Animal Sacrifice For Mother
12. 3726 Mdpl
“Build! Wake up! We need to get ready soon. The trip will be much heavier.”
A sound was heard from outside the tent which was adjacent. That means, bang Aji does not need to wander around waking his fellow students. One by one they woke up. Rahman squinted his eyes. Doni bowed to see the watch, at 05.23 Wita. Another colleague yawned.
Slowly, the sun began to appear. Its beam biases illuminate the mountain realm and send out warmth. The dew grains on the leaves glittered, briefly disappearing. The entire climber is seen starting to activate the camera, they are circling. As if you do not want to lose momentum to perpetuate the phenomenon of the rising sun.
The beauty felt even more perfect when bang Aji called out. His hands were raised, revealing two glasses of hot coffee. If only every leader was like bang Aji. He was willing to miss the beauty of the natural scenery of the mountains for the satisfaction of his followers.
“Rahman, the bread that was yesterday?”
Rahman understands. He rushed to the tent. Two other colleagues followed. Enter each tent. Doni, bang Aji, and the rest exchange jokes with each other. Then laugh. Before long, seven climbers had regrouped. Bread and snacks disappeared. Discharged. On the orders of bang Aji, they packed up.
Previously, bang Aji reminded me to be more able to save water. Because this is the real climb. Everybody understands. For the second time, they gathered together to pray. A word of encouragement, again the first word spoken after they ended the prayer offered. Now they are ready to continue the climb.
In the middle of the journey, the rows of terraced hills drain a lot of energy. Luckily, the sun was not too hot. The light is dispelled by trees that grow tall, large, and leafy shade. Is this what many people call the hill of regret? High hills, seven tiers, and leaving only a few sloping land? Bang Aji is right. This is the real climb.
“Bang, take a short break.”
Doni leaned against a big tree. Rahman was still standing supporting the heavy weight on his back. Bang Aji nodded. Agree. They took advantage of the opportunity to just drink a sip-two sips. One man put the carier down and opened the front zipper. He seems to be looking for something. Meet soon. He then distributed honey sachet to all colleagues as an energy enhancer.
Five minutes. Ten minutes. Tired of diminishing a little.
With gontai but directional steps, they rise. Sejengkal by sejengkal hill regret land successfully passed. Hundreds of large trees had been left behind. Sweat poured out, their faces reddened, their breaths sounding loud. Really, four hours is exhausting.
But look at the view ahead so beautiful.
The surface of the soil is overgrown with one type of plant tucked between the trunks of large trees. The thin mist moves horizontally, as if it were fondling thousands of Eidelweis flowers. That means, the peak of Mount Rinjani is getting closer.
“Welcome to Branching.”
Bang Aji slightly bowed his body as he opened the width of both hands. He gave a speech to the six colleagues. Finally, a heavy-tipped sweet journey. They made it through the tough hill of regret with no one left behind.
Now they are standing on the land of the Sanctuary. Pelawangan itself is the last stop before heading to the top of Mount Rinjani. Regardless of whether he realized it or not, bang Aji directed Rahman, Doni, and four other like-minded colleagues towards a place that was a little bumpy. It is also on the edge of the cliff.
“Sorry bang, I just want to get to the top of this mountain. Not a dead search!”
Doni backed down, disagreeing with bang Aji's suggestion. Rahman added, there are still many other places that can be used to set up tents. Flatter and wider. The four other willing friends nodded, agreeing.
Bang Aji smiled as he explained the two things they had forgotten. First, Aji never asked himself to be the leader. Second, as a leader, of course, the responsibility of giving the best for his followers.
Rahman gulped. The four other willing friends bowed. They realized, who had chosen bang Aji as the leader was their own. So, they should have obeyed his orders.
“We set up the tent here!”
Doni was the first to put Carier down. Even ahead of bang Aji. All faces turned in unidirectional. They wonder why Doni changed his mind so quickly. Wasn't Doni the first to refuse?
“Please set up a tent wherever you want. No one forbids. I'll stay here with bang Aji.” Doni.
Bang Aji. Then smile. The five friends, including Rahman, looked at each other. Before long, they agreed to join Doni, and their leader.
***
Day two.
Arif's participation brings good luck. Yesterday, Mr. Arif was able to sell out fresh kale brought to the traditional market. Today, he repeated his success.
Happy inaq. The smile on his old face never went away. Inaq really saw the ability of brother Arif in trading. But, Inaq does not force if brother Arif prefers to become a famous musician. Whatever it is, do’a Inaq always accompanies every piece of dream of his two children.
One thing Inaq doesn't know. On the sidelines offering kale, brother Arif stole time looking around the market. He hoped that the meeting yesterday would be repeated. Just as he repeated the success of selling out the fresh kale.
In the market, Arif did not find what he was looking for. At home, he kept thinking about it. Even until late afternoon, while picking kale in the river.
“You didn't bring your guitar, son?”
“No. Arif just wants to pick more kale for sale tomorrow. And Inaq take it easy, Arif will make sure all these kale sold out.”
“Not? What does Inaq mean?”
“Since noon yesterday, you look like you're thinking about something. Can't Inaq know? Or as you have often said, do you not wish to burden Inaq with your desires? Son, no matter how good you keep something, it would be better if you reveal it.”
Brother Arif swallowed the saliva. He had no intention of hiding anything from Inaq. Even thinking of doing that never. Indeed, Inaq's statement was true. Everything would be better if it was revealed. It's just that according to Brother Arif, this is not the right time to express it.
Never mind. Soon night. After all, this many kale is waiting to be borne by aspiring famous musicians. Brother Arif is standing. Put the kale that has been tied on his left shoulder. His right hand was embracing Inaq. Then immediately went home.
***
On Mount Rinjani there.
The arrival of dusk is highly anticipated. All climbers know that the sun will not go away unless it leaves an incredible sight as a sign of farewell to anyone who considers it a friend.
Now, the six climbers just realized that it turns out that bang Aji wanted to present the best scenery for them. This is the second most beautiful sight on Mount Rinjani.
Looky. The sunset accompanied them to witness the appearance of Lake Segara Anak as a whole from the land of Pelawangan. The lake is the only physical evidence for the devastating eruption of Mount Samalas.
Is correct. Mount Rinjani was once called Mount Samalas. Before changing its name, this mountain had erupted in the 13th century around the year 1215 AD. The eruption was terrible. That said, the eruption was able to fly rocks as far as 40 km into the air and change the world's climate. In fact, chemical traces of the eruption were detected all the way to the Arctic and Antarctic ice plains.
Back more.
The sun was completely gone, changing the night to reveal a third of the moon hanging beautifully in the sky. The expanse of billions of stars is consistent without pattern. The wind blows softly. The cold air is getting colder. Tent lights on. One or two climbers are seen starting to install a headlamp. And the offering does not detract from the beauty it offers.
“What are you writing, Don?”
“Eh, Rahman. Here, I'm writing words for Daddy and Mommy at home. Just my hope for them. You want to write too? I still have a lot of paper. Maybe you have some hope for Inaq and brother Arif.”
Rahman shook his head, but not because he had no hope for Inaq and Arif's brother. Of course he has hope, a million hopes for his little family. According to Rahman, it would be much better to convey those hopes through prayers offered each time the prayer.
“Besok morning we are already at the top of Mount Rinjani. There will be many climbers who perpetuate themselves on the highest land of NTB province by bringing their respective hopes. And you sure you don't want to write down your hopes?”
Rahman nodded. Convinced. Then smile. Alright. Doni is not forcing.
After dinner, the seven climbers gathered to enjoy hot coffee under the moonlight. Sometimes they exchanged jokes, then laughed.
“Tonight try to sleep early, because at 02.00 Wita we will start the step towards one place that is our main destination here.”
“What kind of road field will we pass? Bang Aji's been here before, hasn't he?”
Doni welcomes the words bang Aji. The five friends stared in unison. The faces were filled with curiosity. While bang Aji just smiled. Didn't answer Doni's question. Instead, he cleaned the coffee cups with wet tissue. Curiosity was forced to accompany their steps towards their respective tents. Rested.
Time seems to pass so quickly. Seconds by seconds keep turning. Change minutes. Minutes change hours. It feels like they just fell asleep. But it's 01:37 Wita.
Once more. The sound of bang Aji from outside the tent was heard waking up. Rahman, Doni, and the four other like-minded friends are still sleepy. Half their lives have not fully returned to the body. They like it, they have to hurry. Because the time to prepare is only twenty-three minutes left.
Scebu, headlamp, mask, thick jacket, gloves, trousers, shoes, water, chocolate and some sort of snacks, paper inscribed with hope (except Rahman and bang Aji), all are ready. Still as usual. Before starting the first step, bang Aji always asked them to gather to pray.
Capitalizing on the light emanating from each headlamp, they penetrate the darkness of the night. The winding path, the steepness of the hill, the length of the sandy soil, the temperature of 12^C, all of which are not obstacles.
They took nearly four hours of travel. Thousands of steps had been left behind, various obstacles had managed to get them through. Now, the sun that was gone yesterday, is coming back from the east side of the earth. And on the orders of bang Aji, they speed up the pace. Climb, continue to climb until they arrive at the top of Mount Rinjani.
Some kind of expression up there. Doni raised both his hands and shouted. Bang Aji smiled. The four friends of the other will circled around enjoying the surrounding scenery. Rahman gave thanks.
Look at the beauty of Mount Rinjani's peak. Sunrise, thick cloud clumps on the right side cover some of the appearance of Segara Anak Lake. On the left side, the lake is dead. Lord, they seem to be standing on the clouds.
Ten minutes at the top of Mount Rinjani.
Doni asks Rahman to capture an image of himself with the wishes written for Father and Mother. He also took the time to ask for help from a climber outside their group to capture the picture of seven climbers who have been officially registered in the history of Mount Rinjani climbing.
The image will later be a silent witness that they have been together in a team to conquer the fantastic height of Mount Rinjani, 3726 Mdpl.
***
