TUMBAL SEVENTH

Strange Wind

Bayu approached and held both sides of my badly shaken shoulders. My tears broke, I was so frustrated. “What if Mang Ule dies, Bay?” shirihku.

“Hey, calm yourself, Ran! We just pray, may Mang Ule soon realize, yes. He just fainted, kok.”

I was a little relieved to hear an explanation from Bayu regarding Mang Ule's condition.

“All fainted, Mela from earlier was unconscious as well, then Tirta followed, and now ... Mang Ule was also unconscious. As the day gets darker, Bay.” I'm desperate. But Bayu continued to convince and strengthen me.

“Tenlush, Ran. We must be sure, if we can definitely get through this, yes!” bayu said. But, that did not excite me at all. I'm tired, so tired. Bayu drowned my head in his chest. And I sobbed there.

I pulled away from Bayu's embrace, then turned towards Mang Ule when I heard the old man take a deep breath. The next moment he coughed. I got up close to that old body. Then squat next to him waiting for Mang Ule to gather his consciousness.

Bayu came closer to help Mang Ule sit down and calm her down. “Thank God, Mamang woke up at last,” said Bayu while holding both sides of Mang Ule's shoulder. I said it many times, my tears flowing again without command.

Mang Ule held his neck. Then hissing and grimacing seemed to be in pain. “What happened, Mas Bayu, Non Rania?” ask her in a weak tone.

“Already, forget about Mang. Most important Mamang already aware,” timpal Bayu. Mang Ule nodded weakly, “now what does Mamang feel?” tanyanya.

“Iya, Mang, is anyone still sick?” I'm hoarding.

“Free limp and a little dizzy just as nauseous, Non,” replied Mang Ule. Then he tilted his head to the left and right. Arriving at the base of his head sounds ‘krek krek’.

I turned towards Tirta when I heard him moan. I got up and ran to him. “Hey, are you awake?” my broom. Tirta only responded with a mutter.

Tirta cleared his throat a few times, he seemed to have trouble swallowing his saliva. “My throat feels dry,” he said later while trying to swallow saliva to wet his throat.

“Okay, how dong? Where is there no water at all again?” sahutku confused.

“Iya, the water is in the car,” timpal Bayu.

Bayu then helped Mang Ule stand up and get closer to our place. We checked around hoping to find a source of water, but nothing.

“Yes, already, we just continue the journey. How?” ask Bayu.

“Where, Mang, Ta? Can you walk again?” my many.

“If I did, I could, Non. Not knowing that Mas Tirta, it looks still limp that way,” replied Mang Ule.

I looked towards Tirta. True, his face looked extremely pale and weak. But, if not immediately continue the journey of fear Sekar's spirit comes again. Besides, what about Mela? My best friend should get medical help right away. I don't know when he fainted? Until now there has been no sign that Mela will be conscious. The day is getting darker too. Magrib's time has passed.

“We continue the journey. I'm still strong, kok,” Og Tirta.

“Are you sure, Ta?” timbrung Bayu's. Tirta nodded convincingly.

“Alright, then let's continue the journey!” bring Bayu. I nodded.

Bayu holds Mela, while I hold Tirta. We go back on our way. Mang Ule was in the back row.

We walked down the path uphill and downhill. Fall down, wake up again. Take a break for a moment to gather energy and then continue on again. Darkness is getting stronger and more enveloping the earth. Visibility is getting limited.

“We need lighting. It gets darker, nih,” said Bayu stopped his steps. We rest again. Mela is rested on the tree trunk.

“But, try me to check my phone first.” I took the cell phone out of my pants pocket. I opened the cipher pattern and looked at the screen. Battery life is 45%.

Bayu checked his pants pocket. “Argh! My flashlight is somehow left where,” he said, “hpku is also lowbat stay 5%. The flashlight is no longer strong,” he continued.

A moment later Mang Ule came to check the pants pocket. “Aduh, hp mamang, Non.”

“Yes already, we speed up the pace, yes! How's it? All agree?” I asked while staring at Mang Ule, Bayu and Tirta. So that the battery is enough to reach where the car is parked.

“OK, Non. Mamang ready.”

“I'll also try,” says Bayu.

“Rest again, yuk! Goods for a while,” said Bayu, he looks very exhausted. How not? He kept on carrying Mela. I nodded. We also sat down on the pine tree. Located about 20 meters from the rubble of Mbah Barjo's house.

“Matiin first flashlight, Ran. Let's save.” According to Bayu's orders, the flashlight must be turned off.

My forehead frowned when I heard the sound of ‘kriyeeet’ like an old open door. “You heard the sound, didn't you?” my many. The next moment we were silent to sharpen our hearing. The voice sounded again. The four of us looked at the source of the voice.

Glued for a few seconds, when he saw the house of Mbah Barjo that had been burned down was now intact again like before. There are some lanterns on the terrace. To clarify our vision. The door opens and closes on its own.

“Bay,” lirihku. Bulu kuduk.

“Ya, Ran, I also see,” Bayu said.

“Ma-mang ju-also li-see,” timpal Mang Ule stammered.

“It's no home. We'll just drop by there. Ask for help,” says Tirta.

“That's not a good idea, Ta. We're getting out of here!” sahut Bayu while lifting Mela's body. Mang Ule was stunned.

“Why?” tanya Tirta did not understand.

“Later I tell you,” I said while helping him stand up. Turn on the flashlight on hp.

“Mang Ule!” call me when the old man is still stunned in his original place. Mang Ule was jolted from the daydream. Then walk ahead of me and Tirta.

“Aaaak!” I screamed when I felt someone pull my leg.

“Why Ran?” tanya Tirta panicked.

“There's pulling my leg.”

Tirta looked at my feet. “Nothing, Ran.”

As I felt the pull on my feet getting stronger, I held on to Tirta's hands tightly. The next second I collapsed, even with Tirta. Mang Ule approached trying to help us. With Bayu.

Everyone is trying to help me get away from the figure that continues to wrestle in the legs. Tirta held the right hand while Mang Ule held my left hand. While Bayu was trying to release that astral figure from my feet.

The figure finally gave up and released its grip after putting up a fairly fierce resistance. I, Mang Ule, Tirta and Bayu gasped. Sitting on the ground. Weary. Our energy seems to be drained. Limply.

“Bay, Where's Mela?” my many.

“So I laid on the tree that was there,” replied Bayu while pointing at one of the pine trees. I took the cellphone that was originally lying on the ground and poured the flashlight highlight to where Bayu was.

“Which side?” my many. It was not clear where Bayu's index finger was headed. Highlight the flashlight to the designated place Bayu.

“Where's it, Bay?” myrag. When my best friend is no longer visible. Everyone turned to where Mela was supposed to be, but there were only towering pine tree trunks.

“Tadi there!” toilet Bayu. We stood up and began to search for Mela's whereabouts.

“What Non Mela is aware of?” chirps Mang Ule.

“But, the time when you've realized it's not us?” sahutku confused.

‘Klung’ sound notification of my battery power is getting thin.

We chanted the name Mela simultaneously and alternately, but there was no word at all.

The next instant there was a rumbling sound of wind from the direction of the former house of Mbah Barjo. Then get closer and fly everything that goes through. Including the four of us.

I can no longer see Mang Ule, Tirta and Bayu. I don't know where they're bouncing?

I tried to save myself by holding on to the pine trunk so as not to get carried away by the wind***** the pickaxe. My body and legs were floating in the air. But, my defense collapsed as well. My grip slipped and I was carried away by the strange wind. I felt my body circling in the air, my head falling on either a tree or something. Then it all gets very dark.