The old man

Far away in the remote interior of Sabah, a long time ago, there was prosperous kampong call Kampong Maju. The Headman of this kampong was Undi. He was rich and also generous to his own people so the the villagers like him.
        Ketua Kampong Undi was a widower; his wife had died when giving birth to their only child. He had never considered re-marriage, and refused even to talk about it. If there was anything that he treasured in his life, it was his son, Nasib, who was fifteen years old.
        Nasib was a frail, thin boy. He was sick most of the time. He ate very little food despite the delicacies placed before him. This was a constant worry to the Ketua Kampong. He had tried calling in the kampong's bomoh, but there was nothing the bomoh could do. Undi tried placing different varieties of delicious dishes before his son, but Nasib simply ignored them. Day and night, the Ketua Kampong prayed to Kinoringan for help. His son was getting weaker and weaker. He feared that Nasib would die if he he continued in this way.
        Then something strange occurred. One day, while Nasib was taking a walk with his bodyguard, he suddenly seemed to be in a trance. Instead of walking aimlessly about, he started to walk as if he had an important purpose in mind. The bodyguard was startled. He quickly followed his young master, wondering what was going on. Nasib went straight to where a dirty old man was selling equally dirty cakes.
        The old man was a new arrival in the kampong. Everybody avoided him. He was a grisly sight. His hair was unkempt and allowed to grow wild. His clothes were badly patched. He was so dirty that it seemed like he had not bathed for months. The cakes he sold were mad from rice flour. Not only were they dirty looking, but the way they were made shocked the passers-by. The old man usually spat on his hands before he patted the cakes.
        The bodyguard was appalled when he saw that Nasib was heading straight towards the old man. He tried to stop him, but Nasib warned him angrily that he would have him burned in oil if he dared to interfere. The bodyguard had never seen Nasib so determined and fierce. The sudden change frightened him. He did not know what to do; he followed Nasib reluctantly.
        Nasib approached the filthy old man and smiled. It was his first smile to stranger. The bodyguard became even more amazed and bewildered. What happened next shocked him beyond description.
        "Please, Sir," said Nasib to the old man, "will you sell me one of your cakes?"
        "No!" cried the guard, "Never! What will your father say if he knows that you have come here to buy dirty cakes from this stinking, ugly, ragged . . ."
        "Enough," interrupted Nasib angrily, "I shall have you whipped a hundred times for your insolence. I have warned you that if you try to interfere in my affairs, I shall have you burned in oil. If I hear another word from you, or if you try in any way to stop me, I will carry out my promise!"
        The bodyguard was struck dumb by the threat. He stood like a statue, not knowing what to do and not to daring to do anything. Never he had seen the fire in the eyes of his young master, and never had he dreamt that such strong words could come from such a frail boy.
        Nasib turned back to the old man.
        "Please, sir," said he, "here is a gold piece in exchange for one of your cakes,"
        "You are a kind young man," said the old man smilingly, "you are the first person buy my cakes. I will not take your gold piece, but I will give you free charge one of my cakes as you are my first customer."
        "That cannot be," protested Nasib, "you . . ."
        "No, no," interrupted the old man, "say no more. I have promised my self that to the first customer, I shall give one of my cakes free. You cannot make me break what I have promised myself to do. Take back our gold piece, and take the cake you want with you. Go in peace, young man. You shall not regret what you have done."
        The old man resumed making his cakes. Nasib saw that it was useless to argue with him. He took one of the cakes, thanked the old man gratefully and walked slowly away.
        "Master Nasib," said the bodyguard, as Nasib was about to eat the cake, "please don't eat the dirty cake, I beg of you. There are a lot of a clean and delicious . . ."
        "Keep your mouth shut," said Nasib, " I order you what to do. Don't you dare tell me what to do."
        Nasib ate the cake with evident relish. As soon as he had eaten the cake, a strange change came over him. Instead of being the weak-kneed, frail boy that he had been, he became suddenly active, full of spirit and viguor. The dumb founded bodyguard stared with fear and wonder.
        "Master Nasib," he called out, when he had recovered his power of speech, " the devil is playing tricks on my eyes. I am beginning to imagine things. I am seeing things that cannot be."
        Nasib laugh merrily. " you do not imagine it," he said, "you see it for real. I am now active and vigorous. I do not understand it myself, but I do know that I am no longer a weak, useless boy. Come, let us go home and show my father the great change that has come over me."
        "But, Master Nasib," the guard whined peadingly, "I cannot tell your father that you ate a dirty cake presented by filthy old man. Your father will whip me to death, because I am responsible for your welfare. Alas, I am doomed. I might as well kill myself now than suffer later."
        "Wait," said Nasib, "let us think of something else then. Let us say that we have taken a long walk through the fields, and that the good air and healthy sunshine have worked wonders with me. I have never been out in the fields nor fully out in the sunshine, so perhaps, my father will believe us."
        "Yes," said the bodyguard, "you are right. I do hope that your father will believe us. Let us go home then."
        Undi was greatly astonished when he saw his son jumping along the pathway coming towards him. He could hardly believe what he saw. At first he thought that he was mistaken. After all. his son was a frail boy and this one was full of energy. It could not be! And yet it was true. When Nasib embraced him strongly, he was too surprised to say anything.
        There was much rejoicing after that. Nasib and his bodyguard remembered to stick to their story. The Ketua Kampong was too happy to bother about finding out whether it was true or not. He threw a big feast in the kampong in honour of his son. Everybody was invited and everybody rejoiced with the happy Ketua Kampung.
        When the table was laid, the villagers ate heartily, enjoying the delicious food and fine "tapai". Only Nasib did not eat anything. This surprised Undi and the villagers. Why was Nasib refusing to eat his food? Was he not well and active now?
        Nasib noticed the reaction of the villagers, but he did not feel hungry. In fact, he felt like he had just eaten a hearty meal and could not eat anymore. But he knew he could not explain this to his father or the villagers. So, Nasib hastily thought up an excuse.
        "I cannot eat, father," said Nasib, "for I am too excited. I am not used to an active life and I feel very weary. Please excuse me that I may go to the bed early. Do not be put off by my loss of appetite. After all, you can see that I am exceedingly well. I am indeed grateful for the honour bestowed upon me by the gesture of holding the feast. Please. father allow me to go now."
        The headman smiled and nodded understandingly.
        "Yes," he said, "I know that you are tired. It is the first time that you feel what it is like to be active. Very well, go to bed early then. I am sure that our guest will excuse you."
        All the villagers nodded their heads in an understanding manner. They toasted to Nasib's health. After the toast, Nasib retired to his room. He did not realise how truly sleepy he was, and very soon he was lost in his dreams.
        If  Nasib did not eat that first night, his father readily accepted that it stemmed from weariness. But, if Nasib would not eat anything the next dayand the next, and the week after, it would not be fair to blame Undi for getting very much concerned.
        Nasib simply did not eat his food. He just did not feel hungry. However, the new Nasib was different from his former frail self. Whereas he used to get weaker and weaker, Nasib now, though he did not eat anything, was getting stronger and stronger. His body develop in a few days to admirable masculine toughness. For a fifteen-year-old, he was incredible strong.
        Undi was more and more perplexed. He wondered if his son was secretly eating his food. So he kept watch everyday and night without Nasib knowing it. But never once did he catch his son touching his food. So the Ketua Kampong at last reluctantly decided that he must demand an explanation.
        The bodyguard was summoned. If anybody should know what was happening to Nasib, it was the bodyguard. He was always with Nasib. The Ketua Kampong realised that, to keep secret, the bodyguard would lie for Nasib. So, he carefully arranged his plan.
        When the bodyguard went to meet the Ketua Kampong, he was surprised to find that the two official tortures and the chief executioner were also present. The tortures were usually only present when enemies of the kampong were to be tortured for information. The chief executioner finished the job by cutting off the head of the enemies. The bodyguard felt a sense of misgiving at the sight. Something was not right and realised that it involved him.
        Undi went straight to the point. "What really happened," he asked solemnly, "on that day my son suddenly became vigorous? I do not think that you told me the truth before. I have ways of finding it out. But I would rather you tell me the true story out of your own mouth. In case you try to be difficult, you can see that I have already prepared everything for that eventuality. Now, speak."
        "Sir," he said with a quavering voice,  "I beg of you not to torture me, but kill me outright if what I shall reveal angers you. I have no choice but to obey your son. On that day that the strange change came over him, Master Nasib and I were taking a walk when suddenly.........
        The bodyguard related the whole incident in detail. When he had finished, he could see the incredulous and shocked expressions on the faces of the listeners. The Ketua Kampong was trembling with wrath. He grabbed the sharp parang from the executioner's hand and was about to slash the bodyguard with it when Nasib appeared.
        "Stop, father," Nasib cried out, "don't kill him. He has done no wrong. I overheard everything. I am the one you should blame. He only takes orders."
        "Nasib!" Undi said, trying hard to control his anger, at the sight of his beloved son, "why did you do such a thing? There are delicacies here fit for a king and you would not touch these. And yet, you would eat dirty cakes made by a ragged old man. You have shamed your father tremendously."
        "But, father," pleaded Nasib, "you want me to be well, active and vigorous. Now that you have your wish, why do you regret it?"
        "I regret nothing," replied Undi, "but what will people say if they know that the son of a rich Ketua Kampong ate dirty cake. They will say that I am only pretending to be generous to my people. I entertain them with festive gatherings, and all the time, I do not even forgive proper food to my  son. No, I shall not have ti so. Guards, brig that vagabond old man here!."
        The guards raced out. They found the old man at at his usual stand and dragged him back before the Ketua Kampong.
        "All right, you filthy old man," said Undi angrily, when the old man was brought before him, "see this boy here? He is my son, a rich man's son. How dare you you give him one of your dirty cakes! I want you to take the cake out of my son. But if you should hurt him or harm him in any way, I shall have you tortured slowly to death. And I will have your miserable carass thrown to the dogs.
        The old man seem not to be afraid. He stood up and walked over to Nasib, who dared not to look up. The  old man did not say anything, but looked at Nasib with sad eyes. He patted Nasib softly on the back and come out the cake, in one piece, from Nasib's mouth!
        Undi signaled to the guards who nodded their heads. They pulled out their parang, but, just as they were about to strike the old man, he vanished before their eyes. The guards rushed out and headed for the old man's stall, but neither the old man nor the stall was there. They returned and reported to Undi.
        "Black magic, that's what it is," said Undi., "but now we are rid of it. The old man and also his cake have disappeared."
        Meanwhile, Nasib was filled with remorse. Without a word, he went out and made out straight for his room. It was the next day that those who saw Nasib noticed once again the change that ame over him. He began to lose his masculine toughness, spirit and vigour. as days passed, Nasib was back to his old self-the frail boy who ate very little despite the delicacies placed before him. His health began to deteriorate.
        His father noticed the change with alarm. As the weeks passed and Nasib's health and condition grew worse, Undi began to regret his foolish action. For the sake of his reputation, he ruined his beloved son. He became more and more worried, and more and more compunctions. He had sent men to scour the countryside for news of the old man, but no avail.
        No one from the other kampong's had ever seen the old man before. No one in Kampong Mahu had seen him then. Who he was, no one knew. He came out of no where and disappeared to nobody know where.
        Undi ws filled with deep sadness. He did penance to atone for his sins. He fasted for several weeks, touching neither water nor food. Nasib, meanwhile, was seized by a strange sickness. He hovered between life and death. The sad news spread like wildfire throughout the kampongs. The villagers prayed silently to Kinoringan for help.
        Then, one day, A bomoh from a nearby kampong visited Undi. The bomoh was well known for his healing powers. Undi was very happy and relive to see him.
        However, the bomoh said, "Alas, I cannot help you. I have no power over the wishes of Kinoringan. kinoringan is angry with you for your past evil. You tried to kill one of his followers, though hehelp to give strength to your son. For that, you have been punished by Kinoringan. However, he feels that you have atoned well for your sin, and so will help you to regain what you have foolishly lost. In three days time, he will send one of his captains, who will be accompanied by his cohort of angles, to his place. Be ready to welcome the captain and feed him well as is befitting his rank, and he will help you.
        Undi rejoiced at the good news. He personally supervised preparations for the grand feast; it was to be the best ever. In fact Undi spent spent a fortune on it. The villagers had never seen anything like it before. Everything was gaily decorated. Delicacies were prepaid by expert cooks.
        When the three days has elapsed, everything was well prepared. The villagers were all assembled near the house to catch a glimpsed of an angelic captain and his cohort. Imagination of what it would come down from heaven on fiery chariots with trumpets blaring. Others imagined a sudden puff of smoke and the captain and his cohort would suddenly appear out of thin air. everyone, including Undi, could not control their excitement. What are would it actually be like? There had never been anything like this before. What pageantry it would be! so everyone thought.
        The morning passed out without anything happening. People were losing their patience and some were returning home. The afternoon ame. There were still no sign for any activity. Some muttered that the heavenly guest would not come because they were too many people about. Other people whispered that the bomoh was lying.

The old man went up to Ketua Kampong Undi and begged for a some little food

        Just then, there was a commotion. But it was only a foul-smelling, unwashed old man, bending almost double, with flies flying around him. Somehow he had got mixed with the crowd, and they were cursing and avoiding him. The old man went up to Ketua Kampong Undi and begged for a some little food. The guards prodded him with spear, warning him to go away. Undi motioned to the guards to dragged the old man out. He did not want the important accasion to be spoilt by the presence of a smelly old man.
        The evening passed and people started to returning home, greatly disappointed. even Undi wondered whether the bomoh was only fooling him. If  he was , the bomoh would pay dearly for his audcity. Throughout the night, Undi waited. By the next morning, still nothing happened. He was filled with uncontrollable wrath. So the bomoh meant to play a trick on him! He ordered the bomoh to be brought before him.
        When the bomoh was brought in, Undi said in terrible tone, "you, bomoh, you dare to play a trick on me. You said the captain of Kinoringan and his cohort of angles would come in three day's time, yesterday, to be exact, where are they? I waited the whole day and the whole night and they did not come. You shall be punished for this mischief. I wasted a fortune n the feast. No angelic visitors came. I shall have you slowly burned in oil. You shall have an agonizing for this little trick of yours!"
        "Wait," pleaded the bomoh, "listen to me. Kinoringan kept his word, but you did not keep yours."
        "What!" cried the Ketua Kampong, "you must be mad.
No one came you heard me. No one!
        "Yes," said the bomoh solemnly, "someone did come yesterday. Do you still remember the foul-smelling, ragged old man? You had him ill-treated again and sent away. That filthy old man which you all despised was the grand captain of Kinoringan. The flies that swarmed around him were his cohort of angles. Alas, and woe to you, but Kinoringan has strange way of doing things."
        On hearing this the consternation the listeners and especially of Undi was beyond description. It was impossible to believe and yet it was true.
        Suddenly, the silence of incredulity and profound shock was broken by the shout of a messenger who burst into the room, shouting at the top of his voice, Master Nasib, Master Nasib is dead!"
        The double shock was too much for Undi to bear. With a wild, terrifying cry, he pulled  out his kris and before anyone could stop him, the berserk Ketua Kampong stabbed himself to death.