The Musafir
Bodies in the Streets
increasingly saddening scenery is seen after Mantingan and Chitra Anggini down the Kotaraja Slum deeper.
If Mantingan did not get rid of his humanity, then he would surely go berserk and cry from now on. Anything he saw was too stifling.
Skinny bodies scattered on the side of the road. Some are still fresh, although it looks really much more dull than the dead bodies of humans who died on the battlefield though. Some have rotted, dibalati, dibelungi, and eaten by crows and wild dogs.
The ones who still survive no longer seem to care for the dead. Feeling too futile to waste energy just to dig the ground or just set up pancaka.
“The lying bodies are only those with disease,” Chitra Anggini said in a soft voice. “Which is still healthy, should be cooked and eaten.”
He explained that eating human flesh has become a culture in the Kotaraja Slum. If one of the family members or relatives dies, then the relatives or relatives must eat the meat. The reason is for the respect of those who have died.
“But everyone here knows that it is really far from the real reason.” Chitra Anggini shook his head slowly. “Virtually no food in this place. Wild dogs are too difficult and dangerous to hunt. Only dead human flesh can they rely on to survive.
“However, they still eat human flesh just because of hunger. So from that created a tradition of eating the flesh of others to show respect, although in fact it is only a reason to patch up the sense of humanity.”
The mantle breathed a long breath. Based on what Chitra Anggini said, she learned that the situation in Kotaraja Slum is much worse than it seems.
When compared to the lives of the people of this settlement, Mantingan's sad past seemed to be nothing.
“Kurasa, here there is still a decent inn that is still open. I paved his way out of my head. Come!”
They walked faster, especially Munding Caraka after realizing there were many starving people looking at him lustfully. Although they are not a threat in the face of all the abilities they have, but still the buffalo feels very threatened.
Not long after, they arrived before a two-story building that had been reot and weathered. However, even though it looks very unfit, the building will look very perfect when compared to other buildings around it that have not formed a building anymore.
“This building still looks quite well maintained since last I saw,” chitra Anggini chirped while raising a little smile. “Hopefully there are still rooms for rent in it. Let's try to get inside.”
Mantingan looked around, but he could not find a mooring to tether Munding. So it was decided to leave Munding without tethering it. Isn't that buffalo smart enough not to run away? Why did he run away from his beloved Mantingan?
As soon as Mantingan and Chitra Anggini stepped in after breaking the curtain that transformed into a door, there appeared a young man who limped warmly welcomed the two.
“Welcome to Inns Gems Night! Gentlemen look very exhausted after struggling hard on the journey, surely need a place to just spend the night!”
Mantingan glanced at Chitra Anggini. At first glance, he looks like a man.
“There is still room? How much?” Chitra Anggini said without further ado.
“Duhai, how wretched I am after misjudging this very beautiful Lady. My eyes can't see anything clearly.” Realizing his mistake by calling Chitra Anggini a man, the skinny young man lowered his head deeply with a trembling voice.
Meanwhile, Chitra Anggini hurriedly glanced at the Mantingan next to him. Ask him to continue speaking.
“We will order for two nights, but it can be longer than that. How much?”
Still lowered his head, the young man replied quickly, “Excuse the danger, Sir! But this inn did not receive any money. Only receive food and clean water. If the food should be one catty [1]; if the water is clean it should be one nalih [2]. That's the price for one night stay here, sir, no other lodging in this settlement.”
“No one sells food or drinks in this place, Mr.” The young man shook his head weakly.
“Let me buy it outside,” said Chitra Anggini tetiba. “Just give me a little money, Man, and let me take Munding a little walk.”
“How about something happen?” asked Mantingan while looking at the girl solemnly. In an environment full of dirty-minded warriors, it is not safe for Chitra Anggini to go alone.
“I have the ability to protect myself.” Chitra Anggini gave a smile to make sure. “Again, I still keep the spouts you gave me back then. You remember, don't you?”
The mantan exhaled for a long breath before removing five gold pieces from the bag of his coffers. “Pend as much as possible. I don't want to see this money left later.”
Chitra Anggini accepted it, nodded her head, then walked out leaving her. There was no mantingan and that skinny young man there.
“We book two rooms, at least for two nights.” Mantingan broke the silence, repeating his request. “Can you show me the place?”
“Of course, Sir. Please initially follow the steps of sahaya.”
Mantingan was invited to climb the stairs to the second floor in this building. While climbing the stairs that had been hollowed out everywhere, Mantingan thought about how this inn could exist in the middle of the Kotaraja Slum Settlement. Who would dare to build a two-story inn in a place that has almost no potential customers at all?
Mantingan did not hesitate to ask, “Who built this inn?”
Barely expecting to face a question like this, the young man of the inn was pensive for a moment before finally being able to answer, “Sahaya herself did not know about it, Sir. Even all the managers in the Gem Inn tonight were not aware of it either. The history is like being wiped out, sir, and the tips of this inn say that we do not need to waste our energy by finding out.”
The mantle nodded its head. Began to guess that the Kotaraja Slum Settlement has a past that is covered in a veil of dark fog. For some reason, Mantingan felt the need to know.
“This is the best room owned Night Gem Inn, Mr.” The young man stopped a few steps after finishing the rungs. With both hands, he pointed at the two rooms that only wore curtain rags as their doors.
The mantan frowned, but then he could understand that the door leaf was an item that was still valuable enough to be sold in the city. He doesn't bother her.
“Thank you, I will pay for these two rooms as soon as possible.” Manten smiled sincerely.
“Do not hesitate, Sir. Permata Malam inn always trust all guests who visit.” The young man bowed his back deeply at once semitat from before Mantingan.
___
note:
[1] About 600 grams.
[2] About 8 liters.
Episodes of the month: 7/40
