that first week in prison was a nightmare. he was savagely beaten. no reason was given him for his arrest and punishment and nor was he questioned . the days and nights seemed to merge into one long period of pain. mamat watched his bruised body shrink. he was turning into a bag of bones. suddenly he was pushed out of the prison walls, where could he go from there but home. he pointed his feet homewards and kept on walking. stopping frequently to rest. that day was a friday when most vehicles would be in town, mamat had no hope of getting a lift from a passing car. at last, he staggered across his own threshhold just after Isyak prayers. only sheer will power had brought him to his house
mamat thought only of his children's safety. and as had been told, they were safe. minah, too. how happy she looked to see him. words had no place between them. their countenances and actions were proof of their happiness