Golden Peacock - The Ninth Collection of Short Stories

Jamada Koko Gyi

Among the many people who suffered at the hands of the enemy during the last war, the case of my friend Subada Maung Maung is perhaps the most unusual in the list of casualties. I have written about Maung Maung's injuries as I experienced them, and the reader can judge for himself whether they are unusual or not.

One night, in a large, canal-like valley, the light from a candle set on an empty beer bottle illuminated a few slices of bread, two tins of fish, and a couple of metal cups, while two men were lying on piles of straw in two corners, each smoking a cigarette. The sound of snorting and laughter from a nearby trench did not bring peace of mind when suddenly hearing the news that we were to march into enemy territory. So, with a heavy heart, we pondered the matter of the march.

Brother .. “I can’t say if they used poison gas or not.”

Me: "Even though the Germans used it, I don't think the Turkish military is ready to use it yet."

Brother.. “I will march immediately, really...”

Me.. “Ko Maung Maung is also acting strangely. When did you hear that we know in advance? You know too.”

Brother.. "Big Brother"

Me.. "Rev."

Brother.. “Do you believe in omens?”

Me.. “To be honest, I'm half-believing and half-believing. What about you?”

Brother.. “Listen, I’ll tell you, I fell asleep in the afternoon and had a dream.”

Me.. “How do you dream?”

Brother.. “What a strange dream. A bomb thrown by the enemy hit my neck and my head was cut off.”

Me.. “I’m planning, I’m planning, I’m planning.”

Brother.. “This is not over yet. I was beheaded but not dead. I carried my head and followed the enemies. The enemies didn’t say anything. The whole army ran away when they saw me. They ran after me. Finally, my head fell out of my hands and I woke up with a loud bang.”

Me.. “You have a good dream, I can do it.”

Brother.. “Even if I win, losing is a shame. I don’t believe in my own dreams that much, but this time I’m a little more serious.”

Me: "Don't pay attention to this dream of being born again because of a curse, it's just a waste."

Brother.. “If anything happens to me, please take care of my wife and my son.”

Me.. “No, Ko Maung Maung also said that blood and wind are not the same thing as picking up signs every time you dream.”

Although I had to encourage him as a friend, I was so nervous that I didn't know what to do. However, I had to tell him funny stories until almost midnight to distract him. However, Ko Maung Maung seemed to appreciate my efforts, but he was very reserved for that night. At midnight, we each went to bed.

I felt my shoulder being shaken, so I rolled out of bed and looked at the clock. It was exactly 6 o'clock. Then I looked at Maung Maung, who was already changing his clothes, and saw that he hadn't slept all night.

" Are you sleeping, Maung Maung?"

"I can't even sleep"

"What are you doing, honey?"

"I am reading."

"All night long"

"Yes."

Then, remembering my dream, I tried to tell him not to get carried away by the dream. Ko Maung Maung said, “Yes, Master, I have been everywhere.

"I'm not a superstitious person, but don't forget what I said."

I said I thought it would be an extra order, but after doing so, I saw the look on Ko Maung Maung's face and said, "It's okay, don't worry."

I ate my fill of the coffee and biscuits that Ko Maung Maung had prepared in the air fryer, changed into my weapons and clothes, and climbed up the canal. By this time, the soldiers had gathered around the mountain, waiting. All the people I saw looked more or less shaken, but Ko Maung Maung alone seemed calm.

At half past six, the 3rd Battalion crossed the Arakan Land between the two armies and advanced towards the enemy. Such a situation was one of confusion and confusion, and it was impossible to tell where one was or how one was doing, without observing the actions of others. I remember one instance when, while running along the “Bombay Land,” a man beside me fell down with a thud, and his foot and mine were both stopped, and I almost fell down too. He did not get up and remained there, but I continued to run. In a moment our small group arrived at the enemy trench, and we were engaged in a fierce battle. One with a bayonet and a spear, one with a sword and a dagger, one with a horse-drawn gun and a six-shot rifle. I took turns fighting, each with his own skill and weapons. This side and this side each chose their own target and fought as they pleased. After defeating one enemy, it was not difficult to find another. Sometimes, instead of looking for a new enemy, I had to help one of my own comrades who seemed to be in a bad situation. That day I killed no less than three Turkish soldiers.

The method of this attack was that if the advancing side lost, they would quickly return to their trench. If they won, they would capture the enemy's trench. But that day, within half an hour, our side won, and the remaining enemy soldiers, who had not been killed, retreated to another trench in the rear. - We had already captured an enemy trench, and were busy burying the bodies of the fallen, and turning the trench upside down by moving sandbags from one side of the trench to the other. (Turning the trench upside down means that if the trench faced east when the enemy was in control, we would move sandbags from one side of the trench to the other so that it faced west when it came into our possession.)

While I was helping with the sandbags, I heard the news “by word of mouth” that Subada Maung Maung had died. I was a roommate, so I need not describe how shocked I was when I heard the news. I had not seen Maung Maung since we left our trench at 6:30 a.m., so I was shocked to hear the news. I asked a nearby soldier who had been shot in the head by a bomb.

I couldn't believe the news, so I left work in a daze and went to see the doctor again.