Semua Bab The Supernatural Professor - The Jungle: Bab 1 - Bab 10

10th July 2019 “Dr. Anthony Jin? The Supernatural Professor?” My breakfast of toast and eggs was rudely interrupted. “I sound like I've just been cursed.” I shot back with a dose of sarcasm. “I am sorry, but everyone calls you by that name,” he said. I stopped stirring my Kopi-O and looked up at the disrupter of my breakfast routine. “You’re not from the media I hope,” I asked. “I assure you I’m not, Dr Jin.” “Don’t call me Supernatural Professor. Just call me Ant. Everyone calls me that.” I asserted. I tried to ascertain the speaker’s identity, but the sunlight behind the figure made it hard for me to make out his facial features. I stood up to get a better view but he continued. “Some call you the Bridge. The Bridge to the other worlds.” I winced at that description written by Singapore Global, a journalistic social site with over a million subscribers. It was an inconvenient overstate

For the past twenty-five years, there has been a movie reel in my mind. Many nights, in my dreams, that reel will replay the scenes of the fateful day my parents disappeared. The dreams carried a nightmarish tone in the initial years, but as I grew up, stronger in management of sorrow, it mellowed into a plain trailer.  I had learned to tame the monsters in me, though at times, I struggled with the powers that came with my lone existence. My growing-up began when my parents embarked on a journey to Japan on a mission to search for the roots of my mother’s family. My mother had always wanted to explore her Japanese ancestral roots. As a child, she had listened to her grandmother’s talk about her father’s family, who were based in the mountainous region of Nagano. They, the Kaneko, had served for generations in the imperial court under the samurai clan. War brought my mother’s Japanese family tree to Singapore. They left in 1945 after the defeat but returned a few

As I reeled from the shock and struggled for an answer demanded by the new arrival, CK came to the rescue. “This is Dr. Anthony Jin. He teaches at the University of Singapore.” “University of Singapore? Then why is he here?” A flush of heat crawled down my neck. I felt like a 10-year old who had been caught playing truant and now had to give a reason for my existence. I had never before in my life felt the need to do so.  “I had clearance from the Chief, ASP Wong.” The Colonel continued in a firm tone and his face had a unflappable expression. A man of steel who had seen rough waves.  He turned to me and smiled.  “This is Assistant Superintendent Wong. She leads the police team who is assisting us with the search operation.” The lady police officer rolled her eyes over to me and then looked at the Colonel. “How is he going to help you? Help us?” Her thoughtful questions had the Colonel mellowing h

The jungle was a sea of darkness and in the background, a cacophony of insect sounds heralded the start of darkness.  The Army had a few field lights mounted along a path that led to the Base Camp. Were it not for the illumination, I could barely see my hands. The only respite I enjoyed was the fragrance of the Pandan plant, which carried a soothing quality. It was a favorite ingredient in Chinese dessert soups. “What was that?” I asked, referring to the series of lights floating through the darkness. “Search party. The last for tonight.” Staff Chua explained, “It’s getting late. Almost nine pm and we don’t want to lose another soldier to the night.” He sounded dispirited. I soon noticed everyone I met in the tentage was plain tired. “Did they make any progress after I left?” Staff Chua shook his head. “Where is the Colonel?” “He left to brief the Ministry officials. He mentioned he would be back to meet you later.

I saw stars after the unexpected attack and felt like someone had landed an elephant on my head, with a terrible pain reverberating up my spine. My internal defence mechanism sets in and gradually nullify the impact on my senses. However before I could see the assailant, I was again lifted from the ground and pulled through the air like there was an invisible carriage that dragged me. In circles, I went. I was abruptly dropped to the ground but regained consciousness in time. Exercising my immense willpower, I brought myself to a soft landing. Despite my spinning head, I lifted my paintbrush and scribbled an attack command, and created a circle of yellow energy. Ohm! I bellowed with all the energy I could muster and sent the circle into the darkness. I looked around me, but the assailant was nowhere in sight.  The next moment, I sensed something on my shoulder. It was light but perceptible. I checked. A streak of hair!  As I