Memories of a Thousand Years
Plague

The night is late enough. The four of them are still talking. Discuss the past and the future. Dylan pouted occasionally not understanding what they were talking about. It was only him who was not involved in that dark past. Another arrow came in and stuck it on the table. Rinaya was amazed by the sudden arrival. "What a fall they can't let for a moment calm down. Always a surprise." His grunts while holding his chest that was pounding fast.

Dylan was getting used to it. While Dhika and Jaka are not at all bothered by that.

A piece of paper was tucked in the arrow. Dhika read. "This is for you" he said, handing the paper to Dylan.

Dylan read that and started to grumble. "Are they not outrageous. The previous unfinished case has rewarded me with a new case."

Rinaya "what case?"

Dylan "had a plague in a village near the border of the region. Something suspicious is there. I have to go there and investigate.

Jaka "i'll go too."

"You too?" Ask Rinaya.

Dhika "We'd better go there too."

"Why?" Ask Rinaya

Dhika replied "I have an obligation to always come if any problems occur. It was already an oath when taking the exam to become a Puragabaya."

Dylan "But you're not Puragabaya. Why do you still do that."

***

Two days passed. The journey to the village was very far. The border between Sunda and Mataram. It has always been a point of interest. If anything happens worry will have an impact on the territory of another dynasty. It might even lead to misunderstandings and even war.

The village gate is visible. Very quiet and scattered Trash leaves. Some fields start to dry out like weeks of unwatered. Some chicken carcasses just sprawled out. "This place is very chaotic" Rinaya said.

They continued to walk into the village. Some people seem to be passing by. Busy carrying something on both of their arms. Like a container of water and a towel.

"Excuse me uncle!" Shouted Dylan to one of the citizens. And the people stopped.

Dylan "what happened to this village?"

Citizens "all citizens are sick sir. It's been two weeks."

"Two Weeks?" Ask Dylan in surprise. The information he had just obtained did not tell him about it. People must have been very panicked by the outbreak.

Citizen "Yes Sir. But everything is under control only. We are short of nurses. The average villager does not understand the treatment of this disease. So I helped as much as I could."

Rinaya "has there been help and healers from the nearest government?"

Residents "It was only four days ago that there was help. Fortunately from the first day there was a healer from outside happened to be visiting the village. We're helped by that guy."

Dylan "Our uncle from the capital. I want to help this village a little. Please take us to the treatment.

Citizen "thank you sir. Please come this way."

The men drove them to a large house. Looks like a hall or something. There are not many nurses. Then this method is the only one that can make the nurse effectively check the condition of each patient. There is another smaller room containing several patients. Such as being separated through the level of symptoms they suffer.

Dhika, Dylan and Rinaya help out. Jaka went nowhere. Dhika examined the patient. He also instructed the nurse to help him prepare the necessary items. Rinaya can only help as much as possible. Prepare water for compression. Feed them. And give them drugs. Everything is done well.

It's already night time. It's been two days since they were there. Rinaya called out to a teenager who passed by. Name's Bani. He looks like he's always helping take care of patients"Eh uh hey you." Bani looked towards someone who called her that. "Call me kang?"

Rinaya was sitting in front of a house. The house was allowed to use them to rest. "Here sit. Talk for a minute."

"Have you not slept at night?"

"I want to ask. Bani's. Your name is Bani, right?"

"Well, what do you want to ask?"

"I heard there's been a healer helping out since two weeks ago? Who her? I've never seen it."

"Yes kang. He works at the Village Chief's house. There are also many patients. So in this village in for some groups. Because there's no way they're all taken to the center of the village. Must be full."

"Hooo's. Is he great?"

"We must have been very helped. A few days ago the help from the new capital came and only a few people. He was angry at them. He said they were very slow. Like it doesn't care about us."

"What's her name? Can I meet him?"

"Name Rangga. Tomorrow I will take you there. Excuse me first. There's still a lot of work."

"Oh yes. Please"

Dhika came quietly and sat down with him. " Find a clue?"

"What clues?"

"Anything."

"No"

"Regarding this disease. You know something?"

Rinaya pulled out her phone from inside her pocket. "If there was a signal. I might be able to search it through the internet. " He turned on the phone. Turn it off again because it feels useless.

There are many strange things that Rinaya talks about but Dhika never asks again. He just thought maybe all the strangeness he brought from the future.

"I've read about a plague that attacked the island of Java but I don't know which one matches the current outbreak. I'm stupid about stuff like this.. Dhika. Tomorrow I'll go to the village chief's. Want to meet that famous physician."

Jaka came over. "This village is really fucked."

"You found something?" Ask Rinaya.

"Dry plant. Many carrion. Water is unhealthy. There must be a lot of disease here."

"Water? What's with the water?" Ask Rinaya.

"I can't see clearly. But the water's not clean."

"I think we should check that out, too." Sahut Rinaya's

***

The sun is high. Jaka and Rinaya go to the one place that was talked about last night. While Dylan and Dhika are still preoccupied with new patients. The longer there is no progress. Even the dead are there every day. They have to work harder.

Jaka took her to a place where there was a well and a water reservoir. Its surroundings were very dirty and unkempt. The shelter is dry. There's no water. Rinaya peeked at a well next to the shelter. It just looks dark. "Then did you take from this well?" Rinaya asked Jaka.

"No. Someone put a bucket here. Then just leave. Not using this water at all. I think it's from the well." Answer Jaka.

"Aren't you bothered by your blindfold? Can you still see clearly?" Rinaya asked while trying to draw water in the well.

"not clear. Only I know the existence of something. And what it looks like."

"So you probably won't see colors and motifs huh?"

"really"

Rinaya drew water in the well and then a bucket of the bucket was poured into the reservoir. "Chiyhhh... It's really dirty water" he said after seeing the condition of the water. Not because of mud or anything. The water is yellow. It was very clean and smelled a little. Even something swimming in between. Maggots.

"You asked the people. Besides where else is the water source?"

"There's a spring on the edge of the cliff. But far enough. I haven't checked it."

"Then what were you looking for two days ago.?"

"I'm driving around. Almost all wells in the village are not used. The river is far away. So also with the springs mentioned by the residents. Many dead animals where."

"Why do you think the well water is so dirty? Usually the well water is quite clean because it is through natural filtration. Does anyone intentionally make the water dirty?"

"That's what I think. But there's no other evidence."

"Jaka. Take me to the other well"

They went around the village checking one by one the wells that were there. There's nothing different. All water cannot be used. Then Rinaya took the initiative towards the spring on the edge of the cliff. The distance is really far. Passing through the cobblestone streets. It's hard to get to that place. But there's no other choice. Living without water for humans is excruciating.

"Yes with mangoes."

"When did you get water here? Well water in the village why is it so murky?"

"The well water in the village has not been used for a month. Don't know why. The doctor told me not to use that water anymore. And put the water in this spring."

"Master healer?" Ask Rinaya in wonder.

"It looks like he's pretty smart" Jaka said.

"I wonder what it's like."

Rinaya meets with Bani in a shop close to the Village Chief's hall. They decided they would meet there. Bani looks calm standing in front of the Shop. Like a handicraft shop. Or the Cinderella store.

"Baby." Rinaya waved her hand and ran to greet her. "Waiting long?"

"No. Just arrived"

"Is he inside?"

"I guess so. More and more victims are infected. Everyone is getting busy. I don't think he's easy to find this time."

"But I'm already here. It'll be a waste if I don't get anything."

"Wait here first. I'll try asking the officer inside."

Rinaya muttered in her heart. He's a volunteer. But it has an important position in this village. I can understand because he is faster than the local government. If he doesn't want to see me. He is a very arrogant man. I have interests here too.

Bani came with another officer. "Den. Punten right now the physician master is very busy. Maybe some other time. Aden might have a message for him."

Rinaya disappointed. He knows things are going tough but meeting for a minute won't kill everyone. "Ah. Alright. I'll come back tomorrow. There's something I want to discuss with him. I wish I could help her."

"Well Den later I say. Anu.. This is with Aden who?"

Rinaya's eyes turned round. Immediately shrewdness in his head. But of course this won't have any effect. He wants something to be a history for him. "Love!" With a smile he answered.

The officer frowned. It was as if I could not believe that such a name was used by a man.

The next day Rinaya came again. At the same hour as before. But this time it's not with Bani.

The officer came again. "Aden would like to meet with the Doctor?"

Rinaya nodded. "Please tell him that this is very important. Yep!"

"I tried to talk to him. Aden wait here."

Thirty minutes of Rinaya waiting it felt like she was already very sore standing in such a place. Foreign place. Fortunately, the pain paid off. The officer came back and approached. "Den please come this way."

A wide smile dyed the hue of his face. In the end, all is not siasia.

He escorted the officer into the village hall. A big building. Inside it is quite crowded. People were busy carrying things to treat patients. All the sick people are inside. Healthy people are forbidden to enter. Only the nurse was pacing back and forth with her busy.

He entered a room containing several patients. A man is doing an examination. He looks tired. Sometimes his smile widens talking to patients. Her hair is a little messy. His sleeves folded a third. Rinaya just looked at it from behind. His back that field looks lackluster. He must be very tired whispered in his heart.

The officer said something. Then return to Rinaya.

"Miss please pass by here."

He led her to a small room. It looks like a work space. Then the officer left him.

Rinaya is waiting again. With a frown he felt disappointed. Let him wait so long. But seeing what was happening in the patient room made him understand that. He asked what his face was like. He could only look at his waist.

The door sounds. Someone opened the door. From outside. Finally come. Rinaya whispers in her heart. At once he stood up and turned to see who had opened the door. The glass from the clay he was holding fell to the floor. Ruptured. He's pecking there. So did the Doctor. Their eyes clashed. Didn't say anything. Not at all. Rinaya's tears are flowing. Finally answered already. The figure of Mr. Physician who is praised throughout the village. Stifling. Ranggana Bayu's.

"Ri-Rinaya?" His words are brick.

Rinaya thought this was another illusion. Or a fake wood made by someone. But hearing him say his name. At once he was sure. This isn't a dream.

Rinaya ran over. So too with Bayu. They embrace each other. The tears of both flowed like a river. Fifteen years have passed. They believe both are dead. They now believe both are back to life.

Rinaya whines like a baby. No longer holding back his emotions. "It's too far. You're so outrageous. No one can find you anywhere. I'm almost crazy looking for you."

"I'm sorry. Somethinghappened. I can't show you who I am. I am a ghost in everyone's eyes. I-i..." Sentence ceased. Someone was standing in the doorway. Bayu. Someone who is not foreign to him. Bayu's tears flowed more and more to see the figure."

Rinaya's face that was set on Bayu's chest was lifted. Seeing there is something that makes Bayu petrified. Pradhika Wiriya's. Her tears even though her face was still flat. But from his eyes can be very visible. Haru and the excitement of this meeting.

"Dhika's. I found it" Rinaya said.

"Welcome back" whispered Dhika.

***

Rinaya sat on a bench in front of the house where she lived. He lifted his head to look at the billions of stars. The bonfire's still burning. The wind at night does not make him cold. Bayu came over and sat down with him. "Not sleeping?"

Rinaya shook her head. "It's like a dream. I just got back to my world. I'm here again now."

"...."

"Tell me. All the buried mysteries. You don't have to keep it to yourself anymore."

"I don't understand."

"After all this time, there are many things I have just learned. It's hard to believe but it's real."

"What do you mean?"

Dhika came from inside the house. Then join the conversation. "What are you guys talking about? It's late."

"Dhika's. It's a reunion. We need to talk more." Rinaya.

Bayu "when are you here?"

Dhika "a few days ago."

Rinaya "have you found a cure for this plague?"

Bayu "it's a little complicated. I don't know what the cause is. So it's not easy to find a cure"

Rinaya "why is the water here so bad?"

Bayu "Come. Since I came here. The water is no good."

Dhika "have you investigated what happened in this village?"

Bayu "yet. Not many people here. 90% of people are infected. Just a few people who are still healthy, it's a little hard for me to investigate something right now."

Rinaya "is there a possibility of a virus?"

Bayu "doesn't seem to. It all started when the well went bad."

Rinaya "means that's what it is."

Bayu "but I don't know what's causing it."

Rinaya "perhaps if we try to dig a new well we'll get a clue."

Bayu "what are you thinking?"

Rinaya "i was just curious could it be that in the well something was making the water worse. Like a carcass, a corpse. Or something."

Bayu "i'll ask people to check it out."

Rinaya "I miss the past a little. We used to always go together. Look!!" Rinaya pointed up at the sky. "Like that star. We always believe."

Dhika smiled hearing that.

Rinaya "has a lot of painful things. But I want to always remember when we laughed together. I won't forget for another thousand years."