The Thousand Mask Warrior

Wood Mask Decorated Bird Feather

The wooden house stood firm. To reach it, Jayaseta must pass through a hill with stepped rocks that are used as a kind of natural fortress, then there is a garden with lush and dense trees, while the flat land is decorated with grass. Around the wooden building is lined by wooden logs of two arms and has sharp edges.

In contrast to the buildings of officials on the island of Java whose floors are fused with the ground, this building has a height of people. The building stands out from giant, three-story wooden milestones.

There were more than twenty guards in warrior uniforms complete with weapons in the form of spears, swords and dagger tucked in their waists.

The two people who drove Jayaseta to Datuk Mas Kuning's house were smiling. They expect Jayaseta to be surprised and shrivelled.

A while ago, two of the youngest of the ten Javanese who were gathering at a diner near the port of Sukadana were asked by his colleagues to take the guest to the house of the person he was looking for from far, far out through the ocean.

"Well nakmas, you may wonder why we all know the person you mentioned by name. In short, he was indeed a famous Sukadana Malay figure, famous for his behavior," another middle-aged man spoke.

When he wanted to speak again, this man looked around at his comrades, as if asking for approval. Everyone smiled, leaving Jayaseta a little confused.

"But you're late, my son. I don't know what the guy who asked you to see Datuk Mas Kuning said, but whatever you're gonna say and ask him for is not going to be achieved."

"Sorry, sire. To be honest, I'm confused as to where the gents are talking. I came all the way from Semarang because I wanted to convey a message ...,"

"We know, we get it, kid. You want to get a job and a living in Sukadana, don't you?"

Jayaseta is starting to understand what really happened. These Javanese people really think that maybe he is one of the people who migrated from Java because they want to find a better life.

Jayaseta decided to finance their thinking. He wanted to know more about what it really was.

Jayaseta smiled, "You're right, father."

"I'm telling you something, nakmas. Datuk Mas Kuning is indeed an important figure in Sukadana. Not only for the Javanese, but also almost all people who come to Sukadana to get a job or a decent livelihood. But a few years ago, he couldn't help much more. Believers of Queen Jaintan or also known as Queen Air Mala or also Queen Bunku who was held captive in Mataram did some kind of resistance to the government of the child, Giri Mustika. The loyal soldiers of Queen Jaintan captured Datuk Mas Kuning who was considered a traitor."

"What do you mean, because he brought the Javanese into Sukadana?" ask Jayaseta.

"Sure, sure. Though the Javanese, like us, are the victims of the wars waged by Sultan Agung and the Mataram Kingdom he leads."

"Then, what happened?"

"The Datuk was placed in a house with a strict escort. It could be said that he was actually in prison, although he still had a little bit of freedom that was highly regulated."

"Then, what about the actions of Queen Jaintan's own son, Giri Mustika, who should be the leader of Sukadana, right?"

"Well, it's too complicated to explain this state of affairs. The point is that both mother and child seem to have their own power room that cannot be disturbed by each other. Giri Mustika seems to give little flexibility for his mother's followers to remain in power and carry out their wishes as long as they do not revolt against Mataram. After all, he spent more time in His Majesty than in Sukadana."

This conversation continues even though Jayaseta still wants to be able to come to the house of the Datuk even though he is said to be appreciated by the soldiers in a place that is also easy to visit.

"But I just want to talk to him. I think the bodyguards can still be spoken to" Jayaseta said.

The middle-aged elders chuckled, "Especially you, Javanese, those soldiers would be thrilled to be able to beat you up. Ha ha ha .... But fine if you want to go there. Sunar and Sarta will take you there to see for yourself. Don't tell me we didn't warn you, huh? If you have decided to still want to see him or cancel it, after that, please come back here. We need young muscles in our work. Maybe Datuk Mas Kuning can't help you, but we might be able to help you a little."

And here they are. Jayaseta pretended to be disappointed and regretted seeing that the house where the Datuk lived in was impossible to touch at all.

Sunar and Sarta looked very satisfied to see the look on the young man's face.

"Here, I have the decorative mask of my house from the people of the interior. I was going to throw it out because I didn't know the point. But this might be useful to you, who knows you intend to jump into stealth like a thief, he he he," Sarta laughed softly followed by Sunar while giving a wooden mask with a long bird feather decoration.

The two then left Jayaseta standing behind the tree watching the wooden mask in her hand.

He smiles.

***

Reclining behind the trees, Jayaseta noticed the top floor of the house lit by torches and oil lamps.

Jayaseta could also see some soldiers standing guard on each floor.

He did not want any commotion, he just wanted to find Datuk Mas Kuning and talk to him. Under these circumstances, it was certainly impossible if he had to directly talk to the guards and soldiers on guard.

The plan that Sarta had ridiculed was actually his own plan.

Of course, he will avoid fights so as not to happen. This is not what he wants.

So while staying settled, Jayaseta approached the building, then after approaching the fence from the wooden logs that were firmly stuck around the building, he used the Tiger Claw and Dragon Claw to grip the fence tightly.

By grasping the wooden fence, he pushed his body upward without a sound with the ability to ease the body that has reached a high level like a swordsman-preferable match.

This should be done because the floor and most buildings are made of wood planks that easily creak.

Jayaseta's body floated up the fence. His bare feet then poked between taper logs and then jumped again like an ape to a large window on the second floor of the building that was slightly open.

The flexibility and tenacity of his body as a swordsman is not only useful for fighting, but also very useful to be able to sneak into this mansion without being known to the soldiers.

Arriving at the window, he immediately sneaked in. Rolling once on the floor if Jayaseta does not have the knowledge to relieve a qualified body, surely the floor will creak.

The buttonless black long-sleeved tops, black pangs and the bird-furred wooden mask that Sarta gave her wore completely disguised her condition.

As soon as he was so alert, so careful, and so alert, he entered the room and examined all its parts.

He only found a variety of home trinkets without anyone in it. The second floor is likely where the host entertains his guests. Jayaseta finally decided to leave the room through the same window from which he had entered.

He set his foot once to jump to another section on the third floor while avoiding four bodyguards who were busy chatting in a second-floor courtyard, which jutted into the outside of the room.

It was on the third floor that Jayaseta saw a middle-aged man standing in the courtyard with a shiny black wooden plank floor, looking back at him.

His hands were at the back of his waist intertwined. He looked far past the darkness of the tree garden into the village flickering by torch lamps or oil lamps.

Jayaseta took a breath. He did not know who the person was wearing a typical Malay dress with a wide headband, which one part formed a triangle, a shirt of silk green, colored, pants along the ankle are also of silk material that is covered with fabric twists and belts. From a slightly sideways angle, Jayaseta could see a long dagger tucked in his belt, in front of his stomach.

Already cross-duty until the third floor, Jayaseta will take this opportunity. He would pat the man on the shoulder slowly and ask nicely about Datuk Mas Kuning.

If he is indeed Datuk Mas Kuning, maybe he has silat and the policy of a teacher so it will not be easily surprised by the presence of Jayaseta, but if he is not Datuk Mas Kuning and surprised at Jayaseta's appearance and tries to scream, what can be done, Jayaseta will paralyze him.

Jayaseta's seemingly simple but well-ordered plan is unlikely to go smoothly. The middle-aged man actually understood the presence of Jayaseta, the masked figure, from when he jumped from the fence to the second floor. The man smiled while still turning his back to Jayaseta.

Jayaseta walked slowly closer. For ordinary people, or warriors with knowledge with a level that is not too high, the science of settling Jayaseta is actually perfect. But this time, everything felt different when just a few steps he walked, Jayaseta heard the roar of the wind that was quite hard towards him.

In order to hear the roar of this wind, Jayaseta tilted herself and dropped to the floor without making a sound. An object escaped past his shoulder and stuck it in the fence of the board that bordered the courtyard.

Jayaseta saw that the strong wind was caused by a golden skewer with a flower-shaped decoration on the base that was clearly thrown at him with a qualified silat ability. The golden flower konde stuck inside on the wooden fence.

Holding his body with ten fingers on the floor, Jayaseta quickly turned him down again while looking at the secret weapon.

“Cough, beware of intruders. I'll take out this crazy intruder!” caught up with a young woman. The woman's voice seemed to be also being tried so as not to be heard by the soldiers outside.

Jayaseta sharpens his sensitivity and temper when a short, no-buckle dagger comes out of a slightly darker corner of the room heading straight towards him.