The Story on the Slope of Mount Merapi

3

The sound of the teenagers in the field of a crowded village banjar is not kepalang. When the sun began to climb up the sky, a young man immediately opened the game. With an axe cut off the rope that binds the bende hitter in the corner of the field. Then a determined man picked up the bende-beater, and with a buzzing sound the bende echoed.

Once, twice and then three times. Accompanied by applause that seemed to break the ear membrane, then the game immediately began. Some teenagers walked to the middle of the field while carrying a bow and an arrow stuck to the back.

In front of them were several spears depending on the target they had to hit. The target was made of straw wrapped in cloth. It resembles human form. Consists of three parts. Head, neck, and body. The participants will get the greatest value if they can hit the target head. When the bende sounds, the race begins. Each player has five arrows. And by the five arrows the highest value will be taken among them. If their arrows hit the head, then they will get five. Three-value neck and two-value body.

A moment later, the first arrow was followed by the cheers of the audience. But alas, the arrow did not hit its target at all. Followed by the second, third arrows. But the three arrows hit the target. The audience cheered back the three arrows of the fourth then hit the target's neck.

The audience was screaming louder. The audience became tense as it slid its fifth arrow. And the cheers of the spectators exploded. Not because they became amazed the arrow, but they laughed because the arrow again –again missed the target. But no one can surprise the audience because of the right shots. Once or twice there are also those who hit the target.

But among the five arrows, then at most two of them can hit the target. When it came to the turn of a young man to go forward with his arrows, the audience became in an uproar. This young man had a sturdy body and was bigger than his peers. The clothes worn also look more luxurious. This young man is Suradal. The son of a bekel in the Kedungtuban academy.

His gaze sharply swept across the field, towards the audience towards the outside of the arena which was restricted using gawar from the rawe rope. A moment later the gandewa began to be lifted, the bowstring began to be stretched. Thus, the first arrow released by Suradal had truly shocked the audience. Although not hit the head, but once shot Suradal has shaken the target by hitting the body part.

The spectator's uproar became even more boisterous, as the second Suradal arrow hit the neck. When Suradal pulled his bowstring the third time, then there was a boisterous sound around the arena.

“Back a little Suradal, up a little”

And the cheers of the audience burst as if they were breaking the ear membrane when the Suradal arrow actually hit the head. The suradal then stopped for a moment. After taking a deep breath, then once again the field was shaken by a thunderous applause. Once again Suradal's arrow hit the head.

But the spectators became disappointed when the fifth Suradal arrow, which flew from its bow at full speed, only grazed the head of the target, but did not alight at him, so as to do so, it, the arrow was deemed not to hit the target. Suradal looked at the fifth arrow with great irritation.

He said while leaving his waist. “He, why don't you look away for a day. If you turn a little, then the arrow will perch in your head”

But then it has been heard bende for the next participant. Now start some young men responsibility barganti –changean perform. And the last participant was a young man with a sturdy body but not too sturdy. The young man smiled at the audience. He glanced at a girl who seemed to be very much waiting for the young man's appearance to appear.

But it turned out that the young man of the last participant was a good archer. Ever since he released his first arrow, he has been shaking the field. The first arrow hit the head. That is the second arrow. When he pulled his bowstring for the third time with a thumping audience waiting. And once again burst out a roaring cheer. The third arrow hit the target's head. This is how the audience gets more tense.

Once again the spectators cried out loud as the fourth arrow came to the head. Thus the tension in the area becomes more and more heightened. The four arrows that had filled the head of the scarecrow were removed to give place if even this fifth arrow would hit it. And the field seemed to have completely collapsed as the audience watched the fifth arrow come off the young man's bow.

The arrow hit the head of the scarecrow. Thus the archer has shown the perfection of his shot. It's not by chance that he hit the target's head. But the truth is that the young man is a good researcher. When then we heard bende sound, a tall, thin young man entered the middle of the arena.

With a smile he congratulated the last participant, he said “Gading, it turns out you hid your aiming ability from all of us –orang Kedungtuban. What can you do? No one can do better than you do”

The last young participant named Gading smiled. But he did not answer. As he shifted from his place, he was shocked when a sound rang out behind him.

“ He can't yet be said to win absolute and beat me “

Ivory turned around, he saw Suradal's eyes flaming. And Suradal walked straight to Ivory. With a steady but hasty step, as if - he would be afraid of being late, even if only for a moment. Suradal then stopped just a few steps ahead of Ivory. With a tense face he looked at Ivory's face. Ivory is still standing. No matter how his chest shook, but tried to control him as well. Even then saw also the girl who was glimpsed earlier who looked at him with tension. The atmosphere that had been frenetic suddenly became quiet full of tension.

Like thunder booming in the sky, the Ivory heard Suradal say raucous.

“Let's fight a match, let people –people in Kedungtuban know. I'm Suradal the bekel son of Suto Lumpang who won or you're Arya Gading !”

Ivory bit his lip. But then Arya Gading replied “I will not fight a match against you brother Suradal”

Suradal frowned. Then the young man smiled wryly, “Don't be a coward you Ivory. What people say –people if they hear this. The sister of a famous senopati in Pajang lives the ring colong playu ”

Arya Gading took a deep breath.

“I don't want a kakang. Alright, I will just resign from this match ” said Ivory.

Suradal's eyes became increasingly lit. And Arya Ivory's heart became increasingly wry because of it. Not because he was afraid of the young man. However, he realized there was no point in dealing with Kedungtuban's bekel child. Problems will certainly widen to where –where and protracted –soluble. Without looking again Ivory left the arena.

" The son of a traitor! If you don't accept the Suradal challenge. Please lift your feet from this school!" said a teenager who was fat but short. This fat young man was standing beside Suradal.

"We don't want to be hit by a fool because in this academy lives the son down a traitor !" timpal's another kid.

Ivory stopped his footsteps. His heart became sick with the scorn of the traitorous son. Wanting once he turned around and beat up the – kids one by one. But he is still trying to control himself. In order not to create a prolonged problem with Suradal and his – friends it.

" Get out of here! Otherwise we will beat you up and throw your body into the shade on the edge of the academy so that you will die to be torn to pieces by crocodiles!"

"Buddies! This traitorous child really wants us to beat up and throw it into the air!”

A child shouted when he saw Ivory was still in the field. Some teenage responsibilities soon moved closer.

Seeing this Ivory was surprised. Fast – fast he stepped to the edge of the arena while saying, "If you guys don't like me here it's okay. Let me just go home..."

"Let's get out of here!"

The boy looked at me with his pair of eyes, then slowly he stepped out of his legs to leave the place. Suddenly a girl's voice said, "Trade, don't go first...!"

Ivory stop his steps and turn away. He smiled when he saw that cute little face. Cried among the crowd and approached him.

"What's Sulastri?"

The girl named Sulastri replied, "You stay here Ivory. I'd like to ask the arrogant kid and not know that pawn!" Then this girl stepped into the middle of the field, directly facing Suradal who was apparently considered as the leader by the children in the academy.

"Suradal, we're all witnesses. You lost that match. You should have admitted your defeat. But why do you and your friends not accept defeat. Why are you guys that careful?!"

The big Suradal eyeballs look great. Then he turned to his friends. And the laughter of the children exploded.

"This ayu is about to act as a defender apparently! Already Nduk, just go home. Ki Demang is certainly waiting for you", shouted a child.

Suradal put his hands on his waist and said, "We don't like him refusing my challenge to fight a battle. It was as if – the boy had won. Of course he will pat his chest proudly having defeated Suradal in the “ archery match

“ You need to know Sulastri. Our academy will be a large academy and become the foundation of the Jipang troops to seize their rights that were seized by Karebet. What people say if in this academy save the son of a devotee “

“ We are not the same as him. We are children of good parents who uphold loyalty to the state, the state of Jipang Panolan. While she! His father and brother both serve Pajang. So the gedibalnya Karebet the porter of the late Sultan Trenggono! Just look now his father is dead but, the boy's brother is still serving in Pajang. Why does he not side with Jipang, on his blood-spilled land, siding with Gusti Haryo Penangsang's ideals –?!”

Laughter followed Suradal's words.

Paras Sulastri looked red while Ivory could only stand stunned. "Your mouth is a Suradal vile! How can you talk so bad! That's a – person adult thing, we're still too young for what to take care of such a common problem ? Did your father or mother teach you?!" asked Sulastri.

"Nobody taught me cah ayu! But everyone in the Kedungtuban academy knows that the Ivory family is a traitor! Isn't that so, guys...?!"

"Rubber.." replied all the children of friends –comrade Suradal.

"You're all just as evil!" shouts Sulastri.

At that moment Ivory reached out to pull the girl's arm and said, "Here is Sulastri. Just leave them. Let's leave this place!"

“ Friends! Look at this traitorous boy about to take Sulastri away. Be careful you Sulastri. You'll be a traitor too!" said Suradal.

"Sulastri, come..." Ivory pull Sulastri's hand.

"You go first. I will teach this arrogant boy a lesson. Potang-about the son of a bekel and become the right hand ki demang Kedungtuban !"

Because Sulastri did not want to be invited to leave, Ivory was forced to remain upright in that place.

"Sulastri, let's go. Don't serve them. It's pointless. They think I'm just a traitorous child. Don't let them embarrass you too!" Ivory.

Then the arm of the girl was pulled back. Actually at that time Sulastri was willing to follow Ivory's words and leave the place. It was precisely at that time that Suradal pulled Sulastri's hand hard and rough until this girl screamed in pain.