The Musafir
Making Garden Tools in the Middle of the Forest
But that does not mean Mantingan will be lazing around, enjoying the breeze of the fresh forest. In a forest as limited as this, Mantingan would not waste time. He chose to work, making some garden tools.
For others, maybe the actions done by Mantingan seem crazy. Perhaps also, people will think the madness of Uncle Kedai also down on Mantingan, his student. Who wants to make garden equipment in the middle of a limited forest? Even people in the city were reluctant to make their own garden tools, choosing to buy from craftsmen, even though the tools to make them were easy to come by.
But for Mantingan, it was precisely in this limited forest that he had to make his own garden equipment. Because it is impossible to go to the city just to buy hoes, axes, as well as some other tools. After all, Mantingan knew how to make those tools with materials in the forest.
Mantingan went around, looking for some flat stones the size of a palm, cut the base of the roots of the fallen rubber tree, and cut through the dry weeds.
Mantingan returned to his camp, put his search items in the storage room, and only brought the flat stones to the edge of the small river.
In that small river, the flat stones would be transformed into other items by Mantingan.
At first Mantingan wet the flat stone, then rub another stone into the flat stone. The activity is the same as sharpening a knife, but the work is much heavier, because the honed is stone, not iron. During the sharpening, in addition to continuing to water it with water, Mantingan also water it with wet soil.
Keep the stone sharpening mantle, until it is more flat and sharp on the outside. The sharpness of the stone certainly does not match the sharpness of the iron blade, but it can still be used as a lumbering axe. The mantle does the same to other flat stones, until it is sufficient to make axes, forklifts, hoes, and shavings.
All of them have different shapes, and to form stones to fit their uses, Mantingan use other stones. The work Mantingan can do quickly because he himself is a swordsman.
The flat stones are then tied with the base of the rubber tree roots that have mantingan shape like a handle. According to people in his village first, the roots of rubber trees are much stronger and durable to be used as tool handles.
The tares that the Mantingan collected could be rope, but no Mantingan wear now. The tares must pass through the drying process first before being spun into ropes. The rope that Mantingan was using right now was the one he had bought before.
After the sharp stones are tied with their respective handles, then become the extraordinary garden equipment. Mantingan himself did not believe that he could make those things. Never had he tried this before, it was only natural for him not to believe in what he had done.
When Mantingan wanted to test his tools, the sun had fallen far until now the time of twilight arrived. For Kiai Guru Kedai, twilight is a vulnerable time. Not because of the subtle creatures that come out at a time like this. Kiai Guru Kedai said that when twilight arrived, the condition of the heart began to weaken. His teacher forbade Mantingan to fight at twilight, also advising him not to do strenuous activities at that time.
The mantle keeps all its hardware in the storage room. Not only does he keep the items, Mantingan always avoids storing items that come into contact with the ground. Hang the axe, the sheet knife, the fork handle, the hoe, and the shackle on the wooden wall.
After which, the Mantan came out from that storage room. Go to the campfire and light it. Boil tea water over the campfire. Sitting cross-legged on the side of the tent, taking turns looking at the orange sky and the campfire.
Has Mantingan ever imagined his adventure would be like this? So many people helped him. Kenanga, Rara, Ki Dagar, Birawa, and Kiai Guru Kedai. They changed the life of a Mantenan. The first poor papa, become well-off. Who originally was a reckless traveler, timid, uncalculated, became a brave and experienced traveler. The originally vengeful man, became the man of peace.
If allowed, then can the Mantingan repay their kindness?
The mantle breathes slowly. Realize that his knowledge is lacking. Mantingan does not want to be complacent, but still must be grateful. If complacency will make him stop seeking knowledge, then ungrateful will accumulate hatred in the world.
Mantingan will continue to wander, looking for new things, adding knowledge from all over Dwipantara, not even impossible until the Land of the Roof of Heaven. What will happen to him later? And what will his adventure be like? Mantingan imagined it, but he knew that the situation was not always the same as what was in his shadow.
Mantingan will warmly welcome any surprise in his life. Because it is a part of life, which must be lived and not passed, which must be enjoyed and not hated.
The sun is completely drowned. The sky darkened, along with the beautiful stars above the sky.
Even if Mantingan looked back at the sky, he felt he really had to seek more knowledge. The mantan is very curious, where the stars are there anything. And what does the real star look like? Is the star indeed such a small form, whose dim light is inferior to the light of the sun? Or is it really the sun, but the sun is far away.
Imagining that, Mantingan was amazed. If the star really is another sun, is there another earth that also rotates its sun? Is there life on the other earth?
And most importantly, can man have knowledge that reveals it all? While humans today always make war, which certainly prevents smart people to think calmly.
War always messes up all fields. The economy and food did not escape him. Of course it has a big impact on intelligent thinkers, or commonly called scholars. Suppose the word in the field of food and economics does not occur chaos, then the smart thinkers do not need to slam the bones of work for money just for a mouthful of rice. If the rice barn is always full, not seized by soldiers or pirates, then it is not necessary that intelligent thinkers are dizzy to think about food. And the same thing can happen if the state budget is not used for war alone.
When will the Truth rule? If indeed that could happen in two hundred years, could the Mantan survive and enjoy that power? While now he is a swordsman, who most likely killed another swordsman.
The night was getting late, Mantingan felt the need to sleep tonight. Sleep is a gift for him who has worked hard from morning until dusk pick up. Tonight Mantingan will try to sleep together, he never learned to regulate his breath even while asleep though.
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Important note:
After you have finished reading this eps, please go to eps 75 and read eps 76. After that, read eps 75 after this chapter.
