SURVIVORS
Chaptre 82. Hell's Path
"You're done?" sunil asked as he watched Dean and Alan return.
Dean nodded and stepped cautiously towards the exit of the passageway. There were shrubs and vines that almost covered the mouth of the cave. The situation outside is not clear.
Alan and Sunil removed the scattered rocks towards the wall. That is to anticipate the danger of slipping or tripping over rocks.
Dean slowly pushed the leaves hanging in front of him. The dazzling sunlight immediately hit his eyes. The blurry place became bright instantly.
Dean looked at the one plastered in front, with a frown. Alan and Sunil pulled over the leaves when they saw Dean was stunned. They were stunned to see what appeared outside the cave door.
Long time all three riveted. The one ahead there was completely beyond expectations and far from expectations. They languidly sat on the rocks and leaned against the cave wall.
After thinking for a long time, Sunil finally spoke up.
"We should discuss this with Widuri, Nastiti and Dewi."
"Ahhh.the world below was far from hopeful. That's the hell's path." Alan was disappointed while squeezing his hair that began to stretch.
"It would be very hard if we stayed there." Dean concluded.
"Let's go back first, the discussion to find the best way," Sunil persuaded gently.
They walked in. Dean closed the door again with a stone so that no animals or things that are not desirable into their cave.
Dean invites Alan and Sunil to take a supply of coal to warm the cottage, because the rain has fallen more often. The air feels cooler. After that they went back to the cottage.
The goddess who saw the three back while carrying coal, felt astonished.
"Didn't you guys want to open that door?" ask Goddess.
Alan replied with an excited nod. The three men put coal into the hut and arranged it by the fireplace for later use tonight.
"Where are Widuri and Nastiti?" dean asked after they cleaned up dirty hands. The three men took a seat on a bench around the table in the shade of the terrace that was roofed with twigs and weeds.
"They said they'd check out wild corn crops."
The goddess filled her friends' cups with apple cider that had just been squeezed. Coupled with lemon water, the drink becomes fresher on a hot day.
"Can you two help Widuri and Nastiti finish up?" dean asked Alan and Sunil.
"alright. Come on Sunil."
Alan finished his drink and then got up and disappeared behind the lush vegetable garden. Sunil followed obediently from behind.
Dean also immediately went the other way and left the Goddess dumbstruck by herself with a head full of questions.
*
By late afternoon, everyone had gathered at the cottage. The women are still busy with vegetable cleaning and other work to prepare dinner.
Alan was twirling the chicken grill in the stone fireplace in front of them. Sunil still did not finish lifting the firewood he cut. The wood is neatly arranged in the kitchen. Women prefer to cook with wood fire rather than coal.
Dean was working on something in front of the porch. He looks cool on his own and does not care about the chatter of his friends. Then he stood up and judged his own work. Dean looked satisfied. Then enter the cottage and light a fireplace that serves as a warmer room. Put what he was doing earlier near the coal that was just starting to burn, then leave it.
"I take a shower first" he cried as he disappeared toward the back of the cottage, where the bathroom was.
"So what about that hallway door?" tanya Widuri while eating a piece of grilled chicken thigh covered in butter and cheese.
Alan and Sunil turned to Dean to let him answer.
"The world behind the cave is really beyond belief. It's a very heavy place to live." Dean gave us a hint.
Dewi and Nastiti looked at each other. While Widuri closed her eyes while thinking.
"Is there a very thick forest?" Nastiti guessed quickly.
Alan shook his head while continuing to eat.
"The sea?" connect Goddess.
"Mountain of snow again?" sambar Nastiti's.
Alan and Sunil again shook their heads with uninspired looks. Widuri noticed that.
"What is desert?" ask Widuri carefully.
Nastiti and Dewi were surprised by Widuri's guess.
'Don't make it through the desert' thought the Goddess in despair.
"Descend, but not the desert either" replied Dean smiling.
"Huh!?"
"Descended?!"
The three women immediately stopped chewing food with their eyes wide open and their mouths open.
"Don't open your mouth later, enter the hloo mosquito," ledek Alan saw the surprised expression of the three.
"Better you guys look over there tomorrow. We're just discussing the continuation of our travel planning" Dean suggested.
"Ahhh, but to be honest. I've completely lost the spirit to leave," the Goddess complained with a disheveled face.
"But we can't stay here either. The smoke fog kept moving closer to this place." Widuri.
"Yes aampuunn.. Is there no choice but to go to the desert or stay?" Nastiti looks gregetan.
"There," replied Dean calmly.
"There? What other choice?" asked Nastiti with cute eyes expectantly.
"There are 3 choices now. Stay, go down into the desert outside the cave, or break through the black fog around us."
Dean remained calm as he said those abstruse choices.
"Buhuhuh.." Nastiti's eyebrows shot up, looking at Dean with a helpless face.
Widuri tilted her head slightly. Think about all that discussion.
"We're looking for another way to leave this place, right because it avoids the black fog. So our choice to continue the journey is only through the desert." muttered Widuri.
"Yes Tuhaann.. Can black dong cave live in the desert," complained the Goddess.
Sunil and Alan looked at him strangely then shook their heads in astonishment. It turns out that what the Goddess was worried about was the hot temperature that could empty the skin. Totally out of the estimate.
"Water. Do you see a river or a spring there?" Widuri is still focused on that.
Dean shakes.
"Maybe we need to explore before we can find water."
"That means we have to be prepared to bring enough water supplies for supplies. But it will only fill your storage.
"How's my sheep?" The goddess looked sad again.
"We'll get on with it after you see for yourself tomorrow" Dean broke up.
"Now I want to tell you that after opening the door of the passage, we found the skeletons of two dead guards behind the door."
"What?!" The three women were surprised.
Dean looked at Alan prompting him to say what he was thinking.
Alan looked at Dean doubtfully. Because honestly he had even forgotten his wish earlier. But if Dean gives time to talk, Alan thinks, maybe there's something good behind it.
After weighing for quite a while, Alan finally said the thing he had talked to Dean in the cave room earlier this morning.
"What??" Widuri, Sunil, Nastiti and Dewi were completely shocked to hear that.
"You're crazy!" The goddess widened her eyes.
"But Dean, do you know how to lure that protective spirit out and stick it to Alan?" Widuri was very curious.
"Leave Alan's blood on the body's forehead." Dean answered lightly, as if it was a very ordinary one.
"That means Dean's blood was dripping onto A's body on top of the stone tub in the room, so A's spirit entered Dean's body?" Dewi concludes.
"Yes, Dean's hand was hurt. There must have been a drop of blood that fell onto A's body." Sunil began to remember the incident.
All his friends began to understand.
"What are the advantages and disadvantages if Alan is entered by a protective spirit?" ask Nastiti.
"Good thing is, all of Alan's strength and protective skills could be used to ease our journey."
"But there are disadvantages as well. Protector is a strong person even stronger than me. If Alan's soul power could not keep up with their existence, it could be they who would control Alan's body. The risk is, Alan might be asleep forever."
Dean's description left them stunned. Didn't expect it to be that dangerous. Alan may not be dead, but he can't be himself anymore after the process. It's a high-risk process.
"But why isn't A like that?" ask Goddess.
"I realized that I was dead and hitchhiking in Dean's body. Although I can master it, but somehow I don't want to do it. So I transferred my memories, powers and abilities to Dean. It makes me much more relaxed and you are no longer confused about distinguishing me and Dean." this time A answered. His eyes seemed to glow golden in the darkness of the night.
"But the protectors are not necessarily of the same mind. That's what you mean, isn't it?" Widuri.
Dean nodded and sipped his drink.
"Although we need their strength and ability to ease our journey, the risks are great to be seriously considered."
Dean looked at Sunil and Alan.
"It's up to you. No one's pushy" Dean patted Alan and Sunil on the shoulder.
That night the turmoil filled the heads of all Dean team members. Want to find a way home, but heavy terrain is the only way available, while expertise is sorely lacking.
***