The Fragrant Soul
Chapter 25: The Story of That Time
Sukma Harum just laughed.
“And you don't want to tell me?” asked Hanung curiously.
“I'm still not sure. It's just a small idea. In the end, you will know.”
They finally left. From a distance there are several torch lights burning in front there. “Rupanya there are villagers who are curious about our activities here,” Hagung said.
The two men then went to the crowd of torchlight and Harum Sukma greeted, “Sampurasun.”
“Rampes. If you may know, who are these gentlemen? Why do nights rummage through people's houses like a thief?” his tone was not friendly.
“My name is Raka Gandakusuma. And this is opas master Hagung Koswara.”
Hagung understood that it was time for her to take off her robe and show off her clothes.
“Eh mr opas? Sorry-sorry. We don't know if you're an officer. Let's go to my place. My name is Ranto. I am the head of the village here,” his voice turned friendly and polite.
Clothes can change people's attitudes. This is a formula.
The village head's house was pretty good. Spacious yard. In front of the fence there is a small river flowing quite profusely. The gurgling current brought about a comfortable mood. After allowing his guests to sit down and serve snacks, they made small talk. Then arrive at the question tree.
“Actually what task is there so that the two of you come night and night to the house?”
“We want to investigate the massacre of that family,” Hagung said.
“But a lot of opas came there to check. Even almost the entire population has been asked all kinds of things about this family,” said Ranto.
“There are new instructions that require new diversions as well. That is why we have to re-examine the scene of the event,” Hagung explained.
“New instructions? Well, is there a bright spot about who did it?” ask Ranto.
“Ya,” this time Fragrant Sukma interrupts.
Looking at the handsome face and stature of the man, there was air and light emanating from the figure of this young man. Since the beginning of the meeting actually made the village chief become a little shrinking his guts. It's just that he still has to keep his authority. Moreover, it could be that this handsome man was a palace noble who descended directly. Ranto felt he also had to keep his authority so that “be seen” by the man in front of him.
“Alright then, sir. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“Please Mr. Ranto recount the incident. As far as I know and remember,” pinta Hagung. The soul of his firm and authoritative opas he has shown.
Ranto stared at the ceiling. He leaned against the wall beside him, sighing deeply. Then he started to tell me:
“As I recall, the discovery of the body occurred a few days after the incident. When the body was found, it began to rot. Damara's family is a pretty closed family. Their residence also somewhat entered into the edge of the forest on the small hill. If it is not intended to come to the house, it can be ascertained that there is no one who passed by to the place.”
“What is family work?” ask Hagung.
“Master Damara is a landlord. It is not from this area. But the money is so much. He bought a very large rice field, then employed people in his fields and fields. The result was quite large and he became richer.”
“How many people live in that house?” ask the opas.
“Master Damara himself. Then his two children, Den Ayu Tria and Den Bagus Reksa. There were 5 housekeepers. I forgot their names. But at the time of the incident, the Tria Den and the Mutual Den were not in place. Even the victim there are additional 4 others as well.”
“Who are these 4 others?”
They were the ones who helped Mr. Damara run a trading business while also watching the rice fields and fields. I also forgot their names. All I remember is Karta and Sambra.”
“What was the cause of their death?”
“Said the officer who checked, they all died of poisoning,” replied Mr. Ranto.
“Inadvertently poisoned or someone poisoned?”
“Said the examiner, it looks like someone poisoned. Because toxins are found in leftover food on the table. They all died at lunch. Mr. Damara, 5 housemaids, and 4 people his right hand.”
“These four people live there too?”
“No. But their house is not far from here. Karta and Sambra live in this village. While the other 2 live in the village of Ciaran. Adjacent to this village.”
“They have family?”
“Yes. The family still has all.”
“Good, later we will ask for their names and addresses. Oh yes, if you may know, who found the bodies of the victims?”
“Den Tria herself. At that time he just came home to take his sister for treatment. Since childhood his sister was disabled. Never went out of the house. His body is paralyzed next door. He said every month he took his sister to a doctor.”
‘Pak Ranto know the name of the healer?”
“Continue not.”
“Good. Does Mr Ranto know the Damara family? Can you tell me a little?”
“Master Damara is a little older than me. He came here about 20 years ago. At first it was difficult to get along with the citizens, because Mr. Damara came from the East. Language is he trouble.”
Hearing this, Sukma Harum could imagine. A sad event that happened almost a hundred years ago. A shocking incident known as “Bubat” War. More accurately called by “Massacre”. Because at that time the entire Sunda Galuh royal family was slaughtered by Majapahit troops. At that time all members of the Sunda Galuh Royal family were delivering their most beautiful daughter, Dyah Pitaloka, to marry the Majapahit king, Hayam Wuruk.
Whether misunderstood, or whether it was planned, the Sunda Galuh Royal family and the entourage and bodyguards they brought were completely destroyed. This incident took place in a place called Pesanggrahan Bubat.
Fortunately, there was one child from the King of Sunda Galuh kingdom who did not come to deliver. If you follow the rules, then the King's younger brother must ascend to the throne. But the younger brother who also did not go, gave the reins of power to his nephew who later became the origin of the flourishing and success of the kingdom of Sunda Galuh which was also neutralized by the name of Pajajaran.
Sukma Harum certainly knew this clearly, because “paman” who handed over power to his father still counted his great-grandfather.
Because of this massacre, the kingdom issued a ban on marrying outsiders, especially with people from Majapahit. So that there is a sense of resentment and dislike between the people of these two kingdoms. Given that Damara is counted people “luar”, then his presence in the village was sure to get people's dislike.
Ranto continued his story. “But residents can then accept them. Moreover, they are polite and kind. I also like to share money. They bought our fields very expensively, then hired us in good return. For a long time he became part of us.”
“No. Mr. Damara is married to one of our citizens. Although there is a conflict. There is also pamali. Pamali said that the marriage of East and West would definitely produce havoc. They remain desperate. Now it is proven that the speech of the elderly is not at all wrong.”
“So Den Ayu Tria and Den Bagus Reksa are the result of marriage with the girl from this village?” ask Sukma Harum. Mr. Ranto nodded.
“He did not become a victim of massacre?”
“Nyai Damara has died when his two children were small,” explained Mr. Ranto.
Sukma Harum nodded. Then he asked again, “At the time of the incident, missal a few days before or after the incident, did the residents find something strange, or was there a stranger who came?”
Mr. Ranto thought for a moment, “There!”
“The day before, there was a big tall figure wandering around there. He wears a black robe. Her long fine hair dangling over her face!”
The black robe again!
***
Sukma Harum and Hagung decided to rest that night at Pak Ranto's house. Tomorrow morning they split the task. Hagung went to the widow's house from the mandr-mandors who worked for the Damara family, and Sukma Harum went to visit the Damara family's grave.
“You're not afraid to meet ghosts there?” joked Hagung before they split up.
“If the ghost is female, I already know what to do. I'm a female expert.”
“If the ghost is male?”
“Give it to you!”
They split up laughing.
Sukma Harum escorted one of the residents to visit the tomb of the Damara family. A small burial place that was then probably built to bury the wife of Lord Damara.
The funeral was treated well. It still looks like a sprinkling of flowers that have dried. There are 11 tombs there. The best thing of course is to eat the husband and wife. Well maintained and well.
The person who escorted Sukma Harum became a little confused as to what the young man was looking for there. He chose silence and did not ask.
Not how long they went from there. It's still morning.
***
At lunch, Hagung and Sukma Harum meet. This time it was a 4-eye gathering that they did under a shady tree. While enjoying the grilled fish they caught in the river.
“What description did you get from those widows?” ask Sukma Harum.
Hagung. There is nothing too interesting or suspicious about this story and description.
Sukma Harum just smiled to hear the disappointment of Hagung who did not get important information.
“After this let's go home. I'll take you to your nearest base.”
“Eh? Why that? Why can't I follow this investigation? This is a big problem that is endangering the country. I have to come.”
“You should go back to headquarters and go back to Kotaraja. The goal is for you to tighten the security of Sri Baduga Maharaja. Use all the energy to search for information as much as possible. There you are in the city my heart will be calmer.”
“And you? What are you gonna do?”
“I'll go back to Nindira's ship then arrange a plan from there.”
***
The headquarters of the Eight-Wind Eyes Union were everywhere. And the base is all kept secret. Now Sukma Harum and Hagung are already in a tobacco warehouse which turned out to be one of the secret ingredients of the famous unity.
Sukma Harum and Hagung then explained everything to some of the members who were there. They all understood that the situation was very precarious and they were ready to move.
In the evening Sukma Harum asked himself to return to Nindira's ship. He drove his horse hard. He knows this area well. In front was a sharp bend that would lead him into the forest. Next to it was a ravine with a deep valley.
The night is pitch black. No lighting. But his white robe was still visible emitting a glittering light.
Sukma Harum. A scream that only the eagle can hear his best friend. When entering the bend, his hand moved to pluck a branch. Then the branch was placed standing on its saddle. In a blink of an eye the robe had already moved to cover the branch. Become a figure like a horseman.
He himself jumped into the abyss.
In the darkness of the night.
The horse ran without stopping.
The rider jumped into a dark abyss.
