Climbing Mount Slamet

Dance Disappears

Tonight just passed by. No nightly entertainment, gathering or singing together. I chose to return to the tent after meeting Lukman outside the tent.

Although the eyes do not want also closed, but reluctant to feel to go back outside the tent. I will keep watch from within. I hope nothing strange happens to us again.

Kkrustv ...

Accidentally the phone that I was holding was immediately thrown away when a noise was heard from outside the tent.

Bbrrruuugggh...

Like something was hit. The tent immediately swayed and reflected an object. Like an animal that was crashing and was about to force its way into the tent. I huddled up, trying not to make a sound if only there were truly beasts attacking our tent. The light from the two animal eyes was clearly shining into the tent and was red in color.

"What a beast it is." I murmured softly. I did not dare turn on the phone, afraid that the beast would see the light from within and increasingly violently attack the tent. I could only give up when the beast attacked again and tried to tear our tent apart.

"Where are you from?" I asked my two friends who had come out of nowhere. I decided to go out when I heard Robby and Tommy talking and laughing. The beast has gone somewhere.

"Nih, nemenin neng Tommy shitting." led by Robby grinning. Tomy who heard Robby's taunts just smiled while scratching her hair that was either itchy or not.

"Why don't you sleep, Jen?" Tomy. I'm shaking. I breathed a rough breath and threw myself next to my two best friends.

"More." Robby handed me a glass of hot coffee and I sipped it straight away and I took a deep breath to throw out all the heartbreak.

I look around. Several people from the other groups were also standing guard outside their respective tents. There's no way they've seen a beast attack our tent. Moreover, the distance of our tents is close to each other. Where were they all when there were beasts attacking.

"Rob, is this mountain still wild? many wild animals?" manya curious.

"Know I don't. Why why?"

"So, my tent was attacked by a beast. The beast came suddenly and rammed the tent. Even the horns almost tore his tent."

Robby and Tomy were silent. They just look at each other and look around.

"Any right?" ask me to make sure that my mind is the same as what my two best friends think.

"What about Dance?" ask Tomy.

"Still asleep, it looks like he's exhausted. Until I don't wake up or get distracted by anything." I replied.

******

There was no conversation between us this morning. Robby who understood my character allowed me to remain silent without asking much.

I was busy preparing food to be cooked for breakfast, while Robby was in charge of boiling water for coffee. Others are busy looking for firewood there are also those who clean the tent. We were all busy with each other's duties, making me momentarily forget the resentment towards Lukman for his attitude last night.

"Rob, my leg from yesterday was really heavy for the road" said Tari, with a massage and showing her right leg.

"Since when?"

"Eeeemmm. since we've climbed out of post four like her." replied Tari while trying to recall when exactly her leg hurt.

Especially considering yesterday our group had stopped quite a long time at post four. Though already warned also by other groups to immediately continue the journey, but Lukman asked us to wait for him to find one of his luggage which he said fell.

"Actually yesterday what were you looking for, Man?" ask Robby to Lukman. While Lukman who asked only a doubt and did not immediately answer.

"E.. e. is nothing, really." he answered. It seems he is being dishonest.

"If it's nothing, why did yesterday force us all to wait? whereas when we want to help you always refuse." I replied sewot. Robby turned to Lukman for an explanation.

****

Like the rest of the group, we were busy taking photos with various views.

"Here you go, let's pack." Robby dropped the camera and asked to stop the photo show.

"Aaahhh, still good, Rob. Come on dong, a little bit we go down." said Tari whining. But Robby didn't. He insisted on ending the photo show and going back down.

I also immediately packed up the equipment and gathered all the leftovers. I dare not protest much. After I told him about the incident last night, Robby decided to go down quickly so as not to stay overnight while on the trip.

"Don't we want to be here for three days? It was just last night." Lukman.

"Saucer, Man. After all, it seems less good also if we are too long at the top." replied Robby hope his friends understand and not disappointed.

At nine we were ready to go down. All equipment is packed. No one dared to protest. Robby promised a vacation to another place after the mountain. Robby just wanted to keep us all safe. It feels uncomfortable if at the beginning of the journey alone is faced with many problems. The next worry will be more problems that will be found. Especially if it endangers the group.

"Rob, Dance is not in the tent." I shouted as I checked all the items. We all panicked, no one felt told where the boy was going.

"So wasn't she still with you when I cleaned up all the equipment?" ask me to the others.

"Yes, he was sitting there. And me and Robby are packing, too." Tomy.

We're in a rift looking for the whereabouts of Dance. Some of the other members you ask one by one. But no one saw where Dari went.

"Let me look down." I decided to look for a place where climbers usually finish their hajat.

"Where?"

I'm shaking. Everyone panicked, but it seemed only Lukman looked ordinary. Even he was just pacing back and forth like he had no intention of searching at all.

Until nightfall, the dance has not been found. Some officers have also been sent to find the whereabouts of my best friend. Half a day of searching did not even yield results. So we finally decided to return to spend the night at the top until there was the latest news from Tari.

"Dance, where are you?" i sobbed. Thinking of the alone Dance out there, without supplies because all her belongings are still intact in the tent.

"You must be scared out there. Hold on, Tar. We'll try to find you." I said on the sidelines sobs my tears.

"Already, Jen. Officers are also trying to find the whereabouts of Tari. Let's just pray. Hopefully, Dance will soon be found in good condition." persuaded Robby.