SOS
Chapter 21's
THIS MORNING, John read the newspaper very seriously. Sometimes his forehead is united or his eyes are then narrowed, trying to understand every word written.
“You didn't read it?” john says handing Jane the newspaper.
“Dad..”
“Yes, yes, I seem to be old, I sometimes forget that you can read minds. Yes..” John still looks
think.
“So..”.
“I was thinking—it turns out there are a lot of things I didn't know from the Holder family,” he said and folded
hands on his chest. “And it turns out this life is really runyam. Also about
Tom,” John shook his head.
John will not easily understand how Tom can be the son of William—, even William also just found out.
“So..”.
“I'm going to William's place now.”
“From yesterday Dad interrupted me.”
“So..”.
Jane sneered. “Dad does not need to go there, because uncle William and Alyx have already come.”
John jumped out of his chair and looked out the window. He saw his friend walking to the door.
“William, my friend,” said when he saw William. “You must story,” said John who was very impatient.
“They wrote it very clearly,” said William shrugged.
“Ayo Alyx,” Jane pulls Alyx's hand and goes into the TV room.
Alyx took the position he liked best— leaned his head over the shoulder of sofa—and sometimes stared
ceiling.
“I heard you passed out yesterday?”
Alyx nodded.
“What happened?”
“Because I fainted, of course I don't know anything. But, how do you know?”
“Adara saw you lying in one of the clinic rooms. Um, because at that time he was there to chase Ace who was doing research.”
“I haven't even asked that?” Alyx looked at Jane, curious, “you can already read my mind well.”
“I told you no,” Jane sneered. “I just guessed. But..”
“But what?” Alyx began to be irritated by Jane's attitude that was instantly silent.
“Come quickly!” Jane pulls Alyx's hand and leaves the TV room. “We're coming,” Jane screams at John and
William will come out.
“Where?” alyx was confused.
“Quick!” john said as he opened the door.
“Come, hurry up,” Jane pushed Alyx who was still confused. “We're going to the center,” Jane said later as they've been sitting in the car.
“Oh.” Alyx looked out of the car.
Next to her sat Jane who was still busy putting up her shoelaces. “Oh...” Jane mocked Alyx. “Oh-Ohs. Yeah. Look at Uncle's son, knowing only oh.”
There's no sound.
“I tried, but couldn't.”
There's no sound.
“Really?”
Alyx is slightly interested in the only girl talking in the car. “What are you doing, Jane?
You speak for yourself.”
Jane laughs. “See. Really funny.”
“Alright, what's funny?”
“My uncle and I are talking about you. Since I haven't mastered this level, I still can't communicate through thoughts, so I have to say it.”
Alyx just saw Jane. Not understand.
“Actually a mind reader cannot read the minds of their fellow men, unless they have
expert in the level of communication between minds. Like uncle William who let me translate his thoughts, I still can't open my mind to be translated by uncle. So...”
“Already, I understand. Then what are you guys talking about?”
“About you.”
“About you,” Alyx imitates Jane.
“I'm curious.”
“What's the curious?” said Alyx who had switched from Jane out the window, but back to see Jane.
Jane sneered. “I'm not talking to you.”
“Good. Whatever. I'll shut up.”
“Cannot.”
“I'll be completely silent,” muttered Alyx at the end of his sentence—realizing he wasn't the one Jane was talking to.
“Can I tell him? Sure,” said Jane later.
*
A quarter of an hour before four in the afternoon. They had reached the central square of SOS which was located a few meters away from the central building. Alyx instantly realized the place they were visiting was very crowded. Ranging from small children to adults—lelaki or women, all gathered in the field.
“What way?” alyx asked when William had parked his car.
Jane embraces Alyx's hand. “Come there,” he said while pointing to the very back. “Akan
announcement.”
“And everyone should get together? Can't it be announced via TV?”
“No one forced them to come. It's just that they are too respectful and affectionate with the person who will make the announcement, so even though it will be announced directly throughout SOS, they prefer to come directly.”
Alyx. Pay attention to every face of people who smile wide—greet a friend who
just come, introduce to his other family members. As they spoke, Alyx was in one room and heard their voices integrated into one. But, a few minutes later, they stopped, there was no more noise. All views focus on the panel, a large screen mounted in the field.
A beautiful and graceful woman was sitting on a chair with a maroon-red background of curtains and this time
patterned flowers sewn with gold thread.
“Mother...” murmured Alyx. “What's up?”
Jane put her hand on her lips.
*
Abel Adalbrechta Russell sat behind his desk— contemplating something. Eyes closed. Both his hands were clenched like a man praying—once in a blow to his head. Several times a heavy breath was blown away.
Moments later, his clear eyes look—he saw a photo on his desk. And like someone who had just received a guidance, he stood up. Summoning the servant who had repeatedly knocked on the door to resuscitate himself who had pondered for too long.
The cold breakfast was taken out. He asked several servants to replace the curtains with the motif he liked the most. While he tidied up the slightly messy books on the table.
The servants only stared at Abel once in a while. Not understanding what spirit has just incarnated in the SOS leader's bloodstream. They simply complied with Abel's request to clean his room. What they know is that when the leader has asked to help tidy up his room—which he usually does himself and forbid them to touch his books—that means that day there will be an official announcement from the SOS leader.
Somehow other SOS residents found out about the official announcement that would happen—but news
it's traveling so fast. So Abel did not know they had come since twelve noon— where he had just changed his clothes with his official clothes.
Abel stood beside the window, staring out, looking at the large number of people who came to the SOS field. He could still see some people standing near the SOS flagpole. He sighed. Think briefly. And then nods confidently.
Abel sat on the chair behind the carved table. Tidying up her hair is actually neat. Dehydrated
couple times. Back up. His gaze was firmly facing the camera that had been in the room.
*
The face of Abel— the SOS leader is seen on large panels as well as on TV-TVs in every home. His head lowered, greeting the residents of SOS.
Some officials who did not know about the official announcement to be announced directly by the leader of— seemed surprised, but soon joined the others in the living room, hearing what would be said.
“I Abel Adalbrechta Russell—the leader of SOS will..” he stops for a while and continues, “before, I want to apologize to the entire population of SOS. I apologize for the many stories you don't know. I'd rather not be open in telling about my personal life to protect the people I love.”
Abel looked down for a moment. “Since childhood, the previous leader always reminded to prioritize
the SOS interests rather than our personal interests. The love we have is for SOS. We serve SOS. We strive to make every breath we exhale mean something to you.” Abel looked down again. “I don't want to speak here as a leader, but as Abel Sidney Holder.
“Twenty-two years ago—aku was in the midpoint. My little family has just formed and a big family has been waiting for me to accompany them. I really have to choose. I loved
both of them. I love SOS and you guys, while on the other hand my love is just as great for William Holder.
“Together William Holder—aku becomes Sydney-wide meadow. The Adalbrechta - Mulia
I never craved. No, I didn't mean to refuse to accompany SOS, but when I became Abel Sydney, I felt like I was really a meadow full of beauty. I don't need to be Your Majesty to be able to give my love to SOS. I think of a lot of impropriety to be a
the leader. On the other hand, many people say that I do not deserve to be with someone like William Holder. I smile when I think I'm lacking in both. Then which one should I choose.
“And everything became clear during the transfer of power. The Russell leader before me made me really have to vote and I finally thought I deserved to be the leader of SOS. And here I am.
“Unfortunately a few days ago, something made me think hard and required me to look for an explanation of everything. And in response, I remembered the words of a man I loved. He said very clearly, he would always wait for me until I felt like people were wrong to think I wasn't worthy of being with him. So...”
Abel stood up from his chair, stepping in front of his desk. His clear and firm voice then made the higher-ups and residents of SOS murmur indistinctly, turning to the right and to the left looking for a friend to discuss with.
“I Abel Adalbrechta Russell resigns from the post of leader and a week before the day of determination will register the candidate of the leader who is my descendant. Thank you.”
The screen went black. In his room, his knees bent, he sat on his feet. Sighs and smiles.
*
Alyx was still staring at the screen in the reach of his eyes. I don't understand what the woman said. Feelings of confusion, annoyance, and disbelief mixed in his mind.
“What does it do?”
“Return,” says Jane relaxed.
“Somehow I feel a little upset hearing that.”
Jane laughed a little. “Maybe because you are a direct descendant of a leader who has a great chance to become the next leader.”
“She just doesn't want that, what else am I.”
“Like the leader, you can't resist. You know, only a few leaders have done things like
ini—resign. Surely not many leaders have the courage for this—they have to wait for their tenure-thirty years it is finished. Ahhh,” Jane let out a long sigh, “I think the higher-ups haven't figured this out.”
“Then what will happen?”
“First Adalbrechtas Leader will be tried first. The higher-ups will reject this resignation, he said,
if...the answer from the leader is considered unreasonable... to resign.”.
“You must be reading other people's minds again?”
Jane smiled. He does not know very clearly about the laws of SOS. “What answer?”
Alyx realized that his friend
trying to concentrate on knowing more clearly.
Jane continued, “A clear candidate? That means if you refuse to be a candidate then resign
this self will not be continued.”
Alyx gaped and shook his head loudly.
William and John standing in front of the gate called Alyx and Jane. Jane pulled Alyx again.
“Then you don't love your mother? Because he's tired of being a leader and you have to be
save her,” Jane said as they walked closer on to their two fathers.
“What are you guys talking about?” john asked, “it looks very serious. We've called you guys from earlier.”
“Sorry,” says Alyx and Jane together.
“Come,” William goes first. Next to him John followed.
“Wait Alyx.”
“You love to pull my hand,” protest Alyx when Jane pulls it off.
“Sorry. But, do you remember what I was talking about with uncle William in the car?”
“Of course. You haven't even told me.”
“The leader of Adalbrechta said about the transfer of power—that you should know about that power, that is, the power or expertise or advantages or.”.
“The explanation of power is clear. But, why are you talking about that, aren't we discussing what you discussed with dad?”
“Iya. You can't wait once,” Jane scowled. “Well, you remember when you fainted, so it turned out that time Adalbrechta was trying to shift his power to you.”
“What's the connection?”
“That's because Adalbrechta streams power inversely proportional to the heart chip you have.”
“Okay, I'd rather study medical books than have to listen to this very obscure-sounding explanation.”
“Wait, Alyx, listen to me carefully—so this does not harm your mother.”
Alyx stopped walking and turned around.
“When you disappeared on the day of the chip planting in the brain, it was Adalbrecht who brought you. She gave you the chip implanted here,” Jane put her index finger in the middle of Alyx's chest, “and the day you passed out, your mother tried to activate it by giving you her powers. But yesterday when
doing so, he mistransferred it.
“It looks like a magnetic bar that has north and south poles. The chip you have is the piece
chip—magnet owned by Adalbrechta. He's north and you're south. But, that day he channeled a northern power that was then repelled by your chip that could only receive the same power as the.” chip
“It looks like I'm starting to understand.”
“And, I think—though uncle William has not told me about this—Adalbrechta is still trying to channel the southern power he has. That means you won't be able to come into contact with him.”
“I think your theory is wrong. Isn't the north and south poles attract each other.”
“Sure. And you will draw all the power north of your mother, because after channeling her power, you become stronger than her. Isn't it the strong who always win in attraction.”
“So... You think I should avoid my mother?”
“Entahlah. I hope you ask your father.”
*