Legionaries

Rama Lazuardi's

10 October 2018

At 16:50

"What do you think?" The clouds looked at me with a sigh after seeing me astonished. His index finger moved here and there, right on top of his jumbo-sized cardboard. "I've been working on this investigative report for the past two years. It's not easy to collect these data."

I just respond as necessary. Already, my eyes again busy observing everything on the surface of the carton.

"Do you know this guy?" The cloud pointed at one of the photos on the jumbo carton.

"Albert Riyadi's? The businessman who died of a heart attack?"

Clouds nod. "Unfortunately I disagree about the heart attack." My forehead is getting wrinkled. The clouds are getting wild looking at me. "A few years ago, a well-known print media office had reviewed the alleged malpractice experienced by Albert. Reportedly, the heart attack verdict is only a hospital scenario. Unfortunately, the newspaper had not been circulated, a number of mysterious people immediately bought out the newspapers. Not long after, the print media office had a fire."

"Kotamedia's Day?" I've heard of those strange fires. After the incident, Kotamedia's daily fate was not heard anymore and is said to have suffered bankruptcy. "I've heard the testimony of a journalist who worked there. Reportedly there is indeed an element of intent behind the event."

"I'm not wrong to have expected much of you, Rama." I chose to ignore Awan's praise and refocused on the cardboard sheets held before me. My eyes were not looking at the connecting lines as if they were talking to me.

"This is Erwin Hartanto's body, isn't it?" ask me while stressing my index finger to one of the photos.

"Not wrong anymore. If you look closely at my analysis, you will find many similar patterns between Erwin and Adjie Cahyadi's death cases."

Again, I prefer to ignore. My eyes were watching the two pieces of Erwin and Adjie's body. It seems that the cloud deliberately put the two pieces of the image in an adjoining position.

"Be aware of the shape of both bodies and the wounds all over their bodies."

Instantly, I was surprised. The clouds are right. There is something unnatural in both photos of the mutilation victims. Of the many stab wounds on Erwin Hartanto's body, some of them form a combination of three parallel holes. The combination of these puncture wounds is identical to each other and is spread across several parts of the body. Interestingly, the same stab wounds were also found in a photo of Adjie Cahyadi's body.

"Is there an explanation for this?"

"I want to ask for your opinion. Hows it? A strange choice of weapons, isn't it? Moreover, for the size of a cold-blooded security guard," said Awan, cynical.

Slowly but surely, I began to wonder. "Well what about the other victims? Did you also find the same strangeness?"

The clouds spread a smile. I can't dodge. This time he has managed to amaze me. "Have you heard the shocking news about a police officer being released?"

Once thought for a long time, my memory was echoed in events that took place several years ago. There used to be news that mentioned about a police member of a criminal resort who was handling a murder case. He was suddenly diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. "Aipda Thunder Triaji?" This time the nods of the Clouds seemed much more excited. "Yes, I've heard of it. Previously the police officer had spoken in the media about the network of hitmen."

"The Metropolis office may still keep some old news archives about the police member" Awan said. "Interestingly, before being kicked from the police institution, Aipda Guntur had mentioned a number of names of political figures and elite businessmen. Miraculously, a few months later, one by one the names mentioned earlier died."

"So do you think there was any involvement from the police agency?"

"Huge possibilities. But that's a very serious accusation. And still too premature. Still need proof in detail."

I was stunned to see the brilliance of Cloud in describing the results of his investigation. Gradually, I began to understand the situation that had befallen him at this time. This investigation is very risky. If the results of this investigation are exposed to the media, there will be parties who feel cornered. And, they certainly will not stay silent. Perhaps armed with that possibility, the Voice of Massa finally decided to eject Awan from the position of journalist.

Finished saying his last sentence, Cloud suddenly showed a strange face. His eyes suddenly glared into an empty corner. In an instant, it seemed like he lost enthusiasm.

"good. It's been five minutes. If you're not interested, I won't force you." The cloud said as he picked up his documents scattered on the table.

"You said that. But the fact is you still doubt, don't you?"

"Moon Cloud..." Somehow, the current situation had actually turned 180 degrees. It is precisely now that I am trying to block the intention of the Clouds to leave. It is no longer about empathy, but enthusiasm. Somehow, the Clouds have managed to transmit that enthusiasm to me. My apathy towards the investigative data has been melted away by curiosity.

"Stop showing off your empathic attitude."

"Where do you know that I empathize with you?"

"Anyone will have no trouble reading your countenance" he said, rising from a sitting position.

Before the Clouds turned around, I tried to move ahead of him. "Just a minute, Cloud Man. At the very least, allow me to ask you one more thing." Hearing my words, the clouds stood there. "Are you really sure about your theory?"

"Theories?"

"Okay, Cloud Man. I'm..."

"It's very conservative to use the call 'Dude' in this day and age."

"okay... Clouds... I'm not doubting your analytical prowess, but it's perfectly natural that I want to know what your goals really are. We just knew each other. Surely, I can't trust you just like that."

I didn't expect my words just now to be able to bring back the look of her piercing eyes. At first glance, that gaze reminded me of Mr. Peter's pair of eyeballs. I imagine if both pairs of their eyes clashed against each other on one occasion. Mr. Peter will surely find a worthy opponent.

"I just want the results of this investigation to appear on the pages of the newspaper. In order for all my hard work over the past two years to pay off," said Awan who has now risen from his chair.

"Then what about my career?" Seeing the clouds standing up, I also got up from a sitting position. "Because of this investigation, you were dismissed from your office, weren't you? Not to rule out the possibility, I will suffer the same fate later."

I began to feel uneasy with the gaze of the Cloud who was back on. I did not have the courage to look at that gaze and preferred to speak while looking at the wind.

"That's not what you should be afraid of, Rama." The documents and maps that were already in his grasp were put back in front of me.

"Then?"

"Do you remember the mystical story about the antah-arguing creature?" The clouds brought back a mystical issue that we had talked about. "Until this moment I am still skeptical of the cheap issue. But if I were you, I'd still be researching more deeply about the creature's existence."

"You mean?"

"To convince the public, you need detailed details."

Hearing his last words, I nodded, either out of understanding or hypnotized by his gaze. For a moment I tried to dare to clash with him. The gaze of the eyes was still the same, but this time I caught a soothing flash of light on the circle of his eyes. The circle resembled a mirror reflecting my own body image.

"One more thing," The clouds blinked. "Be careful of your own shadow."

After ending the conversation, Clouds turned around and began to leave. Those sharp eyes no longer looked at me as his gaze this time was fixed towards the front. When the sunlight started to weaken, the shadow of the mysterious man knew about had already disappeared amidst the crowd.

"Shadows?" I fumbled to myself while contemplating the last sentence that came out of the mouth of the Clouds. "Shadows?"