12.2 Second Infiltration

Elisabeth Boye, a boat lent by the Government of Ceylon, arrived at Fua Mulak on 30^th March with a force under the command of Sardar Bigfoot. First hurdle was to crash in through the waves to beach on the island on small dinghies. A 499-ton ship would have to anchor in the outer waters of Fua Mulak. Huge waves hit the island bounds. No matter how big the island was, it gave no chance to climb.

They attempted on a climb from the narrowest land width, from Malegum, and reached Bandara Klee. They got battered from both sides on a thin strip of land in a skirmish. The only way to move was to retreat to the beach. In their front lie the waters of Bandara Klee, folks from Miskii Magu in the north and folks from Doondigum in the south. Folks from Doondigum, Funad, Miskii Magu and Malegum surrounded the water. Rifles fired from the ship seriously wounded four island folks. Raised sandbanks prevented the firing from being more effective. Troops retreated to the ship with injuries and unable to make any advance.

On the night of Easter Monday, since Mariam Mala stayed home, Don Raha planned this next attempt to take place at midnight because it was the fasting month. By sunset, Habib made all arrangements ready by Kibili Point in Arre Klee just like the previous time. In the gibbous moon, the ritual began.

Meanwhile, RAF Gan came on alert that a squad of fifty soldiers were called to report to the guardroom in full uniform. In a while, the Station Warrant Officer burst in with the same message. This time he added that the island was about to be invaded and soldiers to draw a rifle and ammunition from the guardroom. “In full kit, not shorts and bloody flip-flops!” he ordered.

Their excitement wore off when they had to wait in line to sign out a rifle and bandolier of fifty rounds. Once issued, they were told to go to the jetty.

There was a bit of activity though no instruction given. After a while, it was decided not a lot was going to happen so they were sent back to the billet to wait. They made it almost when a jeep turned up and the driver shouted, “Get back to the jetty side! They have arrived!”

Twenty men were put on an LCM and set out to the RAF station in Hittadu.

Only a handful of officers knew of the trouble in Fua Mulak that day, 30 miles from Addu Atoll. Nobody knew which direction the ship, Elisabeth Boye, would sail and hence Gan was brought to a state of readiness.

In the meantime, Mariam Mala was in her last leg to disperse into the ground. That leg was up to Footloose Habib to dank in order to release pressure from a spirited body and of course, professionally.

It took an hour for the LCM to reach Hittadu and beached the craft. Then they were ordered to ‘charge’ and they climbed on an RAF ‘trot’.

Mala reached the generator house and entered the shelter.

A Royal Signals Officer appeared to brief them, “Watch the jungle for rebels and watch behind for their gunboats.” He picked seven soldiers and set them to walk around the installations and then to secrete themselves amongst the palm trees cut down and strewn around the site. Bryan Williams was one among them keeping watch.

That night, as planned, Mala sat beside the wall behind a cabinet taking photographs of the files. She was given one hour to spend there and return with the brown package. The eavesdropping team hardly knew about a state of alertness observed by soldiers.

She peered out of the door and glanced up and down. There was nobody in the lit area. Mala stepped out and quickly ran away from the lights. When she reached a piece of log, she dropped the package behind it and paused to look around. People could see the package floating in mid-air and she had to take precaution while carrying it.

Twenty minutes later, Mala was very close to the woods when Williams glanced. He saw a woman coming towards him carrying an object in her hand. A topless woman wrapped in a black piece of cloth like one of the brown girls bathing in water. He remained silent on the ground.

The woman passed close enough and sauntered towards the palms. Williams picked his rifle and stood on his feet. As he exposed himself, the woman vanished into thin air. He could see a package floating in mid-air. Bryan Williams couldn’t utter a word. He was shaken.

Mala realised someone was behind her. She turned to look. A soldier was pointing a rifle at her. He hastily picked a flashlight and pointed at the package. She knew he could not see her but the package. She began to run with the package. Williams was so scared that he did not find his voice. He saw it flying in air.

Bryan Williams ran to Blandford lying some distance away. He began to speak, “I saw a woman! A topless woman!”

“Calm down! Calm down!” Blandford cried, “Tell me, what did you see?”

“A woman! A topless woman!”

Habib saw some flashes, actually from the soldiers but he took it as if Mariam Mala was approaching. He returned his signal and Mala began to run towards it. Then he saw a tiny object swinging in mid-air.

Mala reached him panting, “There are soldiers in the field. We have to get out fast.”

They ran through the woods, crossed Areyfé and stepped into Arre Klee. Don Raha summarily touched the orchid on her hair and cleared her spell. They climbed up from the wetland and returned to Fanas.

She asked, “Do you think he saw me?”

“There is a chance he might,” Don Raha conjectured, “If he was secreting himself on guard or watch, he might see something but only till he gives up cover. He probably noticed the package you carried. You know, he’d only see you in an image of the apparition of Fariké Handi. She is a topless woman.”

“Well, let’s not put scares on us,” Habib said, “we have supper and go to Etherevari. We need to look at this reel of film. We don’t have a projector.”

“We have the enlarger,” uttered Mala.

“What do you mean?”

“I think we can look at a picture.”

At the RAF, Blandford reported to the RSO and Williams was removed from watch however, guards were doubled. Two dogs were trained in the area looking for a woman – a topless woman rather.