Rudi is my Love
RAC 42: Daeng Ambo

*Rudi is My Love (RAC)*

“Assalamu ‘alaikum!” hail Haji Suharja while riding the traditional stage house which all elements are made of wood of choice, except the roof is made of zinc.

Maybe that's the tallest stilt house in this fishing village. If Suharja stood under him, he could still straighten his hands up to touch the ceiling of his floor.

Because he saw the door of the house open, Suharja immediately went up to the terrace which is like a simple balcony, which is usually used to sit around relaxing or receiving guests of one or two people only.

“Wa ‘alaikumussalam!” replied a white-haired old man shuffling shoulder to shoulder while looking back.

The 67-year-old man was older than Suharja. He, who was wearing a white singlet shirt, was sitting in a chair facing a television model tube. The thin-bodied man was watching the afternoon Sip Asik gossip show.

“Eh, in, Ji!” exclaimed the man named Daeng Ambo Upe. He immediately stood up after recognizing who his guest had appeared in front of the doorway, blocking the light from outside the house.

When Daeng Ambo stood up, a number of accessories were seen on the black body. He was also a veteran fisherman who would go to sea only occasionally. His chart is used to others who will later share the results of 70:30. He got 30 percent.

Daeng Ambo Upe wore a white beads that, if dark, would glow like phosphorus. On his right wrist were two dragon bahar root bracelets, one black and one dark red. There were five agate rings on his old finger that were large veined. Two decorative rings on the right hand and three lucky rings on the left hand.

Daeng Ambo Upe, who was currently gloating in a red checkered pattern, did not immediately greet his guests, but took his big black shirt and wore it without buttoning it.

This is the first time Suharja came to ask for help to Daeng Ambo Upe, which is when asking for help to do something to Dendi Gunadi, who has disappeared freely without punishment for “rape” against Vina.

Short story.

Daeng Ambo Upe was already sitting opposite Suharja on a plank floor covered in plastic carpet in front of the extinguished television. The doors and windows were closed, relying only on 15-watt yellow light bulbs.

In the middle of the two old men was a small clay barrel as high as their bellies, so there was no need to stand to look at the contents. The content is water mixed with rose leaves and jasmine only, not seven looks or ugly. There is also a headscarf. I don't know whose head was the victim to be made a dipper.

On the left side of the barrel there is a tray of cans on which there is a small heat-infested furnace that burns frankincense, so that the aroma fills the entire room of the house, up to the kitchen. On the right side of the barrel there is an ashtray that already has some leftover cigarette butts. Also three stacked cigarette boxes, of which the top box has just been opened. A cigarette that is still actively lit is sandwiched between the ring and pinky fingers of Daeng Ambo Upe.

“There's a photo?” ask Daeng Ambo Upe.

“There. I took from PT Udang Garuda where he works,” Suharja replied while taking out a small photo from his shirt pocket.

Previously, Suharja had been provided with information by close people to bring photos, three-pack cigarettes, money and trust. People who come to Daeng Ambo Upe must believe fully that the occult path is as real as the real world.

Daeng Ambo Upe received the photo and looked at the 4x6 Dendi photo on his finger. At the intro of the meeting earlier, Suharja had already told the problem.

Daeng Ambo Upe lips kamat kamit without sound. He likes silence. At that time, he was alone at home. His wife and youngest son were selling at a soto makassar stall that was open on the side of the highway.

A moment later, a photo of Dendi Gunadi was placed on the surface of the barren water. The man with the white mustachioed then took out a cigarette from his box, then dipped it into the thick water without taking it off. The cigarette was pulled out again, but strangely, it was not wet. Apparently Daeng Ambo Upe can play magic.

The dipped cigarettes were then given to Suharja. His father Vina who initially suspected that cigarettes must be wet, was only shocked in the heart. His finger did not feel that the cigarette was wet. Not one bit.

“Please sucked, Ji. No need to burn,” said Daeng Ambo Upe.

Holding the confusion, Suharja accepted the cigarette.

“How to smoke it if it is not burned?” suharja asked, but only in the heart. Although his body was big, but he did not dare to ask directly, worried that someone would be offended.

“This cigarette as a gift from Hajj to the genie I sent to find this Dendi. Think of it as a sign of gratitude. Suck it up, Ji,” said Daeng Ambo Upe.

“Iya.”

So, Suharja also smoked cigarettes that were not burned. Suharja could only snort as he sucked the base of the cigarette on his finger, the tip of the cigarette suddenly lit up red. There was smoke being sucked into the mouth.

Daeng Ambo Upe did not care about Suharja's astonishment. He focused on stirring the water in a barrel with a headscarf dipper. His mouth comat kamit with a sharp look into the barrel. His left hand picked up the incense and sprinkled it over the coals.

“I've been braved. Si Dendi is already outside the island of Sumatra. So, Haji can go home first. Later that night I did the ritual. Haji just wait for news in a few days,” said Daeng Ambo Upe.

“Haji has brought three packs of cigarettes. There are three pricing packages. First package, the price of one pack of cigarettes multiplied by one hundred. Second package, the price of two packs multiplied by one hundred. Third package, the price of three packs multiplied by one hundred. This money is not for me, but as a vehicle and means for the genie I send. The better the vehicle, the better and the maximum work of the genie I sent. I myself just take a cigarette and make coffee just fit again the midnight ritual. Bagitu, Ji,” clear Daeng Ambo Upe.

“I take package three, Daeng,” said Suharja.

“Good. Later if there is news about the child, tell me,” message Daeng Ambo Upe.

“Iya, Daeng.”

Such was the beginning of Suharja dealing with Daeng Ambo Upe. She goes down that path on the advice of Obba Gantra, Suharja's sister from another mother.

It is true Daeng Ambo Upe said. Five days after his visit, there was secret news from someone.

“Assalamu ‘alaikum, Ji!” greetings of a young man who came to Suharja's house on a matic motorcycle.

“Wa ‘alaikum greetings!” replied Suharja who was relaxing with his wife on the porch of the house.

The wife's husband was acquainted with the young man named Suardi, who worked as a counter guard at the Rajabasa Stadium, where Ferdy Seraja used to compete.

“What's up, Sur?” ask Suharja.

“There is a photo from someone, Ji,”, said Suardi mild-mannered.

“Tap photos?” re-call Suharja not understand.

“Iya, Ji. But sorry, based on the mandate, I cannot tell you who the person is,” Suardi said again.

“Kok so?” asked Suharja with a thick wrinkled face.

“Do not know, Ji. I just run the mandate,” replied the young man remained polite.

“Try see, what photo!” pinta Suharja's.

Suardi then opened the image documents inside his phone and showed them five photos to Suharja and Sunirah.

Apparently, the photos showed the existence of a young man with a swollen blue-blue face, even his lips jontor and broken, was languishing in a prison.

“This is a photo of who?” suharja asked not to recognize the person in the photo.

“Dendi who once contracted in Hajj contract,” replied Suardi.

“Oh!” pekik Suharja was surprised, but not more.

Suharja then compared the picture in the photo with the face of Dendi Gunadi which is still very imprinted in his memory.

“Iya, this is Dendi,” Suharja said softly as he looked at his wife. Then he said quickly to his wife, “Quick grab hp, let his photo be sent to our number!”

“Iya,” replied Sunirah, then turned around and went into the house.

“But this is in which prison?” ask Suharja curiously.

“Says in West Java city. No mention of the city name. That's all the message information, Ji,” replied Suardi.

“You don't want to tell me who told you?” suharja.

“No, Ji.”

The secret information made Suharja acknowledge the greatness of Daeng Ambo Upe. Therefore, when there was a case of the disappearance of Vina three years later, Suharja again relied on the services of Daeng Ambo Upe. (BH)