Ai, Love Me
Eps 22, The Mastermind behind Forest Burning

Johan and his friends and subordinates of the papah Johan were immediately entered into the hall. They found many residents who were sleeping on a very wide carpet and covered the entire hall that was really wide. Pity and concern came into their minds.

“they have all been given proper food and drink despite the low nutrition of the local government and social assistance from the community. Until now, their food supplies have been sufficient for the next few weeks” said one of the village officials.

“em, good then” said Johan.

In the corner of the room, Johan found a group of small children who were playing with their own toys. Johan was so happy when he saw the control of children in this village is fine.

“their house burned down in the woods. And they took refuge here because they've lost everything. But they can still smile at a time like this.they are so strong” thought Johan in heart.

They all then entered one of the rooms in which there was a slightly wider round table with the higher-ups in the village. They were allowed to sit there with great respect and courtesy. Therefore, soon they all sat in their own chairs.

At the round table, in fact there are 4 village officials who are representatives of the village. Even Johan who previously lived there did not know if their village had a personal system of government.4 officials were only as chairman, deputy, secretary and treasurer. The four fair otang and the example can really prosper the village.

There were four people from the village officials who had been sitting there, while there were six people from the subordinates of Johan Papah. And also, an additional 5 people are Johan and his friends. Limabelas sat at the round table with solemn and respectful respect for each other.

“before, I as the chairman of this hamlet was really honored to have guests from outside the village. We have received news that the grandson of Mr. Adhipura Sarengga Mahesa as the former head of this village has come”, said the village leader.

“so you are the new chairman's replacement?” ask one of the subordinates of Johan papah.

“right, I will replace his responsibilities. Although I am not as wise and as smart as him, but I will try as much as possible” said the chairman.

Hearing that, Johan was shocked to death. Because Johan really did not know that his grandfather was actually a leader of the village.

“so, grandfather was the chairman of this village before?” johan asked shouting in surprise.

“looking at your expression, it seems your grandfather still hasn't told you one. Previously, your grandfather was the chairman of this village who became the head of this village.not only the chairman, he is the leader of this village.he takes care of finances, takes care of everything alone. Before he died of a fire, he told me that I should continue with his responsibilities. Therefore, I will do what he said” said the chairman.

“although he was really smart and wise, he was not at all arrogant and always polite to the people in this village. We are not sure if the four of us can replace him as the new chairman” said the representative.

“emm, so so” said Johan nodding his head.

“then, has the perpetrator been taught by the law there?” ask the deputy.

“sadly, we did not have time to do that” replied one of papah Johan's friends.

“wait, so you all know who is the mastermind of this forest burning?” sahut Johan in a loud voice.

“heh Johan, don't shout like that, it's rude” whispered Emilia slightly pulled Johan's clothes.

“so you all know who was behind my grandfather's murder?” ask Johan.

“sadly you have not been told who the person is” said the village representative.

“we all know who it is. In a moment, we will meet the person” said one friend from Johan papah.

“alah, I will beat him up until it is not left” said Johan muttered while clenching his hands so hard

Seeing that, the chairman immediately thought that Johan was still really not told who was behind the forest burning. “akan very unfortunate if the child was still not told who the mastermind. I'm afraid if he can't accept the fact” thought the chairman inwardly.

“what have you eaten? I will prepare dinner for all of you” said the village secretary.

“ti-not necessary. We all stopped a few times to rest and buy food at the rest area. You save food here for the refugees” replied one subordinate Papah Johan.

“ alright, we go first. Thank you for the banquet and thank you very much for welcoming us” said one friend Papah Johan while standing from his seat. As soon as all the friends of Johan's father, as well as Johan and all his friends stood up from their seats.

“well, we are also really flattered by the presence of all of you” said the chairman standing together with the other three administrators.

Then, they all walked away from there and then back into the car. Arriving in the car, the driver from Johan and all his friends took eleven flashlights and distributed them to Johan and his four friends, then the rest he gave to his friends.

“because the road we are going to take really cannot be passed by the air, so we will walk from here. We'll bring the flashlights one by one. Don't worry, this flashlight is actually very bright kok” said one friend from Johan papah.

At once Nyoman was idly lighting his flashlight. And with so surprised they all, in fact the flashlight is really very bright.

“buseettt really bright” said Nyoman.

“then, let's go” said one of papah Johan's friends.

“hmm yes” say they are all together.

In fact, they walked horizontally and lined up neatly because at that time their travel field was so narrow. Three of Johan's friends are at the front while the other three are at the back. Johan and his four friends were in the middle row.

They all turned on the flashlight simultaneously and instantly illuminated all the terrain they were passing through. After all, the eleven flashlights that had such bright power were truly excessive and flashy. The eleven flashlights are really very bright and illuminate everything on their right and left.

They walked through the huge rocks and towering teak trees. The Merkea also directed their flashlights in all directions so they could illuminate the teak wood forest.

“the flashlight is really amazing” said Jehian.

“iya, I can not imagine how if we do not have a flashlight. It must be really dark here” said Farel.

They continued northward from there and then saw the end of the teak forest. There are several empty houses scattered so randomly in the forest. Until they came out of the teak trees, in fact they stepped on some kind of fine rock that would be destroyed when they stepped on.

“ehh? This what? Bener really weird” said Johan.

“iya, what are we stepping on?” ask Nyoman.

“now, you step on charcoal from the rest of the forest fires. It turns out that the forest fire has stopped until here” said one of Johan's papah friends.

“then, so this teak forest is safe from fire?” ask Jehian.

“no, actually teak wood in this forest is really very extensive. Therefore, a lot of teak wood is lost here because of the fire. We will walk until we can see the lake on our left. At this time, we are already in the forest. Actually, this forest is very large, and why we see this land is empty, it's because this land has been burned out. Charcoal collection is disseminated so that the land becomes fertile” said one of papah Johan's friends.

“hah? where's the funds?” ask Emilia.

“front there will be a lake. When I was a child, I used to fish with my grandmother and grandfather in the lake and river.I did not expect that the forest surrounding my house and the house of everyone here was burned to the ground.

“then, the sooner the better” said one of papah Johan's friends.

They continued their journey until 7 p.m. In fact, they are really tired of the journey. Until arriving next to the upstream of the lake, they saw an old house that was pitch black due to the scars of the forest fire.

“it was my home first. My house made of wood which fortunately is still not burned completely” said Johan pointed his flashlight towards his house.

“do we have to go to your house?” ask Farel.

“no, I want to meet immediately who is the perpetrator of this forest fire” Johan said.

“all right, if you want to meet soon. We will meet as soon as” said one of papah Johan's friends.

They continued their journey to the forest burners. Johan really can't wait to meet the real culprit. Until they visit one of the funeral sites. They opened the fence and began to enter the cemetery.

They walked beside the many cemeteries right and left of their way. The sound of owls, the sound of crickets, as well as the sound of frogs are mutually unpretentious to each other. The cold night wind began to greet them all in the cemetery. The friend of Johan's papah directed them at one of the old priests in the middle of the cemetery.

In one small pastor, there is a funeral of the grandmother, the grandfather, the papah Johan and one other person's grave. In fact, Johan was a little emotional because the friend of Johan's father directed them to the funeral of the papah and grandfather first before they directed him to the forest burner.

“lah? Why go to Johan's papah grave?” ask Emilia.

“we are supposed to meet with the forest burner” Johan said so emotionally to papah friend Johan.

“the culprit is calm in nature sana” said one of papah Johan's friends.

“hah? meaning om?” johan asked so confused.

“papah you yourself who burned this forest” said a friend from Johan papah.

“hah? weird weirdo. This forest is his hometown. It is impossible papah who bakar” shouted Johan in the middle of the grave.

“I don't blame you if you don't believe this fact. But I have really said very honestly that your own papah burned the forest” said the friend from the papah Johan.

“why would papah Johan do that?” ask Emilia.