Image by Pixabay
SUN begins to erect above the head. The light is so intense and so blinding. That day, every object on the earth has no shadow. Living things also seem reluctant to play in the open fields even though thirst is increasingly apparent.
Some estuarine crocodiles that used to bask in the limiting canals of Lamuri's palace were not seen at all. Reptiles from ancient times were overwhelmed with the sun and preferred to soak in the mud. In fact, the water in the canal that day was also much hotter than normal days. However, for the canal crocodiles, soaking is much better than thirsty roasting on land.
Not far from the canal, several men took shelter in a hall. They fan the hats to drive away the heat that is so disturbing. Some of them were seen drinking water from irregularly arranged jugs on the back of the hall. There are also those who undress and flush water to the body.
"It's so hot today. What's wrong?" Asked a man who took a gulp of water.
"I don't know. All my life, this is the first time I feel a hot heat like this," said the man who had been fluttering in his body using a conical hat.
From afar, a boy ran fast toward the palace. His slightly dark body looked shiny because it was filled with sweat. One of the men who was taking shelter in the hall noticed the boy's figure. He then stopped the boy's pace, and asked what was wrong.
"Why play around outdoors with this weather?"
The boy looked furious. He didn't answer right away. His choked breath made the men feel sorry.
"Drink this," said one of the men sitting in the hall while holding a jug of water.
It did not take long, the boy immediately drank the water from the jug until satisfied. He then looked at the men one by one and told him something had happened in the Lemur field.
"A herd of elephants ran out of the jungle to come here. So were deer, rhinos, rooted tigers, and several other jungle-dwelling creatures. I don't know what's going on," said the boy.
He then asked the man to tell the residents not to approach the Lemur field.
"You are sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure, I see it with my own eyes," said the boy again.
The shirtless man then asks his friend to check the Lemur field. However, the person requested refused. "It's hot. I'm here. You're the one who examined it," said the man.
"Ah, you are spoiled. Who wants to check the Lemur field and tell the population?"
Everything is quiet. The boy who had been waiting for an answer finally said goodbye. "Let me tell the population," said the boy half running.
"Hey ... wait a minute. What's your name?"
"Mat Guci!"
After the death of Mat Guci, the men who had been lazing around in the hall, stared at each other. They continued their activities to eliminate intense heat.
"Do we just leave the information given by the boy?"
"Ah ... just let him tell the population. Our job is to guard this hall area, not to guard the Lemur field. Later he will definitely meet with the inner soldier," said one of the men.
Mat Guci who was seen leaving the soldiers turned around from behind the hall. He hid behind a shrub and then returned to the Lemur field. It took a while for Mat Guci to reach the top of the Lemur hill.
Meanwhile, in Lemur hill, Brahim Naga and his friends are still seen busy cleaning the mane (Vitex pinnata Verbenaceae) tree. They work hard to move the bark of the tree to make the boat's mast screen. Not only them, Pang Amin was also seen still there. He was busy digging holes near the cut down mane tree.
"What for?" Brahim Naga asked.
"Replace what has been taken," Pang Amen answered casually.
Brahim Naga just scratched his head. He then reminded Pang Amin to take shelter because of the hot weather. However, Pang Amin ignored Brahim Naga's words.
After digging a few holes, Pang Amin then headed towards the forest of Lamuri. He said he would take mane's seed and will return before Brahim Naga finished cleaning the tree.
A moment later, Mat Guci was seen running towards Brahim Naga. He told him that his assignment was complete, and made sure that the soldiers at the nearest post of the Lemur slope would not leave the "nest".
"What did you say to them?"
"Many animals from the jungle headed towards the palace. However, they did not care and preferred to rest under the hall," said Mat Guci smiling.
Brahim chuckled. Likewise Cage and Rungkhom. But not for Ben Puteh. He ordered his soldiers to settle on the slopes of the Lemur. The skinny man was hard to believe about something information.
Mat Guci just scratched his head when he heard Ben Puteh's command. He then approached Brahim Naga and questioned why Ben did not believe the information given by Mat Guci.
"Before the war, Ben Puteh had served in matters of anxiety. So you don't have to be surprised, his education in the place of duty was carried away until now. He always feels anxious about the conditions. This makes the thin man always alert, and checks all the information accepted. His attitude often save us," said Brahim.
Mat nodded. He then participated in cleaning the bark of the mane tree with the others. However, Brahim asked Mat Guci to return home while tipping something to his mother.
"But father."
"Hus, you must back to the house. Give it to your mom. Be careful, don't let you meet again with the soldiers, they are later become suspicious," Brahim ordered.
"Ok, father," said Mat.
The cleaning of the mane tree was almost complete when Pang Amin returned from the jungle. He smiled and headed straight for the holes he was digging earlier. The silat teacher then sowed a handful of mane seeds. "Hopefully will be a substitute for what you have taken," Pang Amin said.
Brahim Naga then approached Pang Amin. The fierce-faced man looked amused at the behavior of the tiger coach. "What are you doing, Pang. The mane tree is too much on this hill, right? Why did you plant it again?"
"Just take care of it. Doesn't that have been my job for a long time?" Pang Amin said.
"I think you only take care of tigers in this jungle," Brahim said again.
"Yes, tigers are part of the jungle. Without jungle, there are no tigers here. So are other animals. As human, we also have to take care of nature," Pang Amin said.
"Ah, it's up to you. I'm dizzy with your language," said Brahim Naga who was scratching his head again. [] (to be continue...)
This article is the 13th episode of fiction that I wrote on this blog. Hopefully this follow-up story gets appreciation. To find out the story, please read the previous episode The Forest Guard and Bertemu Harimau
MATAHARI mulai tegak di atas kepala. Sinarnya begitu menyengat dan menyilaukan mata. Hari itu, setiap benda di muka bumi tidak memiliki bayangan. Makhluk hidup juga terkesan enggan bermain-main di padang terbuka meskipun rasa haus kian kentara.
Beberapa ekor buaya muara yang biasa berjemur di kanal-kanal pembatas istana Lamuri tidak terlihat sama sekali. Reptil dari zaman purba ini kewalahan menahan sengatan matahari dan lebih memilih berendam di dalam lumpur. Padahal, air di dalam kanal hari itu juga jauh lebih panas dibandingkan hari biasa. Namun, bagi para buaya penjaga kanal ini, berendam jauh lebih baik daripada terpanggang kehausan di daratan.
Tak jauh dari kanal, beberapa pria berteduh di sebuah balai. Mereka mengipas-ngipas topi untuk mengusir hawa panas yang begitu mengganggu. Beberapa di antaranya terlihat menenggak air dari kendi-kendi yang tersusun tak beraturan di punggung balai. Adapula yang membuka pakaian dan mengguyur air ke badan.
"Panas sekali hari ini. Ada apa gerangan?" Tanya seorang pria yang meneguk sekendi air.
"Entahlah. Seumur hidup, baru kali ini aku merasakan panas yang menyengat seperti ini," timpal pria yang sedari tadi mengipas-ngipas badannya menggunakan topi kerucut.
Dari jauh, seorang bocah berlari cepat ke arah istana. Tubuhnya yang sedikit gelap terlihat mengkilap karena dipenuhi peluh. Salah seorang pria yang sedang berteduh di balai memerhatikan sosok bocah tersebut. Dia kemudian menghentikan laju bocah itu, dan bertanya ada apa gerangan.
"Kenapa bermain-main di luar rumah dengan cuaca seperti ini?"
Bocah itu terlihat ngos-ngosan. Dia tidak langsung menjawab. Nafasnya yang tersenggal-senggal membuat para pria itu merasa kasihan.
"Minum ini," kata salah satu pria yang duduk di balai sembari menyodorkan kendi berisi air.
Tak butuh waktu lama, bocah itu langsung meneguk air dari kendi hingga puas. Dia kemudian menatap para pria tersebut satu persatu dan memberitahukan telah terjadi sesuatu di padang Lemur.
"Kawanan gajah berlarian ke luar rimba menuju kemari. Begitu pula rusa, badak, macan akar, dan beberapa makhluk penghuni rimba lainnya. Saya tidak tahu ada apa gerangan," kata bocah itu.
Dia kemudian meminta pria tersebut untuk memberitahukan para penduduk agar tidak mendekati padang Lemur.
"Kamu yakin?"
"Iya. Saya yakin, saya melihatnya dengan mata kepala sendiri," kata bocah itu lagi.
Pria yang bertelanjang dada kemudian meminta temannya untuk memeriksa padang Lemur. Namun, orang yang diminta menolak. "Panas. Aku disini saja. Kamu saja yang memeriksanya," kata pria itu.
"Ah, kamu ini manja. Siapa yang mau memeriksa padang Lemur dan memberitahukan penduduk?"
Semuanya hening. Bocah yang sedari tadi menunggu jawaban akhirnya pamit. "Biar saya saja yang memberitahukan penduduk," kata bocah tersebut setengah berlari.
"Hei... tunggu dulu. Nama kamu siapa?"
"Mat Guci!"
Sepeninggal Mat Guci, para pria yang sejak tadi bermalas-malasan di balai, menatap satu sama lain. Mereka melanjutkan aktivitasnya menghilangkan rasa panas yang menyengat.
"Apa kita membiarkan saja informasi yang diberikan bocah tadi?"
"Ah... biar saja dia yang memberitahukan penduduk. Tugas kita kan menjaga kawasan balai ini, bukan menjaga padang Lemur. Nanti dia pasti bertemu dengan prajurit dalam," kata salah satu pria itu.
Mat Guci yang tadi terlihat meninggalkan para prajurit itu ternyata memutar dari belakang balai. Dia bersembunyi di belakang perdu dan kemudian kembali ke padang Lemur. Butuh beberapa saat bagi Mat Guci mencapai puncak bukit Lemur.
Sementara itu, di bukit Lemur, Brahim Naga dan kawan-kawan masih saja terlihat sibuk membersihkan pohon mane (laban). Mereka bekerja keras meraut kulit pohon untuk membuat tiang layar perahu. Tak hanya mereka, Pang Amin juga terlihat masih berada di sana. Dia sibuk menggali lubang-lubang di dekat pohon mane yang ditebang.
"Untuk apa itu?" Tanya Brahim Naga.
"Mengganti apa yang sudah diambil," jawab Pang Amin sekenanya.
Brahim Naga hanya menggaruk-garuk kepala. Dia kemudian mengingatkan Pang Amin agar berteduh karena cuaca yang begitu panas. Namun, Pang Amin tak menghiraukan kata-kata Brahim Naga.
Usai menggali beberapa lubang, Pang Amin kemudian menuju ke arah rimba Lamuri. Dia mengatakan akan mengambil benih mane dan akan kembali sebelum Brahim Naga selesai membersihkan pohon tersebut.
Sejenak kemudian, Mat Guci terlihat berlari ke arah Brahim Naga. Dia memberitahukan tugasnya sudah selesai, dan memastikan ihwal para prajurit yang berada di pos terdekat lereng Lemur tidak akan meninggalkan "sarangnya".
"Apa yang kau katakan pada mereka?"
"Banyak binatang dari rimba yang menuju ke arah istana. Namun, mereka tidak memperdulikan dan lebih memilih beristirahat di bawah balai," kata Mat Guci tersenyum.
Brahim terkekeh. Begitu pula Cage dan Rungkhom. Namun tidak untuk Ben Puteh. Dia memerintahkan prajuritnya untuk mengendap di lereng Lemur. Lelaki berperawakan kurus itu memang susah untuk percaya begitu saja.
Mat Guci hanya menggaruk-garuk kepala ketika mendengar perintah Ben Puteh. Dia kemudian mendekati Brahim Naga dan mempertanyakan kenapa Ben tidak percaya dengan informasi yang diberikan Mat Guci.
"Sebelum perang, Ben Puteh memang bertugas di urusan kecemasan. Jadi kamu tidak perlu heran, pendidikannya di tempat tugas dulu terbawa hingga sekarang. Dia selalu merasa cemas dengan kondisi yang ada. Ini yang membuat pria kurus itu selalu siaga, dan memeriksa segala informasi yang diterima. Sikapnya yang demikian tak jarang menyelamatkan kami," kata Brahim.
Mat mengangguk-angguk. Dia kemudian ikut serta membersihkan kulit pohon mane bersama yang lain. Namun, Brahim meminta Mat Guci untuk kembali ke rumah seraya menitip sesuatu kepada ibunya.
"Tapi ayah."
"Sudah, kamu kembali saja ke rumah. Berikan itu kepada ibumu. Hati-hati, jangan sampai kamu bertemu kembali dengan para prajurit tadi. Nanti mereka jadi curiga," pesan Brahim.
"Baik ayah," kata Mat.
Pembersihan pohon mane hampir selesai ketika Pang Amin kembali dari rimba. Dia tersenyum dan langsung menuju lubang-lubang yang digalinya tadi. Guru silat itu kemudian menyemai beberapa bibit mane setinggi satu jengkal tangan. "Semoga kau menjadi pengganti apa yang sudah diambil tadi," kata Pang Amin.
Brahim Naga kemudian mendekati Pang Amin. Pria berwajah garang itu terlihat geli menyaksikan kelakuan pawang harimau itu. "Ada-ada saja kau Pang, bukannya pohon mane sudah terlalu banyak di bukit ini. Kenapa pula kau tanam kembali?"
"Hanya menjaga saja. Bukannya itu sudah menjadi tugasku sejak dulu?" kata Pang Amin.
"Aku pikir kau hanya mengurus harimau di rimba ini," kata Brahim lagi.
"Ya, harimau adalah bagian dari rimba. Tanpa rimba, tak ada harimau di sini. Begitu pula hewan-hewan lain. Sebagai manusia yang memiliki akal, kita juga harus menjaga alam," kilah Pang Amin.
"Ah, terserah kau saja. Pusing aku dengan bahasamu itu," kata Brahim Naga yang kembali menggaruk-garuk kepala.[] (bersambung...)
Artikel ini adalah episode ke 13 dari fiksi yang saya tulis di blog ini. Semoga kisah tindak lanjut ini mendapat apresiasi. Untuk mengetahui ceritanya, silakan baca episode sebelumnya The Forest Guard and Bertemu Harimau