What a Beautiful Divorce

65. Into the Forest

"When will Nak Prapto and Nimo arrive in the Amazon jungle, Mr Kades?" ask Mr. Dwipangga who visited Mr. Oscar's house that afternoon.

"Lusa, Mr. Dwipangga. Mr. Reynaldi said, the journey from the airport to the edge of the forest took about ten hours as well. Come, sir, drink the coffee!" take Mr. Oscar with you while lifting the coffee.

Mr. Dwipangga nodded and sipped coffee. "If the terra petra soil can spread its fertility, can't it not, it must be because of its micro-organism activity, right, Mr Kades?"

"Rubber, Sir. After what Stepen said yesterday, I looked it up on youtube. Researchers and archaeologists say the land was initially infertile, perhaps even more fertile than ours. But, those ancient people then created terra petra in some way."

"In the meantime, Mr. Kades," said Mr. Dwipangga. "If archaeologists say 'ancient people', that means?"

Mr. Oscar nodded steadily. "Yes, as you think, Mr. Dwipangga. Terra petra was eight thousand years old, and it still survives its quality today."

"Great!"

"There's also a theory that says that in the Amazon jungle there used to be an advanced civilized empire, sir. Archaeologists found some evidence of advanced civilizations there. If that's true, it's not surprising either, because from terra petra we can see how advanced their civilization is" Oscar said.

Mr. Dwipangga nodded. "For all the land in Kejora village, I think, at least one truck of terra petra land, Mr. Kades. Will it be carried by plane?"

"Said Mr. Reynaldi, by sea ship, Mr. Dwipangga. Later from the dock where the ship docked, will be escorted by employee Pak Gumiro to our village in his black American truck."

“Why did Mr Reynaldi Green not ask to send terra petra alone to his friend, Mr Kades?” ask Mr. Dwipangga.

“Pak Reynaldi himself suggested that Prapto and Nimo go there, Mr. Dwipangga. Because terra petra land is managing it and they sell it. Because there is a chance of being fooled, and because the location is also very far, then there should be someone who ensures the authenticity of the land sent until it is loaded onto the ship.”

***

After flying for twenty-three hours, Pratpo and Nimo finally arrived at the airport in Rio De Janeiro, the capital of Brazil. From there they traveled again for hours until they finally arrived at the edge of the Amazon forest.

Mr. Reynaldi Green's best friend who picked up Prapto and Nimo at the airport named Ziko, a fifty-three-year-old old man. Her hair was bald, wearing glasses, and a little fat. They communicate in English.

Mr. Ziko is a Brazilian. He lives alone in a laboratory that is home. The building belongs to the company he works for and is located on the edge of the Amazon jungle.

“My wife passed away ten years ago,” Ziko told Prapto and Nimo, while putting three cups of hot coffee on her patio table. “I used to live here with my wife if I had a job in the Amazon jungle. It's a corporate building. If our house, it is located in a village not so far from here.”

Prapto and Nimo lit their cigarettes and looked around Pak Ziko's house surrounded by shady forest. Since arriving at Mr. Ziko's house earlier, they have seen many animals passing by such as birds, squirrels, monkeys, and several types of colorful insects.

In front of the house there is a dirt road that can be passed by two cars. The road continues into the forest, which Mr. Ziko said there are several Amazonian indigenous settlements there.

“Father is not afraid to live alone on the edge of this Amazon forest?” ask Nimo.

Mr. Ziko smiled. “No. I'm even quieter living here than in the city.

“No, Prapto. As long as we do not disturb their habitat and tranquility, the animals will not interfere. I can't be sure, but as long as I stay here, I'm fine,” replied Mr. Ziko. He then lit a cigarette.

“Tok us directly to terra petra location, Sir?” ask Nimo

“Iya. Because two more days a freight ship to Endonesa that will bring terra petra land will leave.”

Nimo nodded. “How long will it take until the ship arrives in Endonesa, Sir.”

“Twenty days. I've prepared everything. Payment to the land manager terra petra was also completed.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ziko,” said Prapto.

Mr. Ziko nodded. “Mari, rest first, Prapto, Nimo! Tomorrow morning we'll go into the woods.”

Prapto and Nimo looked at each other for a moment. There is still fear in their hearts to enter the Amazon forest which has many myths.

***

The next morning, Mr. Ziko gave Prapto and Nimo new uniforms to explore the Amazon jungle. The uniform was brown, had four pockets, and was fitted with a wide hat.

Mr. Ziko emerged from the garage driving his brown jeep. The old man was wearing the same uniform.

“Mari, catching anakonda and fishing piranha,” said Mr. Ziko, laughing.

Prapto and Nimo nodded in doubt. They then get into the car, Prapto in the front seat, Nimo in the back seat.

Along the way, Prapto and Nimo see more animals. They saw several types of snakes, long-nosed monkeys, long-beaked birds, and also frogs that have unique patterns and beautiful colors.

Prapto turned to Mr. Ziko . “There is a lion here, Sir?” he asked, with a slightly trembling voice.

“Nothing, Prapto. But tigers and other types of big cats there are many,” replied Mr. Ziko. “There's crocodiles too. And there's a very large type of river fish here, bigger than a human. The name of the fish is arapaima, and the length of this fish can reach four point five meters. Later we will go there to look around, but we finish first about this terra petra land.”

Mr. Ziko's jeep continues to drive into the forest. Occasionally they cross paths with other forest visitors or with local residents who are on the move in the forest.

While driving, Mr. Ziko told me about the Amazon jungle. “There are so many mysteries in this Amazon forest. Starting from giant spiders, ancient kingdoms that in their time had advanced civilizations, boiling water rivers, four hundred kinds of inland tribes, and others. Archaeologists also found objects that they said came from the Amazon forest kingdom.

“Terra petra pin is still a mystery, because no one can make it. Many have tried to make this terra petra in other countries, and although the land they make the result is also dark black, black, but the quality is still deep underground terra petra which is native to the Amazon forest. And ..”

Mr. Ziko's words came to a halt, as did his jeep. Not far from them, a tiger was now standing in the middle of the road. The tiger looked at the car.