COBBY

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Gontai's footsteps tread the moist soil with dried bamboo leaves strewn about. The breeze of the night was so cold that it touched the skin of the ari on the open arm. The fog does not disappear, still fluoresce creates a wet sensation every time it passes.

Still clearly heard the sound of gamelan being pounded. Tunable, and rhythmic, while bringing its own horror sensation. Purbo continued to walk, away from the house of the village chief Ebuh although he had not determined the destination of where he was going.

The crackling sound occasionally resounded, as the clumps of bamboo moved in the wind. The unbranched trees overlapped and rubbed against each other blocking the moonlight to illuminate Purbo's footrest. Sometimes Purbo stumbles and stumbles. Without lighting, it is quite difficult to walk through the terrain that is composed of steep rocks.

Purbo arrived at the village market. There's no one there. There was only silence, and a few black cats were running around in the stall building. Purbo reached into the pocket of his pants. Open the pendant and stare at the photo of the beautiful woman attached inside.

"I still don't remember you" murmured Purbo lirih. He tried to remember the woman in the photo, but even Sekar's face appeared in his mind. The mole at the end of his nose is sharp, also a soft sound that some time ago made Purbo's chest pounding.

"I may have gone mad" Purbo sighed. He returned to his feet.

Passing through the quiet market area, Purbo again stopped his steps in front of a small alley. The gang that goes to the rawon stall. Ajeng is seen standing there, as if he already knows that Purbo will pass in front of him.

"Ajengs?" pekik Purbo was a little surprised.

"I'm sure you will choose to leave that place" said Ajeng flatly.

"Whatchu mean? You waiting for me? Why not party with that 'your people?" ask Purbo cynically. Ajeng just shook slowly.

"Or are you indeed assigned by Mbah Modo to intercept me and persuade me to stay in this village?" Purbo leaned Ajeng with a question.

"I'm waiting for you here because I feel I have an obligation to explain the reality of this village" Ajeng said.

"Halaahh, I already know. Mak Nah already told me, "denied Purbo.

"The reality of this village is the version of the original residents with the immigrant version of course different Purbo!" Ajeng.

Purbo was silent. A photo he found on the front page of the house. Also the old newspaper he read in the living room.

"You, the girl in the paper?" purbo asked after a moment of silence.

"The bride-to-be should not be allowed to travel. The day before the wedding, bad luck hit me. There are people who hate my future husband. I was affected, I was killed that morning," Ajeng sighed.

"The bride-to-be smells Purbo, to their nation. For Jasman, Mak Nah, Mbah Modo," continued Ajeng.

"So you're lost like me? Kobeng?" ask Purbo. The story really surprised him.

"No. But I'm just like Sekar. I came to this village voluntarily because I no longer knew which place to go. In confusion, for 40 days I took care of Mak Nah in that house. The house you now occupy," explained Ajeng. He felt the night air growing frozen.

"My house? The house at the end of the village?" Purbo pointed his index finger, ascertaining the place in question. Ajeng nodded confidently.

"The house is a boundary. The boundary of this world with the world there. Before 40 days pass, everyone who wants to live in the village of Ebuh must stay in the house first. Mak Nah is the rewang of Mbah Modo. He is a caretaker, a 'gover' who is in charge of 'ngopeni' and prepares those who want to settle in the village of Ebuh. For 40 days I adapted to the food, the habits, the abstinence of this village" Ajeng explained as he looked at Purbo.

"The original Jasman of the village of Ebuh. One of the oldest," answered Ajeng.

"Jasman simply did not want the village of Ebuh to be led by an existence from outside the village. Not because he wants to be in power. He just disagreed with the birth plan of Bajang's baby. This village is peaceful, and peaceful before your arrival," continued Ajeng. His face showed disappointment.

"You mean me and Sekar?" ask Purbo

"Yes, who else. I just want to stay in the village quietly. So your decision to leave is now happy news for me. Unfortunately, you didn't take your wife along with you," Ajeng snorted in annoyance.

"Some is not my wife! I have nothing to do with it" Purbo argued.

"So that's why you didn't take part in the celebration? Then where's Jasman?" Purbo dingukan looking for the figure of Ajeng's husband.

"Eitherway. Maybe he was punished. Same with Ceking. Who knows?" He shrugged both of his shoulders.

"Then, wouldn't it be better to come with me from here?" Purbo scrunched his forehead.

"Huh? Where are you going again? My home is now the village of Ebuh. I don't care about Jasman, anyway. I told you I just needed a peaceful life. Even myself I can afford," Ajeng smiled wryly.

"Do you know how to get back to my real family?" ask Purbo. He hoped Ajeng knew how to get him back.

"Sorry, I don't know anything about it" Ajeng shook his head slowly. Purbo sighed.

"One message I Purbo," Ajeng looked back at Purbo with a sharp look in his eyes.

"Whatever happens, don't ever try to come back here again. There is a price to pay when you enter the village of Ebuh. That's also if you can get out," Ajeng smiled, then turned around and walked into the alley. Leaving behind Purbo who was still standing was fixated in confusion.

"Damn! It's not very clear. What the hell does that mean?" purbo muttered exasperatedly.

After Ajeng's departure, Purbo again walked to uncover a thick fog that moved slowly enveloped the settlement residents. What a quiet night. There was only the sound of dry foliage being stepped on by Purbo's feet.

The houses of villagers standing on the side of the road appeared dark with no lighting at all. Old joglo house with several profit nests hanging on the roof. The color of the tile looks ash ash, hit by fog that blocks moonlight.

In one of the houses, in the courtyard looks a large cage of wood. A skinny ape curled up in the corner. The monkey looked at Purbo who was walking in front of him. The ape let out a raucous shriek, as if asking to be released. The sound of compassion echoed in the silence of the village.

Purbo kept walking, ignoring the cry of the monkey. The primate animal was still vocalizing, screaming, even though his body was not moving. The brown round eyes, watching Purbo's back that walked further and further, until it was lost in darkness.

The night is getting late. The villagers of Ebuh continued their festive party, welcoming the birth of a baby who was predicted to be a strong candidate for village leaders. Eldest Ankawijaya, that's his name. A name that would become famous in both worlds.

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