ADILAGES
REOG 3'S
After running from the stop and asking here and there, Bondan arrived at his destination. Sweaty and breathless, he stepped into a roadside cafe in Blok M, South Jakarta.
Bondan looked left-right, then approached a woman sitting alone by the window. The woman looked like she was wearing a white blouse wrapped in a dark blue blazer and blue jeans were rather tight. One foot rested on the thigh, his boots seemed to remain stylish even though they were often used to walk and run on all terrains. The woman turned her head, looking at Bondan through her glasses with beautiful eyes full of searching.
Bondan's gaze was unintentionally fixed on a ring of rubies on the woman's left ring finger. The ring looked antique, its gems sparkling evenly in the light from outside.
“P... Excuse me, Ms Rania Giselda?” ask Bondan. Although the characteristics of the woman are exactly like Rania on television, it is more polite to ask questions than to act pretentious.
“Yes. You Bondan Prasetyo?” Rania tickled.
Bondan.
“You're late,” scan Rania in a cold tone. “Luckily I haven't gotten tired of waiting, then went to your house carrying an Arrest Warrant.”
This time Bondan gulped.
The young man's attitude made Rania sigh and said, “Yes already, sit down.” He purposely points to the chair facing him, and Bondan complies.
Gracefully Rania inhaled her Iced Hazelnut Latte. Then he said, “Nah, Bondan, I am a detective who was specifically hired to investigate the Reog Mask theft case. And I need to talk to you.”
“I already know the news. But, what is my relationship with that case?”
“You are the main suspect, Bondan.”
Bondan's eyes were wide like they were struck by lightning. “Me? Just be right, ma'am! If I had been the thief, I would have hidden!”
“Talk it easy,” said Rania. “But to convince the authorities, we need proof. Data from the museum shows your name on the guest list almost every day for the past two weeks.”
“Yes, I did research Reog Mask for archaeological college thesis material, because the heirloom object is unique and does not exist in the history book even all versions of the legend about Reog himself.”
Again, the same plausible reason that Bondan told everyone. But this time, Rania's eyes on him even sharper.
“That's it?” ask the detective.
Bondan nodded timidly. “Ya.”
“There's nothing else you need to say?” Rania accidentally opened her glasses, her gaze getting stronger pressing her interlocutor.
Bondan's sweating cold. This is the most interrogation technique “fine”. Under constant pressure, plus the worry of going through harsher interrogations, Bondan finally tells almost the whole truth.
About Bondan's handing over the Reog Mask to the museum. About the grandfather's message. About his great-grandfather, a farmer who accidentally got mired in a hole in the hills near Ponorogo.
“It turns out the hole was a cave. In it, he found the mask on an inscription, with Old Javanese words carved there. Great-grandfather could not read the writing, so he only brought the mask.”
Only now did Rania nod. “Well, now I can trust you, Bondan.. little.”.
Precisely that “sikit” it makes Bondan a little relieved. At least the prisoner's bars weren't the place for the night today.
Rania continued her remarks, her tone more relaxed than before. “So, I will share a little more facts with you. While investigating the scene yesterday, I found the glass display mask smashed to pieces, all CCTV was disabled and security officers were found dead.”
Bondan. Rania's speech is very different from that on television news. The facts that should not be presented to the public are now revealed in front of him.
“So in conclusion, the thief is very strong, assisted by his colleagues who are equally powerful mandraguna. The problem is, are you plotting with them? Let alone being the thief, I doubt you become an informant or something.”
Although Rania's statement seemed to be underestimated, Bondan's anger was not provoked. That interlocutor's reaction made Rania say, “But don't be happy just yet. If your description was true, your life is in danger.”
“What!?” This time Bondan was surprised not artificial. “Waduh, I am single, not ready to die young!”
“Then, the only way to be safe is to work with me. From your description earlier, we must begin the investigation from where the Reog Mask was first found.”
“So we have to go to Ponorogo?”
“Persis. Meet me tomorrow at seven in the morning in Gambir, we leave by train.”
Rania did not give Bondan another choice, and a better proposal was unthinkable for the gimbal.
Bondan could only nod lethargicly. “Alright Mrs Rania, until tomorrow.” He got up from his seat and walked out of the cafe.
Instead, Rania remained seated leisurely while finishing her coffee.
\==oOo==
The traffic jam was severe enough that day to make Bondan new until back in Depok before night. He walked down that quiet narrow alley, various thoughts raging in his mind.
In a very quiet alley near Bondan's boarding house, suddenly a man intercepted the skinny young man and rebuked, “You Bondan Prasetyo?”
Seeing the man in a rogue appearance, punk and disrespectful thugs, Bondan became alarmed. “Not, I'm Rudi.”
“Do not lie, your characteristics are exactly like the person I am looking for.” Suddenly the thug even grinned strangely. “Because of that, you must DIE!”
The whole face and skin of the thug's body turned as red as blood and covered in black veins. His body seemed to turn heavy. Bondan's heart feels like it's dislodged. Throughout his life, this was the first time he had witnessed magical symptoms.
The thug lunged forward with a dagger in hand. Bondan convulsed, avoiding the stabbing of a knife into his heart, but his stomach was hit by the opponent's fist. As a boarding child who has fought before, the pain like being hit by a sledgehammer means that the opponent is not an ordinary human.
Without any martial arts, let alone magic, Bondan can only rely on fists and simple kicks to maintain his life. Plus the endurance is quite qualified, the young man from Ponorogo recovered quickly, rose and back kelit of a barrage of sabetage and dagger stabs.
However, a powerful opponent managed to scratch Bondan's breastplate. All Bondan's movements are too easy to read, his life is now on the edge.
Unexpectedly, one Bondan kick slammed into the opponent's cheek. Strangely, the opponent even flinch, then back punch Bondan's legs to lose balance and fall plummeted.
Regardless of the pain, Bondan stood up. But just as he was about to turn around to escape, the tip of the dagger blade had already threatened his heart.
Suddenly I heard a gun. The knife ejected from the handle, the thug slumped back with a gunshot wound to the hand. Bondan looks back and sees his life-saving Rania Giselda aiming with her semi-automatic pistol.
The girl exclaimed loudly, “Hold, man! Surrender, otherwise the next bullet will be lodged in your heart!”
Again the red man grinned strangely, his face became more sinister. Said, “Try it... if you can!” He lunged forward again, his movements much faster than before The gun barked again, and he twisted like a shadow, dodging bullets.
The thug then advanced again, but his steps stopped instantly. He felt black blood flowing from the gunshot wound to his chest. Although it misses the heart, ordinary humans must die if shot in the lungs. Damn, those thugs aren't human.
“Uhh... how can?” rutuk the thug. He looked at Rania who was now holding two pistols, her teeth were grinding.
Rania again threatened, “Heart, failed. Next head.”
“Grrh, look out for you!” Furious, the thug fled down the alley.
Rania moves will pursue the thug, but hates her intentions. Crowds were seen crowding the mouth of the alley, most likely due to the sound of the gun popping earlier.
Quickly, Rania sheathed the gun behind her blazer. Then he shouted towards the crowd of spectators, “Keep everything! This one was being stalked by thugs! It's settled now, please disperse!”
As the crowds of bees swarmed, the crowd dispersed. After all, they actually do not care about the details of the problem, just want to watch exciting action movies. Soon enough, Rania and Bondan were in the alley.
Seeing Bondan's injuries, Rania quickly swept him to a nearby house. Fortunately, the owner of the house is willing to help provide first aid. The scratch on Bondan's chest has been bandaged, the bleeding has been stopped.
After making sure the occupants of the house do not steal hear, Rania just talked to Bondan, “We have to leave tonight as well. Your boarding house is no longer safe. Those waroks are more organized than I thought.”
“Y-that was... warok?” Bondan stammered while trembling. “Like an army of red masked dancers in Reog?”
“Accurate once. These waroks are powerful people who have extraordinary powers and invulnerability, the result of mystical training with their partners, the gemblak. Ordinary man is almost impossible to defeat warok.”
Bondan is getting creepy. “Jeez, that bullet just couldn't kill him. Wouldn't our efforts be in vain?”
“Not really,” replied Rania, keeping her tone soft. “Head and breastplate in warok heart position are not immune to weapons. I accidentally missed my shot so I could interrogate him. Unfortunately, the warok was more powerful than average, not weakened after being hit by many shots. Next time, I'll have to kill them.”
Shoot. Directly. Kill.
Is this the rule of the game from now on?
If you could choose, Bondan would not engage with any mystical force in his entire life.
Now, he's hanging his life on someone he just met.
Are ordinary humans like Bondan and Rania only able to resignedly face threats that exceed natural limits?
This is so unfair.
\==oOo==
Ponorogo, East Java.
There should be no wasted time.
Just as Bondan sets foot in the city where he once lived, he and Rania must hurry again. The heavy rain made the middle of the day look like dusk. After all, traveling by public transport car from Selo Aji Railway Station can not be enjoyed at all. Bondan's mind is now crowded with one thought only.
May his grandfather be safe.
Upon arriving at the grandfather's house, Bondan and Rania gasp. Yellow ribbon “Police” line runs along the fence surrounding this simple but beautiful looking house.
Rania took the initiative, asking the neighbors. Bondan did the same. When they met in front of the grandfather's house again, the faces of the two looked deathly pale.
“My grandfather... was killed two days ago,” Bondan stammered, stemming his burst of tears. “They said, the culprits were the robbers who patronized his house.”
“We know who the real culprit is, ‘kan?” sergeant Rania. “We have to go to the hospital that accommodates the deceased and check the results of his autopsy.”
Bondan shook his head. “Let's go. Now the more important thing is to find the map where the Reog Mask was found. Great-grandfather who drew it in a secret place.”
This time Rania agreed. The two entered through the unlocked door.
Inside the house, Bondan never stopped gasping. Almost all the furniture in the living room, family room, rooms to the kitchen scattered, poranda. Quite valuable items such as televisions and so on disappeared, as if the case was really a robbery. Most concerning were traces of dried blood on the floor, and drawings of human figures of white chalk on the floor of grandfather's bedroom.
While trying to dig back the beautiful memories with his beloved grandfather in his mind, Bondan suddenly remembered something. Followed by Rania, he rushed over and opened the door of the secret room behind a large closet. There's a ladder behind that door, Bondan and Rania are coming down.
In the basement, Bondan lights an electric light. This time, it was Rania's turn to be dumbfounded by the surrounding scenery.
“Jeez, your grandfather.. dancer Reog?”
“Yes, when he was young. After marriage and establishment, he opened a studio to train young Reog dancers. The objects in this room are a hereditary legacy of our family. All the trinkets used in Reog.” shows
“Can you dance Reog too, Bondan?”
“Ngg, no. I am less talented. I am lazy to exercise, especially if I have to lift the Barongan without holding it.”
Rania glanced at Barongan, a giant tiger-shaped doll with peacock feathers, the symbol of King Singabarong's figure. That said, the flow of pure Reog Dance requires the dancer to lift Barongan just by biting it, while his hands and feet do special movements. So, it takes a certain devotion to do it, and Bondan doesn't have that.
However, curiosity pushed Bondan over to the Barongan and thrust his head into it. Except for the small gap to look out, the inside of this giant doll was all dark.
On a whim, Bondan wants to know what the inside of this Barongan is so heavy. With his phone as a flashlight, he illuminated the inside of the ancient doll. What appears is cowhide woven on a frame made of bamboo.
What is strange is the image of the patterns and some black dots in the cow's skin. Is this some kind of mystical image to bewitch the dancer to lift Barongan strong? Bondan took the initiative to photograph the entire picture with his cell phone camera.
While exiting Barongan, Bondan sees Rania searching among a pile of dusty items. Frustration was on the woman's face, especially when she saw Bondan.
“You're how, Bon?” rania Tegur. “I'm busy looking for a map, you're even fun playing Barongan!”
Indifferent, Bondan instead showed the screen of his phone to Rania. “Not really, I had time to photograph this magical image. This is an important finding, you know!”
Rania looked at nothing. “Have it done, don't mess around anymore. Find map!”
“But this is important too! Who knows what it has to do. “.
Very quickly but violently Rania snatch the phone from Bondan's hands. “Cubile, this is a criminal case investigation, not a thesis research.!”
Unintentionally, Rania's gaze was pounded on the image on Bondan's phone screen, and she was silent for a moment. Then, Rania exclaimed, “A-astaga! Here's the map! Bondan, you're a genius!”
The gimbal scratched the head. “Mas’ anyway? Where do you know?”
“From here.” Rania showed a map of Ponorogo displayed on her smartphone screen, comparing it to the one on Bondan's phone. There is a similarity between the patterns in both images.
Bondan gaped, not believing his luck. For years he lived in his grandfather's house after his parents and younger brother were killed in a single accident. The car they were riding in was mired in the ravine during a visit to the grandfather's house in Ponorogo. Perhaps out of guilt, the grandfather took care of Bondan, the sole survivor of the accident.
Rania's call made Bondan wake up from his daydream. “Nah, can! The location of the cave is in the hills southwest of the city of Ponorogo. Come Bondan, we're leaving!”
At the end of the stairs rising out of the secret room, Rania suddenly stretched out her hands, blocking Bondan. “Wait! There was a stinging smell of smoke from behind this door!”
Bondan just realized, the air so it feels hotter and stuffy too. His eyes were horrified. “Home grandfather fires!”
“Is there another way out?”
Bondan.
“Then there is no choice, we must break through the fire.”
“Hah!? But, impossible...!”
“Trust me. Or do you want to die out of oxygen here?”
Do you believe in Rania? Whatdoes thatmean? It doesn't make sense to Bondan or anyone. However, it is better to bet on life than surrender. Firefighters are not reliable.
“Alright, I follow the proposal mbak,” said Bondan finally.
Rania nodded. “Continue bowing, I will protect you. We open the door, then run fast to the exit. Ready?”
“Ready!”
Simultaneously, Bondan and Rania kicked the door open, then took a thousand steps.
Bondan continued to duck and squinted his grievous eyes at the smoke. Only one thing was on his mind, Remember where the exit would be if he still wanted to see the sun.
Bondan's whole life, his heart pounding has never been this loud, jerking like heavy metal music. Misstep, misdirection, he will be scorched with his house and Rania.
“Uuaghh!” A smoldering block of wood fell right in front of Bondan's feet, tripping him. The pain is not overbearing. But strangely enough, even Bondan's trousers don't burn at all.
Bondan could not think of the cause. He just kept running. Then, utilizing his running power, he kicked the front door of the house hard. Bondan was surprised, apparently the door was deliberately blocked from the outside so that he and Rania were trapped. At a glance, so did all the windows that turned out to be tightly closed.
Rania who turned out to still hold Bondan's shoulder has since sucked one more kick. Plus Bondan twice and Rania once again kick, then the door and the bars are broken and wide open.
“Quick, fast!” Bondan and Rania run out, just as an increasingly crazed sea of fire barely grabs them.
“So it's crazy, it's crazy! They burned my grandfather's house..my house!” rutuk Bondan while leaning himself on a tree. Perhaps only he and Rania could have guessed, the fire was a death trap set by the Reog Mask thieves, who were almost certainly waroks.
Crowds of residents who had been working together to put out the fire or just watch rushed to Bondan. Rania again quickly spoke up and blocked them. Seeing that, Bondan recalled that there was one thing in the woman that confused him.
Because, since coming out of the basement earlier, Rania's hand continues to hold Bondan's shoulder. Instead, Bondan was immune to fire, and Rania who protected him did not burn at all. Even the blazer that Rania uses like a hood is only slightly stained black.
Bondan looked at Rania from behind with goosebumps.
Does this detective have the magic that makes him immune to fire?
On the next occasion, Bondan would ask all of that to his partner.
He should know. He lost everything to get this far. He deserves to know all the truth. About the Reog Mask. Also about Rania, personally full of this mystery.