THE MYSTERY OF THE FOREST

#25

Farhan and Hardian rubbed the melted sweat on their bodies. After making sure the land they leveled was safe for the runway, they decided to take a break.

"It's only now that I let the kidnapping suspect go free without such handcuffs, along with his victim again," Hardian said with a smile towards Fadli. Mayni herself was forced to bind them to a tree trunk because she kept trying to disturb Fadli.

"I'm sure he won't mess around. I know very well he appreciates me" Farhan said.

Hardian offered Farhan a cigarette.

"Oh yes Han, while waiting for the heli to come, maybe you can pry a description from Fadli. Who knows, he'll be frank about the murders. When it needs to be recorded. Let him speak from heart to heart, let me take care of the woman" Hardian said. Farhan turned his head towards Fadli who was still pensive, not far from where they were sitting. Farhan then rose. Before leaving, Farhan took out a plastic crackle from behind his jacket and gave it to Hardian.

"What is this," asked Hardian.

"That's a piece of ear, I found it in the hut. Maybe it was Haji Maemun's ear that you told me about." Farhan then stepped up to meet Fadli.

Hardian opened the crackle bag and actually found a piece of ear inside. He nodded and shook his head.

*

Fog is still seen shrouding the jungle. The bright sunlight that was seen a few hours ago, has now disappeared covered in cloudy and thick fog. The watch on Hardian's hand has shown at 2 p.m. Hardian looked uneasy looking at the increasingly dark weather. He turned his head towards Mayni who was still sitting with her hands still tied in the tree. He had to move it to the hut before it rained. He hopes that in the next few hours, the fog and cloudy will disappear and the evacuation process can run smoothly.

While Hardian was away moving Mayni, Farhan looked serious about talking to Fadli.

"Oh yes Han, I think I've seen you once in a row with Haji Maemun. If only I knew it was you, maybe I wouldn't feel lonely" Fadli said. Farhan scrunched his forehead.

"O yes," Farhan looked at Fardi while recalling the incident. "Where were you at the time" asked Farhan.

"I hid behind a tree. I just saw it from a distance. I'm ashamed to be the center of attention, Han," said Fadli.

For a moment they were silent. At first Farhan was a bit hesitant to ask about the murder, but he felt he had to talk about it with Fadli. He held Fadli's shoulder.

"Sorry Fadli, I have to ask you this. Hopefully, with your cooperation, your punishment will be lightened" Farhan said.

"I don't care about Han's punishment. I know what I did was wrong, and I deserve to be put to death" Fadli said with a faint smile.

Farhan rubbed Fadli's back.

"If you just kidnap, you won't be put to death" Farhan tried fishing. He knew he would get a lot of information because of Fadli's plain style of speech. A few hours with him, he seemed to have found the old Fadli again. His style of speech that flows when telling stories with people he knows, makes Farhan sure, he will get information from Fadli.

Fadli held Farhan's shoulder.

Farhan scrunched his forehead. He looked towards Hardian. The man seemed to enjoy his cigarette in front of the hut.

"Kill out? kill who Fadli is" Farhan said half in a whisper.

"I killed the bastards in this place. Now that I am satisfied, this place will be a peaceful place without them," Fadli smiled in satisfaction.

"Those are who," asked Farhan curiously. Fadli looked at Farhan steadily. Fadli clenched his hand.

"Those who killed our father. Those who wronged by taking the land of others. Everyone, Haji Maemun and his gang." Fadli fell silent and set his gaze forward. He looked back at Fadli. What he heard from Fadli made him even more curious. Not noticeably, Farhan's fur stood up.

"But I only killed Sarmi and Mistar ma'am," continued Fadli with a tone of anger. A cold wind blew the hair off his face. An unpleasant smell spread from his body. Farhan persisted. He's not away. He did not want to offend Fadli.

"Sarmi and Mistar only?"

Fadli. Farhan was curious.

"That means that there are other killers still wandering in this place, Sukar sir's killer and Haji Maemun," Farhan said as he looked around.

Fadli turned his gaze upwards, seeing the shoots of pine trees swaying in the wind.

"The Killer of Pak Sukar is Mistar. I heard they were fighting over a trivial matter. Mistar cut off his head. I had my own crossbow and hung it on the tree" said Fadli pointing towards the tree not far from them. "As for Haji Maemun's killer, I don't know, but I'm glad he's dead. I just found his head cut off in the bushes. Enraged by not being able to kill him myself, I cut off his ear and kept it in the hut. If you want to take it as evidence, take it in the cottage" said Fadli. He picked some ripe strawberries nearby and ate them. Farhan nodded.

Fadli held Farhan's shoulder. There was sadness that Farhan caught from the twinkling of his eyes. There was something serious, that he wanted to say.

"Han, if I'm going to jail or put to death, I'll take the fields and all the crops that are here. Hopefully you can use it." Fadli's crying. The strawberry in his hand came off.

"I have no one in this world. If I die, I will only take my sins before God. No one will pray or send me Fatehah. Frankly, that's what I think about every night in the sins I commit. I'm not afraid of the death penalty if it melds my sins and mistakes,"

Farhan rubbed Fadli's back. From the twinkling of his eyes, he seemed to hold a deep sense of compassion for Fadli. But he can't do anything. Everything has happened. He could only promise to try to help Fadli as best he could.

"You must live, you must try to live. With the rest of us given the opportunity to live by God, we have the opportunity to replace evil with good. Do we not go to heaven because of His mercy? not because of what we've done. Don't despair Fadli, I'll help you as much as I can, God willing." Farhan patted Fadli's shoulder excitedly. The drizzle started to come down. Looking at the dense overcast, maybe heavy rain will soon fall.

Farhan grabs Fadli's body and invites him to take shelter in the cottage.