MYFATHER
Episode 12's
BONTANG, MARCH 1999, FIRST WEEK
“How so? You can dong replace me because..” said Danu.
“Because what?”
“I have to accompany Indri to the clinic.”
“Not it two days ago you've brought it for doctor?”
Replace Danu put on an annoyed expression, “How many times do I have to tell if my wife's pregnancy this time there is an abnormality?”
“Oh, why Indri? I forgot..” Yudi continued with a chuckle as if feeling guilty forgetting about it, the important thing was actually for him.
“The village is weak, bro! The doctor said the water is small, so you have to control it often. That's because of the list,” Danu said.
“Oh, yes,” Yudi remembered Danu's story a few weeks earlier. “So you want to change shift again?”
“That's the only way my meal money won't be cut. Last month I was cut twice for passing shift,” Danu responded. After that, a face was installed that made Yudi unable to refuse the friend's request. “Please, yes..”
Feeling sorry, Yudi finally nodded, “If I were you, I would first let Indri to his brother's house in Java until he was born. Know for yourself how this month's target is crazy.”
“Try talking to your own wife if you are married later. It won't be that easy, you know.” Danu glares. “...can-can he talk everywhere if we do not love him anymore.”
Yudi laughed, “Oke deh, the condition is that you are talking about this change to Mr. Fikri.”
“Beres,” Danu lifting thumbs along with satisfied smile.“Or if you want, just take my work hours so that the food money can be for you, how?”
“Said earlier you did not want until the meal money was cut?” Yudi groaning. “Kok be labile?”
Danu grimaced, “Soalah I am not good, you will have several times changed and..”.
“Neventless. I have no problem doing it,” said Yudi.
“Oke, thanks then,” Danu responded with amazement.
Danu's request yesterday made Yudi today forced to roam the field, supervise and inspect the operations of the three mines, which are newly opened mines. He is one of the team, apart from Danu and Rick Felds, who were tasked with opening up the spot recently, so he knows a lot about what to do and what not to do. Since Rick Felds resigned last month, practically only Danu and himself understand everything in Point Three, while the person assigned to replace Rick Felds is still in the learning stage.
The new mine spot is a vulnerable place when explored on a large scale in the early months. Intensive supervision for twenty hours during excavation is something to do, many critical things to be monitored and the stability of the supporting framework in the interior of the mine is the main thing. It is impossible to dig if the walls of the mine are not solid, it can result in the mine collapsing and digging a new mine that has been covered by the ruins is much more difficult than opening it first. The most effective way is to blow it up, only there is a risk of an explosion potentially scorching almost half the contents of a mine containing fire-prone material.
Rick Felds had told him to take some security measures to keep the mine intact when it was put into operation in the first few months, including avoiding digging too deep before the installed supports proved to be viable. He remembered asking how deep Felds meant, and the man replied, “It is you who must make sure it is not as deep as the gluttony of those who want to dig it.”.
And as an engineer, Yudi certainly had to make sure it was done according to the rule book because it was the standard that kept the mine in order to survive until the time needed to continue digging coal safely, so that the engineer is no longer bothered by undue mistakes. Felds also told him to keep a good eye on every detail so that eventually the engineer could supervise the mechanical work casually in the following days, or even take a vacation because his services were no longer needed, the thing he said in a joking but unexpected suggestion that made the company did not mind when Rick Felds submitted his resignation.
So far the operational activities at Point Three are going smoothly. Kaltim Persada Coal must open a new point to meet additional targets from the demand of a number of factories in a number of areas in Sulawesi newly established. One of the new requests came from a cement factory which is a joint operation between local companies and companies from South Korea, not to bear the needs of about two to three hundred thousand tons per month. That's not a sufficient amount to be looked at one eye. Kaltim Persada Coal Management takes seriously by developing a guaranteed delivery system such as operational processes at the old mine point.
After mechanical hand-held machines dredge in the Three Point mine, coal is sent by conveyor that is connected without breaking from the collection point in the mine area to the mouth of the conveyor downstream, a number of tugboats will transport hundreds of tons of coal to aircraft carriers waiting on the high seas. Several parts took part in overseeing each critical point in the process, and Yudi's part was to ensure coal was dug out, out of the mine safely, and glide to the collection point on the river bank through a conveyor with steam that is out into the air.
So far the pile of black stones appears to be in good shape as the tires move them to the surface, delivering material that has been buried for hundreds of years in the earth meets fresh air and blue skies, and will eventually become something useful somewhere, or in this case it becomes a source of power for the cement factory that ordered it.
The young man looked at the watch in his hand. It's almost five in the afternoon. Soon the sun will set while the air is quite stuffy here let alone just himself the living creatures that are in the mine, in addition to the workers who are controlling the machines, of course, he said, and this atmosphere slowly caused discomfort for Yudi.
As a person who served in the field it is only natural that he was here, but as senior technicians have said, Rick Felds is one of them, he said, to him that he doesn't have to be in this kind of place for long. A reliable technician is able to create a technology system that is not troublesome and able to do many things, not only can complete the job well but also make the system independent of the technician...that way the technician can enjoy other things that are more fun, such as gathering with family or taking a walk in the wild..
Therefore Yudi did not intend to stay longer than necessary. After completing the last stage of the checklist, the young man decided to return to his office. As he was walking towards the mouth of the mine he faintly felt something move behind him.
A slow whistling wind swept over the back of his neck, straightening his hair until the young man turned to see what was behind. Only darkness filled his eyesight. Even so, he felt that something was moving near the branching of the passageway that led to the north side.
Yudi's hand looked for the small flashlight he always kept in his pants pocket, the branching was a dead corner that was not illuminated by the lights around so he needed the flashlight now. As soon as he found the thing he was looking for highlighted the corner, his heart slipped and saw something long-haired float quickly before disappearing into the hallway.
Despite having experienced shock, the young man still walked slowly closer to the branch because his curiosity was greater to know what the object just now. Unlike the rhythm of his steps, his heartbeat moved faster as the distance approached. The flashlight shone to the last place he saw, but there was nothing there but a dark, rough stone wall.
Suddenly there was a scream of a woman who seemed to need help from inside the hallway. Yudi spontaneously ran towards the voice and exclaimed, ”Hold miss..
Arriving at the source of the sound, Yudi did not find anyone there. The scream was not heard anymore, but Yudi was sure that from this hallway the scream had come. Highlighted flashlights to various directions and found nothing but a stone wall. The young man sharpened his ears, trying to catch a suspicious sound or movement even though the situation around him was silent. Either he mistook it or the scream was just his delusion. Even he himself was shrieking in shock as his pager rang.
”Satan!” he berated himself, also on his pager which rang at an inopportune moment. Glanced at the short message recorded on the pager carefully. It turned out to be from Siska, who asked her to call because there was something important that she wanted to talk about. Whatever it was could wait, especially since just then Yudi heard a groan from somewhere in front of him
Yudi walked towards the place and found a man drooping on the rocky ground. Quickly he knelt down to help the man wake up and found the man was Mr. Wayan, once the drooping man's body was flipped over. It seemed that the man had no serious injuries, other than a bruise on the head, it made Wayan able to wake up as soon as Yudi helped him sit down.
”Pak Wayan?” Yudi shakes his shoulders. The old man blinked his eyes several times, trying to gather awareness. ”What happened?”
Wayan held her head, half-crowning as she tried to relieve the lingering pain before finally responding, ”Accident..”.
”Accident how?”
”I was inspecting here when I slipped. Presumably my head hit a rock somewhere so I fainted a while.”
”Inspection? I don't remember you having a part to do in this section. Didn't you finish working on the task at this place two months ago?”
Wayan even glared at Yudi, ”So now you want to act as my boss?”
Yudi was arrogant to hear it, why is this old man still acting annoying even when he is helpless and needs help? But the young man just shook his head, ”Just surprised to find you here. Whatever your business, it's none of my business. My business right now is to help you. Come here, I help..”.
Wayan looked at Yudi for a moment suspiciously before finally giving up and letting himself be swept out of the hallway. Yudi asked me something that came to his head, ”Do you know there are women in the hallway here?”
”Female? Nah! Why?”
”Because I can find your place so follow the voice of the woman asking for help,” Yudi said. ”What are you not yelling?”
”Which is definitely not me. I fainted at that moment. But I sure don't meet any women or anyone inside here.”
Yudi did not reply, only wondering inwardly how he could hear the screams of women from within the passageway. His hair suddenly stood up, as soon as he wanted to leave the place without looking again. The steps of Mr. Wayan who was originally shaken slowly disappeared, as the two were in the doorway of the mine. Wayan no longer rests his body on Yudi's shoulder, and now he can walk on his own even though he is a little trained.
”I think it is enough that you are kind enough to help me, young man!” wayan said to Yudi. ”From here I can continue on my own.”
Yudi asked back. ”Shouldn't I take you to the hospital or doctor to check?”
”No need to bother. I can do it myself.”
”You sure?”
The old man was moving his body as proof, ”There's nothing wrong with me so far, right?”
”It looks so,” comments Yudi noticed Wayan's big forehead.
Wayan seemed to realize the view of Yudi until he subconsciously stroked his forehead, ”This alone has made me embarrassed. Don't make me more embarrassed.”
”Alright then,” Yudi nodded. ”Be careful on the way home.”
”Sure..certainly..thank you for helping me. And if you find me again sprawled on the sidewalk of the road it will be a truly shameful coincidence,” said Wayan. For a moment he wanted to say something further to Yudi but somehow he then canceled it and turned away.
***