SURVIVORS
Chapters 189. Stopover City
Silvia woke up and felt her back ache. His position sat down hugging a pillow. On the train there was only him.
'How long have I been sleeping like this?' he thought while stretching his achy muscles.
He wanted to go out looking for the man, but his eyes saw a face-covering cloth beside him. Silvia wore it without hesitation. Then he lowered his head and opened the curtain of the carriage door cover.
"You awake?" mustafa asked in surprise.
Mustafa was sitting where the coachman was sitting.
"Yes. My body is sore inside. I want to pee anyway." Silvia said in a low voice.
"Let's go with me." Mustafa jumped down from the train. He called a bodyguard to accompany the two of them.
Silvia saw dozens of men sitting by their horses while surrounding the bonfire.
"Is the city far away?" ask Silvia.
"Yes." Mustafa replied briefly.
"Isn't overnight in the desert like this dangerous?" It was clear that Silvia was worried.
"Here you go" Mustafa said.
"Remain here?" Silvia asked in wonder. Mustafa's questions and answers don't match.
"You're not going to pee?" Mustafa asked back.
"Ah, yes. But why are you coming?" Silvia felt awkward.
"This place is dangerous. We'll turn around. You just continue." Mustafa handed over a sheet of dried leaves whose function is to clean after urinating.
Silvia really felt awkward about the situation. But he can't take it anymore. So he immediately squatted down after being convinced that the bodyguards and Mustafa were standing behind him and keeping watch seriously.
*
*
"You haven't had dinner yet. I left a piece of bread and a piece of cold roasted meat. You can eat quietly in the carriage" Mustafa said.
"I want to stretch first. My body is hurting now. Just put the food on the train."
Silvia started moving her limbs. Rotating left right, bending and etc. He did not realize the strange gazes of all those bodyguards.
Even Mustafa could only be agape at Silvia's bravery. But he can't do anything. Mustafa realizes that the girl in front of him is different from other girls he has met in various cities.
After her body relaxed again, Silvia turned around.
"I want to rest in the car."
"Yes. Eat and rest. It's drink. Don't spend. It's still tomorrow afternoon we meet another city." Mustafa.
Silvia nodded, then got into the carriage. Mustafa sat back in the coachman's seat and rested there.
'Where did this girl come from? She's not like the big-eyed girls of our nation she thought.
*
*
The night passed peacefully. They were already packing when the light on the horizon was still violet. When the brilliant light of the sun appeared, the carriage was ready to depart.
"Is your home in the city we're headed to?" silvia asked opening the conversation.
The atmosphere on the carriage felt stiff if the two people were silent to each other.
"No. There is still one more city to meet the city where I live." replied Mustafa kindly.
"There are only dates and sour milk for breakfast. Eat it." Mustafa tossed out a small plate of dates and a bowl of sour milk.
Silvia tasted the condensed milk.
"It's yogurt." said Silvia. His expression showed that he really liked enjoying dates with yogurt.
"I just found out that dates can taste this good when eaten with yogurt."
Silvia was silent for a moment while frowning her forehead.
"Or, maybe yogurt is more delicious if eaten with dates?" He's laughing a little.
Mustafa did not understand what Silvia was saying. But seeing the girl happy, she was already happy.
*
*
At noon they entered the city walls. The group continued towards the inn they used to use when arriving in this city.
"Welcome back, sir." Greet the hostess kindly.
Mustafa invited Silvia to sit in one of the enclosed spaces. His guards took another empty space. The innkeeper approached Mustafa.
"Do you want to prepare the room as usual sir?" The smile of the servant continued to grow.
"Yes. Add a room for him too. Before that, prepare the food first. We're very hungry. And for the guards." Mustafa made a quick order.
"Good sir. I'll get ready soon."
The waiter walked out of the room and immediately heard a few applause. Things are suddenly boisterous out there. The waiters rushed to prepare food, drinks and rooms for their special guests.
Mustafa did not care about the crowded atmosphere around him. He opened the window of the room so that fresh air could enter and exit freely.
*
*
After enjoying the meal, they headed for the room that had been booked. A guard brought Silvia's kit.
"You rest a little. I'll take you to see this stopover town." Mustafa.
*
Tok to tok.
Silvia opened her eyes.
"Who?"
"I'm a waitress. Mr. Mustafa asked me to help you prepare." The sound of a woman's voice.
"Lake in."
Silvia knew she was fast asleep before cleaning her body.
"Can you prepare a bath for me?" Silvia asked as the maid closed the door.
"Can miss."
He stepped onto the room's perimeter panel. Prepare some things there.
Silvia took out her clothes instead and was draped to the space-limiting panel.
"Please miss." the girl lowered her head. Then stretch the wood panel so that it can cover the bath area completely.
The servant's hand was skilled in cleaning Silvia's skin and head. Like an expert. Silvia felt the muscle tightness she felt diminished.
"You're exhausted. Muscles will stiffen as a result of a long journey. Massage of the head, feet and whole body can stimulate happiness" said the waiter wisely.
*
*
"You're so beautiful." praise the waiter sincerely.
Silvia only responded with a smile.
"Let's meet Mr. Mustafa. He's been waiting too long." Take Silvia.
They walked down the hallway, then passed through several rooms. Until he arrived at the hall and Mustafa could not take his eyes off Silvia.
Silvia wore a dark green dress with a traditional white motif on the bottom. A light green scraf draped over her white marble shoulder. A belt with golden yellow ornaments keeps the scraf position on its waist.
"Master, your lady is ready."
The male bodyguard reminded Mustafa not to be fixated any longer.
"Is the train ready?" ask Mustafa nervously.
"Well sir's train? I'll get ready soon." The hostel moved quickly.
"No need," prevent Silvia.
"Aren't we just going for a walk in the city?" Silvia asked reassuringly.
"But your skin hasn't been exposed to the heat, yet" Mustafa was worried.
"We're wearing this veil again." Silvia showed her face cover earlier.
Mustafa saw the blue veil in Silvia's hand so felt something was wrong. His forehead puckered thinking about what was wrong.
"I'll get you a proper veil sir." the maid who had been serving him took a bath, immediately understood the situation.
"Ah, yes. The color of the cloth doesn't match your clothes." Mustafa snapped his finger. He was satisfied with the intelligence of the female servant.
Before long, the maid brought 2 veils. Dark green color with golden bead tassel and sand yellow color with red bead tassel.
Mustafa took the yellow veil and put it on Silvia. Then the two go hand in hand. Several guards followed from behind and ahead.
Silvia looked at the city enthusiastically. Very interesting place according to him.
"Do you want to buy something?" bargain Mustafa.
"There are rows of pretty jewelry stores near the city walls. What if we look over there?" Said again.
"All right." Silvia smiled. He walked over to Mustafa's side, deliberately slowing down his footsteps.
And the city walls were not too far from their position. On the right side are neatly lined shops. While on the left side of the road is filled with carts of trade caravans.
Mustafa showed Silvia a variety of jewelry. But Silvia was not too interested in the elaborate decorations being peddled. He doesn't know what those things are. Because the jewelry that Silvia knew only revolved around rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces only. Silvia was amazed to see the various clothes and hair ornaments.
Silvia observed all the neatly lined shops. On the doorstep of each store there is a sign drawn there. Although she did not understand what the signs and images meant, Silvia knew one important thing.
'Their civilization has reached the stage of the language of writing. Incredible, ' Inner Silvia.
'If an archaeologist were to experience this journey, he would definitely be able to jump around in excitement and record all these findings.' Silvia thought with a smile.
Suddenly his face changed. Then look worried. Silvia walked quickly, barely running to chase something. He looked to the left in panic. What he saw was gone from sight.
"Am I hallucinating? Could it be just similar, like Ethan-like Mustafa?" sad muttered.
"What's wrong?" Mustafa had caught up next to him.
"Don't run around in the city by yourself. You can disappear" Mustafa reminded with a worried face.
"I look like I saw my friend. But he's lost in the crowd." Silvia's eyes glazed over.
"What's her name? Let the guards look for." Mustafa persuaded.
"Leon. His name is Leon." Silvia said expectantly.
Mustafa spoke to an escort. Then the man left.
"They'll check it out. So we better go back. It's dinner soon." Bring Mustafa gently. Silvia nodded.
The reddish-orange evening light competes for beauty with the dark blue sky. The shops have closed their doors. Some lights were also turned on. Soon the star army will rule the sky. The beauty of the moon.
*****