The Musafir

Horse Car Stop

Manten. “No, Uncle.”

“Do not doubt my silat ability, Mantingan.” Uncle Kedai did not look offended, instead smiling widely.

“I have no doubts about Uncle Kedai's ability, but I have been briefed by someone to study silat at Perguruan Angin Putih.”

“Ya stop! But do not regret it later.” Uncle Kedai turned his gaze towards the forest, then went silent for a very long time.

Mantingan felt that Uncle Kedai was really a lucky madman could be a swordsman, so he felt not too safe to stay here for long. Quickly he stood up and put a bundle and coffers into his body.

“Uncle Shop, I don't think there's anything else you want to tell me. Let me continue the journey. I think a piece of gold is enough to pay for this room's rent." The mantel put a piece of gold next to Uncle Shops.

Uncle Kedai said without turning his eyes, “Please. Do not be too long at White Wind College so that you can return here as soon as possible.”

Manten shook his head slowly, thinking Uncle Kedai was really crazy. Conform him. “Sure, Uncle. If someday I can, I will try to visit Uncle Kedai.”

“Yes, hurry up and go. Before dark day.”

Mantang quickly came out of the room, let Uncle Kedai ponder whatever he thought, also let him go mad until whenever he wanted.

***

After going through a heavy journey for five days, Mantingan arrived at Mount Kubang. The city center of Mount Kubang is located in a vast lowland surrounded by mountains. Even to enter this city alone, Mantingan need to climb and descend one of the mountains that are quite steep, lucky this is not the rainy season so the land is not muddy or slippery.

This city occupies almost the entire area of the plain, until from the top of one of the mountains will be seen all the scenery of this vast city.

The mantan was now at the entrance of the city, able to enter easily after pointing his identification at the guard soldiers.

This city is like a dangerous place for Mantingan, even he considers it much more dangerous than the forest inhabited by robbers or wild animals. He had to enter this city because he had to find out everything about the existence of the White Wind College.

It could even be that the White Wind College was located within the city. Many silat colleges are located in urban areas. But for this, Mantingan was not too sure. The city is too crowded for silat college, not too good to learn silat.

On one of the soldiers, Mantingan asked the location of the city library. The soldier explained the direction the Mantingan should take, but the soldier did not mention the exact location of the library.

“Kisaak can go to the horse coachman and ask to deliver it to the city library. If Sahaya tells the direction to the city library, then it will take a very long time and not necessarily Kisanak can understand it. So let me just tell you where the horse coachman is ..”

The soldier explained the location of the horse coachman who usually kept silent waiting for passengers to be delivered. The location of the horseman alone was enough to make the Mantingan listen to every word that the soldier put out carefully. Let no one forget, because the location of the horseman is very complicated. Mantingan could not imagine how much more complicated it would be if he forced the soldier to point the way to the library in this oversized city.

The hustle and bustle of the city also makes Mantingan difficult to remember. The city was very crowded, trading activities were everywhere. The trade in question is not a small trade like a market, but a large trade involving large quantities of goods as well, the goods here are then brought to the markets of other cities. You could say, in this city is the center of trade, it might be the center of Tarumanagara trade.

Mantingan could see the merchants were everywhere. They were wearing silk clothes and also gold jewelry. The stomachs of the merchants were on average distended, a sign of well-being and wealth. Throughout the journey, Mantingan not only saw traders from Javadvipa, Mantingan saw other traders who came from the Land of the Roof of Heaven or from other places. It is amazing to see humans from other hemispheres in this place for Mantingan.

Not long ago, Mantingan had found a place to stop horsemen. But what he saw was not only a dozen chariots in his chariot, but more than a hundred horsemen were there.

The activities in the place were also very busy. The exit and entrance of the horse carriage have been arranged in different lines so as not to cause congestion, but still there is congestion due to the density of who want to get out and enter the place.

The path for prospective passengers has also been distinguished, congested and crowded with people walking there. Many merchants carried servants, and it was those servants who carried the merchandise on their shoulders or on their heads.

Mantingan felt like a stranger in this place. Can he convince himself that it's okay not to become a merchant? Mantingan saw the belly of the merchants, he did not want to be like that, it is good to be a traveler. The Mantin also felt that there was no harm in being confident, the wealth he carried was hidden in the bundle, while the merchants showed off their wealth treasures as well as their distended stomachs.

Mantingan could have gone there and undressed, making the merchants envious of the stomach shape of Mantingan that many women coveted. But Mantingan wouldn't do that crazy thing.

Walk Mantingan enter on a path that is devoted to the tenant horse coachman. The road took itself deeper into the rest stop of the hundreds of chariots. At the end of the line, there are officers who ask where they want to go. Created a long line by those who waited for their turn to be asked that.

The mantan waited patiently, but he had been standing here for too long and the line was still long in front of him. There's no way out. On the back side of the Mantingan was densely packed by people, the Mantang could not break through and get out of here.

***

In the end Mantingan got his turn after waiting for a very long time under the scorching afternoon sun. Luckily he has a caping to protect himself from the scorching sun.

“Good day, Kisanak, which place do you want to go to?”

“Library," replied Brief Coat.

“Which library is it, Kisanak? There are many libraries in this city, is Kisanak going to the central library?”

“Ya, central library.”

“Then, please Kisanak board the horse carriage which has the mark of four-three, tell the coachman to dismiss Kisanak in the central library. Kisanak can get the majors' horse carriage in the northern part of this stop.”

The coat nodded and passed leaving the officer still standing there.