The Van Til House: STRAF SABBAT
Chapiter 25's

A gust of strong wind shook the car. 

"Maybe we should turn around" suggested Agustin suddenly.

Hendra and Magisna jerked their heads back almost simultaneously.

Suddenly the car tires squeaked and slipped again.

They were all silent until Hendra could handle it by rewinding the car. Then they passed by a large pit.

Magisna squealed stifled. Somehow he imagined there was a lump of body under the car, someone lying frozen and lifeless, half immersed in a mud puddle and crushed by the tires of their car.

"It's just a puddle" said Hendra.

Well--yeah, thought Magisna. I am the best at scaring myself. Magisna quietly exhaled, but her breath was not as slow as she thought.

Hendra spontaneously turned his head and looked at him with a concerned look on his face. "Hei—quiet," he said. "We've never been in a worse situation, inget?"

Magisna did not answer. Just bowing while shivering. It would be nice if we never had this terrible weekend, he hoped inwardly.

It was the longest and worst weekend of my life, she recalled bitterly.

"The hendra! Rewind!" repeat Agustin with a little pressure. This time it sounded like an order.

"But we've been walking for an hour!" Hendra protest.

"True," Agustin argued. "We've been driving for an hour. And this shouldn't be. Something's wrong here!"

"What's wrong?" Hendra Debate. "Your brain is not right!"

"Hendra—I'm serious!" Agustin insists. "Aren't you aware that we're just going around in circles in the same place?"

Uh-oh! peekik Magisna in the heart. Any more?

Why does this situation feel familiar?

Hendra was suddenly silent. Irritated, I was trying to think hard.

The road starts straight for a moment, then starts cornering again. 

Magisna glanced out of the car and found a deep ravine that was on the side of the road. Magisna held her breath. If they slip, they will plunge into the abyss with the hood of the car first. But that's not what made him hold his breath.

The car slipped again and spun once. Then stop. Its front tires were mired into the mud on the side of the road. The car engine died this time, and could not be stopped again. 

It was the same pit they had been through before. Is it just my feelings? thought Magisna.

But Hendra's anxious gaze had him dragged into a terrible state of consciousness.

Agustin's right!

They just go around in the same place.

"Reverse, reverse! Turn around now!"

The sound of the storm was again ringing in Magisna's ears.

Could it be that the voice earlier was not just his imagination?

Hendra sighed heavily and exhaled violently. Then look back. "Denger yes," he said angrily. "It's plantation. Every side of this place makes no difference."

Magisna snorted boredly and bought her back. From the beginning I knew he was a bitch, he thought. But I really didn't expect him to know himself either!

"Every side of this place does not make any difference," Agustin argued calmly. "But the mud puddles can't be the same, right?"

"It's just a wallop!" sergeant Hendra. "Who cares where that ridiculous hole is? He could be anywhere, right?!"

"That's the same hole!" Ice interrupted them.

"Everything looks the same!" refute Hendra not to lose.

"Listen, Hendra!" Agustin said again. Stay calm and flat. "Ais and I are plantation workers. We have experienced this often. In plantation society, this kind of phenomenon is commonly called "Doolhof", it's a kind of invisible labyrinth that makes us go around in circles in the same place. The same labyrinth as the one in the basement of Van Til's house."

"And the cave began to listen to all the nonsense about the myth of the plantation and Van Til's house," said Hendra fed up.

"Hendra—" Magisna growled restrained. We have just come out of danger regarding the myth of Van Til's house, he thought. And now he denied it without the slightest burden. Did he even forget about Dika and Alexza? Really heartless!

"Whether you believe it or not, you are not yet fully separated from the doolhof." Agustine explained.

Magisna was choked, while Hendra bought it.

"Continue?" Hendra leaned towards Agustin.

Hendra.

Magisna pinched it again. "Don't forget whose car this is?" whispered. "At least he's a real person here. He must know more about the area around here!"

Hendra raised both hands from the steering wheel, "OK," he said impatiently. "Against the power!"

"Moor!" Magisna hissed and glared at him. Then look back with a troubled face.

Agustin smiled faintly, then jumped out.

Hendra moved into the back seat, while Agustin was sidestepped to the side of the road.

"What's wrong?" Hendra asked half-hardened.

"Finding something to make a mark," replied Agustin flatly. Then pull the palm oil and put it on the puddle. "This way every hole won't be the same!" said.

Hendra grunted in response.

Magisna glanced at him with an annoyed feeling that kept on being held back.

Ais just shut up with her innocent face look that won't be changed.

Agustin snuck into the back of the wheel and sighed deeply. Then start the engine.

The machine fizzed and then died. Agustin tried again. Before long the car shook and stomped. Light up and roll.

A few minutes later, the car turned around again and stopped. The front tires are back in the hole.

The same page again. Kubangan already filled with palm oil.

Magisna turned to Hendra to see his reaction.

Hendra just shut up. His mouth was clenched with a sour face.

Magisna let out a short sigh and shook her head.

Agustin took a deep breath. Then shut up and be stunned.

Hendra groaned in the back seat. "What else now?" tanyanya.

Agustin remained silent and looked straight ahead while holding his breath.

Magisna did not know exactly what Agustin was doing. But somehow the look on the man's face implies that he is waiting. Instantly the feathers bristled. What is he waiting for? thought horrified. And... Why is he holding his breath?

A strong wind suddenly swirled around them and the rain like crackling above their heads. Like a curtain that was revealed.

Magisna was flabbergasted while smothering her mouth. What the hell's going on? Is this real?

There was a loud rumbling sound coming from the forest, then something dark came crashing across the road in front of them.

A shadow of a horseman in a dark robe flashed a second time before Magisna's eyes.

Am I still under the influence of toxic substances? magisna thought she couldn't believe it.

Time seemed to come to a halt as the shadow darkened before their eyes. A terrible power gripped the whole place around him.

Agustin glanced at Magisna with a flat face. Magisna stared back at him with round eyes and mouth.

"What was that?" Hendra squealed in the back seat.

She seen? Magisna jerked her head back and looked at Hendra.

Hendra also looked flabbergasted.

Yes, Magisna said in her heart. He saw it too!

"Kerud," interrupted Ice without lifting his face. He sat down and leaned back, hugging himself.

"Crackers?" Hendra and Magisna asked simultaneously.

"People beetles!" Ais developed one of her hands in front of her chest and raised her voice.

"DON'T KIDDING!" Hendra and Magisna rebuked him in a higher tone.

The ice stuttered and observed the two with its characteristic childish look.

"Beetles aren't that big, Shucks!" Hendra's sticking up for the temple.

Ais simply shrugged with an expression that seemed to say, "Till you believe it or not!"