Recruit Edmund Lee kept on running. The 2.4 km run end point was only two hundreds metres away. It was so near but yet seemed so far away. From the distance, he could hear other soldiers cheering him on, screaming 'Hurry up!' and 'Endure!'. Edmund told himself that he could not afford to fail the timing for this 2.4 km endurance run for the consequences of failing would be severe. He had already failed all the other four stations in the Fitness Test and not passing the run would only annoy his superior, 2LT Tan Hin Seng, further.
'You better run faster or you'll get hell from me later!' It was Edmund's Platoon Commander, 2LT Tan. He was all the while running behind Edmund, reprimanding him all the time, in the hope that such scolding would spur him on to run faster. Edmund tried to sprint his way to the end point but his legs resisted. Right from the beginning of the endurance run, he had been feeling spasms of pain in his chest but did not reveal it to anyone, for fear of getting unnecessary scolding. The pain was pushing him from the back. His vision blurred and before he knew it, he blacked out. It was two in the afternoon. The morning Fitness Test proved to be a strenuous one for Edmund. Even though he had fainted before completing the run, he was now certified to be physically fit for further training by the Medical Officer in his camp. Silently, he prepared his equipment for the afternoon's Field Craft training. In a convoy of six military vehicles, the soldiers arrived at the training ground for the days Field Craft training. After being allocated Training site A for the platoon's training, Sergeant Thong organized the soldiers while waiting for the 2LT Tan to give a training lecture to the platoon. The lesson took only ten minutes after which the platoon of forty men was sub divided to be trained under various instructors. Edmund was taken aback when he was told to follow 2LT Tan for his training. He knew that would men the 'hell' as intended for him earlier in the morning.
'Move!' commanded 2LT Tan. All seven in the group tiptoed their way through the jungle, trying to be as tactical as possible in order to avoid discovery by the enemy party who was simulated by the other soldiers. It was then that a clumsy Edmund tripped over a fallen tree trunk. He fell flat onto the ground, his weapon flew out of his hand. Thunderous noises from weapons fired by the enemy shook the whole place. 'All seven of you are dead!' exclaimed a frustrated 2LT TAn. Recruit Edmund was summoned by the officer. He knew he could expect more then mere tribunal this time. True enough, not only was he mercilessly reprimanded, he was rewarded several forms of physical punishment which lasted as long as an hour. It was only when the pent up frustration caused by the clumsy soldier was totally released that 2LT Tan finally let him go. Night fell. For a while, Edmund thought that he would have peace back in the barracks after the days harsh training had ended. But he was wrong! 'You stupid asshole! Because of you we came back so late. If not, we can sleep much earlier already.' Thundered Recruit Lim Ah Kow in fluent Hokkien. Edmund knew he could not argue with this uncouth soldier for that would animate thrashings from him. So he kept mum all the while, listening earnestly to the swearing in the many colourful Hokkien words by Ah Kow. Even then, he was not forgiven.
Edmund was dragged into the toilet by the well built Ah Kow. Trashings were inevitable. It was only after 2 am in the morning that he was allowed to retire to his bed to sleep, with bruises all over his small body. 'Better don't tell sergeant, or else...' Edmund remembered Ah Kow grin as he was warned. The seventh day of the seventh month in the Lunar calendar. An inauspicious day for Sierra company to have a rifle shooting practice for the recruits. Edmund sobbed. He had not shot well for the morning's firing practice and was badly told off by 2LT Tan. For the past two months, he had been fighting a relentless battle within himself. A usually timorous him told himself to give up hope but the stronger side of him refused, telling himself to endure for the sake of his parents. But now, he knew very clearly what his next move was. He gnashed his teeth and proceeded for the afternoon's firing practice. Edmund was now in the firing site, accompanied by his coach, 2LT Tan. He remembered his earlier plans and was determined to carry them out. Suddenly, he flipped up his weapon and aimed it at 2LT Tan, who was standing just ten metres beside him. 2LT Tan was too stunned for words. 'You don't like me and I don't like you. Let me end this thing once and for all.'
Such were the last words he heard. Within the last few second of his mortal being, 2LT Tan thought of his parents, his girlfriend, his ORD date which was just two weeks away, and every other matter... Before long, he felt a surge of immerse pain in the chest. he fell dead on the ground. For the first time in his military life, Edmund revealed a willful and victorious smirk. 'Sorry, mum.' With the weapon butt placed on the ground and the muzzle pointing up his chin, he fired a shot. Blood splattered all over the firing site and both soldiers lay dead in a pool of blood. The ambulance was called for and the Medical Officer sent. Both were evacuated out of the isolated island, back to a hospital in Singapore mainland. But it was too late. The shots had been too accurate and both soldiers died instantaneously. A letter written by Edmund addressed to his parents was found amongst his belongings a few days later...
Dear dad and mum,
I am so lost now. I don't want to die. I want to live on for your sake but I feel so tired in this wretched place. I am sorry to say that I will leave this world earlier than you. Thanks for the love and kindness you have showered me for the past eighteen years of my life. I am very, very sorry.
With regrets,
Your beloved but unfilial son
Edmund
A grand military funeral was held for 2LT Tan Hin Seng. Recruit Edmund Lee was charged by military law for homicide. It was a night when Sierra company was conducting its firing practice. Edmund adjusted his seal silently by the side of the firing chamber, observing the firing of the soldiers who used to be his platoon mates. He was not afraid of being discovered for none of them could see him now. Even if they could, there was nothing they could do to harm him. He felt that it was so unfair even in the darker world, for such lower forms of being as spirits and the dead. That bastard 2LT Tan was given immediate reincarnation after death but Edmund was left a wandering spirit. He resented it all and had decided to return for revenge, on all those who had done him injustice before. Edmund waited patiently for Lim Ah Kow. He knew he had the whole night to himself. The time had come. Ah Kow proned himself comfortably on the ground, waiting for his turn to fire his weapon. With a whirl of his index finger, Edmund made himself visible to Ah Kow. The latter was shocked. What appeared before his eyes was a fleshless and transparent body which he could look through. The emotionless face was that of a familiar person but it was as pale as a white sheet of paper. it was that pair of unblinking murderous eyes that could make him insane.
Ah Kow screamed and told Sergeant Thong what he saw but it was of no use, for no one else could see Edmund except Ah Kow himself. Sergeant Thong, thinking that Ah Kow was trying to play a prank, gave the latter a smack on his head. Ah Kow could take no more of that ghostly sight. He yelled his way out of the firing site. Sergeant Thong, sensing something amiss, ordered the other soldiers to stay foot while he went after the frantic soldier. it was at a bare grass patch that Sergeant Thong found Ah Kow, now lying flat on the ground. It looked as if all his four limbs were pinned down, so that no matter how he struggled, he could not free himself. Being a devoted Taoist, the Sergeant knew what to do next. He took out a talisman which was folded into a triangular shape ans strung through a black string worn around his neck. In a single swift movement, he swept it across his eyes. It was now that he could see that ghastly face of Edmund. Blood was flowing out of those eyes which exhibited nothing but hatred. Sergeant Thong shouted for Edmund to release Ah Kow but his orders fell on deaf ears. With the talisman in his right hand, he dashed towards Edmund who was strangling Ah Kow with both hands. The long and sharp fingernails which were given a black coat of polish piercing through that latter's neck. Sergeant Thong pinned the talisman on the spirit's head. It let out a piercing scream and disappeared into thin air.
'I will be back!' Such were the words which rang through the air. Three other instructors ran to the scene, all armed with weapons, only to see a worn out Sergeant Thong and Recruit Lim lying unconscious on the ground. Both victims were sent to camp's Medical Centre. Two weeks later, Lim Ah Kow was disrupted from National Service and sent to a mental institute as he was found to be incurable. To his colleagues, the incident did not seem to affect Sergeant Thong at all. He appeared to be no different from the past, strong and daring. However, he had quietly requested for a transfer out of Pulau Tekong and was waiting for approval. Well remembering the words 'I'll be back' he hoped that he could get out of the mess by getting out of the wretched island.
Edmund was dragged into the toilet by the well built Ah Kow. Trashings were inevitable. It was only after 2 am in the morning that he was allowed to retire to his bed to sleep, with bruises all over his small body. 'Better don't tell sergeant, or else...' Edmund remembered Ah Kow grin as he was warned. The seventh day of the seventh month in the Lunar calendar. An inauspicious day for Sierra company to have a rifle shooting practice for the recruits. Edmund sobbed. He had not shot well for the morning's firing practice and was badly told off by 2LT Tan. For the past two months, he had been fighting a relentless battle within himself. A usually timorous him told himself to give up hope but the stronger side of him refused, telling himself to endure for the sake of his parents. But now, he knew very clearly what his next move was. He gnashed his teeth and proceeded for the afternoon's firing practice. Edmund was now in the firing site, accompanied by his coach, 2LT Tan. He remembered his earlier plans and was determined to carry them out. Suddenly, he flipped up his weapon and aimed it at 2LT Tan, who was standing just ten metres beside him. 2LT Tan was too stunned for words. 'You don't like me and I don't like you. Let me end this thing once and for all.'
Such were the last words he heard. Within the last few second of his mortal being, 2LT Tan thought of his parents, his girlfriend, his ORD date which was just two weeks away, and every other matter... Before long, he felt a surge of immerse pain in the chest. he fell dead on the ground. For the first time in his military life, Edmund revealed a willful and victorious smirk. 'Sorry, mum.' With the weapon butt placed on the ground and the muzzle pointing up his chin, he fired a shot. Blood splattered all over the firing site and both soldiers lay dead in a pool of blood. The ambulance was called for and the Medical Officer sent. Both were evacuated out of the isolated island, back to a hospital in Singapore mainland. But it was too late. The shots had been too accurate and both soldiers died instantaneously. A letter written by Edmund addressed to his parents was found amongst his belongings a few days later...
Dear dad and mum,
I am so lost now. I don't want to die. I want to live on for your sake but I feel so tired in this wretched place. I am sorry to say that I will leave this world earlier than you. Thanks for the love and kindness you have showered me for the past eighteen years of my life. I am very, very sorry.
With regrets,
Your beloved but unfilial son
Edmund
A grand military funeral was held for 2LT Tan Hin Seng. Recruit Edmund Lee was charged by military law for homicide. It was a night when Sierra company was conducting its firing practice. Edmund adjusted his seal silently by the side of the firing chamber, observing the firing of the soldiers who used to be his platoon mates. He was not afraid of being discovered for none of them could see him now. Even if they could, there was nothing they could do to harm him. He felt that it was so unfair even in the darker world, for such lower forms of being as spirits and the dead. That bastard 2LT Tan was given immediate reincarnation after death but Edmund was left a wandering spirit. He resented it all and had decided to return for revenge, on all those who had done him injustice before. Edmund waited patiently for Lim Ah Kow. He knew he had the whole night to himself. The time had come. Ah Kow proned himself comfortably on the ground, waiting for his turn to fire his weapon. With a whirl of his index finger, Edmund made himself visible to Ah Kow. The latter was shocked. What appeared before his eyes was a fleshless and transparent body which he could look through. The emotionless face was that of a familiar person but it was as pale as a white sheet of paper. it was that pair of unblinking murderous eyes that could make him insane.
Ah Kow screamed and told Sergeant Thong what he saw but it was of no use, for no one else could see Edmund except Ah Kow himself. Sergeant Thong, thinking that Ah Kow was trying to play a prank, gave the latter a smack on his head. Ah Kow could take no more of that ghostly sight. He yelled his way out of the firing site. Sergeant Thong, sensing something amiss, ordered the other soldiers to stay foot while he went after the frantic soldier. it was at a bare grass patch that Sergeant Thong found Ah Kow, now lying flat on the ground. It looked as if all his four limbs were pinned down, so that no matter how he struggled, he could not free himself. Being a devoted Taoist, the Sergeant knew what to do next. He took out a talisman which was folded into a triangular shape ans strung through a black string worn around his neck. In a single swift movement, he swept it across his eyes. It was now that he could see that ghastly face of Edmund. Blood was flowing out of those eyes which exhibited nothing but hatred. Sergeant Thong shouted for Edmund to release Ah Kow but his orders fell on deaf ears. With the talisman in his right hand, he dashed towards Edmund who was strangling Ah Kow with both hands. The long and sharp fingernails which were given a black coat of polish piercing through that latter's neck. Sergeant Thong pinned the talisman on the spirit's head. It let out a piercing scream and disappeared into thin air.
'I will be back!' Such were the words which rang through the air. Three other instructors ran to the scene, all armed with weapons, only to see a worn out Sergeant Thong and Recruit Lim lying unconscious on the ground. Both victims were sent to camp's Medical Centre. Two weeks later, Lim Ah Kow was disrupted from National Service and sent to a mental institute as he was found to be incurable. To his colleagues, the incident did not seem to affect Sergeant Thong at all. He appeared to be no different from the past, strong and daring. However, he had quietly requested for a transfer out of Pulau Tekong and was waiting for approval. Well remembering the words 'I'll be back' he hoped that he could get out of the mess by getting out of the wretched island.
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