The River House

29. Headstone

He nodded, opening his eyes. The black clouds that had inhabited the sky, were now slowly starting to leave. He felt his head pulsing. I don't know what happened to her body, whether she just fell asleep or maybe she just fainted. What was clear the last time he remembered was while sitting in the hut's head in the middle of the forest.

Body Drenched. Cold, of course, he felt. The shabby book he had picked up was still safely wedged in his right armpit.

"The rain has stopped. It's time for me to go" Galang muttered to himself.

Trouble trying to stand up. His body feels cold and limp. When he stood up, the world turned. His stomach was nauseated instantly.

"HOOEEKKK!"

Barf puke. The delicious breakfast made by Mak Ijah this morning was wasted. Galang again sitting limp in the hut. He leaned his head against the pillar of the cottage made of wood.

"Damn!" Galang.

Galang knew his body could not withstand the cold because it was soaked in rain. He got wind. Indeed, all this time his work requires him to sit in the office all day, so his body is rarely moved. He never did sports either. Fast food is often the time he enjoys it. And this is how it ended up, his body was not so resistant to the changes in the weather.

Silence for a moment. Looking around, hoping there was something he could take advantage of. He felt he had to act quickly, immediately leaving the old hut. The photo stored in the middle of the book that he clasped in the armpit made him worry and was was was. He was sure that among his friends who had come to Zainul's place, there were two people who had ulterior motives.

Galang continued to spread his gaze around. Until finally Galang found a group of empon empon plants among thick shrubs.

He forced his body to stand up. With trembling legs and staggering, he walked over to where the medicinal herbs were. In a hurry, Galang dropped his pant*t on the muddy ground in front of him.

His head felt really dizzy, and his stomach was getting nauseous unbearably. Then blindly Galang pluck one by one the plants in front of him. Galangal, saffron, ginger he just threw it. He has not found what he is looking for. 

Galang no longer cared about his blackened fingers and toenails due to the wet soil he clawed and dug. He continuously plucked the plant in front of him. Eventually he found what he was looking for. A large segment of ginger in his hand.

The smell of ginger in the air. The typical spicy, hot and fragrant is able to soothe a turbulent stomach. Galang clean the soil in the folds of the folds of the ginger segment. Put on wet pants so that at least not too much mud and soil attached.

After it was felt clean enough, Galang chewed the ginger. Smoke and sip it with your eyes closed. The sensation of bitter spicy, with the smell of sharp soil actually makes Galang feel nauseous. However, he forced his mouth to continue swallowing.

Galang sat panting. His taste buds are like numbness. However, the effect of ginger gives a warm feeling in the chest and stomach. Galang could breathe more freely, and his stomach felt more comfortable.

After a while and a few burps sounded, Galang felt his head no longer heavy. His dizziness gradually healed. The turmoil in his stomach was also much reduced.

He tried to stand up from his seat. And finally, his footrest did not falter. The earth feels normal and calm, no longer turning as before. Galang breathed a sigh of relief. Thankful in his mind.

Galang prepared to leave the old hut when in the distance a human figure was seen, wearing a jet-black raincoat running towards him. The distance between Galang and the mysterious figure was probably about 50 meters.

Galang realized, the figure had evil intentions on him. At first glance visible flashes of sharp objects carried by the figure. Without a second thought, Galang immediately took a thousand steps.

He kept running, occasionally looking back. And true to his guess, that black rain-clad figure still continued to chase after him. Clearly, the figure was very agile running around in the forest area. The distance between Galang and the mysterious figure was getting closer. 

Sweat flooded Galang's body, fear spread in his heart. His breathing was stingy, his heartbeat was timid, recorded by his sense of hearing.

Again Galang turned his head, and this time the mysterious figure was not seen again. Stop for a moment, catch your breath. He crouched down holding his painful knee. 

He looked around, and now he was really lost. The place he stood in felt foreign. Several acacia trees were towering, with elephant grass as tall as the belly was all around it.

"Jank! I don't want to die silly in a place like this," Galang said annoyedly. 

Galang was increasingly irritated at himself for not having the time to see the face of the figure who was chasing him earlier. What is clear from his stature, that figure is not Mr. Mardoyo.

With a little tiptoe, Galang walked back. He had reached for HP in his pants pocket. But unfortunately, his HP was soaked and died completely, making Galang even more annoyed with his misfortune today.

Galang continued to walk, until it arrived at a field with many white frangipani flowers around it. The grass in that place looks well maintained, not left too high.

Right in the middle of the field, there is a tombstone from the rock with a sprinkling of flowers that still look new. The fragrance of jasmine also burst into the air.

Galang walked closer to the tombstone. Then he sat down, looking at the name engraved on the gravestone.

It is written in large enough letters, Zainul Rikhman June 07. He glared in surprise, as if in disbelief. The gravestone before him was the grave of Zainul, the man who had invited Galang and his old High School friend to come to his house.

"If this is Zainul's grave, then who was in the wheelchair?" It looks confusing.

Srakk sraakk sraakk

I heard footsteps approaching. Galang gulped and immediately prepared to run back. However, he felt he had to look and confirm the face of the mysterious figure first before blurring.

The figure in black rain really appeared. With a downcast face, the figure walked over while holding a small folding knife. When the mysterious figure looked up, staring at Galang, clearly visible face behind the hood of the raincoat.

"You?" Galang glared surprised 

"What do you want?" The host asked back 

But not the answer Galang got, but the mysterious figure ran over while swinging his knife.

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