The Musafir
Pay Not for Medicine Only
“Ask only, Kana.”
Kana looked at Sasmita. “Why should Brother treat Sister Jaya? What diseases does Brother Jaya suffer from?”
BEFORE BEING ABLE to answer Kana's question, the Northern River Angel had glanced at Mantingan first. The mantan shook his head slowly, indirectly hinting not to tell the disease he was suffering from. The Northern River Angel nodded slowly, sign agreeing.
“He did not suffer from any severe disease. It's just fatigue, because it works too much.” The Bidadari Sungai Utara. “It won't be bad, just need a little rest.”
“I'll take care of Brother Jaya until she recovers!” sahut Kina, who is lucky not to mention his typical call when calling Mantingan.
“This brother does work too much, Sister Physician Sasmita. When I wanted to help her, she refused by telling me to sleep.”
The mantle choked on its own saliva, yet it seemed as if no one cared.
“Does he work at night?”
“True.”
The Northern River Angel shook his head while clucking in annoyance. “Kana, Kina, listen to this. At night, the state of the human body will weaken after being used to work for a full day. If forced, it will be bad for the body. People like this usually do not love themselves.”
“I'm still here and hear you guys.” Mantingan put on a sour face.
“If you hear, then do not repeat again at another time,” added Bidadari Sungai Utara. “Even if your body is strong, working late at night is still not good.”
“Listen to it, Brother!” Kina grumbling. “If Brother is sick, who will take care of us?”
“Of course I.” The Northern River Angel smiled widely. “Me and Brother Jaya have made an agreement. The agreement makes me have to take care of Brother Jaya, and keeping you guys is the same as looking after Brother Jaya.”
“Do you accept it?” Now the man who asked was astonished.
The Northern River Angel nodded slowly in response. Kana suddenly said, “When are we going to eat her snack? My stomach is hungry.”
***
“Thank you for taking the time to come and play with the kids, even though you are too precious to be seen without a veil. It's your pay."
THE HANDING OVER COAT shows the three gold pieces that were in his hand. On the porch of that house. When the stars don't show themselves, hide behind the clouds. The atmosphere was quiet and silent, the village had fallen asleep by midnight.
“Brothers, this is too much. The cost for this morning's treatment was only ten silver.”
“Then, take a piece of gold for today.”
“Alright, but this piece of gold money is also to pay for treatment in tomorrow.”
“Besok daku will keep paying. Whatever you say.” The Mantingan grabbed the North River Angel's right hand, then placed the piece of gold in its palm. “This is not just for treatment only. Sisters have helped me by making Kana and Kina happy. To the extent that, now they're asleep satisfied so tired."
“Brother Jaya, about that I actually feel guilty.” The Angel of the North River was about to return the money in his hand.
“No. Sisters don't need to feel guilty. Quite the contrary, Sisters should be pleased. Because they are also happy.” The mantle shook slowly. “They both had a poor fate, Sister. Both of their parents were victims of the war, killed. Only they survived. Until I found them in a miserable state. They live in damp, dirty rooms, with little food and a fear of death coming to their feet. Sleeping well after cheerfulness is a boon to them. Believe me, what Sister has done is far more valuable than a piece of gold.”
The Angel of the North River scrunched his forehead. “So, they're not your sisters, Brother?”
The North River Angel took consideration. After a long time of thought, in the end he received the money given Mantingan. And then said, “If you don't mind, I'll play here often.”
“I even thank you.” Mantingan down and menjura, a typical greeting of a swordsman. The North River Angel menjura.
“But when it happens,” said Angel Sungai Utara. “I don't want to receive payment.”
After a few short pleasantries, the Northern River Angel said goodbye to him. Mantingan said he would take the Angel of the North River to the gate, so they walked through the courtyard, until they reached the gate.
“Esok day, please you come back to the Drug Store Wira. I will try another potion for you to drink, and hopefully succeed in suppressing the Unnamed Poison. Remember not to use a lot of energy in.”
“Alright, see you tomorrow.”
***
ON THAT MORNING, Mantingan did not go straight to the Hero Drug Store like he did yesterday. Early in the morning, Mantingan woke Kana early. The boy did not refuse, instead pleased when Mantingan woke him up early.
Mantingan invites Mantingan to the home page. At that time the sky was still dim orange.
“We will be gardening, starting this morning.” The mantle designates two paculs in the corner of the porch of the house. “This time, I will no longer use inner power. Maybe today's work will only be finished in the evening.”
“That's no problem.” Kana moved to take the two paculs she saw. “It's like returning to the old house. In my house, the backyard used to be used for the garden. I plowed the land, from the hard to as smooth as corn rice.”
“Do not fabricate. Prove if you can.”
With a proud smile, Kana held her paculan on her shoulders. Giving one remaining pacul to Mantingan. “Sister who shouldn't underestimate me.”
The mantan could only shake slowly as the boy walked ahead of him with his chest puffed up.
They started their work. Starting from the end to the middle. They work so hard without either of them using any inner energy. The originally flat land transformed into mounds. They keep poking and poking.
That is how it continues until noon. Mantingan gives a break, waiting for the sun to slightly lapse to the west. Kana seems to have been so exhausted, that she gladly welcomed the break by crumbling down on the cots.
While Mantingan, the young man chose to go to the Hero Drug Store to meet the North River Angel and get treatment. After the shower, he hurried off.
***
MANTINGAN got a bad impression when tasting medicine given by North River Angel. It tastes very bitter and sour. Unlike the medicine he had taken yesterday, it was not too bitter. The Northern River Angel who saw it could only say that it was natural.
“This medicine contains anything?”
“You will regret if you know.”
Because Mantingan did not want to regret, then he chose not to know it. Provided the potion had a healthful impact, Mantingan felt no need to think about the taste.
“How should I pay?” said later.
“One piece of gold.”
The mantle lightly took out a piece of gold from inside his coffers, laying on the treatment table.
