Canticles

112. What demon ?

Rex seemed to shake his head while trying to cast the shadow of the creature he saw earlier from his head.

" It must be a creature, where there are humans who are so rich. Pake disappeared suddenly do not know where it went..," inner Rex while continuing to recite.

Rex and his two colleagues were just sitting on the patio chair when a shrill scream sounded in the middle of the night. This time it was not a female scream but more like a male scream.

Everyone stood up, even the soldiers who were resting inside the building came out from shock at the sound of the screams.

Rex breathed a sigh of relief as the scream was not heard alone. Rex hoped that the screams did not cause 'chaos' as usual.

" Came from the residential housing there Captain...!" said one of Rex's colleagues.

" yes. We go there and the others stay in place. Do not forget to prepare weapons because we do not know what kind of person we will face later..," said Rex reminded his colleagues.

" Prepared Captain...!" sahut those soldiers.

Then Rex and four soldiers walked quickly to the residential area located not far from their camp.

Upon entering the housing they had previously passed when they first came there, Rex and four of his companions paused for a moment.

In the distance they saw a horde of residents gathered in the middle of the road while staring at a house. They seem to be talking about something that happened to the owner of the house.

Rex and his four colleagues greeted the residents in a friendly manner. The people who knew them smiled and began to tell them what had happened. Rex and his four colleagues were confused because the residents spoke a difficult native language. Until finally Banga came and explained everything.

" One of the residents had just been bullied by the Captain popobawa" said Banga, wiping the sweat on his forehead.

" Popobawa ?. What the hell...?" rex didn't understand.

" Popobawa is a demon or a creature made by Captain. It looks like a big bat. Human-bodied naked but bat-headed, has fangs and wings as well..," said Banga riled.

Rex was surprised to hear Banga's words because the characteristics of the creature Banga mentioned were exactly the same as the creatures he saw behind the tree.

" Demon bat..," muttered Rex but was still heard by his comrades and made them shudder in horror.

" Time there's a demon in a gini-rich place. This is already a sophisticated era," interrupted one of Rex's colleagues while holding back a laugh.

" Don't talk about Hadi !. We are here to visit and remember, every place must have its own beliefs. Appreciate it even if what you hear is a myth...!" said Rex while looking at his partner with a sharp look.

Realizing his mistake, Hadi also looked down embarrassed.

" Ready, sorry Captain..," said Hadi was not feeling well.

" Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Allah and Istighfar. I hope that the creature you laugh at doesn't attack you later." Rex said, glaring.

Hearing Rex's words made Hadi panic then looked at his three colleagues one by one as if asking for support. But Hadi's three colleagues did not appear to be pestering because they were also upset to see Hadi's reckless behavior earlier.

" I'm sorry before, but I heard that screaming man earlier. Is that the voice of the husband screams of the woman who bullied popobawa...?" ask Rex curiously.

" Popobawa is a demon, why target men. Don't they usually attack women and children...? " ask Rex confused.

" The popobawa demon attacked the Captain's men and women. They love to abuse their victims. Make them lulled and then continue to terrorize their victims. Not infrequently popobawa victims must die because it continues to be followed popobawa. Popobawa just stopped if the target died..," said Banga.

" Inna Lillahi wainna ilaihi roji'uun, Subhanallah. Is it rich time ?. Is there no way to deal with the demon creature Banga...?" ask Rex gusar.

" There is a Captain. Usually We ask for help from the traditional elders or chieftains. Unfortunately he no longer lives here since the region here experienced extreme drought..," said Banga sad.

" O God, it's so messianic. If you can know what rituals are performed by the elders to expel the popobawa Banga...?" ask Rex.

Then Banga mentioned the sequence of rituals that his tribe usually does to repel popobawa.

" That's just do it !. You lead, can't you...?" ask Rex.

" I can't be Captain. I am not the son of the chief or the chief of the tribe here. Because the one who leads the ritual is usually the one who has the blood of the tribal leader in his body." said Banga while shaking his head.

" But you have memorized the ritual and the reading. It doesn't matter who did it that it matters to get the popobawa out of here. Aye...?!" ask Rex.

" The one Captain Rex said was Banga. Did you not watch the victim and his family ?. What if the popobawa attacked other residents after being satisfied to kill their victims...?" ask Rex's partner.

" So usually popobawa will go if the target and his family has died, sir..," said Banga relaxed but surprised Rex and his four colleagues.

" So the victim's family was also his target. Now how many people are in the victim's family...?" ask Rex's partner.

" There are eleven same eleven babies who are eleven months old sir.," said Banga quickly.

" You are g*la Banga !. That means the eleven people who have to die become the victims of the demon you just acted ?. You freak, selfish...!" rex said loudly to make everyone look at him.

" That's the rule, Captain...!" sahut Banga is no less loud.

" If you can't help the popobawa victims, why are you gathered here ?. Leave them alone and let the popobawa prey on him and his family until he dies" Rex said.

" We're here to support the Captain's family. At least he didn't feel alone when his death came to pick him up later" Banga said.

" I don't understand the same way your mind is. But gapapa. Since our presence wasn't necessary, we better get back to camp now. Good night Banga, thank you for sharing your story with us...!" rex said as he turned his body and prepared to leave the place with his four comrades.

Banga is just mute. His gaze continued to follow Rex and his four comrades who were moving away from the residential settlement. Banga rubbed her face violently when she remembered Rex's words earlier.

" It's rich what the Captain said could be tried. No one dared to fight the popobawa. Maybe I will be able to repel the demon and make the atmosphere of this chaotic village so better in the future.

Then Banga chased Rex and expressed his ability to repel the popobawa demon. Rex and his four colleagues smiled happily at Banga's words.

seriated