The Musafir
Central Library; Behind the White Wind College
“Kisanak please ride in the horse carriage with the corresponding sign of the numbers listed on that wood. If the number that Kisanak gets is four-three, then the horse carriage with that number is on the north side.” The soldier said quickly without the slightest mistake, it seemed that he had spoken a similar sentence thousands of times.
Mantingan went past the standing officer, quickly he walked to the north horse carriage line before dusk picked up.
***
Now Mantingan was on a horse-drawn carriage that drove over the streets, splitting the density of the city.
Mantingan did not sit alone on the horse carriage, there were several others with him in a similar direction. Slowly Mantingan understood the way this horse-drawn carriage obtained passengers. The horse-drawn carriages at the stop had marked numbers on the walls of the carriage, the horse-drawn carriage with the same numbers would go the same way. The horse-drawn carriages were made with different numbers and lines. Numbers are used to make it easier for prospective passengers to find the right train for them.
People who have been in this city for a long time usually will not be difficult to find the number of trains in accordance with the path they are directed, they have memorized it. But Mantingan was not a person who had been in this city for a long time, so it was better to go to the carriage stop.
The horse-drawn carriage Mantingan slowly stopped. Mantingan looks to his right side, where there is a very large high-rise building and a lot of visitors.
“Here is the place, Son.” The horseman said to Mantingan.
“What should I pay, Father?” ask Mantingan.
“You want to study there?”
“Ya.”
“No need to pay then, hurry down before the day becomes night. Library will close at night.”
The mantan looked at the horseman with a question mark. The horseman looked back at Mantingan, as if showing his seriousness and honesty, there was no malicious intent behind that gaze.
“Thank you, Mr.”
Mantang quickly got off the horse-drawn carriage. He wanted to smile at the good-natured horseman, but Mantingan seemed to have no power to move his lips. In the end the horseman reined in the horse and quickly left the place.
Mantingan let out a long sigh, staring at the building in front of him which was very tall. How many books are in it? Is there or is there no book about White Wind College?
Step Mantingan to the gate. There is a beautiful archway with celestial character scratches, signifying how visitors enter the center of the characters gathered. Mantingan passed through the gate with solemn steps.
After passing through the archway, Mantingan could see the courtyard of the building more clearly. There is a garden with a pond on the left, and benches for reading the paddle on the right side. The average library visitor is filled by elderly people who do devote themselves to the art of reading and writing, the rest is filled by young nobles.
They stared at the strange mantans. Manten stared at them awkwardly, he clearly knew what made them look at him like that. When viewed from the appearance, then the appearance of Mantingan is very different from their appearance. Mantingan has the appearance of a wanderer with a bundle and four coffers. His clothes were also covered with dust. The coat also wears a wide caping. His appearance was much different from that of a literary or noble.
The mantang keep stepping. There were several steps that he passed before he could finally reach the entrance of the building.
The entrance of this building was extremely wide, as if a hundred people could enter it quickly and easily. There are two guards on both sides of the door. Inside it looks more amazing. The mantan then stepped inside, feeling the smooth floor made of teak wood.
The mantel needs to raise its head to see the shelf up.
The books are neatly arranged from bottom to top, no matter who has dared to organize the books to the highest shelf. It was inconceivable how many books would fall during an earthquake, it must have injured the people below because they were big and fell from a height.
The mantel looks around. On this ground floor a lot of people are reading or looking for books on small shelves, but they are not as noisy as, unlike people out there. The situation here was completely quiet and calm. Lontar smell thick.
On various sides of the room, in addition to the large pillars supporting the building, there are also tables, complete with officers who are ready to answer the questions of visitors. The mantel went to one of those tables.
His officer was a woman who seemed to be learned, he smiled at Mantingan even though the appearance of Mantingan looks very strange here.
“Welcome to the central library, can anyone please help?”
“Is there a book or book that concerns the existence of the White Wind College?”
The woman's smile instantly disappeared, like being swallowed by the waves of the beach. Instead, the woman was now staring at Mantingan with a sharp gaze.
“To what do you say that name here?”
“Sorry. I'm looking into the college, so I don't know if it's a college to call or not.”
“Sahaya can assume it's reasonable, but let's warn you unofficially. It was a forbidden college to be named in this city. Maybe you can say that name in another city, but not in this city.”
“I don't understand the reason.”
“Do not need a reason.” The woman said slowly. “The most important thing is that you no longer mention the name of the college.”
“I told you that I don't understand why. I don't know if you mean to deceive me or not.” The mantle shrugged his shoulders. “If indeed you do not want to give an excuse, let me find myself about the White Wind College in this library.”
The woman sighed softly, then held back the Mantingan that was about to turn around. “You want to find that college to learn silat?”
“My reasons don't matter to you.” The coat said briefly and began to walk away, but the woman grabbed her robe and managed to hold the Coat.
“If you want to find the college, then meet me on the library page after work.”
The mantan immediately engaged an inner war within his head. Mantingan did not want this woman to be close to him like what happened to Rara and Arkawidya, but Mantingan needed information about the White Wind College and its dark history in this city. Plus the initial description of the woman who said that the name of the White Wind College is a name that is forbidden to be mentioned in this city. That is what Mantingan fears, if he is in the city; close to others.
“I'll be waiting for you.” The mantle finally decided. He still needs information about White Wind College. Mantingan swore in his heart, that this woman would not be left closer than a mere friendship.
