SURVIVORS
Chapters 146. Sailing to the Light
Morning time.
Robert and the rest of his team had already cleaned up their bags. Although the time said by the boat maker is noon, but they do not want to rush later.
Last night Robert had already given some silver coins to the village chief to buy groceries. He did not want the arrival of his team to be the burden of this simple village chief.
Finished berberes, they piled the bag in the corner of the court. They sit back and relax waiting for the afternoon. On a fallen piece of coconut wood, Niken was engrossed in paper and a pen. He had made some rough sketches of that fishing village. It had even completed the picture of the village chief's son. When Niken showed it, the young man was fascinated by himself in the picture. So he signed the picture and gave it to her as an expression of gratitude.
Now Niken is making another rough sketch, where his friends are in it, set against the background of the village chief. There was Leon who sat hoeing while biting the lidi, There was Liam who was lying on the floor with his hands. There Robert and Dr Chandra sat down with the head of the guard. Laras and Silvia casually leaned against the low court fence. While Indra looked at him lovingly from there.
"You're very good at drawing, miss." A guard suddenly rebuked him.
Niken looked back, the bodyguard looked at the sketch paper in his hand.
"Ah, this is just a sketch. Look, just the lines. The true beauty of your country can only be recorded in my memory." Said Niken humbly.
The village leader appeared. His wife and daughter were in the back. They brought morning dishes. All were asked to gather for breakfast before doing other activities while waiting for time.
*
Robert, the chief of the bodyguards and the village chief left after breakfast. They'll see the fisherman's boat.
Arriving at the beach, where the ship was moored yesterday, Robert saw some workers were cleaning the rigging. All were cleanly cut and the screen was removed.
The fisherman had even removed several floors of the deck to provide a more comfortable sitting room. The lower cabin where the seafood was stored has been dismantled Now the ship looks more relieved.
"You have come." Sapa the fisherman.
"Yes. We didn't expect you to take the initiative to clean it up like this." Robert smiled happily.
"As an experienced sailor, I can guess how the sitting position inside the ship to be balanced, safe and comfortable." The answer.
"thank you. I really appreciate it." Robert said sincerely.
"Because it's not completely finished here, I want to look into the old man's shipyard."
"Yes. You can go there first. This ship still has to be cleaned a little." The fisherman said it was friendly.
Robert, the village chief and the chief of the guards walked along the shore to the shipyard.
They could see that the big ship had already been removed from its garage. It's been cleaned of rope and screen cloth. The cabin and several floors of the deck have also been removed as requested by Robert yesterday.
"You guys have come? But the oars aren't all done yet." Old boatman says hello.
"What's wrong. We're just looking around." Answer Robert.
The old man shouted. Before long some workers carried the paddles of the finished ship. Robert counted, there were 6 pieces. 2 Less still.
He took one paddle and tried to move it. The boatman gave instructions again. Some workers brought 4 oars up and put them in place. Robert was called up to try.
The boat maker shows the sitting position and how it should move the paddle. Robert learned quickly. His movements began to slow down. His face looks happy.
'It's not as hard as I imagined, '" Robert's mind.
"There are still 2 more oars for the fisherman's boat. But for this ship, it's best to be lowered into the ocean to see if there's a leak or not." Robert's Proposal.
The boatman gave the order again. The workers left their jobs and together pushed the boat mats towards the shoreline. It turns out there are over 20 people working in this yard. They move together to the rhythm of the cue from the front. Every time they made a push, they shouted a word, in unison. Robert didn't know what they were saying, but the word was like an energy-boosting pill. They get more excited. Robert got goosebumps hearing the sound of the thunder that they showed.
It didn't take long, the end of the ship was hurtling towards the water. And it still continues to be pushed further until it floats completely in the water. A rope was thrown to the beach. Robert didn't know when the old man was on board. A worker tethered a rope to a sturdy wooden pole. The ship is now wobbling in waves.
The workers cheered happily. Proud of their hard work. A strong and beautiful ship had already descended into the water. It was the greatest pride of a shipbuilder.
The old man slid down from the ship by holding on to the rope. Before ramming the pole, he jumped agilely and set foot on the sand of the beach. The workers gave a loud applause.
"Your ship is ready, sir." The old man said after approaching Robert.
"Yes, nice boat. Thank ye. I'll pay for it. Where are the other 2 rowers?" Robert took out his money bag.
The old man shouted again. All the workers returned to their places. And 4 wooden rowers were delivered in front of Robert. Robert assessed the four oars and nodded.
"Can this be delivered to the fisherman?" Ask Robert.
"Can."
The old man ordered his workers to deliver the oars to a fishing boat on another beach. They rushed away.
"This is the gold coin I said." Robert handed over 1 gold coin he owned to the boat maker.
The old man went back to check the authenticity of the coin. He's very meticulous if it's about money and making boats or boats. Then he shouted back.
Someone came by dragging a box. The box was placed in front of Robert. The old man opened the lid of the box and showed me the contents. The box was full of silver coins.
"This amounts to 750 silver coins" said the boat maker.
"That much?" Robert could not believe his eyes.
"Do you not believe? You can count it yourself. Please take some time." The old man said he was not happy.
The village chief and the head of the bodyguard who had never seen such a coin, certainly wanted to count it. Do not let the royal guests be deceived.
"Let's help count." The guard leader offered himself.
Robert nodded.
"Please first count the money for the fishermen's boat." Said Robert.
They spilled the contents of the box and counted 150 silver coins for the fisherman. That's right" takes time. But..
"The number is right." Said the chief of the guards. The god leader nodded convincingly.
"alright. But the taste will be very troublesome carrying such a big box. Is there no other way of storage?" Ask Robert.
Robert took out his money bag. It was small, only the size of his palm.
"The money bag is small. It's not easy to put all that together." Robert's Refutation.
"Isn't that a dimensional bag? It should all be able to get in there." Said the chief of the guards.
"really?" Robert is not sure.
"Why not try it first?" The village leader's advice.
"How do I put it in?" Robert was confused.
"This is what I teach you." The guard leader approached. Take out his own storage bag.
"This way. Concentrate on spending a certain amount of money. Let's say you want to take 10 silver coins. Then I concentrated on taking out that amount."
Suddenly in the palm of his hand appeared 10 silver coins from the direction of his pocket Then he concentrated back to put the money again into his money bag.
Robert looked carefully. Attempted to concentrate on putting the money box in the bag, but to no avail.
The chief of the guards took out a few pieces of money. It was in front of Robert. "Try again."
Robert tried 2 times to succeed.
"Haha.. It's not easy either. I think I'll train him next time. Now just enter it manually." Robert has a solution.
The village chief and the bodyguard chief nodded in agreement. Time has been wasted by counting money. So they helped put all the silver coins in the box into the storage bag. And it does fit. They set aside an amount to pay for the fisherman's boat.
"All right, old man. Nice doing business with you. I'll come with my friends to take this ship to the beach over there." Said Robert. Both of them shook hands warmly.
"Yes. Yep. As long as it's not the old cunning who bought it, then it's good." He replied while insinuating the village chief.
"Whatchu mean? You're accusing me of being sneaky? I told you I had nothing to do with it. But you don't believe it. Huh. You stubborn." The village chief's nagging won't stop if Robert doesn't step away from the shipyard.
The three walked towards the fishing boat that had been moored near the shoreline. The occasional break of the waves drenched the walls of the ship. Everything seems to be clean and neat. Although still smelled fishy fishy smell, but clearly not as sharp as before. It seems that the fisherman and his workers also washed the boat cleanly. That's why it's now on the beach.
"Master. We've installed rowers there. You can try it." The fisherman approached.
Robert nodded, then stepped over the wall of the ship and immediately sat down in the prepared position.
"Hemm, this is convenient."
Try moving the paddle, also smoothly. Robert jumped out of the ship that looked like a big boat to him.
"It's nice. Thanks for tidying it up."
Robert handed over 150 silver coins. Then he added another 50 silver coins to the fisherman's service until the boat was comfortably occupied.
"This, really?" The fisherman did not believe in that kindness.
Robert nodded.
"Hopefully you can buy a new ship with it."
"Thank you sir." Face beaming.
"Okay, we went to the village chief's place first. We'll be back soon." Robert pamit's. The fisherman was pleased.
*
The members of Robert's team were ready with their respective bags. They are ready to continue their journey. Whatever will be faced.
"This is the last chance. Who wants to stay, can choose to stay." Said Robert.
He saw all the team members who shook their heads strongly. They are determined to keep going.
"good. Let's go." Robert gave a warning.
Everything goes out of the courtyard and bids farewell to the wife of the village chief. The head of the village and his son were not there. Robert has asked him to prepare some coconut grains that have been prepared to be easily opened later, for their supplies on the trip later.
Robert approached the chief of the guards, giving some silver coins as the services of the four bodyguards who had been escorting and guarding them all along. They look happy to get a gift.
On the beach, many people gathered. The two ships were moored side by side by sea. Swinging in the waves. Supplies are already included.
Robert and Chandra's doctor represent members of his team saying goodbye to the friendly villagers.
Robert divided his team into 2 groups. Robert's group filled Robert, Laras, Silvia and Liam in a new ship. Indra's group, consisting of Indra, Chandra, Leon and Niken doctors on a fishing boat.
The village chief and the chief of the guards approached Robert and Indra. Reminds him of the route to the light. Robert nodded in understanding.
"If you are hesitant and afraid, go back. We'll take you back." Said the village leader.
""Thank you for your help while we're here. There is nothing I can make a souvenir of an eye. So this is for you. Think of it as a parting gift." Robert handed over some silver coins to the village chief.
"No. No." Resist.
"We have received your hospitality. So don't refuse our hospitality." See doctor Chandra.
"Ah, fine then. Thanks." They shook hands as parting ways.
"Come on." Robert gave a warning.
The ship is pushed more to the middle of the sea so that the hull does not set in sand. Once enough is felt, they begin to rise one by one. They wave towards the beach before starting the journey.
The sound of screaming and the wave of hands from the beach accompanied the first caravan of the group to the light in the middle of the sea.
Their hearts were round to face whatever was behind the light. They believe, only by continuing to walk can they find a bright spot about the way back to Indonesia.
*****