The Musafir
Farewell to Satya; Kuningan; Map
“See you, Mantingan. Hopefully we can meet at another time and another place.”
After the events of that night, which led to the killing of the eldest disciple and the straying of the Fire Spear College elders, everything returned to its usual state. The straying elder Satya found and was taken through the right path to the riverbank where his disciples were still faithfully waiting. They all left on the orders of the elder who was still very frightened.
Now on the eastern bank of the Manuk River, on a clear morning, Mantingan and Satya stood. Mantingan plans to go to Earth Sagandu after finding his cloak left behind as he unloads the contents of his bundle near Kuningan.
Last night Mantingan screamed loudly when he realized that the special cloak given by Kenanga was left far from where it was. So with a unanimous decision, Mantingan will take it. After all it was on one path towards Kanoman. And also the forest was quiet, the chances were very small if someone found and took the robe.
“I hope so too, Satya. Now let me go.”
Mantingan stepped out his legs, while Satya smiled briefly before bringing her raft back across. Mantingan stepped directly by grasping his wand that is actually not too useful. Bird chirping was still melodious to be heard, mixing with the sounds of other insects.
***
Less than half a day's walk, Mantingan had reached the place where he left his robe. It is true that in this forest is very rarely visited by humans so that the gray robe is still folded neatly with dry leaves covering it. How happy the Mantingan was back then, as if finding his opponent comrade left on the road.
The robe was worn quickly, for he had never worn it. In fact, the robe was much longer than he expected. The robe almost touched his ankle, from estimates that only up to the knee only.
It is true Kenanga said, that the gray robe will feel cool during the day. The mantingan feels cool like being in high hills and foggy, even though the sun is actually being really hot that day.
After making sure that nothing was left behind, Mantingan continued his journey.
The young man actually wanted to avoid Kuningan area. There was still little concern about meeting with the robbers or the city's security guards. But he needed a map to continue his journey in the right direction. Then it is the same that he must stop by Kuningan, where the city is quite large and crowded visitors so that it is certain to sell maps.
Satya had equipped Mantingan with food and a number of gold pieces to continue the journey. Mantingan certainly refused it, but Satya said that the gift was as a reward because it had helped him hunt ant nests. Mantingan clearly knew that it was more than a reward, but a gift as a friend. And as a memento, Mantingan will keep a piece that will never be spent.
It did not take long, Mantingan arrived in front of the gate of Kuningan City. Because the day can still be called morning, many people pass around the gate. Whether to enter or exit through the gate, everything has its own business. Except for the Mantingan who still seemed hesitant to step in, could only be fixated on the gazes of many people passing by. For a moment he sighed and exhaled back slowly.
Mantingan stepped in following the flow of people who were in line with him. After entering the city, the atmosphere became a little crowded because of so many community chatter and the cries of traders that Mantingan could hear in part. They will always talk about what would be interesting to discuss, including the attractive-looking Coat with the robe.
Indeed when compared to other people, Mantingan looks the most striking. Some of the men in that place only wore a cloth wrapped around the waist to cover under his body forming a loincloth, while his chest was left open; but there were some who wore pants and clothes.
While the women are almost the same as the clothes of the men, they only wear a long scarf cloth that covers the waist to the eyes of his feet, while his chest is left open just like that. There were some women who wrapped a cloth on his head so that it could be used as a place to carry luggage.
In his mind, Mantingan wondered about women's clothing. King Punawarman has suggested that his women wear a covering on his chest because rogues are starting to appear in urban areas, but from what is seen in Kuningan City only some women who wear a scarf to cover their chest.
Mantingan was not too surprised by all the sights like this, because in the past he had often encountered the same scenery, even more.
Mantingan entered a boisterous market area not played by the cries of bargaining from sellers and buyers. Almost everyone was crowded here, so Mantingan had to get out of the crowd and pass through the cracks behind the shops to find a shop selling maps.
His robe began to get dirty by the muddy dirt stains mixed with various rotten vegetables. A stinging stench filled his nose, Mantingan inhaled deeply into the scent to get used to it later.
Mantingan found a shop that sells paper and throw, soon he entered the store that looks quiet but very clean. In it there are workers who are making copies of the book by carving Pallawa scriptures on the palm sheet, they seem so centered on the writing that they do not care about the presence of Mantingan.
Some cabinets contain porous petals look lined up very tight and neat, so to pass it must exclude the body first. The mantle continued to pierce the sea of cabinets filled with poppy until he arrived at the innermost part of the store. There was a customer reception desk, behind which an old man was sitting and greeting Mantingan.
Mantingan who was actually surprised because immediately thrown the question immediately replied, “Sahaya is looking for a map, Mr. Does this store sell it?”
The old man nodded once. “What kind of map would you like to have, Young Man? Is it just Tarumanagara coverage, or along with other small kingdoms in the western Javadvipa region?”
“If the map that reaches up to the kingdoms of small works, what is the price, sir?” Mantingan chose to ask the price first even though he had not seen the goods, of course he did not want to fall back poor by not saving money.
“Ah, not too expensive actually, it's just that the map only has one in our store, so it's very likely that the price will go up.”
Forehead Frowning mantle. “Is there another store that sells maps in this city, Uncle?”
“Nothing, Young Man. Our store is the only one that sells pitches or presents writing copying services, also only we sell maps in this city, unless you have the guts to ask for a map to the city guard troops.”
“What is the price, Sir?” The mantan would give up if he had to go to another city just to get a map, he said, moreover, if he had to ask for a map on the city guards, it was very likely that he would be suspected of being a spy.
“One piece of gold only, Young Man. This map will be slightly larger in size, but the layout is very detailed, will you still buy it or not?”
Previously, Satya gave the Mantingan twenty pieces of gold. Although twenty pieces of gold are very large in number, but it is still very dear to release one piece of gold just for a map. Seeing his doubts, the old man made another offer.
“If you want, then there is another way besides buying a map. You can hire a coachman or a road guide, usually they hang out at the gate east of the city. Your trip will certainly be faster and more comfortable, only the price they install is much more expensive than a map.”
Mantingan shook his head, he intended to walk, it is possible that Kembangmas could be found accidentally among the thickets. Horse rental is only for people who are in a hurry or just traveling, the purpose of Mantingan is different than that.
“I'll get that map, Mr.” The mantel pulled a piece of gold out of the bag of his coffers.
The old man received the money. “Alright, is there anything else you want to buy here?”
Mantingan thought for a while before saying hesitantly, “Do you have any writing regarding the existence of Kembangmas?”
The old man was instead frowning. “We don't sell it, Son. And or rather, no one writes and sells children's fairy tales. Kembangmas only told by parents to their children, and continue to be told until the story still survives until now so it does not need to be made into a book.”
“Tongs?” The mantle scrunched his forehead anyway. “Didn't Gembangmas is a flower that ever existed, just that on this day it has become extinct? I mean, even though it is extinct, there must still be information about Kembangmas.”
The old man nodded slowly. “I don't know how you think. But I have to tell you, that Kembangmas never existed. It never went extinct, because the flower never existed. And what is your reason for seeking information about Kembangmas? Have you never heard of the story of Kembangmas? If you want to pay a little, I can tell you.”
Mantingan shook his head slowly, he had heard the story of Kembangmas from his mother even though the memory had become vague. “I'm looking for Kembangmas, Mr.”
It was undeniable that the old man in front of him was laughing out loud. The laughter seemed to be softening, but the old man was actually just laughing for something funny.
“I'll get you that map,” he said after stopping his laughter. “But I hope you don't really look for the imaginary flower.”
Without waiting for another answer, the old man passed. The mantan still could not digest the meaning of the old man's laughter earlier. Does it mean to be too weak to look for Gembangmas, or is it true that he is stupid because he is looking for imaginary flowers that never existed on the face of the earth? What if it turns out that Kenanga is cheating on her for some reason?
But Mantingan soon got rid of those bad thoughts. It was obvious to him that Kenanga meant it. Clearly he found sharp objects on the edge of the lake that were the suicide attempts of Kenanga. And clearly he saw from the eyes of Kenanga, that the girl was very lonely and on the edge of the abyss of despair. What a heart-wrenching look the girl looked at as she walked away. Mantingan look at all that. He will not turn away from his promise. He will not turn away from Kenanga. It won't. Mantingan sure, Kembangmas will be found!
