SET DUSK

Part 3

After the congregational prayer, Angku Patiah, a man of medium stature, shady face and white skin who was a prayer priest, welcomed the group of volunteers and the TNI.

"Assynolajet. Welcome to our city, fighters. Thank God we are still given health and the opportunity to carry out our duties as Muslims. Insha Allah later this surau will be used as a temporary resting place for PMI officers. The back of the surau also temporarily functioned as a public kitchen" he explained.

"We will be in a place right here yes, Mai," whispered Ida who was a bit confused by where they lived.

"So Mr. Zain said that when we stopped Da," Mai replied in a whisper

Finished transportation Patiah gave a speech to the group, Mr. Zain replaced his place.

"Good morning everyone, thank God we have arrived safely in our first post. After this we can have breakfast first before leaving for Indarung and Banda Buek. We have received reports of indiscriminate attacks by the Dutch on Banda Buek feed. So our PMI Officer for two, half will go to Banda Buek, half will go to Indarung. We'll help the soldiers who are already there to pick up the bodies."

There was boisterous noise from the volunteers.

"Now let's go back, breakfast is ready in the kitchen. Later after breakfast we will announce anyone who goes to Banda Buek, who goes to Indarung," continued Mr. Zain.

Without much command, the volunteers walked regularly out of the surau. Down the stairs, one by one walking on the edge of the pool which is right in the front yard of the surau towards the back.

Clear pond water shows the fish playing back and forth between the natural stones at the bottom of the pond. Some of them slipped behind the green algae that swung following the rippling water flow.

The morning air was fresh and cold, filled with the scent of fresh oxygen. The fog still covers the roof of the surau. The sun began to peek slowly from behind the branches of the tree and reflected the dew drops attached beautifully to the leaves.

It was peaceful, Ida thought. It's been a long time since he felt this peaceful. All this time he thought he would never feel peace like that morning in the surau of the banks of Lubuak Kilang.

Arriving at a public kitchen made by the public and TNI, using a tent measuring 60x60, the, they were greeted by low boisterous voices of cooks and cookware flashing filled the tent that was made into the kitchen. Indicates how busy the general kitchen attendant was that morning. The aroma of cooking that is full of spices will sound as if mocking the sense of smell of the volunteers.

Unknowingly Ida's stomach which from yesterday afternoon had not been filled, shouted. Fortunately, the boisterous atmosphere in the kitchen covered the sound of his stomach that was protesting to be filled.

"Come on... Come on in, please grab a plate on the other end and wait in line to grab some food" said one of the soup kitchen attendants as volunteers arrived in front of the kitchen tent.

"Yes buk, thank you," replied some of the volunteers who had been in front first.

"Just call me Tek Dian. The children here call me that, let us be more familiar," continued the kitchen attendant mother introduced herself.

Dian's round-faced tek stature with dimples on both sides of her cheeks as well as radiant-looking eyes made the volunteers feel more welcome there.

"Well let's eat, no need to hesitate. While there are still foods that we can eat do not waste," he continued while patting Ida's friendly shoulder.

"Yes, thank you." Ida smiled kindly at Dian's tek.

Ida and Mai walked together to the end of the tent. Ida took a neatly arranged enamel plate at the end of the table placed in the corner of the tent. Come to the place where food is distributed. Breakfast that morning rice with side dishes and spinach vegetables. The menu was luxurious for the conditions at the time.

After breakfast, they were directed to the field next to the kitchen tent. After all gathered, Mr. Zain's voice was heard splitting the sound of volunteers chatting.

"Consider all. ... "

Suddenly the voices of the volunteers who were chatting stopped.

"This morning as planned and I have said before, we will go to Banda Buek and Indarung. I hope you are strong to face what you will meet later on the field. For those in Banda Buek, you prepare a nose cover, because the victim's body has begun to decompose. You will help clean the market from the bodies. For a while you will also settle in Banda Buek and Indarung post after the task there is completed. We will not come back here again" said Mr. Zain.

There were whispers coming from the volunteer line. Without wasting time, Mr. Zain announced the names of volunteers who would go to Banda Buek and Indarung.

Ida is assigned to Banda Buek, while Mai goes to Indarung. The volunteer line was split in two.

"See you soon, Da." Mai shakes up Ida.

"Yes, this is your scarf Mai, thank you." Ida handed Mai's red scarf.

"You just keep Da, you still need," Mai declined

"But...."

"You've saved it." Mai smiles at Ida, handing back the shawl that Ida returned to her hands.

"Thank you Mai. ... Hopefully we can see you later." This time Ida shone a favor with Mai.

There was a sad feeling when he had to part with his new friend. Mai's attitude made her feel welcome, making her feel close to the woman she just met yesterday afternoon.

That morning, two trucks from the TNI group left the surau on the outskirts of Lubuak Kilangan, along Salayo road which was still covered in fog.

No other sounds could be heard, only the sound of the roar of trucks splitting the road filled the ears. Ida's eyes stared at the path they had left behind. The winding road and downhill, and left and right overgrown with andalas trees make Ida's netra can not switch from the scenery. The sunlight that infiltrated between the mist and the leaves of the tree made the morning look like a painting. Ida's eyes began to sleepy, but the exotic view of Sitinjau Lauik made him try to hold back the eyes that began to weigh. Just this time Ida saw such an amazing sight.

The fog that covered the bottom of the gorge of Sitinjau Lauik made them like walking on clouds.

But not for long, Ida's eyes are not able to work together anymore, his head that already feels heavy is leaned against the wall of the truck.

"union... The Union... Wake up, we're there." Ida was shocked when she heard the voice of the woman who woke her.

Trying to gather her consciousness, Ida stared out. The truck stopped, the passengers got off. Only he and the girl who just woke him there.

The girl who had just woken her had a sweet heart-shaped face, clear-eyed. The girl got off the truck. The clothes he wore were thick cotton shirts, as well as khaki trousers made him more free to jump down from the tub of a truck.

"The others have come down? Are we both left?" I saw an empty truck. Shamed with shame, he could have fallen asleep while the others were down.

"Yes uni, come ... Uh yes, I'm Ros ... Whose union?" the girl asked her hand to shake Ida's hand when Ida got out of the truck.

"Isa ... Have we arrived since?" welcome Ida to greet the girl named Ros.

"Yes, come on, let's get to work" asked Ros to lead Ida's hand down from the truck.

When they came down, suddenly the wind blew. The rancid smell of blood and the stench of carrion instantly filled Ida's sense of smell. There was a subtle flutter from his stomach as the smell was permeated through his sense of smell.

Ida was stunned to see the scene plastered in front of her eyes. Blood and lifeless bodies scattered, even many of them were not whole anymore. At once Ida's stomach was stirred, but she tried to make the food she ate at breakfast was not out.

Ida took out the Mai-given shawl from her bag, tied it to her nose and mouth. At least it can muffle the smell of rancid blood and the smell of corpses that begin to decompose. Shortly afterwards, several officers dressed in military clothes handed out gloves to volunteers, instructing them what to do.

Without waiting for long, Ida and the other volunteers gathered the bodies of the victims. The attack carried out by the Dutch took a lot of casualties of children, women, and parents. Because the attack occurred on feed day in Banda Buek at that time. Ida was stunned when she wanted to pull one of the bodies of the victims in the trench. A pregnant woman, her baby's body traces clearly to her stomach because the part of the woman's stomach is torn which may make her baby's pouch leak.

As Ida's eyes blurred, she tried to pull the woman's body out of the trench. But the body was shaking.

"Here I help." The baritone voice that suddenly appeared beside him made Ida jump in shock.

"Why shocked?" rebuke the voice back

"Ah no, I just did not see anyone near me, suddenly Master appeared, making me shocked," explained Ida.

"G ... Haha ... You just didn't notice your surroundings, I wasn't far from where you were standing."

"Ah yes ... Like so," replied Ida, not wanting to extend the conversation again.

"Oh yes, I'm Rashid" the man wearing the TNI uniform reached out his hand to greet Ida.

"Oh, I'm Ida" Ida replied without welcoming Rashid's hand.

"Ah, pregnant woman again." Rashid diverted his talk while pulling the corpse lying in the ditch to remove its awkwardness.

"Yes," replied Ida briefly.

As Ida circulated her gaze, it appeared that several Red Cross officers were picking up some of the surviving victims.

"Some one's alive?" ask Ida to Rashid who tried to pull some of the bodies at the bottom of the trench.

"Yes, the average survivor still lives, but they're hurt pretty badly."

"When did the Dutch attack this market?"

"Around three o'clock in the afternoon. All of a sudden the Dutch planes flocked the people at the market, without warning."

"If many victims in Indarung died too?" ask Ida curiously.

"Yes, much. Because the Dutch used bombs, many buildings were destroyed."

Ida simply responded with a nod. He continued to raise, the bodies of the victims to the top of the pedati.