The Musafir
Theft of Horses
Tethered his horse at the tether. There were four other horses tethered in that place as well, which meant that there were at least four others inside the small tavern.
Mantingan stepped in, there were no door or curtains blocking the entrance of the store. He looked around, it was true that there were four people at the same table. Talking while eating. Mantingan chose a table in the corner of the room and close to the window, then ordered some food and grass and water for his horse.
While waiting for food, he observed the four people who were some distance away from him. They were discussing a warm matter without whispering, so that Mantingan could hear enough of their whole conversation.
“Those groups of black streams were indeed not without reason attacking together. They were former Salakanagara people who were dissatisfied with the Punawarman leadership, so they chose to join the black flow and agreed to make a movement together and suddenly.”
“My friend, I haven't seen you in a long time and it turns out you're getting smarter. It's true what you said. Although Salakanagara had long since fallen into the hands of Tarumanagara peacefully, and there had been a rebellion that was successfully suppressed, but now the revenge was again smoldering.”
“But, was there no hostility when Salakanagara became a small kingdom under Tarumanagara?”
“No, according to some and according to myself, Salakanagara was subdued with an attack from within. Which means, the higher-ups of Salakanagara himself who made his kingdom submit under the rule of Tarumanagara!”
“You mean the Salakanagara higher-ups at that time were traitors? And are those deliveries or bribes from Tarumanagara?”
“I think so, although no one has ever managed to prove it. But we see in fact, there are former Salakanagara people who rebelled until now.”
“Then, can Tarumanagara still be called a kingdom that brings prosperity?”
“Of course Tarumanagara brought prosperity, in fact the state of the people in the Tarumanaga period, especially in Punawarman, was very prosperous. Punawarman is even digging rivers for pesawahan.”
“But why did those former Salakanagara people rebel?”
“Okay, my friend, you need to know that power is the most contested thing from peace and prosperity itself.”
“Why is that?”
“I myself do not understand why they are so power-hungry. Maybe it's money? Or women? I don't know.”
“If it is like that, why don't any of us try to be rulers?”
“Already. To be a trader is already very difficult and heavy, how can I want power?”
“True, besides being a trader is also delicious. In fact we can still hire women in the brothel.”
Manten shook his head. Right then the dish came to his table.
“We've fed and drunk on Master's horse which is at the end of it,” said the person who delivered the dish.
“Thank you.”
“The brothel is full of stealth. Already qualified from the brothel to become a place of lodging, they still hide the beautiful girls who can only be hired with a hundred gold pieces!”
***
The horse returned. Rambles. The coat did not wait any longer after paying a few pieces of silver for all his orders. The four people in the shop still remained there and chatted while starting to drink wine.
Due to the dry season, the dust flies when the horse roars. Then breath the wind. In dry seasons like this, there have certainly been some shamans who experience a lack of water.
Like the village of Mantingan birth. The drought left the village in a state of food and water shortages. The paddies dried up, because the river also dried up. Not only that, the wells also dried up. There are only a few wells that still leave water, and finally taken over by the village head to be distributed fairly. Still, it's not much.
But because of greed, where the well was raided by many citizens. Water struggles were inevitable, casualties were not offered. Uncle of Mantingan died while he was involved in a push. Fall into the well. Banging soil and rocks.
Actually Mantingan uncle champion about swimming, but his head hit the wall of the well so he died instantly without having time to show his swimming skills in the well.
The next death toll is not a matter of being plunged into a well, but because of extreme thirst. Luckily Mantingan knows some plants that can produce or store water. Like a banyan tree, although the tree was worshipped by villagers, but Mantingan desperately dug under its roots and found water. For family.
Given that it made Mantingan smile back, at least he had talent when it came to survival in the forest. And it is not impossible that he can develop other talents like people in general, so that he can live in urban and forestry.
The horse continued to drive nonstop until nightfall, at which time Mantingan finally decided to stop and build a tent. Again he built a tent somewhat away from the streets, to avoid robbers, and without fire.
***
Manten opened his eyes when the morning was still pitch dark, he had been used to waking up at this time. But that was not what caused him to wake up at this moment.
Except for the sound of rustling from the outside that makes Mantingan wake up from his deep sleep. The mantan is somewhat dubious if it is a horse, because he does not hear the hoop of a horse at all.
Then, what is that voice?
The Mantingan hurriedly grabbed the stick next to him, and immediately rose to pull the curtain of the tent. In a semi-conscious state like this, in the dimness of the night, Mantingan could still see two people who were pulling the reins of his horse not far from the location of his tent.
If only Mantingan were in full consciousness, then he would have remembered his promise with Kenanga. But in this semi-conscious state, a tiger-like mantel ambushed its prey.
The two people who were about to steal his horse did not expect that the Mantingan would jump quickly towards them with a swinging stick!
One person was hit by a blow. His right arm was broken. One person left took out a machete and directly attacked Mantingan, but Mantingan's movements were much faster and agile.
His body floated backwards and managed to avoid the attack of the machete that was about to slap his stomach, then sent a counterattack that hit the ribs of the man. The mantan sends a streak once again towards his shoulder, and once again towards his opponent's back.
Feeling that Mantingan is a warrior who should not be resisted, the two men ran away into the dark forest.
