The evening’s meal of coconut was sour in his stomach. By God, he was getting sick of the stuff. He didn’t want to eat another coconut in his whole life. But that wasn’t what was really bothering him. Sarah had asked him to go with her and Peter into Calang. He didn’t want to. He should start heading into the green hills to Ie Mameh. Bapak and Aisyah could help Sarah and Peter. Sometime in the morning he would say his good-byes and veer off to the north, making his way on his own. He had his father to find. Surely Sarah would understand. When the band descended the hillock at dawn, Ruslan led the way. He was eager to get to Ie Mameh. He was certain that by the end of the afternoon he’d be hugging his father, kissing his cheeks. The thought of it cheered him so much that he started whistling. As he jumped a small ditch, he noticed Sarah staring at him, and he fell silent, feeling guilty. “No, no, don’t stop,” she said. “It’s so good to hear somebody whistling.” He bowed to her and finished the tune.
