Anissa tied the rope of the sampan to a wooden plank and both Onays and her ascended the stairs onto Kampong Ayer which is a water village. There were surau, madrasah, houses and kids playing their gasing tops on the slender pavement. Anissa showed the house of the old wise man that looked gravely in shambles. Anissa told Onays’ along the way that the old wise man had taught her how to read, write and speak properly.

The old man had also shaped her fighting skills and parkour which encompasses the pencak silat martial art. Onays was truly astounded by Anissa that even a girl could defend and fight for herself. Upon reaching the front door, Onays and Anissa removed their shoes and gave their salam. A small, hunched man with a long grey beard came to the entrance and guided them inside his house. He invited them to perform the maghrib prayer and they all attended dinner that night.

“Please, help yourself with the ambuyat.” The wife of the old man had offered. “You may call me Mak Husnita. This scraggy old man is Uwan Utam.”

“Pak Utam, to be precise.” The old man greeted.

“Nice to meet you. Thanks for the ambuyat. I’m Naiz.” Said Onays smiling.

“Say… you don’t look like you’re from around here.” Said Pak Utam.

“Oh, I am from the lands of anime!” Onays mumbled back. “Ouch, that hurts!”

Pak Utam slapped him the second time. “A bad liar!”

Anissa could only giggle.

“You are not from anime, I believe that you are from Shulam!” Pak Utam raised his voice.

Onays felt a quick zap of electricity shocking him momentarily. He was amazed at how Pak Utam knew that he was from Shah Alam, even though he mispronounced it. Onays learnt that Pak Utam is a very wise man. Pak Utam was even able to know what boxer he was wearing and his secret that he failed his exams. Onays shivered inside when Pak Utam knew too much.

“Eat the ambuyat!” Pak Utam growled.

The old man could be very cunning thought Onays. As they all sat in a circle at the front porch of the house, Onays took a plate and scooped out this white slime from the bowl of ambuyat. He then slathered it on his plate and added some fish gravy. As he let a portion of ambuyat in his mouth, Onays sensed his tongue being twirled and been sliced. The taste was horrendous. Onays covered his mouth, controlling himself so that he would not vomit. Pak Utam delivered a slap on his face, and Onays spat out green liquid onto the floor.

That night, Onays had to do the house chores while Mak Hasnita sat by the window and watched the waves of the bay, singing old folklore songs. Onays was seen scrubbing the floor rigorously so that the smell and stain of his vomit would disappear. Anissa and Pak Utam watched him as they giggled at how his skinny arms twiddle across the floor. Randomly, Pak Utam went close and slapped Onays’ face.

“Ouch, what is the matter with you?” Onays complained.

Pak Utam slapped him stared at him with vile eyes. “Do not disrespect me, you long stick!”

Stupid, midget, dwarf-sized dumb ass old man! Slapping my face and calling me a stick! Whispered Onays to himself. Why would he call me a stick?

“Ouch!” Pak Utam slapped him again. “I’m telling you the second time. After this, go wash the plates and sweep the floor.”

“This is torture!”

“No, this is discipline.” Said Pak Utam as turned to talk with Anissa outside.

“Who is that poor looking boy really is your majesty?” asked Pak Utam concerned. “He has a lot of pimples. Disgusting.”

“He is the holder of the golden crocodile.” Answered Anissa.

“Him? My conscious tells me he is not.”

“But Pak Utam, he is the only person who could see us. See the past!”

“The white men will make us a laughing stock if they see him. I’m worried that he’ll be the cause of the fall of our Barunah Sultanate.” Pak Utam hissed.

“In our legends, a man of the future will come as our savior!”

“I am starting to lose faith in legends. I am an old man, and I cannot help to defend our sultanate. Maybe I am senile.”

“Don’t say that Pak Utam, that is why I’ve brought him here. We can teach him the silat and knowledge!” Anissa exclaimed.

Pak Utam shook his head. “Fine, I will accept. I really like slapping that boy. I want to use my cane someday on him too.” Admitted Pak Utam. “Judging from his looks, he is quite weak. A weakling, but strong in his hands.”

“As long as he learns the silat fast enough. In the mean time, we have to find a way to retrieve the golden crocodile but from a different time in history.” Anissa explained.

“I agree.” Said Pak Utam. “To fully understand a person, we have to let their tigers free.”