Chapter 6 Ragging Fire turning into a Huge Time bomb

Keeping his head bowed low Ken joined the Training Centre at Sua Betong Estate,Sua Betong,Port Dickson.At the Centre were three other Cadets who were once under him.Embarrassed as he was he clinked shamefully on with a firm grip.

His shortcomings had left him in a lurch,there was no way out so he had to stay put,keeping his fingers crossed and hoping for the best.Was the best to come,only the Lord knows.They surely know how to humble a man.

Now he had learned to endure shame and survived with it.He must learn to swallow bitterness with a gulp and carry on the difficult task ahead.He must be vigilante and be fighting fit to over come all obstacles ahead of him.The long road and times ahead would be very tough he understands but wherever there was a will there is a way.

He and all the Cadets resided in rooms provided,each to a room.There was a cook to cook their daily meals and breakfasts.Their laundries were also done by her.

Daily training consisted of fields' work in varies plantations of the group.In the afternoon were mostly self reading with the Manager sitting around at his office.He seldom lectures the cadets accept for one his favourites "Catherine's wheel"for plantation road system.

He was supposed to be an expert in book-keeping which he instructed all to read on their own. Those were the every day activities.For Ken all these were things he already knew and had to revise over them.For surveying Ken actually had to learn for he did not know surveying.

The Manager an old man in his sixties and ex-chief clerk who walked like duck with stomach bulging out front and backside tilting upwards,was bias and prejudice towards Ken, as he knew briefly about Ken.In actual fact Ken was a lost case at the very beginning.Because he never dared looked into the eyes of Ken and always looked away.This proved that he ill advised about Ken from the very start no matter how hard he tried he was on his way out.

Ken was also astonished when the assistant from Sg. Raya Division came to the Centre to lodge a compliant against Ken for the lost of a "Tapping Manual".Ken already well versed with both Rubber Research Institute's system and the Good Tree's system denied any knowledge of it.Ken had absolutely no use for it,for he knew the manual by hard.So no big deal.And utmost important that was one of the question of the I,S.P.exam. on rubber and he spotted that question,he was right on target.They lost some rubbish and tried to blame Ken,absurd- sheer nonsense.

Within three months in that Centre Ken passed the Incorporated Society of Planters examination in Estate Practice (Rubber),he only secured a congratulation letter from the Personnel Manager,that was all.This examination was supposed to be an important subject for planters and Ken passed.Many senior and some Managers also sat for that examination but never got through.That was a fact which cannot be denied.

As per contract in his appointment letter it was stated there will be an increment if and when he passed any I.S.P.examination.Guess it was because he was sent to the Training centre they dropped it for him.

Ken strolled over a secret of the Training Centre and that was there was a key to a drawer of the Manager's table,thus having access to important files and test papers.Little wander how some students of previous batches and one or two of the cadets did so well.Apparently that key was handed down from previous batch of cadets.Ken made a mistake of not exposing that fact otherwise it would never be him that will leave the Centre towards the end of the course.But God always smiled on those who were honest.

Ken then smelled the dead rat,yes.he was not wanted anymore and they were murdering him in a nice and polite way.So it does not matter whether he accomplished anything or not it was of no value.Seeing this Ken started applying for a position elsewhere.Little did he know these were all in vain because his wretch name by now stink throughout the planting industries.

That was why that Manager had not the courtesy to look at him throughout the course.The time bomb within had been produced but never ready to detonate.To Ken he imagined of blasting the heads of all those who have offended off.The Training Manager and the plantation Manager were the worst of all hypocrites.

Ken biting his teeth stayed on because of the payments and he had no where to go.With a smile he continued that course.
Then came the final examinations at the head office ,poor Ken suffered a nervous breakdown although he tried to conceal it he could not write even properly and thus handing over papers with shaky writing and thus handling over an incomplete and unimpressive answers.Not that he did not know how to answer those silly questions, he fumbled because of that nervous breakdown.

Not surprising he failed the examination and had to go finally.Who was to blame for such out come.Ken knew now that he had to return to avenge this injustice and all those who responsible for his misfortune.They did not give him the chance neither will he when the time come.Revenge will definitely be sweeter that way.The looks on their stupid faces and the blood they will split will quench his thirst were also nicer.

On that faithful day of his ill fated departure there was no one to send him off neither did any bide him farewell.It was indeed a very very sad occasion.In shame he traveled back to Teluk Anson.He felt so lost with no one to console him,no one he could confide in or at least a reliable shoulder to cry on.No,there was none.

He went to the riverside at night and looked forlornly at the distance water pondering over and over again his failures and his life.He was only twenty five and he had lost the battle tasted failures.

His set back made him a very sad man,his mind ran through his long list of girl friends whom he could trust and he came up with only one.So without losing any seconds he inquired as where she would be.All were not lost and found out through a friend of hers.

Without hesitation he traveled all the way to Yong Peng,Johore.He found her alright at a beauty and Hair saloon and she was so surprised to see him.She was more beautiful than before they parted.
Apparently she had by now many admirers.Fortunately she was still not attached to anyone and through some persuasion she relented and accepted him once again.It was a great relieved, so easy because she was madly in love with him so no problem.

He had hurt her feelings yet she forgave him and there after he took her home.Now he had a shoulder to lean on and luck certainly came rightly knocking on his door steps as well.He secured another position as Manager of an plantation in Kuala Kubu Bahru.Ken registered his marriage to his girl friend before joining this plantation

The European sector may not want him but fortunately there were Chinese owned plantations who would employed him.Now the question remained and will the time bomb in him explode.Well,for one even the purchase of a gun you require cash.To avenge he must also have cash.

Therefore he must be patient and also be perseverance and let that issue laid to rest temporarily.