Firefields
The Sacrifice of Mat Yusi

MAT YUSI was desperate. It had been an hour or so he circled the rest of the burned clove fields. Everything was turned to ashes. There were only a few sharp weapons left that were made from steel. It was also blackened due to the fire.

Many times he rubbed katana and celurit that he found lying covered with ash, dull left in the iron as if he did not want to be erased just like that,

Mat Yusi calculated the distance the sharp weapon found with the location of the hut that had been burned.

He believes Patra used both weapons to defend himself. Mat Yusi imagined the condition of Patra who had to face such a terrible situation.

Mat Yusi then scooped up the ashes of a hut that he believed had been united with his life history.

Although Mat Yusi still harbors hope, the notebook he wrote while in prison is still behind the ash heap, but Mat Yusi does not want to take care of his hope.

Everyone knows, no matter how small the fire, it will be******* paper until it runs out. Yesterday's fire, was not about a small fire, a fire whose heat was able to destroy all clove stems on an area of 2 hectares.

Mat Yusi opened the shirt he was wearing. His body was gleaming with sweat. He slowly covered his body with ashes. Mat Yusi hopes that way can spill all his sadness.

He did not care when his hands were hit by embers that still left the heat. The gray continues to be scooped, applying it to the chest, stomach, arms, face to his hair

For Mat Yusi, all that is not enough to represent what he is feeling right now. He dropped his body in the ash and began to roll.

Half of Mat Yusi's body had turned gray. It keeps rolling. Until finally Mat Yusi was surprised when he realized there was someone watching his actions.

“I don't want to ask what you're doing. But I bring good news for you,” said Dul Sanif as he looked at the fields that had been flattened by ash.

“We better...mmm...,” Mat Yusi confused looking for a place to allow his guests to sit.

“Yudha has gone too far. I thought he'd stay in Jakarta until he waited for me to get out of jail. Turns out he ran here to take advantage of the transmigrants,” complained Dul Sanif invites Mat Yusi to speak.

“Nasi is gone. Now, what should we do for Yudha to leave this place immediately?” Mat Yusi gave his t-shirt to be a seat.

Dul Sanif then told his plan to help Yudha take care of the mining land. The challenge is to persuade citizens to sell the land they have.

Once everything is in order and the soil is ready to be dug, for a while they will stay at the mining site to ensure there is no commotion.

“Lantas what about the clove land that Yudha will leave?”

“I guess he'll sell it soon. While everything is going, I ask you to prepare yourself.”

“Good. I agreed to help him to free the villagers from Yudha's cruelty all this time.”

The departure of Dul Sanif leaves a lot of work that must be completed soon Mat Yusi in a fast time. He did not want to just leave Jauhari with a falling condition.

The energy must be needed to restore the burned land. Without having to think for a long time, Mat Yusi did not want to roll again like before.

With all his might he tried to clear the fields. The rest of the burnt wood he collected into one and poured water over the rest of the fire that was still burning. He doesn't care if his sweat starts to pour.

While working, in the heart of Mat Yusi promised that he would come back to help Jauhari, Sabran and Patra. For him, this place was home and they were part of his family.

He was sure, at that time he must have collected a lot of money as promised Dul Sanif to him.

One thing he still baffles about is Sabran's whereabouts. He hasn't seen each other since last night. Where is Sabran now? thought Mat Yusi.

***

The shortest conversation was when Patra met with Mat Yusi. There was nothing to explain even if it was a meeting between two people who already knew each other.

Sending Patra must have had a very important reason. Meanwhile, Wijan was still talking about Mat Yusi's plan to clear the fields.

Looks like some of the tenements are neat. The ground and ash clumped in several rows of elongated mounds. Pantas Jauhari has relied heavily on him so far, Wijan said. The energy and workings of Mat Yusi deserve to be praised.

“Then this is the way, I think it only takes one month everything is ready to be planted back,” said Wijan.

Mat Yusi doesn't talk much. The purpose of their arrival was clear. He also asked that they wait for him for a while to throw themselves into the reservoir.

The journey from the fields to Jauhari house silenced feeling lonely. Nobody starts a conversation on a motorcycle they ride on.

Wijan himself must concentrate fully on riding a motorcycle. While Patra imagined what would happen after everything gathered. “May they be fine!” please Patra is worried.

***

No one has found any trace of Sabran. His house was quiet, even along the road that is usually often passed was not visible stem nose.

“There is a strange,” chirps Jauhari remembering Sabran's habits so far.

“Good. Who among you who want to talk first,” said Jauhari when Mat Yusi has arrived.

Although all attended by the parents, Patra chose to remain seated next to her father. He wanted to hear for himself the answer that people accused Mat Yusi of.

“If no one wants to start, let me just deliver it,” Jauhari continued seeing no one immediately talking.

Jauhari then began to tell the intention of the arrival of villagers gathered at his house. He deliberately chose sentences so as not to make Mat Yusi offended.

“Before I answer, where is Sabran now?”

“They have been looking for it since, but the result is nil,” replied Jauhari.

“Actually I have to thank Sabran. His actions just made it easier for my plan to tell you.”

The mood became quiet. They were still waiting for the sentence that Mat Yusi would say next.

“All Sabran's words are correct. Now I am Yudha's man.”

Not only did Jauhari feel surprised to hear the confession. Patra was more hit because the person who had given him hope was just beyond his expectations.

“Why do you say that?” jauhari insisted on not believing.

Mat Yusi did not want to linger. He has decided the path he thinks is best.

He hoped that, in his way of making a confession and letting everyone think badly of him, he could restore the village situation as it was. When he and Yudha were not in this village.

He could have confessed to several things and denied his charges of conspiring in the first place with Yudha. He deliberately did not do that and made it a personal matter with Yudha later.

He did not blame Sabran. Mat Yusi believes that the disappearance of Sabran and ending with spreading slander about him must be due to Yudha's interference.

Mat Yusi was forced to play his own role because the situation did not fit with Dul Sanif's plan.

“If there's nothing more you want to ask, I'll excuse you now. You don't have to bother to kick me out. Soon we will leave this village,” said Mat Yusi.

All eyes looked at each other. In their minds there was only one question, what happened exactly?