The Devil's Legs Upside
Lim!

Arriving at the entrance, we were immediately directed into the hallways of this Platform deck. I no longer see the other passengers who scattered earlier, it seems we are far behind. While walking, I explained to the old European Man that this man next to me was not feeling well. Several times he said ‘Yes-yes-yes’ but his face did not look at us at all. The old man continued to stare straight, very indifferently. I feel very uncomfortable with his attitude, especially he called us ‘Kid’ (Little boy). Whether I'm not used to it or how, I feel that call feels so insulting.

The platform is quite spacious in fact, only the hallways are narrow but the numbers are many and quite winding. It took quite a long time until we arrived at an iron staircase that led up and down.

“Down there is a room for you two. Be prepared quickly, because the meeting is going to start soon” (Below there is a room for both of you. Get ready, because the meeting is about to begin)

The Chinese man and I looked at each other. Looks like we just became roommates.

After descending a few short steps, we were presented with a view of the sea from a glass window on the hallway wall. The window was made of iron. To his left was a small, short hallway, and to the right of the passage was an iron door, the only door I believed to be our door. The Chinese man immediately rushed towards the door and went inside, while I was still staring blankly at the ocean from the window. I am ready for this! My words strengthened my heart many times, strengthened my own mind. Pah, Mah, pray Dimas always ….

My bedroom door was so heavy, I even needed the strength of both my hands to pull the leaves. Once open, I was presented with a view of a room that was quite narrow and stuffy. Even so, it seems like the furniture is quite complete. There's a pile mattress, a bathroom, a refrigerator, a TV, AC, some power outlets, and even a heating fan, Wow. Instantly I ignored the narrowness of my room and went inside. Welcome, my room for the next year.

The Chinese man had immediately laid his body on the top mattress, while closing his eyes. I wanted to ask her how she was doing, but I doubt she'd get the words out. I doubt he can even speak English.

“Hey ... thanks before!” (Hey ... Thanks in advance!)

I was shocked, he finally spoke after a long silence, with a typical Chinese accent that I know very well (similar to the Chinese Indonesian accent).

“Ah! Don’t mention it!” (Gee! No papa)

The Chinese man then woke up, and looked at me kindly. “Lim from China .. and you?” (Lim from China?. You?) He said while extending his hand.

“Dimas! I’m from Indonesia” (Dimas! I'm from Indonesia) I shook his hand so vigorously.

“Oh Dima .. nice to meet you” (Oh Dima.. Nice to meet you).

“Dimass! with S” (Dimasss .. use S)

“Dima ... Z?"

Lim is from Shanghai. He's the same age as me, maybe I'm a few months younger than him. His career journey was exactly the same as mine, after breezing in mines in China, he then proposed here. Lim also left his family far away. We got along very well with each other because of that. Alternately, we talked about each other's families. We talked so much that someone finally knocked on our door.

TOK TOK TOK

“Hurry up! Kid!” (Hurry now! Little Boy!)

We were both shocked, Gawat! We completely forgot about the meeting. With a flurry of water, we immediately changed clothes and rushed out of the room.

The one who knocked on the door was the old man. He was so faithful waiting for us outside the room, squinting his eyes. I felt so discriminated, I turned to glare at him as we exited the room and walked together towards the meeting room. But unexpectedly, Lim tried to melt the atmosphere. He tried to invite conversation, even mocked the old man. Lim turned out to be very chatty, my emotions are a little looking to see Lim's behavior. But, the old man remained silent throughout the journey. To me, that bent old face was more like fear than indifference, what was he afraid of?

From Lim's carelessness, I learned that this old man was named James. His body was big and fat, bigger than ours. His short hair looks gray. His face was quite wrinkled, Presumably, he was already fifty years old and above. Even so, his footsteps were so fast and steady. He's still so healthy, if he's really in his fifties. Mr. James is a Caretaker or rather like the father of the cost of this Living Platform.

Old man James took us to a long, large corridor. On the right and left side of the corridor are rooms with doors that are exactly like our bedroom door. It seems like other Engineers live in these rooms. Only me and Lim got a narrow room downstairs, damn it. It was so quiet back then, the other Engineers must have been in the meeting room. Old man James then slightly accelerated his steps towards a large iron door on the right side, which was still lined with the rooms.

Behind the large door was a large hall. There all the new engineers on the ship had been sitting neatly in the seats that had been provided. They all focus on facing a large LCD screen. In front of the screen was a small stage, where there was another European man standing there. The European man was in the uniform of this company, and with a smile he looked at us who had arrived the most late. I immediately pulled Lim's hand and invited him to sit in a nearby chair. As soon as we sat down, old man James immediately left us and advanced forward towards the stage. Then the European man in front began his speech.

The European man turned out to be a Lead Engineer, the Head of Mine Engineering. Means he's my boss and the boss of all the new Engineers here. Name's Mr. Teigl, which Lim said was a German name. Mr. Teigl explained to us everything about this Offshore Bridge.

This bridge is divided into four platforms (building/building on water). Our current platform is Living Platform. Production Platform, Generator-Compressor Platform, and the largest Well-head Platform. The process of drilling for petroleum is carried out on the Well-head Platform, where a giant drill is placed. The drill is stuck and penetrated to the bottom of the sea, digging for petroleum to be sucked up. Furthermore, petroleum will be channeled to the Production Platform, where it will be processed, packaged, and marketed to various countries in the world. Generator-Compressor Platform is the place where the power source is generated. Naturally, this electrical energy is used to power all the electrical tools and lights that exist in this Bridge.

The four platforms were connected by a long iron bridge. Although long, the bridge is quite narrow, about the width can only be passed by three people. So when viewed from above, this bridge forms a square with the four Platforms into corners. That's what I captured from the company's introductory video aired by Mr. Teigl.

In addition there are also heavy equipment that is introduced to us, such as Crane to move petroleum barrels and so on. There are also docks on several platforms, and the largest dock is on the Production Platform, because that is where the oil carriers dock. There are many more things I can get from the video and explanation of Mr Teigl.

I was so amazed and enthusiastic to watch every word that the German Engineer said. Now I understand why this company is so famous all over Europe. I am so grateful to be working for this company. I wanted to share my enthusiasm with Lim, but when I turned, he fell asleep. Fuck up! Maybe Lim was so exhausted from the trip.

Mr Explanation. Teigl continues about the Job desk I'm going to do here. As I thought, we were recruited to replace some of the Engineers who resigned. Looks like I'll be stationed on the Well-head Platform where the giant drill is placed, It'll be really exciting!