THE MYSTERY OF THE FOREST
#03
The sun has sunk behind the forest. The fog began to thicken. Cold weather piercing. The whole forest hides behind blankets and a night fireplace. The occasional crow's voice was heard bouncing on the tree trunks. Pine trees were like ghost towers in the darkness. Silent and silent.
Two men who had been enjoying coffee in a coffee shop this morning, Bu Sarmi, were seen lighting a fire in a large fireplace made of clay, in front of where they sat cross-legged. One of them poured hot water into a large aluminum cup. He shifted it slightly near the burning fire, hoping the coffee he brewed remained warm.
Another stood up to pick up a shabby quilt of stripes hanging from a clothesline. The black jacket he was wearing didn't seem warm enough to drive away the coldness of his body. Before he sat down, he wrapped the blanket around his body.
"Oya Nasir, I had coffee again in his stall, Ms. Sarmi. He told me that his son Almarhum Pak Marwi had coffee in his stall this morning".
The man called Nasir scrunched his forehead. He smiled and shook his head. A few small twigs were put into the furnace. The flame inside the fireplace grew bigger.
"Why is the late Mr Marwi? Who burned down his house and hung it on a tree?" Nasir said in disbelief. His friend nodded. Nasir smiles. Both of his palms were facing him close to the fireplace.
"What's true is Badrol, didn't his son Pak Marwi also burn in the house?" Nasir said to his friend whom he called Badrol. Badrol was silent for a moment.
"Looks not. The elders said he was saved by Mr. Ahmad, his uncle."Badrol said. Nasir looked at Badrol's face. This time he was silent for a long time. Like starting to believe it.
"Before he was alive or not, obviously they had the heart to treat Marwi sir like that. As evil as anyone, I would not have the heart to do that" said Nasir lamented. He sipped coffee in his hand. He looked grimacing while closing his eyes. He pointed towards Badrol.
"Fuck you, Badrol. Why don't you put sugar on my coffee" Nasir said, drawing the coffee he drank from his mouth. Seeing that Badrol laughed out loud while holding his stomach.
"Sorry brother, I forgot. I remember Sarmi's story first rather than putting you sugar" Badrol said, laughing as he held his stomach.
"It's a good thing that you drink first, otherwise I'll definitely drink my coffee. Ni see, I haven't given my coffee sugar either" Badrol continued, showing him the aluminum cup in his hand.
For a moment they both fell silent while enjoying the coffee in their hands.
"By the way about Mr. Marwi, I get goosebumps, by the way" said Nasir.
"How the hell was the story until the incident happened. At that time I was again in the village taking care of KTP. Until now I am still not so clear because of the disaster," continued Nasir curious.
Badrol raised both shoulders. He turned his body against the fireplace.
"Said Ahmad, the husband of Sarmi ma'am who has provoked his friends to commit arson and murder. They argue that Mr. Marwi is a witch doctor. It just so happened that a lot of farmers died. People accuse Marwi sir of denying it. But remember, Nasir. This can't be spread. If Mr. Jumarin's men find out, we can be killed too."
Nasir listened carefully to Badrol's story. Nasir nodded his head.
"The accusation of a group of people who provoked the population to burn down the house and kill Mr. Marwi, according to Mr. Ahmad, is only the plausibility of Mr. Jumarin, her husband Ms. Sarmi. They are angry because Mr. Marwi always prevents them from getting additional land. They are willing to take and rent land owned by others. I agree more with Ahmad. Sarmi's mother's husband is indeed a crafty person," Badrol said, this time half-whispering but sounding annoyed.
Nasir just nodded.
"And it could be the return of his son Pak Marwi is for revenge. If it is true that his son was Mr. Marwi," said Nasir trying to guess after just silent listening to the opinion of Badrol. Badrol gave a long sigh.
"If I were him, I'd have my revenge. The case has never been processed to date. She said Sarmi's husband and his friends spent three hundred million to bribe the police."
"Do you dare to fight them?" ask Nasir. Badrol scratched his head while smiling wryly.
"I don't know either" he answered briefly. Nasir smiled scornfully.
"Five hundred million alone they will not be overwhelmed. The land they have won so much. Out there, they really have the power to take advantage of fools with their cleverness and money. They make fake land letters, even threaten people who want to sue to prison. You know that Mr. Jumerin himself knows all the officials in the city," Badrol added in a half-whispering voice. Sometimes he looks at the door. Like someone else would hear the conversation.
Badrol evaporated long. His coffee cup he pushed aside further and he began to shake his leg. Seeing that, Nasir took the pillow behind him and laid down his body.
* * *
The night is getting late. The cold felt more piercing. The night dwellers were really like living mummies curled up behind the thick of their blankets.
As the night dwellers sleep, a mysterious man is seen standing next to each other behind a large tree. About ten meters from the public road. His gaze was sharply fixed towards the small hut belonging to Sarmi ma'am. The sound of mosquitoes covering his body was completely ignored. He was like the ruler of the night in the silence of the wilderness. There is no fear when the occasional strange sounds of the night beast shock the silence of the night.
The mysterious man turned his body. With a limp step, he stepped calmly into the dark forest.
