
The shadow of dusk passed as night changed to cover the plains of the Sapodilla Settlement behind the hills of the valley. When all the activities of the residents there are not finished, most of them are still struggling in their respective activities. The lives of people of lower social status, blacksmiths, ranchers and peasants mingled in simple houses.
The streets were dark, somewhat muddy due to the spatter that had struck since noon. There are simple shops standing on the edge of the path leading to the Saporo Settlement.
Horse herders began to rest in it, spending time eating drinks and telling stories about the many events that happened that day.
The screams and laughter of the girls were watching the entertainment of the village's only opera like the usual nights. While the elderly people prefer to feast on the fruit after reaping the harvest. The village activities are always busy, almost never sleep.
A child dressed in dark brown was caught, half running out of a rowboat towards the village road.
“Hey, you ... from anywhere?” greet a number of villagers who happened to be through it. From the face hidden under the cloak, he turned his head, “Sorry, I got lost ..” replied as it passed.
The next people came along saying, “Hey, son! The messenger from the palace searched for you these few days, and we told them that you had escaped from here.”
“It was not our fault because you left without any description,” said another.
“Thank you. Forgive me if it makes you anxious,” reply boy. His pace was getting faster towards the horse farm. Arriving at the farm gate, several people confronted him.
“Hei, King! Soldier Candidate Disciple. I know it doesn't feel easy to serve in a slum like the Sapo Settlement. Therefore try to escape while you can, but why are you back here?” ask one of them.
The boy who was none other than Taja, stopped in front of the entrance gate of the village, revealed the robe that covered his head and ignored the non-serious questions of the people there around his departure.
“I did not escape, Sir! That's why I came back. Excuse me..,” replied he was short because he could not stand their fuss. Then headed for the straw warehouse which contained a narrow space for him to rest.
“Taja, where have you been?” Gentho, the head of the ranch caught the boy sneaking around the straw room. He poked his head through the half-body door that had been porous eaten for quite a long time. Realizing that someone was looking, Taja quickly hid the bundles of worn cloth into the sidelines of the haystack and then pretended to be confused about what to answer, because it was just a pair of gawking action.
“Don't do that, the palace attendant is looking for you these few days. If they report things that are not true about you, then not only you will get into trouble, but me too,” Gentho said.
“Sorry ... I got lost,” replied Taja.
“Missed? What do you mean?” Gentho opened the door made of bamboo, its rusty hinges make a sound ’kriet kriet.'
“Back from herding, I was lost .. don't know where, they left me, don't know the direction of walking then I found a canyon.”
Gentho tried to remember that day when he handed it to one of his men when he was going to herd cattle horses. He suddenly woke up after remembering that day.
”Don't you think I let them calm down after your disappearance, I locked them up as punishment. Not enough until then, after all this time I finally know their way of working did not really seriously cause you and a palace horse to disappear.”
”Court horse lost?” taja asked unmistakably, he suddenly remembered a white horse that made him fall into the abyss and finally get lost.
”Yes, Klawu horses, Your Majesty's mounts. Until now not found. Therefore they should be punished according to the rules of the country, it's their own recklessness.”
”Klawu is okay. He's fine in the woods. I saw it was on the side of a cliff, but somewhere was it?” clearly Taja sure.
Gentho raised an eyebrow, ”Where?” his face turned very enthusiastic inquisitive.
”I don't remember that place!”
”You lied!” Gentho can't believe it.
”Really! I don't remember that place, all I've ever seen is a canyon, a swamp, a cliff, and an old cottage locked in bars and iron chains.”
Taja's description made Gentho shudder and rub his head bald on the front with the rest of the gray hair on the back , ”So, did you meet that Crazy Old Man?”
”Si Old Crazy? who?”
Gentho shuddered again, ”Hiiiy! Human-eater!”
“Black Dog Master mean Master? She is fine and very healthy, it feels like she will fit in as my teacher.”
Gentho was increasingly made to breathe hard, surprised too much disbelief to the point of being unable to speak anymore to hear the story of Taja who was light and ceplas-ceplos, “Gila.
“Almost I was preyed upon .. but lucky everything is fine,” Taja said as he busily fixed the straws for his bed. No matter how Gentho noticed it the more astonished he was at the child's attitude which seemed to have never happened.
“What's up?” Taja found it strange when Gentho observed himself from toe to toe, “Are you really okay?” Ask Gentho once more.
“Ya,” replied Taja steadily and reviewed the smile. Gentho bobbing head.
“While! Many cattle were lost many years ago, and of all that was lost .. only you returned,“ Gentho's words were greeted with one more smile, and without burden Taja replied, ”That's because I'm not a horse, I can talk and move fast!”
Gentho again shook his head, leaving him in the silence of the straw-stacked room.
The night is getting late. The dense reddish black cloud grew thicker shrouding the ceiling and the drizzle turned to rain shamelessly, flushing the quiet Sapodom Settlement village, Sago, unless there is a heavy sound of rain outside the dimly lit room where Taja lies down.
Only with the help of a small lantern did he read the Book of Hiwa, under a worn blanket that wrapped almost his body sitting curled up. After a long time, he quickly went out covered in robes, breaking through the heavy rain towards the tavern that was actually crowded with visitors.
“What's up, young man?“ a servant greeted him at the entrance.
“Can I get a glass of warm honey,” the door. For a moment the servant took it to order.
“Five pieces of silver,” he said after thrusting a glass of warm honey on the table.
Shut up, doing nothing. Though in his hands there was no money except bundles wrapped in worn cloth.
“I know, Gentho alone paid the bill tomorrow,” the waiter first spoke of it before leaving it and returning with a cup of warm honey.
Taja noticed many pairs of eyes silently watching his movements, until he was uncomfortable.
...* * *...