EVERNA Ring of Fire

APUKONDAO Part 3

The Pinissi Sailing Ship has returned to the waters and has far left the islands of East Rainusa. This time, the direction was almost exactly in the direction of the rising sun.

Nirya stared at the beautiful scene, her mind glaring. So far four mountains have erupted, three cities have been destroyed and a fleet of ships damaged. The death toll from the disasters was about ten thousand people. Compare with the hundreds of thousands of lives of Antapada soldiers and people who died due to this great and prolonged war.

Ten thousand lives had to be sacrificed to end the war.

If there were a much better way than this, as Dhaka demands. Unfortunately, so far even wise figures such as Mpu Galahasin, Barong and Dewi Sasanda have not yet published ideas, proposals that are more accurate with as few victims as possible.

The path of negotiations, all failed.

The bribery and compromise lines, failed.

How can all the warring states of Antapada make peace without having to colonize another country?

Meanwhile, only the Ring Mission is the answer.

So, should the land all green, all the forest that now appears in front of the eyes of Nirya be one of the countries that must be weakened? Should Dhuraga, the most primitive, most backward and most isolated islands in Antapada be disturbed?"

"Yes, we have to make Dhuraga weak first" Dhaka said when asked why it should go to the easternmost islands of the Antapada Peninsula, not to Bethara or to Achsar alone. "A few years ago, a fleet of thousands of ships from Dhuraga attacked the eastern Rainusa Islands, including Commodore Island and Dabongsang City. Their leader was a dark-skinned man and was almost as thick as Hurek. Yori Mbeko names him."

"Well, how desperate the Dhuraga troops are," Nirya responded at that moment, her eyes sparkling with interest.

"Yes, desperate. They only used spears and simple arrows, but they were fierce. Dhuraga's forces raided the place they attacked. But they took the goods and weapons for them to emulate and make their own."

Sthira chimed in, "Well, that means the Dhuraga people are starting to learn from civilization and thrive."

Arumi gasps. "If they continue to be left like that, one day they will take the opportunity to rule over the weakened countries. Precisely the most unexpected enemy is the most dangerous."

Dhaka nodded. "Yes, and Dhuraga's first target was Rainusa. If Dhuraga is left, Mr. Dhaka, Wiranata will be flinched from two directions. It would threaten the struggle, even the life of Mr. Dhaka. So our next Sasasran must be Dhuraga."

The atmosphere in the ship's captain's room became silent for a while.

It was Sthir who broke the silence. "One question from me. Does this idea of weakening Dhuraga come from your own mind, Dhaka, or at the behest of Wiranata and Mora?"

"That's Dhaka's idea. Dhaka must prepare the way for the path of Mr. Dhaka's struggle."

It is difficult to determine the face of the Komodo dragon is lying or not. So Sthira just nodded quickly. "If there's no other question, we change course to Dhuraga."

This is where Nirya is today. The beach of Dhuraga Island is white-clean sandy, with a background of sea and blue sky wide, as well as the foreground of the sea of green jungle. All of that really gives a pure natural feel, perfected by the wind caress that cools the conscience.

This fresh nuance of Nirya is then somewhat disturbed by one other sight. It appears that the girl Sthira is talking seriously with Arumi. It was unclear what they were saying, but when it came to the mission, Nirya should also be involved.

Don't-don't...

Nirya's heart seemed to jump. His whole body was trembling. Though not long ago he knew Sthira could talk loosely and joke with Nirya. Of all the men Nirya knew, only Sthiralah could make herself smile and laugh. If Sthira belonged to Arumi, where else would Nirya have to find a man like Sthira?

Suddenly a heavy hoarse voice greeted Nirya, "Dhaka saw Nirya being upset. Is it because of Sthira and Arumi?"

Climbing, Nirya turned to look at Dhaka behind her. He saw the commodore pointing towards the people in front of the group.

"It's none of your business, old man!" sahut Nirya ketus while turning back to look back and walk faster.

Nirya's footsteps stopped for a moment, then she walked again more slowly.

Nirya responded without turning her head towards her interlocutor. "That's all that?"

"Yes, at least until your mission is complete. Mora and Wiranata managed to do that. Dhaka is sure Nirya can."

"What about those two guys over there?"

"Frankly, Dhaka could hear them from afar. Take it easy, they only talk about the mission, nothing personal. Look, once Dhaka will try to talk to Sthira and Arumi himself, find out their true feelings. It's okay, isn't it?"

"Yes, I think it's okay" replied Nirya, although her tone implied doubt, worry and suspicion. How not, Dhaka has just joined the Nirya group, but instead quickly offers this-that. Is it true that Dhaka is able to hear the talk of others from a distance?

Rather than dissolve in her own prejudice, Nirya chose to just stay still first and keep looking ahead. Especially now that the trees they traverse are getting lush. The leaf expanse on the trees seemed to filter, barely covering the sunlight.

Sthira who walked the front spoke, "The forest in Dhuraga is still more tenuous than in Kalingga. In Kalingga, the distance between the trees is very tight, so there is no path and it is difficult to determine the direction, both day and night."

Arumi chimed in, "So since Sthira is an expert at exploring the forest, I am adept at sea battles and Dhaka is a mountaineer, this time Sthira leads and guides us."

Arumi's words made Nirya again frown. If Sthira is an expert in the forest, Arumi is in the sea and Dhaka is in the mountain, then where is Nirya an expert? The emotion of young blood made Nirya feel offended, the shame on Arumi rose again.

However, instead of complaining, getting angry or sulking, Nirya tried to lick her tongue instead. "No problem. But this area is totally foreign to the four of us. We should ask for help and guidance from the locals, just like in Jayandra and Rainusa. Otherwise, we would be like four blind men traversing the labyrinth in the dark night."

"Hmm, it makes sense too" Dhaka said.

Sthira said, "Oh yes, of course. It was the locals who helped us a lot... Begarwana, Ni Luh Widuri, Mora, Minata you too, Nirya. Thank you so much for reminding us!"

It was not words, but the sincere smile of Sthiralah that breathed a cool breeze in Nirya's heart. Perhaps Dhaka was right about the meaning of the difference in Sthira's attitude towards Nirya and to Arumi. However, the only way to know for sure is through direct communication and statements from within the recesses of Sthira's own heart.

Nirya's gaze turned on Arumi, the red-haired girl's face looking sour.

Perhaps aware that Nirya was staring at him, Arumi seemed to distract everyone by pointing in one direction. "Talk about the locals, there's one there. Who knows if he'll drive us." Arumi immediately rushed over to the person he meant.

Sthira admonished Arumi as gently as possible, "Be careful, don't reveal our true mission!"

Arumi only raised one hand without turning her head, as if to say, "I know."

The local resident turned out to be a man who was hardening the trunk of a forest sago tree with his axe. The result of the cut he fastened around his waist.

The black-legal, thick-lipped man was wearing only a skirt woven tightly from dry straw. The one that adorned his upper body was only a colorful necklace. Her hair was curly and thick, showing her relatively young age. The local man seemed to be talking to Arumi, his eyes widened to see the woman wearing shiny armor as if she was meeting a goddess.

A moment later, the man pulled out the trunk of the sago tree he had cut into the middle of the trunk. He hung the cut on his waist, and took the spear he had planted on the ground. Of course everyone who roams the forest must carry weapons to defend themselves from wild animals, invaders from enemy tribes or similar dangers. This is very natural for the people of Dhuraga, in contrast to the people of the city who are not warriors and protected by law in their respective countries.

Before Arumi could introduce him, the Dhuraga man approached quickly towards Nirya and his group. Not caring politely, he immediately exclaimed, "Wufabwe my name! I'm ready to drive the guests in Apukondao Forest, yes!"

Sthira protested, "Wait a minute, ask Arumi first if...!"

Arumi interrupted, "What's wrong, Sthira. Wufabwe used to find sago for his family's staple food and his tribe here. When we found out we were merchants who wanted to trade with the United Dhuraga Tribe, Wufabwe was very happy and immediately offered to guide us to his city in the heart of Apukondao Forest."

Nirya also wanted to comment, but she then abandoned her intention and instead said, "Let's go on. As long as Wufabwe's ahead, we don't have to worry."

Nirya looked at Wufabwe's face. Wufabwe's eyes and facial expressions were very innocent, trusting in anything and hiding nothing. Very different from Minata, Begarwana, especially Widuri. Hopefully that is the truth, because of the existence of Wufabwe, the availability of guides at the right time in this very thick and wide forest it feels too coincidental.

Or could it be that the Mahesh himself placed Wufabwe there as a form of support for the Mission of the Ring of Fire?

Dhuraga Forest Reference from Papua Forest photo, Indonesia. Source: Google.