SURVIVORS
Chaptre 102. Whirlpool
The sky was darkening and getting closer. Sunil and Alan who took turns looking into the water were already very exhausted. Dean took out an immortal water jar and let it float in the air. The five men recovered their energy by drinking the immortal water.
"It's been a very night. If we don't find land soon, we'll fall and drown" Dean said to make their situation a reality.
"Wood table! Use a wooden table so that we can stay afloat in the water" Widuri suggested.
"You're right. Wood can float in water," Nastiti agreed.
Alan pulled out a wooden table. The surface of the table floats in the water. Widuri and Nastiti were lowered slowly. They try to sit in a balanced position.
"For you guys, just take out the wooden bench, and sit there," Nastiti said.
Alan again took out three wooden benches for them to sit on. Although it remains wet, but the bench keeps their bodies floating. The five hold each other so that they are not separated by the flow of water.
Krukk..
Nastiti is embarrassed.
"I'm cold and hungry" he said honestly.
Dean pulled out the spiced meat they preserved. Widuri sliced some meat kerat to fill the stomach that night.
After that Dean, Alan and Sunil sleep alternately to keep watch of all possibilities.
The light of dawn was visible in the eastern sky.
Dean wakes Alan up.
"Stake-up change. I'm gonna take a nap, '" he said.
"Yes, sleep." Alan washed his face to expel drowsiness.
"What exactly is this place? Lost where the Goddess?" he murmured slowly while looking at the beauty of the sky welcoming the morning.
Alan continued to enjoy the morning atmosphere. His hand patted the surface of the water softly, acting out the sound of a seagull flying while screeching. He noticed that the carefree birds swooped into the water and came out by pinning a fish in its beak, then flying somewhere.
"The land is not far away. After all, the birds have to go back to the nest, right?" he murmured while thinking.
But that beauty was not long. Alan felt the water flow faster. And in front there the water roiled with a rush until his voice sounded to their place.
"Wake up. wake up.. Hurry along!" Alan shouted in a thunderous voice.
Everyone woke up in shock. The voice was so loud, there was no way I could not hear it.
"What's wrong?" ask Dean who hasn't slept in a long time.
Alan is floating. His trunk had already disappeared in his storage necklace.
"That's a whirlpool. Get up and keep all this!" panicked shouting.
Alan immediately grabbed Nastiti and Widuri in his arms. Dean and Sunil, who responded slowly, were dragged by a torrent of water along with the table and the wooden benches they were sitting on.
"Day, Sunil. Fly fast!" waturi shouted in fear and wanted to grab both.
"Don't move much. You'll fall." Alan reminded Widuri.
"Basic stupid! Get out of there!" Alan looked very angry to see that his two friends were not trying to fly.
Brakkk.. Brakk..
The sound of the crackling of wooden benches and tables that are broken due to colliding with each other. The splashes of water created by it even hit the face of Alan who pias and fixated in disbelief.
"Dee!" yelled Widuri hysterically.
"Sunill..." Nastiti stared at the whirlpool with unblinking eyes.
Alan flew over the whirlpool furiously.
"You fools. You idiot! Can fly but choose to die drifting like this!"
Although angry, but Alan can only circle above the whirlpool looking for the figure of Dean and Sunil.
Widuri and Nastiti could only cry and call out to the two in a weak voice.
Alan was still hugging the two women while hovering near the whirlpool. He hoped that whatever the vortex swallowed, it would be expelled as well. Dean and Sunil's bodies must be found. As long as their bodies were still there, then A and O souls could still be saved.
Suddenly the water roiled. A blue light penetrated the surface of the water into space.
Alan shouted in excitement at the sight.
"O. That's O. He's back!" Alan flew away from the center of the whirlpool. However, these two women can be killed immediately if exposed to deadly blue O rays.
There was a loud explosion in the water. And the surface of the water soared upward almost 5 meters high, splashing in all directions. Even Alan, Widuri and Nastiti were also splashed wet.
Two lights, Blue and golden came out from the water curtain. The lights shot towards where Alan was waiting.
"A, O'S. Thank goodness you're okay" Alan was so happy to see his two friends doing well.
"That's.... Goddess?" ask Nastiti who realizes that Dean is carrying someone in both hands.
"We found him at the bottom of the whirlpool, his feet were wrapped in water plants." Sunil explained sadly.
"His face is turning blue. Is he still alive?" ask Widuri.
"Let me take him," Sunil asked the Goddess' body from Dean. Dean gave.
Alan then handed Widuri to Dean to be taken flying.
Dean tried to fly higher in order to look further.
"Try us there. I see there's a white bias in there." Dean pointed in the direction he saw.
They flew up and darted rapidly in the direction Dean pointed at. The seagulls are flying and spinning there.
Dean suddenly stopped. He had already found the source of the sparkling white light he had seen earlier. It's a sparkling white rock cliff. Yes, that cliff is land. They finally found land.
"We're going there." Dean's voice sounded excited.
The other faces were also beaming. Now they could rest and examine the Goddess who had already drooped in Sunil's arms.
On top of the cliff was filled with various trees that grew tight and towering. It looks like this forest is still virgin, aka untouched by humans.
Dean was looking for a place where the trees weren't too close. He found a place where a giant tree fell across the surface and broke several other trees. That place looks ideal for Dean.
He stopped and stood on top of the fallen tree trunk. Alan and Sunil stopped. They are observing the area around.
"Good for our temporary place" praised Sunil.
"This wooden position is good parallel to the cliff, to block the cold sea breeze at night." proposed Alan.
"Think about it later. How's Goddess?" ask Widuri worried.
Sunil lowered the body of the Goddess and laid her on the surface of the tree trunk.
Nastiti tries to find the Goddess' pulse on her wrist and neck. He shook weakly.
Widuri can't believe it. The cold hand of the Goddess tried to make sure. Even put an ear on the chest of the Goddess to listen to the sound of a heartbeat. No matter how small, it is hope. But it was futile.
Widuri and Nastiti could only cry. A traveling companion had already preceded them home.
Dean left his four friends. Looking for the place he wanted. Tidying up some wild plants. Then dig a hole for the tomb of the Goddess. Dean found a stone, then carved the name of the Goddess and the year of her death on the stone.
"I found a nice place with a beautiful view as his final resting place." Said Dean subtly.
Everyone nodded. Sunil again grabs the Goddess' body, following Dean and Alan. They released the Goddess with deep sadness.
After that, they rest for a while. Dean pulled out the bacon to replenish those drained from being in the water since yesterday. However, the sun is getting higher.
Before the afternoon came, Dean, Alan and Sunil had been actively cleaning the area they chose to make a temporary residence.
Dean cut off two pieces of the fallen giant tree trunk. Assisted by Alan, he shifted one part to be placed parallel to the cliff, but still blocked by 3 other tree trunks that grow right on the edge of the cliff.
Then the other part of the tree trunk is placed to form the elbow from the previous one. Now the middle area can be used as a place for them to gather, cook and eat. Dean and Alan took out some kitchen utensils to comfort Widuri and Nastiti. The eternal water has also been removed. Even the mountain stones that they previously used in the arid land, are also removed and used as ground surface cover and part of the kitchen area wall.
Dean then tidied up the trunk of a giant tree. Even though he was laid on the ground, he still looked taller than Dean. He painstakingly cut and sculpted the doors and windows. Dean wanted to use the giant log as their room.
Widuri and Nastiti have finished covering the surface of the tomb of Dewi with rocks, so as not to be easily washed away by rainwater.
"You've come home before us. You must be happy there. Dean picked a place with a beautiful view for you. You can look at that shady blue sea every day." Whisper Nastiti.
Widuri shrank the tears from the end of her eyes and patted Nastiti gently on the shoulder.
"I'll miss you Goddess." whispered Widuri slowly.
"It's late in the afternoon, let's go back, Nastiti." persuaded Widuri. They huddled toward the place where the men were busy preparing their shelter.
The two women saw that their makeshift lodge was almost finished. Alan was still busy crafting the mountain stone slab to provide a decent kitchen for the two grieving women.
Dean is invisible. While Sunil was already busy picking some of the wild leaves he found.
"What is this for?" ask Nastiti.
"It's wild lettuce. We can cook it as a vegetable." Sunil explained.
"Alright, let us help" replied Nastiti.
"What plants did you find?" ask Widuri.
"I found this many edible wild plants. We don't have to worry about food anymore."
Sunil shows a variety of vegetables and tubers. There is even a platoon between them. It can be a substitute for tomatoes to saute healthy and delicious dishes.
They do their own tasks. Until the dim twilight sky becomes a sign to stop activities.
Alan has prepared the fireplace. The light stones were already placed at some point. The corner of the virgin forest began to be illuminated by a dim light.
"Dean, already! Just continue tomorrow if it's not done."
Alan followed Dean into the giant log. But he looked up for a moment before chuckling.
"Gtoggle.."
Alan left a light stone on the wooden surface Dean carved. Then he came out shaking his head.
"Where's Dean? Let's start eating" asked Nastiti.
"So morning she just went to bed when I woke up because of the whirlpool. He seems very sleepy. So sleep first." Alan explained.
"Then, let it go. Separate the food for him." said Widuri.
Alan was first on guard that night. The place is quiet. Only the sound of the night beast and the wild-gobs the sound of the waves crashing the coral under the cliff. Several fireflies flew up and down around the place. Alan was bored. Then sing about his hometown.
*****