The Musafir
Animals Do Not Know Misguidance
IN THE EVENING, Mantingan taught Kana the art tips of sword skills. But the young man only explained the basics, so that Cana could easily practice them without any inner strength. Mantingan also explained a lot that the sword is not a tool to create damage.
“Have you heard the story of the swordsman?” Mantian asked.
“Yes, at that time there was a poet who came to the village where I lived. He told of the swordsman's prowess in playing his sword. Me and my friends to his amazement.”
“Tell me a little.”
“I don't remember it very well, because it happened a long time ago. But let me tell you what I remember.” Kana fixed her sitting position. “The swordsman carried a sword. Sword sedepa. It's long, isn't it? One day at a hillside, he met a band of robbers. If I don't remember wrongly, there were two dozen robbers who intercepted and had bad intentions on him. The fighter was very calm, he said that he did not want to give what the robbers asked for.
“When the robbers forced, the nameless swordsman then slashed at them with his long sword. It's as easy as mowing lawn— as Big Brother Man ever did. All the robbers in the evidence gap are dead. They died in the most horrible way. His head was split in two. Hands in the streets. That's how the swordsman then went on his way.”
Manten knitted his forehead while listening to Kana's story. If the story was really brought by a poet, wouldn't it be inappropriate to tell children like Cana? The murder committed by the warrior was too horrible.
“Do you consider the swordsman to be good at his attitude?”
“Of course, he exterminates the bad guys and has indirectly saved others.”
“Actually not so, Kana. What the warrior has done is inhumane. The murder he had committed was too furious. Let me explain to you, Kana. In the real world, no warrior is as powerful as that except the swordsman of the black faction. That's all, not much.? Good warriors will avoid killing, not enjoy it. The warrior you spoke of used his sword not to spread peace, but hatred. Imagine if any other robber had seen the murder, it must have been tinkered with the flames of vengeance in their chests.”
Kana. Seemed to think for a long time.
“So, am I wrong to have heard that story?”
“No. As long as you don't misunderstand the story.”
“But, Brother Man, it looks like I have a question.”
“Ask only.” The mantle says softly.
“If the hero's actions are wrong, then what if he gives up or avoids the robbers? Isn't that the same as throwing distress to others?”
“Good that question of yours, Kana.” The mantle nodded slowly. “The long-switched rider must have been very powerful, right? It should have had the ability to incapacitate two dozen pirates who intercepted it. And even if it is necessary to kill them all, then do it without hesitation. Kill for peace, not for pleasure, or you will be as good as the widest beast, even lower.”
“Sure I won't do that.”
However, Mantingan scrunched his forehead. “Is there any doubt in you, Kana? I see doubt on your face.”
Kana said nervously, “Actually there is doubt in me, even though it is very little.”
Kana let out a long sigh before finally answering, “Kakak Man, my goal is to learn silat solely to avenge the death of my parents. I want to chop the man who killed my parents into a thousand pieces. With a sword in my hand, I want to do that. And after I do that, I'm sure my parents will calm down in the afterlife.”
Manten smiled, gently stroking Kana's head. “The best revenge is to make the world better again.”
“How can I make the world better, if the world is filled with people who are not?”
“There will be time for the uncivilized to experience the fall, and there will be a time for the uncivilized to experience the resurrection. And vice versa, Kana. The world is not always full of bad people. At predetermined times, there will be an exchange of day and night. Dawn and evening. Neither evil nor good will succeed forever.”
“Isn't Gusti a source of kindness, Brother Man?”
“True.”
“Then, why did He let the wicked stand foot on the earth of His creation?”
Again the mantel smiled warmly. “For He to teach man what evil is like. Kana, do you know what the life of the animals in the jungle is like?”
Kana thought for a moment after just gaining a lot of understanding. “They forage, play, and mate only.”
“That's what a human being would be if he didn't know about heresy. Look at the animals that do not care about the chaos of the world, even if they do not care if they continue to be hunted to the end. They eat, play, sleep, mate, and die. So next. For they feel that the world is fine, and they do not know what is heresy and truth. In contrast to humans who have found the meaning of heresy, so they continue to seek the truth in the universe. That's when, human civilization spins.”
“Actually it's a bit hard to accept, but I'll slowly understand it well. I promise you that, Brother Man.”
“And as much as you can, you put out the flames of vengeance in your head. The time that has passed cannot be replayed, even if you manage to avenge it to completion. So as a good human being, you must learn to let go of something that has passed.”
Kana looks to nod. “I will go to great lengths to dispel that vengeful fire, Brother Man. Thanks for the lesson tonight. Much more useful than a fairy tale from Sasmita.”
“Once you have to listen to a fairy tale anyway. It would be great if you created your own fairy tale.”
“Kakak said that, but Kakar himself never listened to Kak Sasmita when he was telling a story. Even from what I've seen, brother has never made up a single fairy tale."
The stiff smiling mantle. It is true what Kana said. He did not make up stories, he created his own. “If there is a chance, I will listen to it.”
“Sister will not be able to listen to him if the relationship of Brother and Sister Sasmita is always awkward. You should like each other. Isn't that what people often do?"
The mantan smiled and brought his hand closer to Kana's head. But not to stroke it gently, but to tick it hard. Kana complained of pain, not expecting the Mantingan's actions. And really, it hurts. And so Kana, the boy felt that there was nothing wrong with his words.
“Sleep. It's already night. Tomorrow morning we have to stock up on fertilizer.”
