Heart and Soul: Of five legendary stones and a fragment of a WWII bomb in Sabah school

The writer and Sipin (right) pointing to the bomb which killed his grandfather. Photos: Gary Lit Ying Loong

“Lari, lari, cepat lari (Run, run, run quickly)!” Sipin’s grandfather shouted to his family as the American planes were seen flying low towards his village. Located in a steep valley, Kampung Kaung is located about 80km from Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu).

The planes were following the course of Sungai Kedamaian which led to their village. The river, whose water is cold and crystal clear, flows from nearby Mt Kinabalu. However, the name of the river, translated as “Peace River”, belied the tragedy which would soon unfold. It would turn red from the blood spillage in the village.