Loved Brondong Online

59. Lost in the Forest (8)

The customary elder refused payment for the dozens of papayas they ate.  He insisted that they were his guests, so he would not accept money for his kindness or his wife's efforts.

After huddling and deliberating for a moment, they decided not to accept any payment for the items the customary elder had bought from them.  They also add some money to the original requested number.  The elders looked satisfied.

“OK,” Kiki held a duty share, “who is the captain?  Me or this Father?”

“You alone,” says to someone else.

“OK.  Then I sit in front holding a paddle, the rest sitting in the back corner, each holding a long pole.  You have to push the raft with a pole, how to press the pole to the bottom of the river and then push.”

“Mbak Li, you sit near me, also hold the pole.  If the position of the raft is too close to the rock or riverbank, use your pole to stay away from that part so that we do not hit it.  Understand?”

“Captain,” wrong someone.  “This gate is too long and heavy, hard to use.”

Kiki grabbed one of the poles the villagers prepared.  “You are right,” he said agreed.  “Indeed too long.”

Kiki took the machete and cut off the end of the gap so that the length is reduced.  After that she shouldered Lili's small bag and tightened her ties.  Yesterday Kiki cut some dry logs and put them in the bag.  It is used for rescuers if there are people who can not swim fell into the river.

People push, then hurrah!  They also chased the river.  The river from the edge looks quite calm turned out to be completely unsettled.  The current is very tight.  Kiki swung the paddle firmly into the water, trying to keep the front of the raft straight, and shouted instructions at the people.

“If the raft moves to the left, someone has to push it again from the right.  If it goes right, it means someone on the other side is pushing.”

Kiki's speech proved impossible because now the size of the pole is too short to reach the bottom of the river.  Paras Lili was already as pale as a ghost, the others did not pay attention to anyone's emotions.  Meanwhile, Kiki was agitated.

“If you can't touch the bottom of the river, let's paddle, paddle! Strong paddle!”

“It's a round pole, not a paddle.  Where can be used to paddle,” said the others.

“Do it, understand?  Do my orders!” shout Kiki.

People paddle in an indifferent style, not exerting all effort, because this effort is indeed in vain.  The river was straight and smooth, so far they sailed without any problems.

About an hour later they reached the shallow waters full of poking smells.

“Awas! Push it to the left! Left!”  Kiki pushed her paddle with all her might.  “Prepare, keep us away from the stone,” he said to them as they approached a large rock.

They all row.  Lili attempted to push by stressing the pole onto the rock at the bottom of the river.  His pole got stuck in the crack and slipped out of the hand.

“Ghoof me!” shout Lili.  “Get me off!”

“Jeez, shit!” kiki Ogat.

“Nih, grab.”  Someone else handed Lili the only spare pole.

“Ready!  Push!” shout Kiki.

Lilies pushed the pole toward the stone that the raft was getting close to, but not strong enough to avoid impact.  There was a hard impact, an instant next to the side of the raft tilted upwards, then flattened again.

They again glide but no longer pass through the waters that are completely smooth.  For a few minutes they encountered a large stone.  Kiki was almost hysterical.  I don't know what the story is they always hit the rocks even though they did not suffer serious damage.  Someone lost the pole, Lili also lost the second pole.  Looks like things aren't very good.  They finally reached the ground.

“Quiet, Ki, quiet.”

“There are those who can learn it in an hour.  We are definitely getting more proficient and smart, everything will be smooth.”

“This is not a children's toy.”

“We don't have time to study.  I could be dead.  You must follow my orders immediately, can not hesitate.”

“OK, Ki.”  “We do as you say.  Tell him you'll obey him.  Please.”

“Good, I'll follow your orders.”

Kiki brought his machete into the forest, quickly slashing down a few long branches to create four new gales.  He drew a sketch of the raft in the sand and explained what their actions were like when faced with various situations, how to pedal with a pole, how to push the pole to the bottom of the river without being separated from the hand.

Kiki showed them how to clamp the end of the pole in the armpit when dampening the impact so that the ribs did not break due to the impact.

After returning to the river, the rocks are getting less and less.  We are getting used to using the pole.

“Right!” shout Kiki.  We all row.  The raft swerved to the right.  “Good.  Now to left.”

We continued to train and felt good, but every time we passed a rather high section or a bend in the river, Kiki was screaming like crazy.  Lilies instantly pale.  There were others who were furious, while Lili hid the fear behind the mask of stupidity.  Fortunately, no one was hurt or thrown into the water.

“You, here exchange places with me,” says Lili.  “You should practice mastering the back as well.”

“Good, Lili, great idea.  Soon papa will be patting your head proudly.  But, I also obey his request.”

“He himself must not know the basic rules of running a raft in the river,” someone told Lili.

“Trust me, what we are doing is wrong.  Who has ever heard of anyone paddling with a round pole?  He wants to play us, huh?”

Lili guessed that someone was still harboring a conspiracy because Kiki had yelled at her.  Lili herself was still convinced Kiki knew what she was told.

That afternoon the river was beautiful.  They're getting used to riding rafts.  Kiki herself began to calm down.

“Beauty once,” sigh Kiki.  One family of monkeys race from one tree top to another.  Kiki imitated the screeches of the animals.  “In the downstream later a lot of game,” he said promised.  “There has never been anyone hunting in the area.  The river is also full of big fish.”

They arrived at one smooth turn.  Kiki told them to paddle in the opposite direction to avoid the corner.

“Rightly wrong,” said someone to Lili.  “We should just let the current take us.”

They safely arrived near the turn.  Kiki started shouting excitedly, “Kiri, the strong one!  Come on, everybody, row to the left!  We will enter the border area.”

Some time later they could see countless jagged rocks poking out from within the river.  Again they lost two pole while trying to paddle hard, but finally survived also to the river bank.  The rain that had been drizzling since then is now getting heavier.

In a state of wetness and shivering, they try to find shelter.  Kiki found a small piece of flat land, they helped him set up a tent.