Canticles

124. No Sia-Sia

After Kusmanto's arrest, the police took care of Herdin's body which during the investigation was kept in the mortuary of the Police Hospital in Jakarta.

Then the police escorted Herdin's body back to his hometown.

Earlier, police worked with village officials to help deliver the sad news to the families of the victims.

" The purpose of our arrival is to deliver the news of our grief. We also know from the police Bu..," said the village official.

" What sad news, sir...?" asked Herdin's mother to get anxious.

The only news he was waiting for was about Herdin, his youngest son who left and did not give any news after two months of his departure.

" Mother's son named Herdin was found dead. And now his body is on its way to here.., "said the village officer with a choked voice because pity to see the reaction of the woman.

Herdin's mother looked shocked at the news of his youngest child's death. The woman screamed hysterically and cried to make people come to the house. Herdin's two older sisters who lived not far from their home also came to see the condition of the mother.

Village officials said the cause of the woman's crying was the news of her youngest child's death. Hearing this, the people were shocked. Some tried to calm Herdin's mother, others rushed to help set up tents and set up a place to put Herdin's body.

Shortly thereafter, the sound of Ambulance sirens approached their home. Herdin's mother rushed out of the house to welcome his son's body.

" You kept your promise, son. Now you go home in a car and are welcomed by many people. Even though it was only an Ambulance car, but I'm happy that you're back in Mom's arms" Herdin's mother said in tears.

Herdin's mother's words made all the citizens moved. They looked at the woman. Then they pulled over as the coffin containing Herdin's body was put into the house.

Herdin's mother came back crying. He did not expect that his son should be buried using a chest. His mind was filled with questions until the Hospital staff opened the crate.

" Did My Son change faith to be buried with a chest, sir...?" ask Herdin's mother to the village apparatus.

" I don't know about that either. We wait for Mr. Police to explain everything, ma'am" said the village official.

When the chest was opened, the body of Herdin was very sad. Herdin's mother was shocked and almost fainted when she learned of his son's condition. How not. Both Herdin's eyeballs were ragged and Herdin's body at the front slid inward like it had lost something. Seen stitches extend from the top of the chest to the bottom of the navel.

" What happened to my son Sir. Ke... why is the body rich in gini...?" herdin's mother asked with tears flooding her face.

" Herdin was found dead at the bottom of an artificial lake in one of the houses under construction in Jakarta. When it was found Herdin's condition was already like this, ma'am.," said a police officer.

" Why, sir...?!" ask Herdin's mother impatiently.

" After We investigated it turned out that Herdin became a victim of human trafficking Bu. He lost his eyes and all the important organs in his body. But I'm calm, the culprit has been caught and will receive a severe punishment later." said the police.

" Who is the culprit, Sir?, do I know him...?" asked Herdin's mother with a trembling voice.

" I'm sure Mom and the villagers knew him. His name was Kusmanto, he claimed to be a friend of Herdin. He who has sold the eyes and important organs in Herdin's body to people in need in exchange for a lot of money." said the police to surprise everyone.

Herdin's mother screamed hysterically again after police told him of Kusmanto's crime. He again wailed in front of his son's body to make the atmosphere more sad.

" Listen, son, Kusmanto is a bad guy. You didn't believe me when Mom said Kusmanto was evil. Now you're the victim of his crime and you go home a corpse...!" jerit Herdin's mother while staring at Herdin's body.

Herdin's older sister came forward to embrace the mother and tried to calm her down. Herdin's mother cried louder when she heard the follow-up sentence from the police.

" After being caught Kusmanto admitted that he had done the same to eight of his friends. Six of them were also from this village" police said.

Police words shocked the people. They do not believe that the young men they know who joined Kusmanto to Jakarta have now died.

" What is the name of Mother's Son...?" ask the police.

" Sury sir..," said the woman in a trembling voice.

" It looks like the name is in the data of the victims of the crime of Kusmanto..," said the police.

" My brother also went with Kusmanto Pak. Called Bowo. Did he also become a victim and died rich Herdin ?. If so, where is the body, sir...?" ask other people.

In an instant Herdin's house became rowdy. Residents took turns to name someone with anxious expressions to make Hospital officials and police confused. The village officials also tried to calm the people.

" Calm down sir, calm down Mom. Please don't row here. Kasian Ibu Herdin. He was grieving the loss of his son" the village official said.

" But we are also curious about the fate of our son and family Sir...!" sahut citizens out loud.

" We understand. Now we take care of Herdin's funeral first huh, then we'll talk. It's not good to talk in front of a body. Kasian Herdin and his mother." said the village official patiently.

" right. I will announce the names of the victims after Herdin's funeral later. I will also coordinate with the village officials so that the families of the victims can come and testify at the trial later," the police said.

The citizens stared at each other for a moment then nodded in agreement. Then they prepared Herdin's funeral.

Herdin's body was taken to the mosque to be desecrated. Because when taken to the mosque using an Ambulance and escorted by many police, the funeral process of Herdin attracted the attention of residents in other villages. They came to the village cemetery because they were curious about the bodies that would be buried there. Again it made Herdin's mother cry because she remembered the words of Herdin who said if his name would be famous to the neighboring village.

After burying Herdin's body, the police kept their promise. Police announced the names of eight Kusmanto victims at the village hall. The people were back in an uproar and the atmosphere was uncontrollable. Hysterical screams echoed in the village hall. Even some mothers seem to fall unconscious due to shock at hearing their surnames included in Kusmanto's crime list.

" What punishment is appropriate for a criminal like Kusmanto Pak Policemen...?!" ask one of the residents whose children are victims of Kusmanto crime.

" Life prison or death sentence sir..," said the police.

The police's response made the victim's family scream. They were angry and hoped to teach Kusmanto a direct lesson.

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Rex was watching the volunteers after persuading a child who was crying because of an injection.

Suddenly Rex saw the figure of Herdin passing behind the building. Rex pursued the figure because he wanted to know what the invisible creature wanted to convey.

Rex stopped when he saw Herdin's spirit stop.

" I just wanted to say thank you for helping uncover the cause of my death. Kusmanto and his accomplices have been arrested by the police and are facing the death penalty.", said the spirit of Herdin.

" Together, I'm glad I could help. But if you may know, why you are determined to go without permission from your mother. Did you not see your mother crying because she regretted your departure...?" ask Rex carefully.

" I have to go because it's the only way out. My two older sisters haven't cared about Mom since they got married. My only intention is one, make my mother happy. I want to have a lot of money so that my mother does not need to work in the neighboring fields to meet our needs. I also want to make a nice house for Mom so that my two brothers are not embarrassed when they invite their Husband and children to come to visit the house. Now I'm sorry for ignoring Mother's words.", said the spirit of Herdin sadly.

" Hopefully after this incident both of your brothers are aware and willing to love your mother.", said Rex concerned.

" You're right. Now they love my mother more. Even Mom lives in my second brother's house. That means my mom won't be alone anymore. There are children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren who will make Mom smile every day. I am glad that my sacrifice was not in vain. Losing my mother's happy life is well deserved for me.." said the spirit of Herdin with a smile.

Rex smiled and woke up from his sleep. Apparently at that time Rex was sitting on a chair on the sidelines after playing ball with his colleagues.

seriated