THE SUNAN BODYGUARD

episode 5a: Hump on the Back

“Kanjeng Syech Jumadil Kubro is my uncle. And when I was a child, I remember, Uncle once said, that in Majapahit there was a child who had extraordinary talent, maybe his age was older than mine. Uncle says, if I'm not mistaken, his name is Rejo. Uncle said, it's good, when I grow up to meet Rejo's. Don't-don't, the so-called Uncle, is Mr. Rejo.”

Rejo was silent.

“Then, is it true that you traveled around in several kingdoms in this land of Java, intending to eliminate the legacy of the Sage Swadaraya?”

“True, Kanjeng Raden.”

“How about that science, now this?”

“Still in me. And sometimes there comes a desire to explode and fight. Only through prayer and self-service, I am still able to control it. However, I do not know anymore, if my condition is pinched. Maybe I can't master it.”

“What do you want, I help to eliminate the knowledge of Mount Tidar?”

“Mau.”

“With some risk?”

“Good. I want to, despite the risk to myself.”

“Whatever it is?”

“I'm sincere. Whatever it is.”

“Alright then.”

Then, Raden Rahmat told Rejo to shower shampoo and continued hajat prayers.

After greeting, suddenly the back just below the neck, patted hard by Raden Rahmat.

This clap made Rejo fall.

And Rejo tried to stand up.

But something was strange about him.

As if he could not stand up straight. Right at the place that was patted Raden Rahmat earlier, a hump appeared.

In fact, to look towards the front alone, Rejo had enough trouble. Especially to move the legs. Rejo always falls. Time and time again, Rejo stayed lost.

Raden Rahmat sat down cross-legged and wiridan.

His eyes continued to observe Rejo's movements falling awake.

“How about the condition of Mr. Rejo.”

“Aalhamdulillah's. God willing, this is what I want. No more strong bodies, no more pride. No more looking up. Thank you, Kanjeng Raden. I accept my hunchback condition. Allahu akbar, it turns out that the completion of this vicious science in me, is through a hunchback body that is unable to walk this.”

Then Raden Rahmat got up from his seat, heading towards the yellow bamboo grove.

Cut one bamboo segment that is quite in the grip, at the root. Shrinked bamboo roots are smooth, until comfortable in the grip.

Long enough Raden Rahmat sucked the yellow bamboo, to be a fairly sturdy stick. This wand was given to Rejo who sat cross-legged, with his head always lowered because his neck could not move freely obstructed hump in the upper back.

Rejo stood up slowly, laying down a stick that Raden Rahmat had made.

“Please excuse me, Kanjeng Raden. Can I learn to Kanjeng Raden?”

“Bapak Rejo wants to learn what?”

“Ajee.”

“God willing, I will teach you. But not now. God willing, the time is soon.”

“Thank you, Kanjeng Raden.”

“Now, may I ask Mr. Rejo.”

“Please. As long as I can afford.”

“I want, Mr. Rejo accompany me, wherever I go. And when necessary, escort me.”

“Hah? How could I escort Kanjeng Raden, under these conditions? How can I accompany Kanjeng Raden, it is only to walk alone, I am quite difficult. As a result, I will even burden and slow down Kanjeng Raden.”

“I just want, is Mr Rejo willing to accompany me wherever I go?”

Rejo just woke up. That what he conveyed to Raden Rahmat was only a complaint about the appearance of a hump on his back.

“Ya, I am ready.” Rejo answered immediately

“Did Mr Rejo sincerely be my bodyguard?”

“Iya I am sincere.”

“Aalhamdulillah's. Now it seems to be enough. Please keep the sword again. I'm sorry, if you can't put that sword on your back anymore, like you used to. God willing, I'll stop by again, another time.”

Rejo. He was increasingly certain of the figure of this cloaked young man. Raden Rahmat could know thoroughly about himself, as if he had known for a long time. Even the habit of putting a sword on his back, Raden Rahmat knows it.

Raden Rahmat was also pleased.

Rejo let go of this dashing young man, with just a glance at his eyes. Because, he could no longer see in a firm position.

When the young man was no longer visible, Rejo tried to step on his feet, while his two hands held the yellow bamboo stick tightly, so as not to fall.

Rejo chooses not to go back to his hut just yet, but he learns again with his new body condition.

Rejo is really very happy, because the science of the heritage of Mount Tidar which has been ‘mastered’ himself, has now disappeared. At the very least, he no longer felt the flow of heat in the navel, on the tailbone, even all over his body.

It's just, Rejo learned again to walk, and adjust the balance of his body, so as not to fall.

Rejo only rests when the time of prayer arrives. After that, he learned to walk again. It will be even more difficult, when the road has to pass rocky, or hollow. However, this does not prevent Rejo from continuing to learn.

Moisturized for the sake of falling does not make Rejo's guts shrink.

It was not easy for Rejo to control his hunchback body. In fact, the hump that was felt was quite heavy.

When going to sleep, Rejo must get used to sleeping in a tilted position. Because, hump is quite disturbing. As a result, when dawn came, Rejo's entire body joints felt all the pain. However, it was not comparable to the feeling of happiness because it could eliminate the ferocious science that controlled his body.

“I've spent decades of my life, to get rid of this malignant science. Really, if it's just a hump on the back, it doesn't make me disappointed. In fact, to be paralyzed even once, or if necessary, I die even once no problem,” muttered Rejo himself, to console himself, when difficulty in sleeping position.

It was as if he was talking to a mosquito that was burrowing near his ear.

Rejo practiced walking further and further. In fact, with this hump on his back, he no longer had to peek at Bungkul palace.

He delicately walked into the regol. Not a single soldier stopped him.

Perhaps, thought the warrior, how could this hunchback man possibly make a frenzy inside the Bungkul palace?

So, in the square that is not too wide, Rejo casually saw the students practicing canoragan or pencak silat, under the direct direction of the Duke of Bungkul.

Because it was a terrible condition, even most people felt sorry for him. In fact, someone gave him money. However, subtly, the gift was rejected.

Rejo is really in one inner born happiness. He no longer had any worries for people who wanted to challenge him to fight.

Rejo really enjoys being a nobody.

Rejo was very happy, because when he walked he always looked down unseen. Because both of his eyes were only able to stare at the two treads of the road in front of him.

However, people who see Rejo's condition, generally cause feelings of pity, pity, even heartlessness. However, all those people's sense of empathy, was met with a happy smile by Rejo.

Indeed, if anyone who has ever fought or knew the greatness of Rejo science before the bunguk, must have fainted, so know that the Swordsman of Mount Tidar who became the champion of the land of Java Dwipa, now very fragile. Even for walking, almost falling.

Usually, to reach Bungkul palace from his hut, it only took a short time, but this time, by walking in a limp manner, Rejo almost spent half the morning.

To the astonishment of the people, there was always a smile on Rejo's lips, and with shady eyes.

Even so when Rejo came to the Yellow Ribang palace to see the cockfighting.

No one knows.

Random Rejo fell into the arena of cockfighting, because the audience behind him was pushed forward.

But who is angry?

There aren't.

Rejo stood up, between two hens that were pounding each other.

In fact, all the spectators felt pity and pity. There were a few spectators helping him stand up. And finally Rejo was given a place rather loose and safe from encouragement.

Rejo felt, when he fell into the middle of the cockfighting arena, he felt a tremendous inner energy coming from Ki Wirozeroyo's chicken.

“The power inside is very strong. If thrown towards the human body, not necessarily the human being can survive. It is not wrong, if Majapahit chose him and Duke Bungkul as a doorstop, to hit the attack from the direction of the sea,” muttered Rejo as he glanced towards Ki Wirozeroyo who was looking casually towards the cockfighting arena. Ki Wirozeroyo is very confident that his cock will win.

And it is so. Shortly after, the opponent's cock floundered to death.

As if he already knew his master, Ki WIroseroyo's chicken walked gallantly towards his master. And sit under the master's chair.

“There are more who want to fight my chicken?” asked Ki Wirozeroyo loudly.

Every time a cockfight is opened, someone must be curious. Some sons of the nobility came forward with his rooster.

They were told to choose one of the eleven chickens owned by Ki Wirozeroyo, to be pitted against his rooster.

Every week, Ki Wiroseroyo's cock wins.

Rejo slowly shifted little by little, to reach the nearest place to Ki Wirozeroyo.

Getting closer, Rejo felt the heat and exposure to the fine wind, a sign that Ki Wirozeroyo has a very large internal energy. In fact, Rejo also felt the gentle breeze of each rooster complaining in confinement.

The closer, the more Rejo felt the heat energy.

However, this incident was captured by Ki Wirozeroyo.

“Hei stooped! You seem like a new person here. Why are you getting closer to me!” ki Wiroseroyo shouted, startling the princes and the cockfighting crowd.

Rejo was quite aghast. He immediately fell into the arena of cockfighting.

Rejo felt a very painful energy exposure all over his body.

However, with Rejo falling, the princes, nobles and the cockfighting crowd, burst into laughter. They see Rejo falling down, and have trouble standing up.

Only then Rejo can stand after being assisted by two soldiers who stand guard around the cockfighting arena.

“Please, Kanjeng Adipati. Not that I am presumptuous, I am just a villager who seeks entertainment here,” said Rejo, while joking respect, also while holding his yellow bamboo stick.

“Bunchback, what's your name?”

“Rejo,” says he, stay in the position of dunched takdim.

“Where's your house?”

“I live in a hut, between this Yellow Ribang fiefland, and the Bungkul Perdikan land.”

“Oh, so you live in the middle of our territory. What do you mean?”

“Although Kanjeng Adipati, I do not mean anything.”

“Where is possible? You are definitely not a random person.”

“Ampun Kanjeng Adipati. Where can I dare?”

Ki Wiroseroyo did not speak anymore. But, his gaze was extremely sharp hitting Rejo's face.

Rejo stays down.

“Pardon Kanjeng Adipati, if indeed no one is asked again, please let me resign.”

Ki Wiroseroyo did not speak, but kept staring.

“This hunchback is so weird. Although I do not feel any inner energy at all, but I am sure he is a powerful person. No one could withstand the long-range punch I threw earlier. Who exactly is this hunchback?”

Rejo inching backwards.

But, not to mention three steps back, Ki Wirozeroyo shouted.

"Rejo's. Don't go!"

Rejo stopped his retreat.

"Please forgive Kanjeng Duke."

"It has. Sorry, but today's cockfighting is enough. We'll have another one next week" Ki Wirozeroyo said, moving his hands to drive people out of his palace courtyard.

When all was gone, there were only a few soldiers and Rejo who were still in the arena.

"Rejo, please sit here."

Ki Wirozeroyo pulled out a chair to bring his throne closer.

Rejo limped up the stairs, then sat down on the provided chair.

"You're the new guy here. I never saw you. Please, tell me who you really are."

Rejo was quite vigilant.

He doesn't want to tell the truth who he is.

Indeed, Rejo had recounted his youth, but in the story, it did not appear at all related to magic.

"I am just an old traveler. I have been to many towns and villages."

"Is it possible for you to do with a bent body and a limped path like that? Not to mention if there is a danger of being robbed and tripped?"

"I'm sorry Kanjeng Adipati, how could I have been robbed? My Wong is poor. How could I not reach those cities, my wong was still able to walk, despite being restrained. In fact, I have also reached Mount Tidar."

"Huh? Did you reach Mount Tidar? That famous haunted mountain? The mountain that the evil sissies live in. And the mountain is famous because there is a young man who calls himself the Swordsman of Mount Tidar?"

Rejo nodded slowly.

"It is impossible, because to walk you are in trouble and you can fall down like that."

"Please forgive Kanjeng Duke. I actually arrived at Mount Tidar. If Kanjeng Adipati wants, I can tell you in detail about Mount Tidar. In fact, I also arrived at the Great Kingdom of Pajajaran, I can also exactly describe the conditions there," said Rejo.

Ki Wirozeroyo was in disbelief.

"Then why should I lie. It's no use to me."

Finally, Ki Wirozeroyo relented.

"Well, I better believe it. But, I am not sure if you just rely on the path to get to Pajajaran. You must have certain knowledge. And I suspect it's great science."

Rejo dressingan was silent for a moment.

"Kanjeng Adipati, how could I have knowledge. Just imagine, how should I train my knowledge with my condition like this?"

Ki Wirozeroyo thought for a moment.

"Yes. yeah..."

"I'm just an ordinary person, who's old, and hunchback again."

"Then, how could you possibly withstand my attack earlier?"

"Which one?"

"When I shouted at you, you fell down."