The Story on the Slope of Mount Merapi
15

The kitchen in the house of Pucang Kembar that afternoon looked quiet. There was only a cook named Mbok Rongkot and a maid there. Both are women who have worked for a long time. While talking ngalor ngidul preparing a meal bekel and bebahu and for Miranti who still has not recovered properly.

“I cook like this a lot, as asked by ki demang. But Miranti only ate very little. Almost never ate it more than half.”.

“Dimakan or not, it is our job to cook and serve. Actually I feel sorry to see ayu. Just two days lying down but, his body has been seen shrinkage,” replied the waiter.

The kitchen door was open. Both maids. One thing that never happened that a leader of the academic bodyguard who had no relationship sometimes with ki demang suddenly – suddenly entered the kitchen.

“Pangestu...?” Mbok Rongkot let out a sound of astonishment. The two old women were immediately relieved when they saw Pangestu smiling widely.

“Everyone is waiting in the pendopo. You two are still working here. If I may know which is the feeding ration for Miranti?”

“ It's Pangestu. Food for ayu Miranti. As requested by ki Galih Asem. You should eat a lot of vegetables. We both make pecels and anointing eggs mixed with long beans “

“Then so quickly bring out first for the guests in the pendopo. Let the food for Miranti put first on that table!”

Mbok Rongkot was helped by the other waiter to quickly take a large tray, put a variety of food on the tray, two large roofs of wedang lemongrass and then bring all of it to the pendopo.

As soon as he just stayed alone in that place, from behind his pocket Pangestu took out a small package made of waru leaves. As soon as the folds opened inside it looked a kind of white powder. Quickly this powder is poured over the food on the table.

Just as he was about to finish pouring the entire powder, suddenly the kitchen door opened. Mbok Rongkot appeared and stepped in. Making Pangestu startled and snapped.

“What's Mbok? Why are you back?!”

“My scarf... My shawl was left behind Pangestu..”

“Mbok…! You wouldn't die without that shawl! Get out there!”

Mbok Rongkot was astonished why Pangestu's attitude suddenly turned rough. Half the old man's fear came out of the kitchen with a step in –gopoh while carrying a tray containing food that will be delivered to Miranti. Pangestu followed from behind. At the end of the butulan door he turned to the right. Before passing, he still had time to see Mbok Rongkot talking to two female servants who stood in front of the door of Miranti's room. Then the door opened and Mbok Rongkot went inside.

Mbok Rongkot was stunned at the door of the room. When he saw the body lying still, his chest was shaking violently. Miranti's face looked pale. For a few moments he did not see it. But it seemed that Miranti had become very thin and weak.

Mbok Rongkot was aghast when he heard Miranti whispering, “Come in, don't just be in front of the door Mbok.”

With hesitation Mbok Rongkot stepped in. His heart became even more palpitating as he then saw Miranti tilting her head.

A smile loomed on that pale face. Then there was a raucous sound in the throat, “I'm sorry, I trouble you.”

Mbok Rongkot's chest felt like it was shaking. Miranti's voice was weak, deep and raucous. Slowly Mbok Rongkot stepped closer.

“ Den Ayu eat. This symbok make favorite food den ayu “

“ Which father Mbok? “

“ Ki demang is in pendopo there is a meeting with the guards, beboahu and bekel kademangan who are around Pucang Kembar. It seems like there is something important they are talking about. Later will be symbok convey to ki demang. If den ayu looking for him Den ayu eat, mumpung nasiya still warm. Head to the kitchen briefly“

After the death of Mongkot, Miranti stared for a moment at the food placed by the woman on the bed, for some reason this once arose her desire to taste the food. Boiled vegetables, sambel beans, rap eggs with long beans then white rice that still reflects thin smoke and a comb of plantain. Slowly – slowly Miranti sat on her bed. His head still feels throbbing –throbbing.

Slowly – slowly the girl took the vegetable one bribe. Tasty. Grasping a handful of rice and spooned peanut sauce. Added delicious. For two days barely eating, just taking the medicine concocted by Ki Galih Asem. So, the dishes at the table are eaten greedily even though not entirely can be spent.

Just as the sun was lighting up the universe that morning, the rays had not yet stung properly on the surface of the skin. Kertopati who was upright behind the window turned manaka in his yard appeared two people riding.

Kertopati out towards the foyer. The two horsemen then descended from their respective mounts – each. After tying his horse –kudanya in the bamboo stakes that are already available. Two of them then went up to the portico. The Kertopathy is already standing there.

“ Kakang, Ki Demang told us to call kakang to come to the village banjar "

“ What exactly is it. Morning –morning like this Ki Demang told me to come to banjar village “

Kertopathy feels astonished. However, the young man went into the house to change his clothes. After previously allowing both guests to wait for him at the pringgitan. Not too long ago three horses had come out of the regol of the Kertopati residence. The three riders were about to run away. The horse –horse ran like chasing –chases with ghosts.

When Kertopati entered the village banjar pendopo, he found Demang Pucang Kembar sitting face to face with Pangestu. Kertopati nodded in respect. Then slowly sat on a stretch of pandan mat.

“ Ki Demang, is there ordered me facing?” asking Kertopathy.

In his heart he had already guessed that something was important, perhaps not quite right. Moreover, he saw that Pangestu was there with a dark face, tense but cynical.

“One of Pangestu's subordinate bodyguards just reported that three bodyguards that I would have called as witnesses were found on the edge of the Dawa shell.

What Demang Pucang Kembar said, of course, made Kertopati surprised. At first glance he glanced towards Pangestu who now seemed to sit more relaxed.

“Sorry Ki Demang, I have not received any reports at all. Is it known the cause of the deaths of the three?”

The answer is Pangestu. “In fact you were called here to immediately do research adi Kertopati!”

“Then, I ask myself to do a check.”

“Wait a minute,” Demang Pucang Twins quickly said.

“According to your explanation a few days ago it is not impossible that the three people can testify that Miranti has nothing to do with the people Pajang whom she met secretly –hidden it..”.

Now it turns out they're dead. “If they die at once in the same place, this is one strange thing. It's not impossible they were killed!”

“Saying so do you have any evidence of adi Kertopati? Researching yet, how can you say that? Have you ever heard of a beetle tiger appearing around the Dawa Bulak in recent days?”

“I heard it indeed, sisang... But... I don't know, I have to investigate first. Later will give the report of the results of the investigation to Ki Demang and to you. I am so sorry!”

In the Dawa Bulak, three bodies were laid on three bamboo stretchers. When Kertopati got there and checked the state of the bodies one by one, the bodies of the bodies were indeed seen gaping wounds, torn apart lengthwise.

“They are like being torn by a tiger.” Kertopati said in the heart.

“But strange, this shred is too neat and clean not a real tiger. The tiger is not this neat. These bodies were torn apart with a large knife, possibly celurit or kelewang. There are people who have killed them! Edan! They're the witnesses I hoped would save Ayu Miranti. Ah... how now?”

Together with some of the guards who deliberately brought Kertopati back to the parent school Pucang Kembar. The three bodies were carried using a cart pulled by two cows. When he faced Demang Pucang Twins, Pangestu was no longer there.

“How did your investigation result Kertopati?” Demang Pucang Twins immediately asked.

“Three poor people are indeed dead torn by tiger Ki Demang,” replied Kertopati.