The River House

37. Life and Death

Two dogs barked. His savage eyes looked at the blood-soaked Galang as if he was staring at a piece of meat ready to eat. Saliva dripping profusely between rows of teeth that look dirty yellowing sharp.

"Lord, how sinful was I until my death came in this way?" Galang muttered.

Galang was still clutching a piece of wood with its flaming tip on fire. Like a torch, he swung the wood to scare the two dogs in front of him.

GRRRRRRRRRRRR

The dog growls scary. The barge runs backwards. He tried to keep his distance. Galang tried not to make a movement arrived. Although he felt that he would not be able to survive this time, but the corner of his heart still asked him not to give up.

The fire that burned the tip of the wood in Galang's hand began to dim. Galang knew very well, if the fire was extinguished then the two wild dogs would immediately pounce and tear him apart.

Galang's left hand grabbed a hand-sized rock with a fairly taper tip lying under the footrest of his foot. He took a slow breath and then exhaled it. 

In life, people often complain about their fate. But in the face of death, it turns out that many things are worth being grateful for. Even as bad as the life that has been lived, Galang still wants to be able to return there rather than having to die in the middle of the wilderness as it is today.

Wuusshhhh

The night wind blew slowly, the cold was able to extinguish the fire that was burning. A thin white smoke billowed through the air, and darkness instantly ambushed. Two wild dogs in front of Galang directly stick their nails on the sandy soil on the river bank.

Galang tightly grasped a piece of wood in his right hand. The left hand was ready with a stone. He gathered all his courage and strength to fight. 

Without an aba, the two wild dogs simultaneously ran towards Galang. Several times hoarse barking rang out among the darkness breaking the silence.

Galang focused on one of the dogs that looked smaller and thinner. He was thinking of overcoming one by one his opponents. He let his leg be bitten by a larger dog. He ignored the pain and ache, while his right hand swung the wood at the smaller dog. 

Buuugggg

A sharp blow hit the head of the beast. Galang continued his attack, hitting the fallen dog with a stone in his left hand. Galang managed to make one of the fanged animals collapsed helplessly.

However, the bigger dog is getting faster stick his fangs on the legs Galang. With his wild energy, the dog dragged Galang's feet. Until finally Galang fell in a prone position.

"Arghh," Galang cried out. The wood and stone in his grasp slipped off.

The merciless dog jumped straight into Galang's body and clenched his left shoulder. Galang increasingly desperate, can only moan and complain. The dog seems to have been trained to attack and fight.

The scratches after scratches were received by Galang without a fight. Pain, pain mixed and make Galang weaker. His consciousness was beginning to thin, and he felt his breathing also run out.

But then again, somehow got the energy from where Galang felt the rocks with his right hand. He clasped a stone tightly and directly smashed it into the dog's eyes.

A red tinge of liquid gushed down Galang's back. Dogs jumping in pain. It shook its head and shook the thick fur on its head. A pair of eyes that had looked savage and terrible, now only stayed next door. And that wild look has now changed. As if asking for forgiveness.

The dog immediately turned around and ran away leaving Galang who was sitting covered in blood. Several times the barking was heard before finally disappearing in the darkness of the night forest.

Complete already wound on the body Galang. His left leg and shoulder were injured by a dog bite. Stomach and back due to sharp weapons. Galang felt it, a sore wound that seeped into the heart. Gnawing at his consciousness, snatching away his life spirit.

In silence, Galang looked up at the sky. Some stars glow between the depths of space. The flashbacks of his life appeared one by one. The mistakes of the past that he always regretted. A past that can never be repaired.

Galang cried, the pain felt in his body that was full of wounds was also his mind. Galang begged in his heart, to once again be given strength. He felt a responsibility to ask for help in the nearest village. Even if he was outlined to die, at least the book he brought, as well as the reality of the crimes committed by his 'old friend' had to be revealed.

"Where would I die useless. I know everything, I need to wake up. I gotta get up. I need to wake up!" Galang yelled to encourage himself.

With a deep breath, Galang forced his body to rise. With great effort he managed to wake up. His left collarbone felt like it was about to fall off. Maybe the dog bite was really deep and ripped his joints.

Galang strengthened his resolve, then dragged his feet to step. Galang walked staggered seok, right hand trying to find a grip to make it more sturdy footing.

The increasingly blurry view, also the throat that feels blocked is really torturous. Air was difficult to get into his lungs, several times Galang coughing chokes.

Without feeling, quite far Galang walked down the winding river. I don't know how long he's been walking. It doesn't matter the time, doesn't know the direction. All that was left of him was the spirit to keep going.

And it seemed like that spirit, had reached its limit. Galang's legs were shaking violently. His knees were limp suddenly. And finally he collapsed on the river bank. He was still breathing, still hearing. When I sayup adzan early morning reverberating, Galang realized he had been close to the village.

* * *

The River House owned by the Rich Man is completely dark. There was no light shining there. In the darkness, a pair of hands dragged the body of Denis who was passing out. 

The figure of the 'villain' appears to have difficulty carrying the body of Denis dashing high. Moreover, the darkness was so dense. The figure dragged Denis' body into the backyard. 

There was another figure who was smoking, waiting in the backyard. They met and were heard talking about something.

"I'm sorry, sir. I did not manage to find Galang in the forest" said the figure who was smoking.

"Stupid! This revenge won't be perfect if everyone doesn't die! Goddamnit!" The figure dragging Denis' body swore full of anger.

"Sorry Mister. But I hope you do not forget the money that has been promised" said Sosok who smokes with a little chuckle.

"You failed and you asked for money? Where's brains?" 

"But sir, if you don't give me the money, then tomorrow I can make sure everyone will know about this secret" the smoking person approached and whispered.

However, unexpectedly a folding knife quickly and precisely immediately snatched the figure who was smoking. Without a fight the figure fell face down on the ground.

This time, the sound of the wings of an owl flying from one tree to another shut down the night.

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