GOENAWAN MOHAMAD 

I IMAGINE Sjahrir at Banda Neira that morning of February 1, 1942. The Japanese had attacked Ambon only the day before. And a few hours later, bombs exploded.

I imagine that morning. A Catalina seaplane had circled the island. The drone had woken the people, before the plane landed in the calm bay. The copilot, a Dutch officer, alighted and went over to where Sjahrir and Hatta were staying. The two political detainees had to