12:42 p.m. - 2001-02-20
the enemy is within us!
the enemy is within us!
sunday night.daylight has passed;only left the night and another six more hours to go before the guard duty is over.
camera view from outside the camp gates:
the camp surrounded by a shroud of darkness except fot the powerful spotlights glaring at the iron gates,lighting it up impassively.
behind the strong iron gates which are chained,the gate-ic sits on the curb of the road and fans himself using the wooden clipboard while the sentry standing in the sentry box leaned against the box,shrugged his shoulders and stared vacantly at the light from the orange streetlamps reflecting off the black tar road.
exterior view of the guard-room:
one lone dark green concrete shack with white flourescent lights filtering out of the open door and the counter where visitors exhange their ics for security passes.the sound of over-expressive pronounciation from some television show emits into the night.
interior view of the guard-room:
white flourescent tubes on the ceiling.one 21-inch television set hung on a fixture to the ceiling;switched on and showing some chinese drama serial.a wooden sofa with foam paddings is occupied by four soldiers,all in various lounging positions and states of undress...legs propped up on the small table,a few buttons loosened from their stifling no.4 uniform,cigarettes burning softly in outstretched hands,their bodies slouching lazily,heads tilted upwards in order to watch the tv show.
the desk ic sits at the counter which has a window viewing the gates.it is his duty to man the desk and sign in or out any visitors.atop the counter are various hardcover books,not story books but those usually used for writing or recording accounts.the covers of these books are pasted with printed slips of paper stating the use of the book;"civilian book-in book","military personnel book-in book"...etc.an old bulky green phone sits snugly at one corner and a dirty mug containing a few blue pens and one leaking red pen serves as a stationary organiser.at this point in time,the desk-ic has turned his chair around and instead of looking at the gates,he faced the television set playing his favourite show.
suddenly,the telephone rings.
the desk-ic turns around and picks up the receiver and speaks gruffly,annoyed by the intrusion.
desk-ic: harlow! Sotong Camp Guardroom.
effeminate voice:... hello...er...did anyone call pager?
the desk-ic covered the mouth-piece and said happily to the others lounging on the sofa: hey! it's that ah-gua again. fuck. who wants to talk to him?
the others in various languages and volume declined:
"i dun want lah!"
"fuck off lah,always call and talk cock."
"key hong! kan! lah."
"no one called pager lah,fuck off ,fuck off! bloody chee bye 3-o-2. "
desk-ic to them : okay lah. shee....(he hushed them)
desk-ic: uh..hello...nobody page lah.this is Sotong Camp Guardroom. You got the wrong number already.
voice: oh...nevermind then,er..do you like to drink?
desk-ic: chee bye! fuck off lah.
the desk-ic slammed the receiver down and laughed with the others for a while.
he returned to watching his show.
30 minutes later...the tv show finally ended and as the credits rolled down,
the telephone rang again.
desk-ic: hey fuck...must be him again.
he moves to pick up the phone.
soldier: hey sargeant! let me answer,let me answer.
one soldier jumped up from the sofa and rushed excitedly to the phone.the desk-ic was glad to let him do the job.
the soldier picked up the receiver and in his most polite, caring, sensitive voice: hello. Sotong Camp Guardroom.
a pause and then the effeminate voice: hello....did anyone call pager?
soldier still in sensitive mode: uhm..nobody page.
voice: oh...may i know who's on the line?
soldier: uh..captain David.
he quoted the name of their OC.
voice: oh...you're captain david? what are you doing in the Guardroom?
soldier: i am the DO (duty officer). i'm here to check on them.
voice: oh i see...er..david,do you drink?
soldier: oh yes! i love to drink.i always go boat quay and drink with my buddy.
voice:oh really.
soldier(losing the sensitive tinge in his voice): yar...you want to come with us? we love to meet new friends...
voice: uhm dun want lah...
soldier(switching to caring tone): then why you call us,huh? you always call Sotong Guardroom for what? your telephone bill must be very expensive...why don't you give me your telephone no. and i'll call you.
voice: what are your hobbies?
soldier: are you previously from Sotong Camp also? how come you know our number?
voice: are you a virgin?
soldier( finally can't stand the act ): cheebye! i ask you one question ,you say another thing..chao chee bye! want to act girly...kananabu! 3-o-2.
he slammed the reciver down.
later in the night,there were two more calls.
the end.
