BERHALA ISLAND
Episode 3: LOOKING FOR THE OLD GRANDPA'S HOUSE

    "Sir, this is the provision .... Find more money, sir .... Let our lives be better and not be in debt ..." Isti told Podin, as he handed over the morning provisions wrapped in banana leaves and put in a bag of crackles, for lunch at work. Of course with the hope that her husband will come home with a lot of money to meet the needs of his family again.

    "Yes .." said Podin who stood at the door, watching his children who were preparing to go to school.

    "Pak .., Eko went to school first, yes ..." His biggest son in the elementary school uniform, greeted him and said goodbye to school.

    "Yes .... A school that would be a pinter .... Tomorrow I'll be a doctor. Don't forget, the picnic money was paid to Master .... His sister was taken care of .." said Podin who ordered his eldest son to go to school.

    "Yes, sir ..." said his son.

    "Pak ..., Dewi also went to school ..." said her daughter who was one school with her sister. Shake hands and say goodbye to his father.

    "Yes .... Be careful .... Don't be naughty ..." said Podin while stroking his son's head.

    After being watched by his children, Podin himself also said goodbye to his wife, will go to work.

    "I left first, Buk ..." said Podin while stroking the head of his son who was still carried by his wife.

    "Yes .... Do not forget, go home with a lot of money ..." said Isti who let go of her husband.

    That morning, Podin was about to leave for work. Walk towards the project where he works as a building porter. However, when he got to the street, where he had met the grandfathers who had given him a lot of money, he remembered the words of the old man, "If less, he was less, you can meet me and ask again ...."

    Podin stopped. Will continue to walk to his workplace, on a building project, or turn south to look for the old man who has promised his words. If Podin goes to the building project, it means he must be dirty again with sand and cement. He must be hot under the scorching sun and burn his body. Not to mention the insults and insults of his friends, who are always suspicious and avoid when approached, for fear of being touched. Plus if the stir is not fit, surely the handyman who served will be angry. Plus still scolded by Mr. Mandor, who always said that he was not good at work. It's sad to remember all that.

    Finally, Podin turned south. He said the words of the old man who had given him money, and said he would give it again if he wanted to. He also walked towards the south. Yes, heading towards the beach as said by the grandfather.

    But apparently, walking south, to find the whereabouts of the grandfather was not close. The podin has to go quite a distance. It even feels very tired, not yet arrived. He had to sweat and was hit by street dust blown by vehicles passing through him. But because his intention was unanimous, if he went home he had to bring money. He also recalled his wife's words, "Don't go home if you don't bring money."

    So, the determination of Podin was round. He would look for the whereabouts of the old man who had met him, and promised to give him whatever money Podin would ask for. Podin continued on his way, on, on and on to the south.

    Eventually, Odin reached the beach. His tiredness, which had peaked, had now turned into a smile. Surely he will meet with the old man who told him to look for the gubug standing on the beach.

    Podin's eyes immediately turned to the right and left, looking for the hoot that the old man said yesterday afternoon. And it turned out to be true, there was a hut on the left side from where he stood. Podin stepped towards where the hut stood. Kinda tolerable. Must pass on the rocks that are on the beach. But it is not a problem for people who want to earn money. To earn money you have to fight, even make sacrifices. So inner Podin. Anything will be done to make money.

    Until finally, Podin arrived at the club. Gubug which can be said only as a shelter. A place to avoid sunburn. Gubug is made of four wooden stems, and on top of it is given a roof of woven coconut leaves. In the middle of the hut, there were pieces of bamboo arranged, into a place to sit. The bamboo looks smooth and slippery. That means there are a lot of people sitting there.

    Podin who was too tired to walk from his house, now he was sitting on the bamboo slats in the hut. Said the old man, there will be a small boat coming over, to meet the grandfather. While waiting for the arrival of a small boat as said by the grandfather, Podin opened the package. Of course it will be taken. To treat his stomach that had been starving since earlier, after walking very far. To relieve fatigue and tiredness of the body and legs that feel trembling.

    Podin enjoyed the contents of the package. White rice with salted fish side dishes plus match sambal made from red chilli and onion which is given salt and lightly terasi. It's too good for Podin, whose life is in short supply. His hand immediately scooped the rice on the banana leaf, directly inserted into his mouth. Then whipping salted fish, dipped into the red sauce, chewed with rice that has entered the mouth. Looks really good.

    But unfortunately, Podin did not bring a supply of drinking water. Eating rice with salted fish, without any sauce, and exposed to fairly spicy sambal, certainly feels drag when swallowing, and also spiciness. Mouths slurping. Podin looked for water. It turns out that on the back of the gubug pole, hanging a jug, a teapot made of soil, where drinking water.

    Podin stood up and grabbed the hanging jug, hoping for a drink. It turns out there is water. Podin straightened the water to his throat.

    "Uhhh, segaaaar ..." so said Podin who felt relieved back after drinking the jug water.

    Podin repeated his meal. He spent the money given by his wife. Clean without the slightest residue. Then drink back the water from the jug that hangs on the pole, with tied mine suspended on a wooden frame supported by the pole.

    Plong feels himself Podin, has been able to restore the strength of his body, has been able to add energy to his body. So that it is as if he has returned healthy, fresh and fit. Now just waiting for the arrival of a small boat that will come to him, which he said will deliver himself to the house of the old man who ordered to him. Grandpa will give you any money he will ask for.

    Until without feeling, the sun has begun to decline, and will hide in the western sky. Lembayung afternoons already decorate the sky, replacing the blue color that is always dominant. Podin was shocked and immediately stood up. He looked to the right and to the left. Looking far out to sea. But there was no sign of the boat coming to pick him up. When did the boat come, as the old man had said? The fact that he observed, there was not a single boat in the waters. Even fishing boats are invisible. The deserted sea. The uninhabited beach. Did the grandfather lie? If it was dark, how would he go home? The path is invisible, it can fall into the water.

    But the concern of Podin was gone, while from the west, there was a small boat visible. The boat appeared from the western sky, where the sun sank. So that the appearance of the boat was like a silhouette against the background of the red sun circle. It looks beautiful like the paintings of artists who perpetuate the beauty of nature.

    Relax, the heart of Podin watched the arrival of the boat. This must have been a boat sent by the old man to pick himself up to go to the old man's house.

    "Ooee ......!!! Come down here ...!! Get on this boat ...! Hurry ...!!" there was the cry of the boatman who was holding the pole to run his boat. The boat had pulled over on the shore, just below the hut where Podin was standing.

    "Yes ...!!" shouted Podin who immediately rushed down from the place where the gubug was, heading to the boat that was leaning. Podin stepped on the rocks that were not hit by the sea waves. Even jumping so as not to get into the water. Then after arriving near the boat, Podin immediately jumped into the boat. He sat in the middle of the boat, which had thick wooden planks for his passenger seat.

    "I asked to be escorted to the house of the good-natured old man yes, sir .." Podin told the boatman.

    The boatman did not answer. But already pushing the pole, to run the boat. And once pushed, the boat had already reached the middle of the sea. The boat was walking quietly.

    "The place of the good-natured grandfather's house is far, sir?" asked Podin to the boatman. Actually, Podin wants to break the quiet atmosphere. He wanted to talk to the boatman.

    But again the boatman remained silent without saying a word. Even the boatman standing at the end was motionless like a statue. Only his hand moved several times to pull and push the pole used to run his boat.

    Podin could not see the boatman's face. Podin sat behind the boatman who was standing at the end. The boatman turned his back on Podin. All one could see was that the person was wearing thick clothes, a kind of robe made of some cloth rolled up to envelop his body, from neck to foot. Even the cloth of the robe was covered up to the soles of his feet. The head is covered with a very wide petal caping, made of woven bamboo. His face is completely invisible. Cap the petals until they touch the shoulder. It was as if the person had no head due to being covered in caping.

    Podin. The important thing is that he will be escorted to the house of a wealthy old man and will give him whatever money he will ask for. Surely this boatman is the messenger or her errand of the rich grandfather, who has been ordered if there are guests to be picked up.

    And it's true. Not long after, the boat had reached the edge of an island. The boatman immediately pulled the boat over, right on the edge of the land that was shaving. It was as if this mound was a simple port where passengers were dropped off the boat. The boatman immediately turned the boat, placing passengers right on a mound of land that was arranged as a way to get in and out of people heading to the island. The island which was the residence of the kind-hearted grandfather, who would give a lot of money to the one who came and asked for it.

    "Please come down .... Follow that path .... It will arrive at the magnificent palace" said the boatman without regard for his passengers.

    Podin got off the boat. Immediately set foot on the slightly elevated ground, which was considered as the port where the boat was moored. But if looked at carefully, it is a solid and strong body of road. The road that has been fitted with macadam stone, even the middle part has been cast, although only one meter long, leading to a place that might be called the palace. So that road looks good. Although it was getting dark, it was very easy to cross the place.

    As soon as Podin got off the boat, the boatman had already left his passengers. Podin, who had set his foot on the shoulder of the road, immediately observed his surroundings. An island not so big. But very lush overgrown with very dense plants. So that the island did not show any signs of a magnificent palace in it, as the boatman said.

    Podin immediately stepped his foot on the road that had been cast. As soon as he stepped foot, he immediately disappeared into the thick vegetation covering the island. It was pitch-black, because no light could break through the place. Moreover, the tinge of twilight shade has begun to disappear. No more light could shine in the center of the island.

    Podin carefully set his foot across the dark forest. After a few steps, visible by his sight, there was a ray breaking through. The more Podin stepped in, the closer it came to the bright and clear light. Yes, banning from a house.

    "Their home is in the middle of a lush island infested with these plants .... Not a house, but a big building. Ah, it's not just a building, but a palace. Yeah, it's a palace. Perhaps this was the palace that became the residence of the good-natured old geezer. A very large and magnificent palace .... But why did his clothes and behavior when he met, just like a bad beggar or a poor beggar?" so muttered Podin when he arrived in front of a magnificent palace and full of sparkling lights. The palace he often imagined in the story of Aladdin. The building is towering, large and brightly lit. Even at night, the palace looks very encouraging with its luxury.

    "Hoe ...!!! Don't just stand there ...!! Come on in ...!!" suddenly there was a scream coming from inside the palace.

    Podin looked to the left right, and even looked up at the palace, looking for the origin of the sound that told him to come in. But it doesn't look like the guy. It's like there's nobody there. The palace was quiet, as if there was no one inside.

    With fear, and of course his legs trembling, Podin tried to move his legs. He ventured to enter the palace. Slowly he stepped. Afraid of being yelled at who has a palace. Podin removed his sandals, setting his feet on the slender marble floor. Of course, while disgusting his feet, afraid that dirty the floor.

    "Mahaha .... Welcome to my residence, my son .... Come on in .... No need to hesitate ..." The voice appeared in the hearing of Podin.

    But, again Podin looked around, looking for the origin of the sound, still did not see the person who spoke. There was no one in the palace. But as if someone was telling. The voice echoed in Podin's ears. Yes, it was indeed the voice of the old geezer he had met on the street. This was the old grandfather's palace.

    "Yes, the old man must be in his palace, awaiting my arrival .... I will ask for as much money and treasure ..." so muttered Podin, who immediately stepped foot into the middle of the magnificent palace.