The River House

17. Rain on the hill

Ellie and Iva decided to take a look at the river next to the house. The two of them walked down the river, and were immediately amazed by the beauty of nature's paintings. Such a large rock with a clean, clear and quite swift flow of water. Mella chose not to go to the river. He returned home through the back door.

"Ell, actually the area where we live is not short of natural resources to be used as a tourist means yes," said Iva arrived.

"Yes that's it. The natural upstream area of the river like this really spoils the eye. It's just that access here is difficult. Maybe if the local government wants to make a way, this place will be very crowded visited by city residents who are tired of the noise and daily activities," Ellie chimed.

"What might be the purpose of Zainul making a house in a place like this, so that there are people who want to visit a beautiful place even though it is remote," Iva frowned.

"It could be, Zainul's way of thinking is hard to guess," Ellie sat on one of the big rocks in the middle of the river.

"Where is Yodi, by the way? Is it true that he came home alone in a wounded state?" Iva sits on a rock, close to Ellie. The sun looks already high enough in the sky that is bright tosca-colored today.

"Eitherway. I really hope she's okay" Ellie enjoys the warm sunshine that hits her white skin.

"Yodi used to be the most recalcitrant kid, right? He is the one who most often pranks Zainul. I remember when he locked Zainul in a closet. If not wrong, Zainul was only found when the clock returned to school in a state bound in the warehouse closet," Iva seemed to remember.

"Do we deserve to be called friends by Zainul? Has Zainul forgiven us?" Ellie covered her eyelids using the back of her hand.

"That's Ell's past. With all his success, I believe Zainul has moved on. Adolescent delinquency occurs because of an immature mindset. Now we are a better person. Didn't we?" Iva smiled at Ellie.

"But, have we apologized to Zainul?" Ellie closed her eyes. Iva just kept quiet.

* * *

Mr. Mardoyo, Galang and Bayu have reached the top of the hill. Mr. Mardoyo's steps are really fast and powerful. Bayu and Galang who incidentally are much younger than Mr. Mardoyo in fact can not hide his fatigue.

"Pak Pak. . .can not we stop first," said Galang memelas.

"Why Mas?" Mr. Mardoyo smiled that felt mocking.

"My cat feels like it's going to explode, sir. This if it is forced to cramp this," Galang held his leg.

"The mass is lacking that sport. Only your father is strong. Yes, we've rested for a while" Mr. Mardoyo relented. Finally the three of them stopped under a sengon tree, located at the top of a fairly roomy hill.

"Sir, I want to ask you something," said Bayu arrived.

"Please" said Mr. Mardoyo.

"When did Zainul use a wheelchair? And what exactly is she sick of?" 

"The past few months Mr. Zainul has been unwell. As for the pain, don't you two know better?" Mr. Mardoyo asked back. Bayu and Galang exchanged looks. 

"We do not understand what you mean," said Bayu reassured.

"Yes maybe after you all stay at Mr. Zainul's house for a few days, you will remember. Sometimes the guilty person will try to deny and forget his mistake, while the injured party can not forget one bit," Mr. Mardoyo stood up from his seat.

The three of them walked back down the hills. Every now and then Bayu yells calling Yodi's name. He still hopes his friend is in one corner of the forest or maybe is 'talking' and lost.

Time went on, circling the hills from one corner to another but the results were nil. No Yodi, no sign of him passing through that hill.

"With the injured leg yesterday, Yodi should not have been able to walk far. Is it possible that we are not careful, why we do not look for it in the house alone," Galang spoke while adjusting his breath that stinged.

"Or maybe, Yodi became a victim of crime," Galang uttered his sentence which he had been holding since yesterday.

"Evil cannot be called a crime, if there are no victims and no evidence. Isn't that so, Mr. Officer?" Mr. Mardoyo smiled towards Bayu.

Again in Bayu's eyes, the housekeeper behaved unnaturally. As Bayu recalls, he never told Mr. Mardoyo that he was a police officer. But from what Mr. Mardoyo just said, Bayu guessed the old man knew about his work.

"Maybe we'd better get home soon" Mardoyo pointed at the black cloud that was clumping in the southern sky.

The weather at the end of the year is often unpredictable. Though just now the sky looks bright, as if the pastel blue color in space is irreplaceable. But in fact the cloud clumps are so thick, moving very quickly.

Mr. Mardoyo walked the front, followed by Bayu, and the back is Galang. The path can not be passed by lined. Mr. Mardoyo increasingly speed up the steps when the road passed in the form of derivatives. Bayu is a little difficult to catch up. The gap is also getting behind.

The sky is getting darker. Thunder boils sound simple sahutan. Inevitably Mr. Mardoyo continues to increase the speed of his footsteps. He slightly ran jumping from one rock to another.

Along with the rain, Bayu continued to try to catch up with Mr. Mardoyo's steps. Bayu does not want to be left behind, especially the forest that passed still feels foreign to him. Bayu forgot Galang who was behind. Raindrops are getting bigger, and visibility is getting limited.

Galang gasped for breath. He lost Mardoyo and Bayu in front of him. The rain made the hills very dark and foggy. The footing was increasingly slippery, one step just a little he could fall rolled into the abyss.

"Baayyyy," Galang shouted. He tried to summon the Bayu who was in front. However, his voice was covered by the swift water of the sky that spilled to the earth.

The fire started to rage. The path that passed began to have branches. He forgot which way he should go. The rain also made him sneeze several times due to the cold.

"Janc**!" Galang cursed, feeling his feet scratched by thorns. 

"You know I don't want to come."

 The rain grew heavy, as if punishing Galang who had said dirty in the middle of the forest. It may be true parents do not talk dirty when we are in a foreign place alone.

He decided to find a shelter. After all, he believes Bayu will soon realize that he is left behind. Surely Bayu will look for him. Looking for a large tree that can be used for shelter.

Others were found to be sought after. Galang instead found a building made of wooden planks with dried coconut leaves as the roof. An old cottage. It looks unkempt and creepy.

Thought for a moment. With a hint of hesitation in his heart, he walked over to the old cottage.

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