LOVE SONGS OF LOLOBATA

SALMAN NEWS

After morning prayers I helped my mother cook in the kitchen. The two of us had a friendly chat while making breakfast for the police who had been guarding us all night. They will be home this morning. He said the guard will be continued by the security guard sent by PT XY.

"Until how long will our house be guarded by them, Fifa?" ask mama while slicing red onions for spinach vegetables that have just been picked impromptu from the garden behind the house near the well.

The breakfast menu this morning is simple. There is rice, spinach vegetables, onion sambal and omelet. We cook using firewood collected from dried twigs, dried coconut leaves, or old pieces of tree trunks. Sometimes we use burnt coconut charcoal which is a residue in the process of fumigation of copra.

"Say our Paradise will be guarded until the archer is caught by the police."

"Do we have to pay?"

"If we have to pay, we will pay, Ma. We should respect those who are tired of keeping us safe. Don't you mind cooking more for them?"

"Mama doesn't matter if it's just about cooking, but if you have to pay, you don't have money."

I scratch my head. Well how else. Money can be sought. Currently the main security. We still need security because I'm afraid the archer will come again to kill everything I love.

Brakes. The sound of falling wood shocked me. I embrace my mom while paying close attention to what will happen next. Five minutes passed and there was nothing. Kulirik once again the pile of firewood. Still no sign of people deliberately dropping it. Only a less precise arrangement causes some wood branches to collapse easily filling the empty field when exposed to wind.

I took a deep breath and resumed our conversation, "Fifa there is money from grandma that can be used to pay them to keep us for the next 3 days, Ma. On Friday we have planned to go to Makassar to take care of the transfer of Fifi school and visit grandma. Hopefully after returning from Makassar the police have managed to catch the killer."

"If we both go to Makassar Aga who is the same?"

"Fifa will go to Farhana's doctor and Hans's doctor. Firdaus said, Aga is the result of their captivity. They will definitely take good care of Aga. So there's no problem with Aga."

Mama smiled with relief. Aga has become part of our lives. I'm glad you started worrying about Aga's fate.

"Hopefully the killer is caught immediately. Who reported a big man, surely the police will work hard and quickly to catch the criminal" said Mama sure.

I smiled cynically, "If what the poor report cannot support the operational costs of the police to catch criminals" I replied realistically. The reality is that catching criminals costs money.

Mama replied with an equally cynical smile. Never mind. In a materialistic society everything is measured by money. Who is a lot of money can pay for all the conveniences of life and partisanship. We just follow the situation. Hopefully with the reported case of the attempted murder Bray can also uncover the case of baba murder that has been pitch black and impressed no one cares about it.

"Today's not going anywhere, Fifa. Fifi's school transfer business has been completed with the help of Susi's teacher mother. The plan today is just to take care of the house, gardening, and weaving the mats."

"Fifa's going to the foundation's office."

"alone?"

"Will be accompanied by one of the security guards who will come to replace the policeman."

"Pay too?"

"Come, Ma. Firdaus set everything up. Later Fifa make sure again how the payment mechanism if it has to pay. No need to think about money, Ma. Fifa is still scared. Fifa feels that the man who shot Firdaus yesterday is still stalking us."

My mother held me with one hand. I felt the anxiety I was feeling right now. Arrows are a scourge for us, because they once took the lives of the people we love the most.

"Do you remember what that guy was like?" ask mama curious.

"His face was not visible because the man was riding a motorcycle with a helmet whose face was covered in dark glass. But his stature is. A little smaller than the village chief."

"Wear what motor?"

"Motor honda as used by most villagers. Without the license plate."

My identification with the perpetrator is unclear. The vehicles used also do not have the same special characteristics as the vehicles used by most villagers. The perpetrator's face is not visible at all. The two acted near the tomb on the edge of the deserted village and at that time no one passing by was likely to see the perpetrator more clearly. It is not easy for the police to find the perpetrator with minimal information. Moreover, I saw the perpetrator using gloves so that there may be no fingerprints on the arrow stem that can be used as a clue. Obviously, this action was well planned.

I justify. That's reality. It hard. But I still hope God's hand helps us until the culprit can be caught quickly.

The sun was already high when two female security guards, Santi and Tita, came in to replace the police who had been tired of looking after us all night. They came after breakfast was over. Mama and I have cleaned up the cattle and fed them. We have long intended to sell all livestock so as not to be troublesome when left to Makassar later. Said mama middlemen who used to buy agricultural products we have been willing to buy it and will be taken directly later in the afternoon.

The two strong-bodied female guards looked a little hesitant. Maybe they had previously imagined that our house was not a wooden hut like most people's homes. Thieves are reluctant to glance at our simple house because there are not many valuable items in it.

"Sorry to have troubled brother. This is how we are. Maybe not what you'd imagine." I took the initiative to explain what it is.

"We were ordered by Mr. Firdaus to accompany you here for 3 days."

"Yes. Because we will go to Makassar in 3 days. Hope you guys accompany us. There was an empty room belonging to our sister who now lives in Makassar. You can occupy that room."

"Ready, Brother."

I drove them to put luggage into Fifi's room which was more decent than my room. Fifi has a modern mattress and wardrobe. Actually the difference is just that.

"Today one of you will accompany me. The other accompanied my mother. Today I'm going to go to the foundation office."

"I'm the only one with Fifa." Santi raised his hand to accompany me. Tita did not protest. It means she is willing to accompany her mother at home.

Suddenly my mother pulled my hand. "There's good news that you forgot you haven't told me about, Fifa. Let's sit on the porch first before leaving for the foundation's office."

I followed my mom's steps. "Sister can come to the veranda. We still have coffee and fried bananas for our snack." take me.

My mom asked me to sit on the porch. Whereas Aga who has seen me since earlier is asking for attention, "Assalamu'alaikum, Beautiful." he said many times.

I said my greetings only once while waving my hand. Then I let him repeat the word as he pleases. Not that I don't care, but mama must have something important to tell me. Her radiant face made me curious to hear the good news soon.

"Sunday afternoon Salman returns home, Fifa. Stay until dawn monday. Unfortunately, he can't wait for you to come because he hasn't been released from his office."

I fixated on a smile. Really am. It's a joyous surprise. My sister who disappeared a dozen years is now back home. It seems like he has successfully fought for a better education in the land of Java.

"Salman now serves in Jailolo as a farm extension" continued Mama relentlessly releasing a smile.

"Farming tenants?"

"It's a long story, Fifa. He spent years with his friend's family, Kak Tari, who had been a jungle school teacher. Their families live in peace but care about education. While there, he said Salman worked odd jobs to finance his life and school. After High School, he was accepted into the agricultural extension school, where his tuition fees were free. Just graduated last year and underwent a non-permanent employee contract in the agriculture department. He volunteered to be stationed around here. Finally got a placement in Jailolo." Mama told me with happy eyes. His missing son is known.

"Salman came with his friend on a motorcycle Sunday afternoon. He said he had actually set out from Jailolo early in the morning, but was a little confused and lost in the forest while searching our homes. Thanks to the question many people have finally arrived here."

It was not revealed how happy I was to hear this news. "How does Salman look now?" manya curious.

Mama blushed. "He looked like your baba when he was young."

I think my mama's eyes are a little myopic so on baba. Anyone who has anything to do with baba is said to be similar.

"Mama's word, baba looks like Sharif's sister when she was young." I argue with a slight frown imagining what my brother's face looks like now. Last met he looked thin, had a thin face, and had sharp eyes. It's a little hard to imagine what it looks like now.

Mama smiled shyly. "Salman and Brother Sharif are quite similar."

Did ya? It's kind of hard for my brain to engineer Salman's face. Especially if it is similar to Andi Syarif. But I need to prove it first before claiming my mama's eyes are myopic. However, we are still blood related so there may be a physical resemblance between Salman and Andi Sharif.

"Salman left a phone number. You wait a minute! Mom took her notes in the room. Call him immediately!" mama said enthusiastically as she walked to her room taking notes on Salman's phone number.