LAST CLIMB (EPS.1)
2. Departure
After all the needs were sorted out like the previous agreement, today they gathered in a designated place, namely in a bus terminal. Beni and Anita, Danu and Aini, then Randy who is also seen coming have been waiting at the bus terminal as planned, only Arie left a person who until the time of departure the bus almost arrived was not seen the trunk of his nose.
"Sorry sorry, cave late."
Arie came panting hard after running hard to get there in time, even though he was too late from the time they had agreed.
"Where are you from? Dandan first?" Beni in her regretful tone immediately scolded Arie which made her feel even more guilty.
"Udah, now we go straight to the car, the bus leaves."
Randy mediates, not because of defending but more to the bus they will ride it soon will depart in accordance with the schedule of departure. They also rushed to the bus car heading for the city they were going to.
On the way they rest more when they reach the destination city, they can rest for a while and then can directly climb at night in accordance with the plan they have compiled before.
In the journey that took more than half a day, everything was more silent and forced themselves to sleep to save more energy, with the help of AC in the car and quite comfortable conditions they can finally fall asleep, only Beni and Danu are still awake with their respective partners leaning firmly on their boats.
The clear weather on that day seems to make it easier for them to climb at night, in the middle of the year like this is the intensity of the rain is not too high but they all always carry a special jacket for the climb that protects them from the cold and rain or just a raincoat to keep watch when conditions are not possible.
After more than 8 hours on the way, they finally arrived at the terminal of the city that became the destination, the trip took longer than previously thought because the bus was stuck in traffic due to a consecutive accident that forced part of the road to be closed by security
"Finally, until also, pegel the waist of the cave later in the car."
Danu who had just gotten off the bus straightened her stiff waist, got off first with Anita through the back door closer than Danu and Aini were sitting, the ones that followed Beni and Anita, then Randy and Arie were different from the others who were enthusiastic and excited and impatient to make their last climb, Arie looked gloomy and more silent, like he was thinking about something. For a moment his eyes were watching the others closely, and it took a split second to turn away as he stared at Aini.
"Why loe?" randy asked to look at Arie who felt like he was not ordinary.
"Why not." Reply Arie cold and flat.
"They don't have to think, now enjoy the climb with us last."
Randy tried to calm Arie in order to focus during the climb and nothing unwanted happened, concentration when climbing is very important, climbing is not enough just with energy but also requires concentration.
From the terminal, the journey is resumed by using public transportation that passes the place they are headed, namely the climbing registration post, the distance from the terminal to the place is not too far away, it only takes about half an hour to travel.
Once they arrive, they go directly to the climbing registration post and register themselves complete with a copy of the identity they have prepared, their identity is needed so that when something goes wrong there is at least a clue about them, then they also have to determine the length of the climb they will do, so that when they do not return in the time they have determined themselves, the SAR team will immediately look for them.
After finishing with the administration and have obtained permission to climb, they are advised to meet the mountain's caretaker first to consult so that they can go and go home safely. From the registration post, the location of the caretaker's house is not so far away, only about 500 meters and of course enough just by foot to get there.
"This is her house?"
Arie stared at the small, shabby house in front of him, he felt disbelief about what the person at the registration post was talking about, but the fact was that the house before them was the house they were looking for.
"It seems so, if according to the instructions, yes this is the place."
Without waiting for the other approval, Randy stepped forward.
Tok to tok.
Randy knocked on the door that looked so fragile it was carefully.
"Excuse me."
Several times they tried to knock on the door and called the owner of the house but it seemed that the owner of the house was not in place, or maybe the house was indeed no occupants.
After they thought there was no one in the house because the door had been knocked several times but there was still no answer, finally the door opened by itself and revealed a thin white-bearded old man and a mustache in matching color greeting them.
"Who's looking?"
"What do you need?"
"This is why, my friends and I want permission."
Randy said politely, but the old man did not react, he stared and observed them one by one with a sharp look, then exhaled a long breath.
"Please come in."
The six of them are finally welcome to enter and sit on a dull mat that is prepared for guests who come, there is no drinking water presented to them there, let alone a luxurious banquet.
"You want to go to that mountain?"
Without saying anything about it, she's used to meeting people like Randy and the others.
"Yes Mbah, we're here to..."
Not done with Randy's words, Mbah Kuncen had cut his talk first.
"If you want to go to the top of the mountain please, but remember, you must be careful."
Remark the budcen as his gaze stared intently at Arie who since the beginning of his arrival had felt uncomfortable and frightened, somehow wrong so that the caretaker seemed to hate him.
"yes Mbah, they will be careful and permission on this mountain bouncer."
Randy tried to convince the caretaker, but the caretaker laughed cynically at Randy's words just now.
"hahahahaha what you need to fear is not only about the unseen inhabitants of this mountain, but everything around you, because when you enter the forest on that mountain, it means that everything turns dangerous, including yourself, for the devil in the heart of man is more dangerous than the devil who seems real."
MbahKuncen's words increasingly make Arie inching, especially this time the sharp gaze is getting creepy.
After getting permission from the caretaker, they immediately left the place. Arie could now breathe a sigh of relief after the caretaker's house as if he felt intimidated.
"Crazy, instead of us in the love of what cake, this is even we are afraid."
Beni said with annoyance.
"Udah, the important thing is that we have permission, we must be careful, do not talk carelessly while we are here."
Randy was always calm, as if the caretaker's story was just a story, although in his mind he always imagined the last sentence of the caretaker.
"Rie, are you okay?"
Danu asked who saw Arie getting paler since he came out of the caretaker's house.
"cave's okay."
Arie replied briefly while bowing his increasingly grim face.
After that they paused for a moment to check their luggage back, so that if anyone was left behind they could search in this area first. After it was finished and certainly no one was left including food supplies, they also left for the first post.
"Before we depart, how better we pray together first, that we may always have the protection of the almighty."
Randy acts as a leader even though no one actually asks for it, but others seem to agree even without voting, because in this activity there must be a leader who is able to guide and mediate them.