SURVIVORS
Chaptre 398. The Road to Jakarta
There's no one around. The village was deserted. The closest house to the patrol station, the distance is about fifty meters.
"Has this already entered Jakarta Dok?" ask Sunil.
"Yet. This should still be the Banten area" said Dr. Chandra.
"Shortly take a break. Once the finger is bright, we can continue the journey" advises Dr. Chandra.
"But it should not be late yet. We can still walk again, before the break" Robert argued.
"The man of the village, his rest time after night fell. Look ... This place is so deserted!" replied Doctor Chandra.
"But we just make it easier to walk fast, without seeing people!" Sunil is now arguing.
Doctor Chandra let out a long sigh. He lay on the bamboo floor that was made to look like the halls in the patrol post.
"The rest of the villagers are already in sleep mode. Then there were three strangers walking half-flying on a blind night. If he met someone else, what would he think?" Dr. Chandra asked.
"Not people are sleeping. How can anyone see us?" ask Sunil.
"In Indonesia there are always officers who guard the night. Some people go around the neighborhood at night. A little hut like this is called a patrol post. The gathering place of the guards at night!" doctor Chandra.
Sunil and Robert were getting clueless.
"If this tenpat belongs to them, then why do we choose to rest here?" ask Robert.
"It's better to meet them here, than when walking in an uncertain direction!" doctor Chandra Kalem replied.
"What would we say if they asked?" ask Sunil again.
This time she had already laid herself down next to Doctor Chandra. Robert also laid his body down.
"Died said we got lost after coming down from the hill. Or, whatever .. you make up your own story. Which makes sense.... I'm going to sleep first!" Doctor Chandra turned his body against the bamboo wall.
Sunil and Robert looked at each other. They were told to make up excuses? How do you make a reasonable excuse for not knowing this place?"
"What if we say we're traveling?" Robert gave me his idea.
"This is a farming village. Did you forget we went through the orchards and the rice fields before we got here. There are no tourist attractions here!" sunil Debate.
"Yes rural nature tourism. It was taking a walk from the village there to here, and heading to the city!" obviously Robert.
"Ah, okay. Your bule look is indeed very suitable for it. Let's just use that." Sunil agrees.
Robert chuckles. "Your face does not look foreign? What else if you speak English."
Sunil laughed a little. Robert has a point. Then the three rest, following Doctor Chandra who has already flown into dreamland.
Robert and Sunil opened after his body was rocked. It's still dark. Doctor Chandra had already sat down and looked around.
"Let's wake up! We continue the journey!" exclaim Doctor Chandra.
"Now? Isn't it still dark?" ask Robert.
"It's dawn. It's light soon. I heard the voice of the Azaan from the musholla over there!" point at.
"Well, we slept well. Until I don't hear any sound." Sunil squirmed and stretched his body.
"The air here is cold and still very fresh" he commented.
"The name is also in the village of foothills. There are still many trees and less pollution!" sahut Doctor Chandra.
"Come on!"
The three people walked quickly and half-flying. Crossing the lush vegetable gardens and neatly organized. Quite far away they also traveled with that half-flying technique. In an instant, the village they occupied for a stay, had been left far behind.
But running while flying is no longer possible after they reach the paved road and bright days. School children are starting to get crowded. Maybe it's six in the morning.
Doctors Chandra, Robert and Sunil walked past a group of children standing by the side of the road. Possibly waiting for a bus or an angkot.
"Mister, Mister want kamana?" asked one of the men, who saw the three men walking on foot.
Doctor Chandra turned around. "You go to Jakarta, son," he replied.
"Why walk? And it's not the way to Jakarta. That's the way you stole!" said the other kids.
"Oh, which way is the road to the city?" ask Dr. Chandra again.
"Neither angkot wae oruh sir!" said the other.
"Mother, there's no money, Neng. It's okay to walk. Just tell me the direction" Dr. Chandra.
"Jiahhh .. bule malarat sigana." ¹)
The others then laughed.
Doctor Chandra understood the children were laughing at them for not having any money. He just smiled.
"Numpang colt greens Mang Dudung only sir! She's passing by soon, you want to market!" other child's advice.
"Can I?" ask Dr. Chandra.
"That's Mang Dudung!" shouted another child.
The children stood crowded in the middle of the road to stop the pace of the vegetable car.
The children pointed towards Doctor Chandra and his two friends.
"Maranehna rek ka kota, but teu boga duit. Masihan aranjeunna numpak ka market," ³) said one of the students.
Mang Dudung pulled over his vehicle. His hand waved towards Doctor Chandra.
"Kamana track? ⁴)
Doctor Chandra walked towards him. Robert and Sunil followed. Although Dr. Chandra doesn't really understand Sundanese, he can guess the question.
"We want to go back to Jakarta" replied Dr Chandra.
"Far pisan. Abdi tiasa nganteurkeun ka market. Sanggeus eta manggihan beus ka kota. Chat and driver seagrass teu boga duit," ⁵) he said.
"Hatur nohun, Mang." ⁶) Doctor Chandra smiles in relief.
Kernet Mang Dudung came down from the car and shifted the vegetable boxes so there was enough room for the three people to sit down.
"Mister, Mister .. photo first or so." A teenage girl pulled out her phone to take photos together. The kids are crowded and happy.
Mang Dudung has turned on his vegetable car again. "Hatur nohun Neng, Ujang," he said sincerely.
The school children waved as the vegetable vehicle drove by. "Good road Mister!" yell at.
Robert and Sunil smiled at the innocent behavior of the school children. Seen from afar, the bus stops and they scramble up.
"Hehehehe .. innocent childhood and adolescence is indeed joyful!" His smile expands in shade.
Shortly after, the bus passed through Mang Dudung vegetable colt.
"Bye. bye!" yell at them many.
Sunil and Robert wrapped their hands.
"They are so cute!" said Robert.
"Yeah...." Sunil nodded in agreement.
The distance from the village to the market is quite far. The air began to feel hot when the Colt was entering the subdistrict market.
Mang Dudung stopped his vehicle. Her net went down swiftly and helped the three people behind to get off.
"Aya bus terminal." His fingers point to the left of the market.
"Hatur nohun Mang Dudung" said Dr. Chandra. He shakes hands with that fat guy.
"Wait!"
Doctor Chandra held Mang Dudung's hand which he was holding. Now Dr. Chandra's finger position changed from shaking hands to checking his pulse.
"Why?" asked Mang Dudung to know.
But he didn't pull his hand. He had seen Chinese Sinshe at the drugstore in the market, examining the patient by holding his hand.
"I think Mang Dudung has a sugar disease. No more eating and drinking sweet things. Just drink water. Mamang can check into the health center so as not to misdiagnose. But I think, this drug can help to reduce the complaints that you feel so far."
Mang Dudung jumped to see a small ceramic bottle suddenly appear in the hands of Doctor Chandra. His eyes were round to see the three people who had previously boarded the vehicle.
Doctor Chandra gave the ceramic bottle to Mang Dudung's hand. "Drink one a day, after dinner," he said.
The three nodded their heads in thanks. And then it goes from there. Robert whispered to Mang Dudung as he passed by.
"Doctor Chandra is a great doctor in Jakarta. You're lucky to get free checks and drugs from him." Robert then sped up the pace following Sunil and Doctor Chandra.
"Doctor, wait!" call him.
Dr. Chandra stopped and looked back. Eyebrows up. What did Robert do to get far behind?
*
*
Translation:
¹) "Jiaahh .. poor bule turned out."
²) "You're tired of living?"
³) "They want to go to town, but don't have any money. Give them a ride to the market."
⁴) "Where are you going?"
⁵) "So far. I can drive to the market. Then find a bus to the city. Just talk to the driver if you don't have the money."
⁶) "Thank you, Mang."
*********
Note:
Do not forget to continue to support the author.please do not skip advertising.. 🙏
Please stop by in the second novel that is no less exciting.