The Musafir
The Stage Market
CIVILIZATIONS. That's how Mantingan, Chitra Anggini, and Munding Caraka re-entered civilization after a long time just staring at the green jungle. Moreover, Mantingan, who has not seen civilization since he entered the Thousand Drops of Water. There have been too many full-lengths.
In this village, people pass by, some are dressed succinctly and some are dressed luxuriously.
Pedati-pedati move slowly, pulled by a lazy buffalo because the road is blocked by the crowd. Just like he was leaning lazily while pinning the grass stems on both sides of his lips.
The merchants shouted to offer their wares in the language of the region that Mantingan could not understand.
The buyers bid, no less loudly with the sound of the trader.
Increasingly crowded by children wandering with friends while lifting toys that have just been purchased, the swords and long cleaver, they are acting like warriors. Smiling coat.
The building in this market is all stage. Half a fathom or less of the ground surface. However, most of the trade was done without buildings, just rolling out pandan leaf mats.
Chitra Anggini covers his head, face, to the border of his neck with a scarf. While Mantingan buy two pieces of caping, not to cover the face, but solely to be protected from the hot sun or raindrops later. One caping for herself, and another caping for Chitra Anggini—although the woman refused to wear it in this market.
“You have money, don't you?”
Chitra Anggini nodded his head. Only his eyes and nose were visible from his face. But with his perfect curves, Chitra Anggini's beauty is not covered at all.
“Of course I have. Many even.” Chitra Anggini shows the coffers of money on his waist. “That means, you will leave me?”
The mantang nodded his head. “I want to buy something for Munding. Our friend this one has done a lot. After if the time of one tea drinking is exceeded, then we must have gathered at the gate of the market.”
Chitra Anggini looked around miserably. “It's too crowded for me.”
“In Koying, will be much more crowded.” Mantian.
“What if there's a swordsman attacking me?”
The mantle raised an eyebrow. Looked at the woman in wonder. “The possibilities are very very small. First, you don't seem to be carrying a gun at all. Second, your face is like having declared that you are not a warrior. Third, if there is something suspicious, accept this ...” The mantan took out a piece of Magic Throw from inside its storage box. “Break this ejection, later I will know that you are in danger, and can also immediately track your whereabouts.”
Chitra Anggini received the Magic Throw while taking a deep breath. Trying to gather courage. “Good. Tea drink, we meet at the market gate. And if in that time I was not also seen, then immediately look for me, could have been attacked with the science of totokan to not have time to break the Magic Throw that you gave this.”
The mantan nodded his head before grabbing Munding Caraka's harness. “See you again, Chitra.”
“See you, Mantingan. And thank you for the compliment.”
Mantingan who had just walked a few steps then turned his head briefly towards Chitra Anggini. Looking back at wonder. What compliments?
***
“Despecial food for buffalo? Exist any? But if you want a special buffalo dish, let me show you the shop across the street. Oi, the taste of buffalo meat there is delicious and savory! Sahaya always buys a buffalo head gulai once a week in the store!”
MANTINGAN glanced at Munding who had somehow taken a step back.
“Not cooking, Uncle, but food for buffalo. A kind of healthy plant, anything, as long as it is safe and delicious to eat buffalo. Is that?”
The farmer, who was a man with a sideburn and shakes his boat. With his hands, he pointed at the pile of fresh grass beside the cage.
“Ongng ...”
Mantingan turned towards Munding while shaking slowly. “No, Munding. I'll keep finding those plants for you.”
“Oi, can you speak buffalo?” The farmer in front of him turned his head curiously towards Munding. “Hazard years of being a breeder, never been able to talk to farm animals. Let alone with buffalo, with a horse that is notoriously smart can not.”
Not knowing what to respond to, Mantingan could only smile stiffly.
“But if you want to find healthy plants, I suggest to go to the end of the road there.” The farmer pointed to a shop at the end of the market street. “There's a healer who, uh, it's hard to call him a healer. But no matter how bad it was, he still sold the strange plant to anyone willing to pay. You may be interested.”
Mantingan. “Thank you, Uncle, I'll go there.”
“Nah, okay. If you're hungry, don't forget to stop by the store across the street to taste how delicious buffalo gulai is!”
Mantingan laughed softly and said that he was not hungry. After being friends with Munding, he had lost his appetite for buffalo meat. Beef or anoa may not matter, but not with buffalo meat.
Mantingan. Walking away from the small farm along with Munding. Walk slowly towards the shop at the end of the road, according to the direction of the farmer.
The streets of the market are so crowded, that Mantingan and Mundingan move like snails. Going one-two with a short. Jostling. Faced with objections from other market visitors, complaining of the aroma of Munding's body is very unpleasant.
It took a little longer, but in the end they arrived as well.
The shop door was closed, the windows were closed. It's like being completely uninhabited. But in the body of the door of the store, there is an accent writing Pallawa that contains such:
If you want to stay, open and enter.
The mantle is somewhat doubtful. Should he leave Munding out here? Bringing a buffalo into the store can be considered impolite, especially with smelly and deciduous buffalo. Really, Mantingan is not afraid of Munding being kidnapped or anything. He was only afraid that if Munding went berserk for some reason, it would surely make the entire market into a tattered mess. If it's like that, the business is not kidding anymore.
“Bring in your car. Many have done it.”
Mantingan looked at the shop door right in front of him that was vigilantly. The voice came from there. Old woman's voice. Has the person inside the store been watching him since? And even if so, how could that person read his mind? The mantingan felt he had to put up his vigilance really.
“Aih, so long ago you. Come in quickly before more people notice you. Don't let them be suspicious!”
Manten pushed the door without saying much more. The room inside was very dark, as if it was not touched by any kind of light. There was nothing but darkness itself. Mantingan immediately signaled Munding to enter the store.
___
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