Several men were bent low as they left the house of Mustajab Gombloh in Karangnongko hamlet, Kediri. One of the men was supporting a figure of skin and bones. That morning, on December 26, 1948, Col. Bambang Supeno and Capt. Tjokropranolo were taking General Sudirman to the woods on the village outskirts.

It was still dark. Dutch spies were strongly believed to have sniffed out the general's presence. Without wearing his green military coat, Sudi