PECAH - Ch1 Translation

8/6/2019 PECAH - Ch1 Translation

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PECAH - a novel by Khairulnizam Bakeri

Chapter 1

Herman slows the taxi down. His hands are a little numb.

Alan is on the passenger seat, sleeping with his mouth agape. At

the back, Radi and Don are arguing about the best movie of all

time. Radi sides with The Shawshank Redemption. Don insists on

The Godfather. Strange, arent they even a bit nervous?Hey, were here, says Herman, patting Alans cheek.Herman, are we good? asks Radi, with his hand on

Hermans shoulder.

Of course. Everythings OK. Follow the plan. Dont do

anything stupid. Ill wait here. Dont rush. Good luck.

All the doors fling open at the same time, except Hermans.

As soon as hes left alone he prays, but hes troubled by doubt.

Would God answer a prayer for something like this? He turns the

radio off. Herman waits in silence. Each second feels like a decade.

Majid was scratching his belly when he was approached by

the lady in the purdah. Only the eyes could be seen seen. Dark

green. An Arab, he assumes. Majid gives a crooked smile. Tourists

are to be treated nicely. Another lady arrives; same look, same

style.

You speak English?

Err, yes, little only. Majid swallows. The scent of herperfume stings his hairy nostrils.

I want to get travellers cheque. You know, travellers

cheque? Where can I get it?

Err, yes, err, Majid scratches his stomach, please to

counter one, yes.


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Oh, thank you. Syukran.

The woman spreads her arms. Her body is close to Majids.

He cant swerve to avoid the hug and instantly finds himself

trapped by her strong squeeze. Majid feels something odd. Whydoes this Arab lady have a strong, manly chest?

Dont do anything stupid. Majid is shocked when he hears

the whisper. Your gun is in my hand. Dont make a sound. Turn

around and walk in front of me. Slowly. I dont want any

commotion. If you want to be a hero, your children could visit your

grave tomorrow.

Majids underwear suddenly feels damp and warm. He didnt

sign up for this. Hes not ready to die. It was just last week when he

quit his factory job. This is his first day working here, and the cold,

piercing barrel of the gun against his back might make it his lastday. His lip twitches. His crotch starts to itch. He knows the person

behind him is neither a lady nor an Arab.

Everyone get face-down on the floor. Those behind the

counter, in the office, come out. Hands behind your heads, faces to

the floor. If I see any eyes looking my way, your brains will get

splattered, the man inpurdah shouts.Majid is shocked. Both of them are not women. Majid wants

to lie face-down on the floor but dont do something stupid still

echoes in his ear. He catches a glimpse of the gun brought out bythe purdah man from his bag. While walking slowly, Majid looks

at the entrance. Damnit, who locked the door with Plasticuff? But

theres a guard outside. Whats he doing? Didnt he hear the noise

from the inside? His hands are cold and numb. His head swirls

between curses and prayers.

The door behind the counter opens. The second purdah manruns towards the counter, pointing his Beretta at the door. Two

guards appear, each armed with a Remington.

Come out slowly, warns the secondpurdah man.

Ho ho, dont be a hero. He backs up step by step towardsthe bank customers who are on the floor. If you fire, my friend

gets scared. When hes scared, he shoots...whats your name?

Majid.

OK, he shoots Majid. Understand? So youd better put your


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weapon on the floor, and join the others. His eyes stay locked to

the barrel of the gun.

Both guards surrender. They know its too dangerous. A

Remington could fire up to about 40 metres. Its risky because aRemington bullet splatters upon firing. Once fired, things get

messy. Anyone could get hurt. Anyone including Majid, who has a

gun pointed at his head.

The two Remingtons are placed on the floor and are quickly

kicked away by the second purdah man. The weapons skid to thewall.

Good. Everyones here, ya? Dont worry, we wont be long.

You, get up. The boot tip of the first purdah manpokes the waist

of a woman in a modern kebaya. Shes shaking.

Wani, Majid whispers. The first employee to greet me thismorning. Wani stands up slowly. Her attention is fixed to the barrel

of the gun, or to the husky voice, or to both. She bites her lip,

trying to stop shivering. Her eyes start to water, and tears trickle

down her cheeks.

Take this, go to the counter, open the drawers. You know

what to take, dont you? Make it fast. Dont try to be smart. If you

dont listen to me, Uncle Majids funeral is tonight. The barrel of

the gun moves to the back of Majids head. Majid closes his eyes.

Allah, if I die today, take care of Yah and the children.Wani walks briskly to the counter, sobbing. The drawers are

opened one by one. Stacks of cash go into a bag.

You, youre the manager, right? Get up.

The man in his late 40s stands up. Today hes in a black suit.

Majid looks at him.It was just last week that I was interviewed by

him. But today, were both shit-scared. I know that Mr. Kazim fired

me as soon as the gunshot went off just now.Lets open the safe. The rest wait here. If anyone gets up,

well, I dont like to repeat myself. You know the consequences.

Kazim walks to the safe room, with both hands behind hishead. The secondpurdah man follows him. Majid hangs his head,feeling sympathy, regret, anger, shame and trying to stand the itch

in his crotch thats now spreading.All my fault. How the hell could

I not notice theyre not women?


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Everythings cool? Good. Good. Were leaving. The

secondpurdah man appears from the office with Kazim, who still

has his hands behind his head.

Go join them. Majids heart drops when the pistol againtouches the back of his head. He has no choice. Slowly, he kneels

and lowers his face to the floor. His crotch is still itchy as hell.

Thank you, everyone. Both the purdah men go to the

closed door. Both their bag are filled.

TAM! TAM!

The secondpurdah man falls to his knees. His leg bleeds.

You wanna rob my bank? Mr. Kazim advances from the

counter with a gun in his hand.

TAM!

This bullet misses. The glass door shatters.Come on, shouts the firstpurdah man.

You go first. Bear the pain. The guard carries his colleague

who got shot. The firstpurdah manhelps him. With the cash-filledbags, they move as fast as they can down the escalator.

Kazim takes aim. Before he can pull the trigger, the guard is

in front of him. A fist pounds his face. Kazims ear buzzes. He

collapses.

Stop! Majid chases the guard who started running after

punching Kazim.From the top floor, Majid tries to run faster down the

escalator. His eyes are fixed on the guard whos escaping to the

ground floor.

Stop him! Stop him! Alas, the people at the UMNO

building can only watch. Everythings happening too fast.

Majid almost trips at the last step of the escalator. He runs to

the front door. The guard enters an orange taxi parked at the

shoulder of the road.

Hey! Majids knees weaken.

The orange taxi speeds off. Majid stands still in the parkinglot, trying to catch his breath. He bends over. His saliva, without

his bidding, drips out of his open mouth. He repeats the taxi's

number-plate. That's the only thing he caught. HBA 2710. HBA

2710. HBA 2710.


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His exhaustion starts to subside. Majid enters the building.

At the cafeteria, two workers who are washing dishes stare at him.

The grocery store is still closed. The ATM area is quite empty, with

only three customers. The building's customers and employees startcrowding the lifts and escalators. Majid walks unsteadily to the lift

at the end of the ground floor breathing heavily. At that moment, he

sees the aluminum sign displayed beside the lift.

OUT OF ORDER. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE

INCONVENIENCE.

SHAH ALAM CITY COUNCIL (MBSA)

If Im not wrong, when I arrived this morning, the lift was

still working. When did it stop working? If its out of order, why arepeople forming a line in front of the lift?

Ting! The lift opens.

Excuse me, let me through, please. Theres an emergency.

Sorry. Majid lifts his hands, as if to part the sea of people in front

of the lift.

The lift is packed. Everyone in it, including Majid, awaits

their number to light up.

Ting! The lift opens.

Thank you. Please. Thank you. Again, Majid goes throughthe sea of people in front of him.

Majid stands agape at the entrance of the bank. There's

shattered glass everywhere. Kazim is sprawled on the floor,

surrounded by curious bystanders. His nose and mouth are

bleeding.

Step aside. Dont crowd around him. Give him air. Majid

cradles Kazims head. Anyone called the ambulance yet?

Kazim opens his eyes. He slowly wipes his nose and mouth.

Wani appears from the office. Mr. Kazim, the police are on their

way.

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PECAH - Ch1 Translation