SURVIVORS
Chapters 148. The Light of Hope
Under the evening sky they rowed further and further into the middle of the sea. The gentle gust of the afternoon sea breeze was not very able to relieve the nervous heartbeat of those.
Even Robert himself was very nervous. If the field of light in the sea is a gap of other worlds, it feels more risky to enter it from the middle of the ocean than on land. Moreover, if it turns out that it is not another world gap. I don't know what they'll face later.
"Are you aware that we always gamble with fate?" The sudden sound of Laras, made his three friends startled.
"Jeez, you're just surprised" Silvia grumbled.
"I know this trip is stressful, so I'll talk to you, let's relax." Barrel widened his smile.
"Do you know the direction to the light is Robert?" Ask Liam.
"The village chief said, we should continue sailing to the middle. We will see the first island on the right. After that, let's take the boat to the left. Then follow the path until it meets the light." Obviously Robert.
"The brief instruction. Not complicated." Comment Liam.
"The construction is not complicated. The challenge is that we have to hold the aching in our hands for pedaling deep into the middle of the sea." Cut Silvia.
"What's more we're not fishermen who used to row boats." Connect Baras.
"After this, our hands will be stocky like bodybuilding athletes."
"Geez.."
Silvia's words made them laugh.
"We have to fight Panco after this. Prove whose arm is stronger." Liam nimbrung's.
"I will defeat you" replied Laras confidently.
"Don't be arrogant. Losing is crying." Ejek Liam's.
Robert just let them fuss. It will make the atmosphere conducive. Away from stress.
They keep pedaling. Indra's group followed robert's boat in the back. Laughter Laras, Silvia and Liam's loud voice rang into place. In the boat, the atmosphere is not as crowded as in front of there. Niken was busy observing the sea while paddling, like he was recording a scene into his brain. Dr. Chandra seemed to be thinking seriously. While Leon and Indra have no idea what to talk about.
In the sky began to appear tinge of copper color. The wind on the cheeks began to feel strong. The ship's paddling must be maintained so as not to deviate because of the wind. They start to concentrate. Paddled as hard as possible so as not to be far behind Robert.
Suddenly, Leon sings the soundtrack to the movie Titanic. He was very sedentary and seemed to be immersed in the song.
When the song arrived at the refrain, Niken was stunned.
" stop! You gave me goosebumps! Change another song. Just fuck it up," Shouted Niken.
"I just want to sing. And the song just came out." Leon retorted because he didn't feel guilty.
"Fuck bikin. The song for the shipwreck you sing while rowing into the middle of the sea." Niken was insistent with his opinion.
"You still believe in superstition? Ahahaa.." Leon's crumpled. Niken glared at him furiously.
"Already.. But you're too much into that song. If it's on stage it looks good. But because we are complaining of luck in the middle of the sea. Then it feels like it's herding bad thoughts."
Dr. Chandra tries to describe how they feel.
"Yes. Your voice and the singing made my hair stand up. So it feels scary to hear it in the middle of the sea." Indra also defended Niken.
"Ahh, you guys rocked the three of me by yourself. All right, you guys win. I'll find another song." Leon pouting.
The boat calmed down. They keep rowing. Leon's voice was on the air..
🎼🎵I'm a captain
Has a long sword...🎶
His three friends initially let Leon repeat the song as he pleased. But finally Niken could not take it anymore.
"Britchkkk!" Shouted Niken gaunty.
"What else is my fault?" Leon showed an innocent face.
Doctors Chandra and Indra returned to paddling focus. But Niken raised his index finger warning Leon. Leon was silent, no longer protesting.
"Leon, why in the captain's song is your voice so flat? My dog got sick hearing that." Ask Indra from the front.
"That's not a blow. That's called excited. The song should be sung with excitement." Leon insistent.
"That's it.. Better not to sing anymore. Just pray for this trip to end well." Doctor Chandra's advice.
The boat went back quiet. But then Indra saw Robert's boat stop.
"Why did they stop? Are we close to the light?"
"Let's hurry. Follow them." Doctor Chandra gave me a cue.
"What's wrong?" Indra asked Robert after their boat was near.
"There's nothing."
Robert said directions were given by the village chief.
"So that's the island the village chief was referring to?" Doctor Chandra looked at the small and very distant island.
"That's the first island seen on the right." Said Robert.
"OKAY. So now we point the boat to the left, then just keep going until we find that light." Indra concluded.
"Yes." Yeah." Answer Robert.
"I'm going to have a drink first. Can I?" Ask Niken. His hands are so sore. And feel thirsty.
"Rest first. We've also been drinking while waiting for you to arrive." Laras.
They rest for a moment. The sky seemed to be getting brighter, the evening sign was approaching. The beach they had left was no longer visible. Only the lines and curves of the blackish hill there. They've come a long way.
"Let's continue." Robert's voice sounded from the boat which was now in front.
Indra paddled following the boat in front of him. The waves of the sea seemed to understand, their boat often swayed towards the destination. Moving the paddle so lighter assisted the push of sea waves.
"Why are the waves heading there?"
Indra's murmur was faintly heard by Niken.
"What do you mean?" Niken didn't understand.
"It's nothing. The waves help us push the boat. Paddled so much lighter." Answer Indra
But not with Indra. He kept wondering why their boat kept pushing the waves. 'Is the light near the coast of another island? Or is there a beach behind the light?' thought.
The night had gone down completely. Only the stars guide the boat. Robert had misplaced time. He spent too much time counting the change in the box.
"It's night and dark. Shouldn't we just go back to the village? Tomorrow morning we can leave again." Robert asked the opinions of 3 friends in his group.
"We're two-thirds of the way. Take the responsibility again." Said Liam.
"Yes. After all, isn't it at night that we can find the light more easily?" Laras.
"Laras and Liam were right. Let's just continue rowing. If it's near, then surely we'll soon know from the light." Silvia supported Laras and Liam.
"All right then. Let's continue." Robert started to paddle again.
Lucky the sky is bright tonight. So the ocean was not completely dark either. After all their eyes finally got used to it in the dark.
*
A few moments later..
*
"Robert, do you see the light there?" The barrel pointed to the left in front there.
"Yes, there it looks bright. Could it be him?" Silvia guess.
"Let's go over there. But don't get too close first. What do you think?" Ask Robert.
"Yes, let's see first, but don't get too close." Liam agrees. They come back full of spirit.
"Adduuhhh, when is it? I'm tired and hungry." lamented Niken.
"Patience" said Dr. Chandra.
"That's, they're waving." Indra pointed forward.
"How can you see people waving.." Leon didn't continue his sentence. He himself could clearly see Robert's group boat stopping and illuminated by the light.
"We arrived. We're until. Huhaha.." Leon was so happy.
"Thank God it's here." Saying Niken.
Indra and his group paddled faster to find Robert.
"You guys finally arrived." Silvia's face beamed.
"Is this the place? Ask doctor Chandra.
"There is no other light in the middle of the sea." Answer Robert.
"Well, we can go in now." Leon is very impatient.
"But my stomach is very hungry. We're just having breakfast today." Niken is very sad.
"Okay, we'll rest and eat first." Robert approved Niken.
They took out a stock of grilled fish that had been prepared by the wife of the village chief. Drink coconut water and rest for a while until their energy is restored.
Indra took an empty coconut shell that he had drunk. He noticed that the water flow did indeed lead to a light that was about 30 meters away from their boat. Release the coconut shell in the water. Push it slightly towards the light. Next the ocean currents that deliver the empty shell to it.
Everyone noticed that thing was swinging in the sea water. Slowly carried the waves towards the light. They are like watching a horror movie and also feel stubborn just by watching it drift. When the shell reached the limit of light, all held their breath, wanting to know what would happen next.
Seconds to minutes passed. Nothing's going on. The fighter simply disappeared after passing through the light. There was no uproar or fluctuation in the waves of the sea. They waited in vain.
"Sea water flows towards there. My first assumption, probably behind it was a waterfall. But when the coconut shell was half gone, there was no change in pull down. We should assume the waterfall can be removed." Indra explained the reason for his actions earlier.
"What's the next assumption?" Ask Liam.
"The second assumption, behind it is the beach area or leads to the beach. Like most ocean waves that will end up on the beach." Indra.
"Beach? Island again?" Laras.
"That's not right." Denying Leon.
"If behind it is a coastal area, other than the incoming wave, there should be a reverse wave, right? It doesn't exist."
Everyone was now observing the wave ripples in front of the light. Leon's right. No waves returned from the direction of the light to the boat. They look at each other.
"That's it. Even the world is not logical, right? Do you ever think that there are fairies, elves, dwarves that really live? That they're not just imaginations of fairy tale authors?" Robert stopped all speculation.
"Now we're here. It is not too late to return to the village of blue dwarves when hesitant to continue the journey." Robert said firmly.
All quiet. Robert's right. From the beginning they were stranded it was not logical. But they persevered and continued to seek a way.
"I'm going on." Said Laras sure.
"It's in plain sight. Time to give up? I'm continuing." Liam follow.
"I am too."
"Yes, go on."
Finally everyone has returned to resolve to continue the journey.
"We don't know what's on the other side. Robert has repeatedly allowed us to retreat if we are afraid. So if something goes wrong, don't blame each other." Dr. Chandra reminded.
"We understand."
"We are all adults in charge of our own decisions."
The others nodded.
"good. Let's continue the journey. Pray that it will all end well." Robert's Advice.
The two boats returned. Directed towards the light in the middle of that vast ocean.
The stars bear witness to their courage in the face of uncertainty. Just for the sake of one hope, go home to each other. The light in the middle of the sea is a manifestation of the light of hope that is not dim despite facing difficulties.
Slowly the two boats with 8 people vanished into the light field. The wind blows as usual. As if nothing ever happened. The star above still stared coldly from its height.
*****