BERHALA ISLAND
EPISODE 163: EATEN ECLIPSE

    Podin's body was thrown and fell right on the altar of the Pulau Berhala palace. Podin watched at the altar had gone around the ponggawa and the executioner of the palace of Pulau Berhala, which seemed as if they were happy to welcome the person who fell just like that on the altar of the palace. The ponggawa and the executioner were like dancing, surrounding the body of Podin lying right in the middle of their circle dancing around Podin. Yes, the executioners, wearing only the sahwat cover, with their chests and limbs undressed, were dancing, singing like the rhythm of a ritual, it continued to revolve around the body that had just fallen on top of the altar of the palace. Even his hands that aimed their fingers were as if they were claws that would pounce, as if they were going to prey on Podin. Even the hands were intermittently pointing towards Podin's body, as if to record the body in front of him, which they surrounded while dancing in circles. Even many times his mouth grinned, grimacing revealed his teeth, as well as want to bite the body of Podin lying on the altar of the palace. They continued to dance, the dance as if it was a ritual in an offering. Yes, indeed Podin is now in the offering place.

    The lunar eclipse continues. The moon is still tightly covered by the Earth's shadow. The moon does not look like a full moon, but only displays a blackish red light. Round in the sky, like a large idol's eye, watching someone. The red eyes of the idol, as if showing the sign of the anger of an idol to someone who made a mistake.

    Well, that night was indeed the night of the longest lunar eclipse. The silent atmosphere of the quiet night was truly gripping, truly terrifying. And the atmosphere of nature is very quiet it is very supportive of the mystical atmosphere that is happening in the palace of Pulau Berhala. Yes, the lunar eclipse is where it happened at twelve p.m. The night that should change. The moon should be right above the palace of Pulau Berhala. And usually, the nights like that, is the night the devotees of the ruler of Pulau Berhala held an offering event.

    But that night really was a gripping night. Not even the sound of the night beasts was heard at all. There was no sound of crickets squeaking. There was no sound of a grasshopper clinging to its feathers. No sound of rod borer towing. There are no voices of people who are active. Even the owl seemed to have disappeared, there was no sound at all. Yes, it's a quiet night. A lonely night, when the moon should shine full but is covered by the shadow of the earth. A very gripping lunar eclipse, a lunar eclipse that will only occur about once every eight years.

    From the black hole of the sky, as if out a terrifying black shadow. The shadow of a huge giant creature with the size of an island. Yes, that is the Island of Berhala. The island that people always come to ask for benefits. The island where Podin had also once obtained a fortune. The story goes, where during the full moon, every full moon, everyone who came to the palace of Pulau Berhala, all on asking for pesugihan. The full moon island, where greedy people offered innocent children, then slaughtered them on the altar of the offering stone. And now, what should have been a full moon, a night that people should have come to the Island of Idols to offer sacrifices, to be converted into wealth, but that night was a different night. That night was not the bright full moon night, the full moon night that satanists had always been waiting for. That night, the full moon was covered by the shadow of the earth. The full moon turned into an idolatrous eye. The full moon turned into a gripping night.

    Some of the ponggawa people inside the palace, pulled up the mine and dragged the reddish-black moon. The moon was tied with a large curd, then dragged closer above the palace. So that the moon is experiencing an eclipse that looks closer and very large. The size of one moister, pale-red black. For what the moon was bound and drawn to the palace. Apparently, the ponggawa of the palace drew the moon, as if the moon would be placed near the palace altar. It will be placed on the roof of the palace. Perhaps it is a sign that the moon that is experiencing a total eclipse, has a very powerful magical power.

    But suddenly, Podin was shocked by the fall of a body beside him. There was another body thrown, and it fell right next to his right. Yes, a man who has been together, even touched the body of Podin. Both, Podin and the man who had just fallen, were both on top of the range stones commonly used to slaughter sacrificial offerings.

    Podin glanced at the man who had just been thrown and fell touching his body. Even the two people were now looking at each other, and of course wanted to know who the man who had just fallen beside him was. But how shocked Podin was when he saw the man. It turned out that the man had no face. Yeah, his face's gone. His face was just plain, as if it was just a flat, flat head without any curves. Just like the moon is experiencing an eclipse. Surely Podin did not know and could not recognize who the man who had just been thrown and fell was beside him.

    But vice versa, as if the man also looked at Podin with the same suspicion. Although without a face, but the head was visible, turned towards Podin. And it turns out that the head that turned towards Podin was only briefly looking at. Then he turned his head again.

    Podin was curious, was it true that he also did not have a face like the man who had just fallen beside him? Podin's hand tried to feel his own head. And it turns out, how shocked Podin, because indeed his own head was also without a face. The head he touched, turned out flat. It is just a circle, like a ball without any eyes, nose or lips. Podin realized that he could see the person next to him, which he realized that he had no face, and now, in fact, he had no face. But that's the truth.

    The executioners continued to dance, continuing to sing, dance and ritual chants, with a strange voice that seemed to be a worship in welcoming the night of a total lunar eclipse. Meanwhile, the hollows still continue to drag the moon that is experiencing a total eclipse, the moon that should believe light. But the moon is now dark because it is experiencing a total eclipse. It was as if the ponggawa continued to pull the moon with all their strength, so as to reach the altar of the palace of the Island of Idols.

*******

    "Please ........!!! Please ..., Mr. Podin is missing ....!!!" Ms. Melan shouted for help, of course her voice was immediately heard by the neighbors in her village. Although the house was a bit far from the neighbors, but on that lonely and silent night, the screams of a woman who cried for help, must have been heard immediately by others.

    "Something screams for help ...."

    "Yes .... There's a voice of people asking for help ...."

    "Who ...?!"

    "Women's voice ...."

    "Please ........!!! Please ..., Mr. Podin was eclipsed ....!!!" Ms. Melan shouted again, and certainly louder.

    "That's Ms. Melan's voice ...."

    "Yes, right ...."

    "Tong ..., tong ..., tong ....!!" the people who heard Cik Melan's cry for help, immediately hit a fart. There was also a hit on Tanjidor. There are even those who hit the tin cans used. Yes, everything is done so that the neighbors hear if there is a cry of people asking for help.

    "Please ........!!! Please ..., Mr. Podin is missing ....!!!" again, Ms. Melan again shouted for help.

    The neighbors immediately ran to the house of Ms. Melan. Some people who ran while hitting a fart, came directly to the house of Podin. They want to know what happened.

    "What's up ...?! What's up ...?!"

    "Pak Podin why ...?!"

    People immediately asked Ms. Melan. The people who had arrived first at the house of Podin immediately nerocos asked Ms. Melan. They want to know what happened to Podin.        "Pak Podin why, Ms ...?!"

    "Pak Podin is missing ..... Huhuhuhu ..." replied Ms. Melan who immediately cried.

    "Sir Podin ...?!"

    "Pak Podin is missing ...?! Why ...?! Lost where ...?!"

    "Pak Podin why ...?!"

    People ask each other questions, wanting to know what exactly happened.

    "How is this, Miss Melan?" ask one of the residents, who may represent another.

    "Tadi .., along with the lunar eclipse, Mr. Podin, who was in my room with me, was suddenly dragged by an invisible creature .... And Mr. Podin who was dragged like that, then lost .... I have searched everywhere .., but Mr. Podin did not meet .... Huhuhuh .... Please help us to find Mr. Podin .... Huhuhuhu ..." said Ms. Melan who told her that her husband was missing, and of course asked for help to the residents who had arrived at his house.

    "Pak Podin digondol eclipse ...."

    "Hash ..., a lunar eclipse could bring people ...?!"

    "Pak Podin where to go ...?!"

    "Digondol eclipse ...."

    "It certainly wasn't a lunar eclipse .... But it must have been the one who mengondol Pak Podin genderuwo ...."

    "Yes for goodness sake .... Mr. Podin is missing digondol genderuwo ...?!"

    "Let's search ...!!"

    "Dombreng ..., dombreng ......."

    "Tung ..., tong ..., tong ...!!"

    "Sir Podin ........!!!"

    "Sir Podin ........!!!"

    People were looking for Podin. Some hit a fart, some hit used cans. They clamor for Podin, shone a battery flashlight, looking for Podin. They're surrounding Podin's house.

    "Come ..., his house is surrounded ...."

    "Yes, Mr. Podin's house is surrounded .... Who knew Mr. Podin was in the corner, was in the tree, was in the undercarriage ...."

    "Please someone enter Mr. Podin's house .... Looking for the whole place in the room of Mr. Podin's house .... And also look at the many other people in the house."

    "Please, there's something surrounding Mr. Podin's house, looking around every corner of the house."

    "Yes right ...."

    "Please, someone shines his flashlight battery into the trees around Mr. Podin's house ...!"

    "Ready ...."

    Surely these neighbors immediately search in all directions, both inside the house, around the outskirts of the house, in the lush trees around his house, he said, there are even those who have come to places that are spooky and trusted as a place to live for the demits. Yes, the neighbors are good and certainly want to help Ms. Melan to find her missing husband. Of course, the residents consider that both Podin and Ms. Melan are good people. The proof, they were given a job, and even some of his neighbors are believed to be told to manage his business. So when they heard that Podin was missing, they must have helped them find it.

    Of course, the residents thought that Podin lost digondol demit. Podin digondol ghost. Podin was taken away by the devil. Hence, they continued to search, they continued to shine their flashlight into the dark place. Surely while hitting kentongan and other tools. And of course it is also helped by shaman rituals. Ordinary, villagers still believe in things that cannot be seen by the eye, such subtle creatures. And of course with a crowded voice, with a screaming voice, with the beating of the kangs, the beating of used cans, there were even those who lit oncor from bamboo, it was his goal that the demit who hid Podin, he said, in order for the demon who seduced Podin, immediately released him, and Podin was returned to his realm.

    Yes, the believers, the villagers in the residence of Podin believe that if there are people who are missing like the current Podin, usually the person is tempted by subtle creatures, supernatural beings, and others, a creature that cannot be seen by the eye. And usually they are hidden in a stopover from the demits.

    Until almost morning, Podin did not meet. People are still looking. But of course, they also feel strange, because Podin, who is that old, can be lost digondol by the devil. Surprisingly again, said the people, as well as Ms. Melan, Podin lost the eclipse.