The Story on the Slope of Mount Merapi

16

RUSHING like the time hunted Sukmo Aji put another powder into a banana leaf grain that contains the water. Meanwhile, Sukmo Aji had poured the water he had given the medicine into Miranti's mouth. Slowly, bit by drop the water goes into his throat.

“It is fortunate that it is not too late,” said Sukmo Aji in his heart, ”it seems that in this academy there is someone who understands the truth about poison. This weak poison seems to be very appropriate to kill Miranti who is in recovery without suspicion and without growing clear signs in her body.”

But without realizing it Sukmo Aji growled, ”Exposure.”

A strange feeling had surged within Sukmo Aji's chest. How airy it felt to be as wide as the ocean, but the effort made was already an assassination attempt on a weak woman. He was sick, so his blood became hot. But the young man who already bears the title of tumenggung anom from Pajang was still trying to hold back. He must not drift in the flow of his feelings, if he does not want to fail at all. Sukmo Aji frowned when he saw Miranti writhing. He slowly opened his eyes and suddenly tried to get up.

”Do not rise.”

Miranti could not answer. But something spewed out of his mouth. Fluid that is reddish black.

“ Miranti..”, Demang Pucang Twins jerked in shock.

“ What did you do to my son Pajang?! “

“Quiet,” hiss Sukmo Aji.

Miranti looked at the person sitting in front of her with blurry eyes. Someone who has never been seen before. Sukmo Ajimengguk-nod his head. The young man had a faint smile at the corner of his lips.He became calmer, he was sure that Miranti would be able to be healed. Then the girl turned her eyes towards her father. Demang Pucang Twins who were still sitting tense and agitated. While some of his trusted aides sat glued as if they did not dare to breathe. Slowly Miranti turned back. Then closed. Sleeps.

“Sorry Ki Demang, it seems that Mayu Miranti has drunk a drink or may have eaten the wrong food,“said Sukmo Aji.

“ The poison is mixed through food or drink. Look still little left in the bowl earlier “

”Where did Ki Demang get that food from?”

Suddenly a servant came in facing. He reported that two elderly women who worked in the kitchen on the night Miranti was allegedly poisoned had been summoned and were now outside.

“Tell the two women in!” the Demang Pucang Kembar's.

Two women, one of whom was old and one who was still young, entered with a pale face full of fear.

“You two have nothing to fear. Mbok Rongkot and you're Semi. Say it frankly. Every day the two of you are cooking food as well as preparing for Miranti. Do you see any weirdness?"

“We did not see anything strange Ki Demang,” replied the two women together.

“Don't just answer! Think carefully Mbok Rongkot! You have served here for decades. Even since my late wife is still around. Try to remember –remember what happened in the kitchen that time ” Ki Demang tried to hold his patience.

One of the young women, the cook named Semi, looked terrified. His voice trembled as he said, Ki Demang inched closer and held onto Semi's shoulder and said, “Nobody will punish you. We're just wondering, is that the only weirdness you've encountered that night, morning or afternoon?"

“ Sorry Ki Demang, I just remembered. There is another oddity..” who replied Mbok Rongkot.

“Good! Tell me what it is!” kertopati said.

“That night.. after the food was ready, suddenly Ki Pangestu went into the kitchen..”.

“I remember now!” connecting Semi. “Ki Pangestu spoke for a while then told me to go home because he said my job was done. I left the kitchen but came back because my shawl was missing. When I went into the kitchen again, I saw Ki Pangestu still there. She was pouring something into the food for Den Ayu Miranti..”

“How to know if it's a dish for Den Ayu Miranti? Could it be food for Ki Demang?” ask Kertopati.

“Because the food for Ki Demang was already brought by Semi first. And Ki Pangestu has set it up..”.

The room was silent. A few eyes looked at each other. Sukmo Aji could only sigh deeply. Kertopati approached Demang Pucang Kembar and said, “Ki Demang, let me catch up with Pangestu. I'm sure that Pangestu did it!”

“I'm leaving now Ki Demang. Most importantly, Den Ayu Miranti's situation has passed a difficult time. Let for a while Sukmo Aji who will take care and prepare medicinal herbs.”.

“Yes, you go Kertopati. Bring some young men who have the ability of a qualified canuragan. I'm sure Pangestu won't willingly be brought back to the Twins!”

RAIN FELL spatter and the wind began to feel strong and cold ambush Kertopati and her entourage. It had been a long time that the group shook – shaken on horseback. Some of the hamlets have been passed. Having previously stopped by the hamlet of Kleringan where Ki Galih Asem is located. There is only found busy villagers prepare all the ubo rampnya to take care of the body Ki Galih Asem and his wife. After stopping for a moment and saying a word of two broken condolences. The Kertopati group immediately left the hamlet of Kleringan.

The dirt road they were passing through became slippery. The darkness of the night came faster than expected.

“Reply your horses faster! I am very sure Pangestu conspired with the beard of robbing the Ijo” centipede cried Kertopati.

All the members of the entourage were pounding their horses' hips. Ten horses shot out like arrows chasing demons! Fifty steps ahead was suddenly a catastrophe they had not expected.

The dirt road they took suddenly collapsed once the legs of the horse stepped on it. A big hole is opening. Ten people shouted in surprise. Ten horses were snuggling hard. The horses and ten people instantly collapsed into the hole, overlapping each other. At the bottom of the pit waiting for a hundred pointed bamboo milestones! The screams of pain coalesced with the petrification of horses!

Six young men Pucang Kembar immediately met death with a pointed bamboo patch on the chest or abdomen. One of the bulging reached the neck that was pierced by the bamboo milestone until it penetrated into the nape. Blood spurted scattering. Two young men were thrown into the hole, directly filled with six pieces of pointed bamboo. Ten horses soared while neighing while blood poured out from the body parts pierced by bamboo. One of the young men was still lucky only his thighs were grazed on the tip of a pointed bamboo. His body rests on the wall of the hole. But his thigh wound suddenly caused a sense of heat all over the body. He groaned short, trying to get up but fell again because his legs and hands were paralyzed!

Kertopathy is the most profitable of all groups. His body survived by falling on a horse that went into the hole first. The beast itself after floundering several times suffered a blood bath as a result of being pierced through sixteen pieces of pointed bamboo. Kertopathy attempted to release his left leg which was sandwiched between the two bodies of a dead horse. As soon as his foot came off, he immediately jumped out of that hellhole. But his intention was immediately canceled when he saw some body figures twinkling in the darkness. Followed by a laughing voice.

Kertopathy immediately dropped back, slipping itself between the two blood-soaked horses, pretending to be dead! But secretly his two eyes opened little by little to see who those people were. It turns out they have four. And all four covered their faces with a black cloth. Only the eyes are visible!

“If Ijo's centipede had acted, no one would have escaped death! Ha-ha-ha!” the man who had heard the laughter said.

“ They all die as desired! The work is done, we will take another step to master the Kademangan Pucang Twins..!”

Then the – people in black cloths left the hole. Their bodies soon disappeared in the darkness of the night.

KERTOPATI shouldered the body that felt very hot and ran as fast as he could. The bearded person ceaselessly groaned and asked, “Kakang Kertopati, you better kill me right now! This hot taste that grilled and stung my thighs I can't hold anymore.”.

“Sembada, as a selected and trained academic bodyguard you must be able to survive! We'll be at our destination soon!”

“If Kakang kills me at this time, the kakang will be released from the burden and can reach the destination. Don't mind me. Import the task that is on the shoulders of the kakang!”

Kertopati was moved by the young man's words.

“The task charged by Ki Demang on our shoulders has all failed. Eight of our comrades were killed at the bottom of that hole. Forget that task for a moment. We must immediately find the nearest village and treat your – injuries there !” slid those words out of the mouth of Kertopathy.

Although his strength had been drained, but his spirit was like giving new strength to keep running while shouldering the young man's body.

In the distance, there was a small flame of light flickering in the middle of the rice field. That's where Kertopati ran carrying the young man's body. Fortunately, the area did not rain. Otherwise, running on a slippery rice field will certainly trouble him. Kertopati was about to step up. His sharp ears heard the roar of the approaching horse legs.

“There are people coming “ , Kertopathy half whispered.

“Do not –do not horde Kalabang Ijo Kakang “

“I don't think Sembada, just a horse. But it's good to hide first. We need to make sure who the horseman is “

Both immediately pulled over. Both eyes Kertopati stuck in a trench rather deep. Without thinking anymore, then in a hurry he jumped down. So hasty that he fell down in the muddy ground while still supporting Sembada. They both got up, then ran into a small ditch, so that the wet clothes became more and more soaked. But Kertopati and Sembada did not pay attention to it anymore.Kertopati seemed to freeze in cold parityang water. He saw a horse running in the face of his nose. He also saw the young man with a sturdy body sitting docked on the horse's back like he was racing.

In the dimness of the moonlight that began to gush behind the cloudy cloud he could recognize that the horseman was the young man he had known. Aji Sukmo.