CUTS

INONG...

A week after the burning of the house Cek Wan who works as a coffee seller in a shop located next to the road to the sub-district. The coffee shop is in demand and has many customers. We also often sit there if we want to go to the district. You could say if the coffee shop Cek Wan is a base for residents waiting for transportation to the district.

Some residents agreed to visit Cek Wan at the home of one of his relatives in the sub-district. Abu with Umi also planned to come along and of course me and Rendra went with them. I've put all Rendra's gear in the bag. The residents rent a pick up car that we usually use as a transport on weekends to the sub-district.

The freight only operates on weekends, if on other days it is only for transporting goods. The car has been traveling at medium speed because the road is also not too good. The origin is everywhere. According to Abu, this road has been this way as long as the great Abu. Some villagers even say that this road is a Dutch heritage and has never been refurbished by the government.

The vehicle we were riding suddenly stopped. In the same place that my parents and I were sent down first. I was terrified as well as all the villagers who were in the transport. Two women and our transports went back on. No one spoke after the two women boarded. Who are they and what is their purpose? Maybe the question is in the head of every villager including me.

The vehicle continued to drive up to the subdistrict. Da Maneh, one of the relatives of Cek Wan sat in front with me as a guide. I myself was asked to sit in front because there was a little Rendra. They do not want Rendra exposed to heat if sitting in the back.

The car passed through the subdistrict road and entered the road left right filled with ponds and salt kitchens. Da Maneh said that Leut Man, the younger brother of Cek Wan, was a farm worker and salt maker.

I glanced at the two women who had been riding in the middle of the road. They sat while looking ahead with a sharp look. “Do not see!” Da Maneh whispered against me.

“Who are they? Why come with us?” I whispered to Da Maneh.

“Looks they were troops ‘Inong Balee’.” I looked at Da Maneh with a gaze demanding an explanation.

“You haven't heard of ‘inong balee’?” I shook my head.

“Let's Da story, We want to get to.”

 

The car stopped at a semi-permanent house. Across the street there is a salt kitchen and a patch of pond. Sayup-sayup still heard the sound of waves from the ocean. I want to see the sea, I've never seen the sea in my life. My house is far from the sea and there is no tradition from our family to go to the sea. The sea in our area is not used as a tourist spot but only for fishermen looking for fish and occasionally a place for no man's dead bodies thrown away.

“Da, Cut want to see the sea. Is it still far?”

“Later we ask the villagers first, we outsiders can not just go.” I nodded my head and we all walked into Leut Man's house. The two women also came down and joined us. Chek Wan's wife welcomed us with Leut Man's wife. It turns out that while here, Cek Wan helped his sister in the pond and salt kitchen.

The first thing I did was ask permission to go to the bathroom. I have to process little Rendra. With Umi's help, I took Rendra to the bathroom and undressed her. Last I opened the plastic triangle in which there was a small towel fold. I put on a small towel that I fold adjust the shape of the bottom that is quite contained. Rendra did not defecate because before leaving he had done it at home. But the fold cloth felt heavy by Rendra's pee that I don't know how many times. Umi bathed Rendra while I washed the cloth that had been filled with Rendra's pee.

I hang the cloth on the clothesline hoping to dry quickly and do not forget to take it back home. After bathing Rendra, Umi changed clothes and re-worn another cloth to avoid Rendra who peed in any place. I put this on while we were away, but if it's at home or in the fields I never put it on.

We were treated very friendly. From the village, residents bring coconut, banana, rice, mango and rambutan which is again the season in our village. Ash also carried one sack measuring fifteen kilos that contained all the rambutan. Ash also brought some ripe papaya fruit. Everything we bring is the result of our own village. The villagers, including Umi, helped cook in the kitchen. While I was just taking care of Rendra and sat down with Abu, Bang Yusuf who was carrying the car and the two women.

“Thank you Abu, Bang Suf and others for coming all the way here.” Wan Check Speak.

“We are brothers, it is appropriate to visit each other when there are relatives affected by the disaster.” Answer Abu.

“We miss coffee Check Wan.” Seloroh Bang Yusuf's.

Chek Wan laughed bitterly. “Maybe the store will I sell.” Said Chek Wan in a lethargic tone.

“Why? Aren't you going back to the village?” Ask Abu.

“No, Ash. For a while I'll stay here first to help the Man. Our village is already very vulnerable, Abu.” Abu glanced at me and I understood his point. The two women who did not speak in the slightest were just sitting down from earlier.

If the look of a lethargic face approached the occupants of the living room then another case with the conditions in the kitchen where the mothers are cooking while telling stories as if they live in a safe and peaceful area.

Asked Da Maneh mission here is to cook vegetables ‘Plik Ue’. It was revealed when Da Maneh took out the sack he was carrying. Ingredients to make vegetables ue typical Aceh is very famous. Leut Man came carrying a small bucket of freshly picked milkfish in their pond. “We roast it how, Da?” Ask Leut Man's wife.

“Iya, bake it because there are already vegetables ‘Plik Ue.” Answer Da Maneh.

Leut Man approached his sister, “Da, who are the two women in front?” The Whisper Leut Man.

“Inong Balee.”

“What??”

***

*Inong Balee is a call for female rebel forces. They generally consist of women who are victims of conflict and hate the security forces because there are family members or their husbands who died at the hands of the soldiers.

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