It was at Giam Urieng, along the upper reaches of the Batang Rajang, that Imada and his soldiers timidly walked, climbed and slithered to find Asah and his men cooking their evening meal, at the foot of the giam. There was an eager exchange of news between the Kayans.

Giam Urieng, about 300 feet long and 100 feet at the widest, is a tortuous stretch of rocks and kerangan. The onrushing water carves a passages on the right hand bank. Low hills line a little way from either bank. The whole stretch of 300 feet is just a raging stream, and the water rises to the mid-hills. It was impossible for one to go up or down the river. If one should take the risk of going downriver, ti would take three minutes. Under skilful guidance, there is little risk of being drowned other than getting wet and being mesmerised by the sight of furious unremitting and hungry lapping tongues of water on both sides of the boat.

The weather had been favourable and Asah and his men and reached Giam Urieng in under five days. Asah sought out Imada and greeted him, saying: "Tabik, Tuan. Banyak orang Jepun di Belaga."

Imada replied, "Bagus, eh?"

He knew Asah to be the leader of the logging crew working for Nomura Shoji Kaisha.

Asah saind, "Jepun banyak kuat, Tuan."

Imada replied, "Bagus, neh!"

The Japanese officer decided to continue the journey to the next village longhouse as soon as the Kayan paddlers had brought the four long perahus throught the giam to its foot. He sat in the shade of a tree leaning against it. Ngoh of Ukir and two Kayans squatted nearby, quietly puffing away.

Five soldiers chose to bathe at the shallow, and one looked after the cooking with Lelong, a dispensary attendant and rated a good cook.

Penghulu Puso had intervened on my behalf when Imada had ordered me to accompany him.

A few years ago, Lelong was an up-and coming trader making good money from the loggers. Later, he was heartily disliked for his increasingly stuck-up attitude as business became better. However, when business gradually went downhill, he had to close shop after auctioning his goods. Since then, to everyone he was Lelong, who really could cook. His cooking was well-appreciated, none more than Imada.

The five bathers splashed happily and yelled some advice in broken local Malay to the paddlers who were cautiously paddling downstream.

Then Asah appraoched the resting Imada and requested for a shotgun and two cartridges to hung wild pigs which were plentiful in that area.

"Ota!" Imada shouted, and the man who was looking after the cooking ran hastily to his master and was ordered to let Asah have a shotgun. Ota beckoned Asah to follow him to the longboat into which goods were re-loaded. He then unstrapped the gun from the kajang roofing. Asah was handed a double-barrel shotgun, and loadin it, called Ota who was moving off to return to his chores.

Asah have a shotgun. Ota beckoned Asah to follow him to the longboat into which goods were re-loaded. He then unstrapped the gun from the kajang roofing. Asah was handed a double-barrel shotgun, and loading it, called ota who was moving off to return to his chores.

When Ota turned, Asah emptied a barrel into his chest. Private ota tottered back, eyes wide with amazement, then  fell down dead. Asah emptied the last barrel at one of the five bathers closest to him. he too, fell, mortally wounded.

The gunshot was the signal for the rest of the kayans. it all happened so suddenly. all but one bather, more agile than his unlucky compatriots, were killed. He dodged a parang drawn a split second too late, and ran with the howling kayans behind him and more running from the edge of the jungle. he turned and ran towards the grounded longboat from which the shotgun was taken. Some paddlers were desperately shoving it off. The soldier leapt into the boat and the paddlers leapt out. He frantically freed his rifle and feverishly pushed the bolt home. He emptied the bullets into the yelling kayans. one fell, then another, and the rest turned and ran into the protecting arms of the jungle with bullets uncomfortably close.

Lelong who was still cooking stood up, gazed at the scene around him with amazement, and was very puzzled at the courage the kayans showed in killing the japanese.

Ngoh of Rumah Ukit drew his parang at the sound of the firing of the shotgun by Asah, then sprang up to cut at the leaninh imada, who fended with his left hand. Two kayans cut from the side and behind the hard-pressed man who dripped blood, with his left arm hanging by the skin. Imada managed to free his Samurai sword with his right hand and wieded the murderous weapon. though badly cut and wounded, he fought fiercely. Asah bounded up and cut him down from behind while the hesitant but agile kayans drew his attention. The attackers fled, leaving their dead as they became aware of the whine of bullets and repeated gunfire. 

Lelong who was still cooking stood up, gazed at the scene around him with amazement, and was very puzzled at the courage the kayans showed in killing the japanese. The fight had begun and ended so suddenly that he could not reach a decision. He was now in the way of the wildly retreating kayans.To him they, with bloody weapons in their hands, did not look at all friendly. knowing that he was not in their good books, he grabbed a smouldering brand to defend himself. he was right in the flight path of Ngoh who noticed his actions, and would have severed his head if he was not in desperated hurry. He knocked aside the puny weapon and cut the right shoulder of Lelong, who fell screaming. When he was rescued laterby Asah he strongly asserted that Ngoh intended to kill him.