SET DUSK

The Part 18

Ida gasped as a drop of dew fell right on her cheek. He opened his eyes, the atmosphere of the forest had begun to be rather bright even though the fog still hung over part of the forest. But the sunlight has begun to be seen, forming a golden diagonal line between the trees. The sound of balam birds was earthy, making the atmosphere of the forest that morning felt alive.

"Away awake?" saya Shamsyir when he saw Ida blinked to pay attention to the atmosphere of the forest.

"Yes" he answered briefly.

"You want to fill your stomach first? After Rizal and Mak Dang mu wake up we will continue the journey," bargained Syamsyir pointed to some meat skewers that are still on the fire that Rizal made yesterday.

"No need," refused Ida.

"Oh, fine. I was about to bury the remaining snake flesh so as not to rot," continued Shamsyr immediately rose from his seat.

He brought the remaining snake meat that was still quite a lot in his hand and put it into a hole that he had prepared

Soon, Rizal and Mak Dang wake up.

"It's clear, are we leaving now?" tanya Mak Dang turned to Shamsyr who had just finished closing the hole where he buried the rest of the meat.

"Do you want to eat first?" ask Shamsyir politely.

"Ah, no need. It seems like my stomach is still full" Mak Dang refused.

Without waiting for long, they continued their journey. As Shamsyr said yesterday, not far from where they rested, the road they passed along the cliff. The narrow path made them tread carefully. Just as little as they were negligent, they could slide down into the steep abyss below.

Ida walked slowly. Close yourself to the side of the road full of bushes on his right. A few twigs of thorny bushes hurt his skin, but he paid no heed to it.

The road they were walking down began to decline. The faint sound of river water started to sound clear. Slowly the road they passed began to get brighter, the trees that covered the left side of their path had begun to stretch.

Ida was stunned to see the scenery that was plastered under the ravine where they were walking. The railway bridge with an arc-shaped buffer iron stands proudly splitting the Batang Anai river flow.

Ida stared at the reverence. The train tracks that split the valley looked like the body of a snake in the middle of the thick forest. In the distance, there is an Anai valley waterfall. The rushing water came down from the gap above the cliff that came from the river Suluh, looking like a hanging white scarf.

"We have reached the Valley of Anai, if there are no more obstacles, God willing we until noon in Kubang Putiah, Ngku," said Shamsyr.

"Thank God, I hope there are no more obstacles." Mak Dang paused for a moment, looked across the cliff they were on and turned to Ida.

"Your feet still hurt Da?" ask Mak Dang.

"Still Mak. But it's not as painful as yesterday" said Ida.

"Then, later we do not need much rest on the road, so as to quickly get home."

"Good Mom."

The sound of Siamang was seething on the branches of trees and the gurgling sound of the river water accompanied their journey that morning. No one intended to open a conversation between the four of them. If only this trip was not because he was herded home by Mak Dang, Ida would have enjoyed every natural dish plastered along the way.

Getting closer to the goal, Ida's feelings were mixed. Between worry and longing. Worried if only later amai did not welcome his arrival. However, he could not deny the longing tucked in his heart for his homeland.

Just when the sun was in the middle, the view of Mount Marapi began to be seen before them. The dark blue color of the mountain against the background of a bright blue sky looks graceful shrouded in pure white clouds at its peak.

"I think we'll just split up here" Shamsyir said when they reached the Pua River.

"Thank you, maybe I will come back to Padang after delivering my nephew home. I hope we can meet again." Mak Dang salutes Syamsyr and Rizal.

"Thank you" Ida said briefly when Syamsyir and Rizal regretted it.

They say goodbye to each other. Syamsyir and Rizal continued their journey towards Bukittinggi, Ida and Mak Dang continued their journey through the Pua River.

Seven months left home to face the battlefield, making Ida feel like coming to the other hemisphere. In the village it feels peaceful. There was no sign of a Dutch attack on his homeland.

Arriving in the front yard of his house, Ida was stunned to look at the stilt house that still looks the same as the last time he left. The fine grass that was planted in the courtyard of the house was still growing neatly like a stretch of green rubber. Mango trees growing on the right side begin to flower. Some beetles perch and suck the nectar of blooming mango flowers.

"Hurry and come in, Da. You look at the condition of peace," Mak Dang scolded Ida's daydream.

"Yes Mak."

"Why do you want to be taken to a place of slaughter, this is your home Da?" Mak Dang was astonished to see Ida's pale face.

"I'm afraid of being punished with peace, Mother." Ida told me what she felt.

"And I told you, aamai you're sick. He won't punish you." This time Mak Dang's voice was not as good as usual.

Ida saw Mak Dang's face. Make sure that her mom doesn't lie. Seeing the look on Mak Dang's face that looked tired and the look on his eyes that were beautiful, made Ida sure his Mak Dang did not lie. He washes his feet with water in an urn located at the base of the stairs.

After her feet cleared, Ida slowly climbed the stairs leading to the house. He saw the window of the room, located to the left of the entrance, open. There was a sound of peace and Tini was talking, but Ida could not catch what they were talking about.

"Assynnolt. ..." Ida enters the house.

"Waalaikum salam, is that Da?" The sound of amai sounded hoarse.

"Yes Mai." Ida leaned her body at the door of the room.

"Onde Daaa, ... Thank God I can still see you alive Da." A cry broke when I saw Ida's face at the door of her room.

"It's you here, I miss you Da." Amai extended her wrinkled hand towards Ida. The hand that used to be still contained, now looked like skin that only wrapped the bones.

Ida sobbed, there was a little regret when she saw her amai condition lying like that. Meanwhile Mak Dang was just staring at the door watching the grandmother and grandchild crying. Tini was not able to hold back her tears, how during these seven months she witnessed for herself how amai always looking for Ida to fall ill.

"But Ida's body dirty Mai, Ida wants to clean herself first," said Ida.

"I don't care, here you are, "amai ordered.

Ida walked slowly to the amai bed. As if in disbelief staring amai extended a hand about to hug her. Amai hugged her tightly as she reached the place where Amai was lying. The sobs of amai made Ida's cries break. Between happiness he could be reunited with his family and guilt because all this time he always prejudiced his family.