THE MYSTERY OF THE FOREST
#20
Raindrops still sounded snarling on the leaves of the tree. Waiting for the rain to completely subside will waste a lot of time. Especially with a squatting sitting position avoids standing water, making their sitting so uncomfortable. Time kept turning, the clock had shown at 11 p.m. If they had to keep waiting until it completely subsided, they would be preceded by night. Hardian stood up and started to watch the surroundings.
Hardian held Farhan's hand. Farhan. The cigarette that had just been removed from the wrapper was ignited. After for a while they were seen discussing, they agreed to continue the journey.
Farhan. Seeing the slippery and difficult uphill road, he raised his pants to his knees.
The higher up, the more difficult the road. Both feet often slip due to slippery roads. Plus with the uphill track. The hands should look for a firm grip on the bushes or the small trees in front of them. The sound of mosquito-borne bites in the open places of the body complicates Farhan and Hardian's journey this afternoon.
It's been an hour. Hardian laid his body on the sidelines of the trees after reaching the top of the hill. While Farhan was still struggling to maintain his body that was starting to fatigue to continue to approach Hardian. Until he stood beside Hardian, who was still lying down, Farhan smiled. Down there, there is an open space with a few trees. A field with a stretch of green strawberry plants. Farhan smiled and immediately threw his body beside Hardian and went to lie down. Hardian looked towards him.
"You've seen," asked Hardian who was so exhausted beside him. Farhan just nodded. His breath looks up and down. He was scratching his hands and face from mosquito bites.
The two of them were already indifferent to their entire clothes and bodies covered in mud. Looking at the green expanse of strawberry plants in front of them, fatigue slowly began to disappear.
Hardian rubbed the glass of his watch covered in mud. He sighs. It's twelve o'clock more. He patted Farhan's chest and asked her to get up.
The area of the field in front of them was not so vast. Farhan estimated the area to be approximately 30 acres. Around the fields are lined with alpuchad and durian trees as a barrier to fields with forests. Hardian nodded. Sure enough, it was the last field in the northern forest area. Only fools and people who do not think of profit and loss would be willing to farm in that place. In addition to the factor of the distance from the road, the terrain uphill and up the hill, not to mention the bushes and large trees, will make it difficult for the owner to transport the crops out of the place.
Farhan and Hardian began to settle down the hills. In the corner of the field, there is a small tassel-roofed cottage. The cottage is almost invisible because part of it is covered with banana tree grass.
About two hundred meters away from the fields, Farhan and Hardian began to create a safe hiding place to monitor the situation before them. For a time, no activity was visible, either in the middle of the field or in the hut. The atmosphere is still quiet and quiet. Only the sound of birds and tonggeret could be heard whispering the ears. Occasionally the rooster of the forest screamed loudly.
Farhan looks yawning. His tired body due to the long journey, as well as the condition of his body that had not completely recovered, made him want to lie down for a moment. He looks pale and looks tired. Seeing that, Hardian told him to take a break.
"Rest, we have to take turns" said Hardian. Because of the sleepiness that felt heavy, Farhan could not hold his eyes closed immediately. Not long after, he began to fall asleep.
*
*
"Sir, where did that man come from" Farhan whispered. Hardian's gaze was unwilling to turn away from the male figure.
"He came out of the forest next door" Hardian replied after a while, neither answering Farhan's question.
"From the woods?" ask Farhan in wonder. "That means he has another cottage in there" Farhan continued.
"Entahlah, but the government rules do not allow any development in the forest area other than those already in the Regent's Office. The size is just to make sleep alone," explained Hardian at length.
The man is seen standing and walking towards the hut behind the grove of banana trees. Some time also he was in the hut, until shortly afterwards, seen smoke billowing from the direction of the hut.
"Sir," said Farhan offering Hardian berries. Hardian smiled. He grabbed some berries and ate them.
"Is he worthy of suspicion sir" asked Farhan. Hardian did not look.
"At first, but since the case is protracted, then he should also be suspected." Farhan nodded. The atmosphere around the cottage still looked quiet. There was no sign of the man.
The sky above the fields began to look dark. The fog looks thicker. Clouds are also seen beginning to cover the sky. The wind blows strong. The cold is getting worse. The atmosphere around the hut began to look faint by the appearance of the fog.
I can only faintly see the man coming out. In his hand was the bucket he used to pluck strawberries. But now it seems heavier. Many times he moved it alternately to his shoulders. With his cleft step, he walked into the forest.
Hardian and Farhan looked at each other, like they wanted to ask for their opinions.
"We have to divide the tasks. You check the hut and I'll follow the man. I will mark with this rapia rope so that you can catch up with me," Hardian said as he pulled out a roll of rapia rope that had been cut to the size of one inch from his pants pocket.
The two soon split up. As agreed upon, Farhan headed to the hut behind a grove of banana trees, while Hardian began to settle down to follow the man into the forest.
The atmosphere in the forest began to darken. The sound of small birds squeaking began to look for a place to spend the night in the branches of trees. The fog is getting thicker. The forest returns in its long semedies. The night sky began to sound like a dark rhythm in the forest. The atmosphere was getting quiet and tense. The wild sound of the wind at the tops of the trees occasionally makes the silence of the night melata.
