THE MYSTERY OF THE FOREST

#13

The sound of tonggeret and the song of the bird of mercy rang out in the depths of the forest. Under a tree Lo, Farhan leaned back to unwind after a while, he jibbled along the dense forest and bushes. Some of the fruit of the lo tree that fell on the ground, he collected and began to eat them one by one.

Farhan. He looked carefully at the trees and vines around him. After having painstakingly passed through various obstacles to get to where he is now, he began to feel thirsty. He must immediately find water to drink, at least to swallow more of the fruit he eats. Soon after night, Farhan immediately got up and started inspecting the surrounding trees and vines. He had to drink immediately to recover his strength. In the middle of a forest like this, he should have found a pitcher plant for his drink, but maybe because it was a bit dark, he could not see it yet.

Farhan smiled. After for a while he stood looking around, he realized that the vines he was holding were the roots of the liana plant. The plant grows in a junction between the trunks of the tree, looming following the trunks of the tree. Maybe there is a lot that he has passed, because he is more focused on finding a pitcher.

Farhan took off the machete that was firmly tied around his waist. He then cut both sides of the tree, the top and the bottom, and placed them on top of his mouth with a look up. Devouringly, Farhan gulped down the water coming out from the roots of the vines. The clear water flowing from the roots of the plant, slowly restored the freshness of Farhan's body. Farhan tied back the machete on his waist. Before continuing on, Farhan picked up some lo berries that fell on the ground and put them in his pocket. He must find the end of the forest. He believes the end is in front of there, because sayup-sayup he was like hearing the waves in the distance. Carefully, Farhan continued his footsteps accompanied by the prayers he offered.

*

*

The torch in front of the yard of Mr. Sumarep's hut looks to and fro in the wind. The flame of the lamp is blocked inside the house that occasionally dims, illuminating the room in the hut. Mr. Sumarep is seen sitting with his next leg raised and his right hand resting on his knee. Beside him, his wife, was finishing bamboo matting that had not been done by Mr. Sumarep last night. Not far from where they were sitting, Wati was lying on top of her. His face looked sad and still shocked by Farhan's uncertain existence. The incident made him feel no appetite. The food that his mother had served was not touched at all. His mind was only on Farhan who now knew where he was. Are alive or dead. If you are still alive and in the forest, the chances of survival are small. There are many wild animals, like panthers, as people tell us, roaming the forest. Forests that have never been explored, even by the forestry police.

"Eat the Son, I promise, tomorrow morning with Sapri and Murdi will look for Farhan to the forest. Murdi has agreed to seek Farhan by sea with his canoe" said Mr. Sumarep. He kept smoking cigarettes in his hands. Wati looked weak.

"I'm sure you will succeed" said Wati half in despair.

"Mom, you rest first, tomorrow morning you have to wake up," said Mr. Sumarep before laying his body on a pandan mat.

"Yes sir, go to sleep first, I want to finish this first" Sumarep said. "And you Wati, eat the rice and rest. Believe in mother's faith, your brother Farhan is still alive."

Wati looked at her mother. He smiles. Her mother's words made her heart calm down a little. Slowly he got up and picked up the food next to him. The sound of a spoon that collides with an iron plate accompanies the sound of sleeping Mr. Sumarep.

The residents of the night began to hide in their respective disputes. The residents chose not to go to the fields at night since the killing of Haji Maemun, not far from the fields. Most of the population believed it was not Farhan who killed Haji Maemun. Although Farhan was the son of Mr. Marwi who several years ago was hanged by the pack of Jumerin and Haji Maemun, but too soon to conclude that Farhan was the culprit. Farhan did not know the forest area. Moreover, the forest where the Haji Maemun field is on the east side of the protected forest, while Farhan is on the south side of the forest. It must be people who have settled for a long time and really understand every inch of the path in the forest. Some argue, it's all the terror of a group of people to scare the citizens not to come to their fields at night. That way, they will be more flexible to take the crops planted by residents. But so far, no residents have reported losing their fruit or crops in the fields. Still more extreme, there might be demons roaming the middle of the forest at night.

Farhan was still groping in the darkness of the forest. He has resigned because there is no choice he can take but to continue to follow his heart. It was his second night overnight in the forest with wounds all over his body. The fishy smell of blood that came out due to falling on a tree and stuck in thorns, swept away the night wind. If only in the forest was there really a ferocious beast, then he was currently in an unsafe position. The chances of living were indeed very small, but he always confirmed his heart, as long as he could still walk, there was still hope to find a way out of the forest. I don't know what tree is in front of him. He has to find a safe place up there in the trees to rest tonight. He had to look for the liana plant that was creeping in between the trees as his bed tonight. At least tonight he felt safe from the wild beasts of the night because it was far from the bottom of the forest.

Farhan continued to grope back and forth full of vigilance. He stopped his steps. His hand touched some of the roots of the plant in front of him. Carefully he slowly crept up. After getting a position that he thought was comfortable and safe, he then laid down his body.

The sound of a crowded mosquito dominating the night was like scrambling to sing in Farhan's ears. But due to sleepiness and fatigue that was greatly due to his long journey, he was unconscious in his sleep.