teleported into a wall or anything.”
“You’ve got to use it kid. It might come in handy. Did Pak Utam ever told you what the feather could also do?”
“Um, no… you know him too?”
“Yes. In fact, I devoured all the ambuyat that Mak Husnita cooked for us.”
Onays almost vomited. “Well, you’re Bruneian. You’re used to it.”
“Oh, the good old days. Pak Utam said that the feather could be used to transport an object into your hands too, if you know where it is and that you’re very close to it. I can sense it in that museum.” Explained the doctor.
“Cool, go and teleport it!”
“That, I will leave to you.”
“What if I teleport into a wall and…”
“Stop thinking about that and focus!” the doctor blared. “You have to change your attitude Onays. Don’t be selfish. Your greatest enemy is not Francisco, Ratna or his compatriots. The enemy is your own fear. If teleporting the golden crocodile in your hand isn’t good enough, then how can you save the past?”
“I don’t know… my head won’t tell me what’s correct or wrong.”
Doctor Azim crossed his arms. “It’s now or never Onays. Please, can you please do it Onays.”
Onays cleared his mind. He held the feather up and concentrated his mind on the golden crocodile. He realized that he had succeeded. In his hand, is the award.
“Brilliant, come on the docks aren’t far away from here. You have to get a sampan.”
“Right!”
“Wait, there’s no time for that. Look, a sea taxi is passing by!”
Both of them shouted out for the water taxi and it swerved to their direction and parked. On board, Doctor Azim instructed the driver to head for the Brunei Bay. Onays witnessed the Sungai Brunei Bridge again and the umpteen numbers of stilt houses on water as they sped to the centre of Kampong Ayer. Once they reached there, dozens of marine speedboats raced their way to catch them. Doctor Azim gave his last words.
“Whatever happens Onays, do your very best. Remember Onays, your actions will change the past. Take the feather and keris.”
“Got it.” Replied Onays as he dived into the water.
“Did he just jump into the water?” the driver cooed.
“It’s okay. He thinks he’s a fish…” replied Doctor Azim awkwardly.
Slamming him down, two marine police troops detained the doctor and escorted him onto the speedboat. The innocent driver was also suspected and both their hands were cuffed. The driver was shouting and fidgeting. Observing Onays dive spot, he had faith that Onays would succeed.