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13 | Comrade in Arms
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2024-10-29 19:42:56AT night, I just laid down in my room. I was fiddling with my cellphone by scrolling through my colleague's Facebook. I kept scrolling because there was very little that interests me. As usual, my Facebook homepage was filled with selfies, minor complaints, to expletives.
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 14 | Jealousy
THE next day, I happened to wake up early. It was not something I had planned. Maybe because I slept soundly after exchanging messages with Kacey last night. It felt like a new spirit has infiltrated my inner space. I immediately cleaned up myself and got ready to go to Clofus.When heating the motorbike, my eyes twitched. Apparently, Julia was passing in front of my house. I greeted her on behalf of Shri, the Javanese Goddess of Fertility.By her sign language, Julia quipped me. She told me that it was a miracle to see me wake up early. For the sake of witnessing an angel, of course, I had to be willing to sacrifice. As usual, she just grinned.I cleared my throat, then asked Julia to go to Clofus together. She agreed. The sensation of piggybacking Julia was always new. I never got tired of it--essential fragrance without artificial scents. Julia sat quietly. So, the morning was indeed beautiful.Arriving at the school gate, I stopped to drop Julia off b
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 15 | Lovefool
I could hear the crowd. But, I was still reluctant to move from where I sat. I felt like I was falling into a bottomless abyss and floating in an ocean of confusion. I was in a daze. But then, I remembered a video showing several junkies in a drug rehab center, last time.Then there was the scent of the smelly armpits being exposed freely in the air, followed by palms tapping my shoulder heavily. There was only one person who could release such poisonous gas. And there was only one person who had excess power for a trivial job. I turned around."Skipping class?" offered Mr. P."Agree!" said Matt.I nodded in agreement. However, I was wondering when they had been next to me? Anyway, right now I had to get rid of my passion for learning first. At least, l could leave campus with Mr. P and Matt to fi
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 16 | The Scielhort's
ALL the way home, Julia and I did not talk to each other. Aisha and Ahmed overshadowed me. They seemed to be laughing at me. Meanwhile, with Julia, I did not know what landed on her mind. Maybe, she was still disappointed with my attitude at the campus that never changes.When I arrived at Julia's house, she then got out of the vehicle, then faced me. Julia's face was still red. I could see Julia holding back her disappointment. I was waiting for Julia to say something. But she said nothing. A gentle breeze then blew, creating dust that fluttered like in the wild wild west."I'm sorry," I said softly.Julia was still silent. She sighed again. I could see her chest puffed out, then deflated. It seemed like Julia felt something that she was previously held back had burst out of her body, but it was not a fart. I could feel the same relief."I gotta work," said Julia in motion."Need a ride?" I volunteered by my sign."No, thanks. I’ll go
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 17 | Kacey Loves Monday
KACEY and I then passed a large swimming pool, which I thought shaped was like a mango leaf. The water was so clear, so it reflected the blue sky, like Kacey's eyes. All around the pool, palm trees were waving by the wind. I could also see several helpers were busy at the back of this giant luxury house.Farther back, there was a building the size of a mini-market franchise that appeared to have been recently built. I could smell the new paint. Up close, I could hear the low sound of the musical instruments inside. I believed this building was a private music studio.When Kacey opened the double doors of the building, there was a booming sound of musical instruments. Knowing people were coming, the sounds suddenly stopped. Inside, there were already three young people who were ready in their respective positions. Kacey introduced me to them.They were Carson the drummer, Andy the guitarist, and Fanny as the keyboardist."Hi," I cupped my palms.The
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 18 | Sincerity
I cleaned up after I got back from Kacey's house earlier. There was still one hour before the recitation program at Aisha's house started. I thought I would have coffee first at Brother Laymisch's stall.When I came out of my room, I saw my mother was seriously watching television in her shop. I thought she was watching her favorite soap opera or something. Just about to say goodbye, I watched the television was broadcasting a news program.I was being curious. I listened to the news about what caught my mother's attention. Apparently, there was news about an underage girl raped to death by eight adult men.Son of a bitch! Coward! I cursed them.Then, I looked at my mother. Her face was flat, and her gaze was blank. Was she really listening to the news or daydreaming? A moment later, she woke up from her emptiness after I turned off the television. She asked where I was going? I told her that I would go to Haji Abdul Rasheed's house for recitation.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 19 | Incantation
HAJI Abdul Rasheed’s house was like the Nurul Iman Palace of the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. There stood firmly high walls with a line of large vents. Apart from the towering main building, the courtyard was also extensive. It was approximately one football field. The yard itself was planted with papyrus and date palms. Anyway, it really looked like the middle east.In this part of the courtyard laid giant carpets and tents. Also, there were standing fans and portable air conditioners that filled every corner of the yard. People flooded from the front of the house to the end of the street. It was very crowded.Located in the Royal Certajava housing complex, Haji Abdul Rasheed’s house was right on the edge of Great Certajava Street bustling with traffic. This street was surrounded by fancy restaurants, like dim sum and pork satay restaurants. There were also fast and junk food outlets, showrooms, car modification workshops, and cafes that were only open
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 20 | Strong Will
THEN, the emcee read out the next schedule. It was the turn of a Muslim scholar who would give a speech. I was surprised when the name of Imam Shahryr was called. I did not see him earlier.Imam Shahryr wore the same clothes he wore when he was present at In-Depth with Aaliyah yesterday. Thawb and guthrah. As he walked towards the pulpit on the stage, the shouts of Allahu Akbar repeatedly resounded.Standing at the pulpit, Imam Shahryr replied to the shout with Allahu Akbar as well. The atmosphere at Abdul Rasheed's house became more crowded. Hundreds of people with turbans suddenly pushed forward before the Imam. It seemed they really intended to listen to his speech.I was sure they are Indonesian Muslim Defender mass.After greeting, Imam Shahryr began his speech by praising the appearance of Aisha, who had just recited Surah At-Tin. I just found out that what Aisha read was apparently Surah At-Tin. But wait a minute. Wasn't Tin is the Arabic for fig t
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 21 | A Ruse
MY cell phone alarm rang. It made me wake up, and it was half-past seven in the morning. As usual, I hurriedly got up and immediately cleaned myself in the bathroom. After that, I rubbed my underarms with deodorant, and I sprayed my body with perfume. Then I put on my shirt and trouser.I swore, at the campus, I would never see Aisha again.I stepped out onto the lawn and heating at my favorite automatic motorbike that I just bought three months ago. But how come there was something odd. Usually, every time I wanted to go to campus, my mother was fussy. But, it was different. I looked at the shop. I saw Jenny was typing on her cell phone. She seemed to be smiling to herself."Don't you go to campus?" I asked while concerned."No," she replied, then smiling."Why?" I was curious."Today is a day off," Jenny burst out laughing.What the hell? I thought aloud."Okay, where is mom?" I asked."At Mother Catherine's house, wor
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 283 | The End
News of my arrest spread rapidly and wildly - from surrender, twisted by the Indonesian Herald by forced arrest. The wave of mass demonstrations was getting bigger in Surabaya.Until one day, a man was demonstrating alone carrying the body of a woman in the Surabaya House of Representative building yard which was recorded by television broadcasts. A moment later, he poured gasoline over his body and the old woman's body. Then, he started a fire which quickly burned himself and the body he was carrying.Everyone knew that he was Mr. Wayan who intended to show his protest by presenting himself and his wife in front of the people's representatives. He had a desperate on the government.When that happened, I was in the detention room.All the prisoners present stood up to learn of Wayan's self-immolation on television. I thought the prisoners would kill him for being the instigator of this distressing incident. Apparently, they even cursed the authorities. Th
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 282 | The Black Mask Movement
Julia then revealed that her pregnancy was actually from my seed. Therefore, Julia asked in return whether it meant that the child she was carrying was a bastard child too. That was why Julia was forced to accept Gerald's marriage proposal to cover my disgrace.I asked Julia why she hadn't said that earlier. Julia admitted that she had tried but was afraid to ruin my happiness. At that time, I received a phone call from Quinn if I was appointed as Hendryx's replacement at The Boumerank. Besides, I was already a famous person. Julia was afraid of damaging my image and defaming Bradley.I also asked how could this happen? Julia reminded me of when I lay in the courtyard of a closed Middle Eastern restaurant. That night, I forced Julia to make love to vent my frustration.I asked why Julia didn't refuse or fight me. Julia admitted that if she fough
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 281 | The Bastard
When my mother found out that I wrote a book, she could only cry. I softly asked Lidia again. Lidia admitted that she did not want one of her loved ones to be lost in front of her again.Lidia finally told how Bradley disappeared. At that time, Brad and George were advocating for Saltyville residents not to be evicted by the government. The reason at that time was the same, namely the eviction of the brothels. The goal was to control coastal land to build an industrial complex.Bradley struggled on the pitch staging protests, while George, a journalist, struggled through writing. Because George's writings were considered threatening, he was hunted down by a group of unknown people. George during the New Order era was more famous than Bradley because of his profession as a critical journalist.One day in February 1998, a group of people dressed i
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 280 | Saltyroth Rhapsody
I visited Aisha at her palace at Royal Certajava. There, I asked Aisha if it was true that the Rasheed's were eyeing a new source of oil in Saltyville. Aisha said she knew, but was not involved.I asked, why didn't Aisha try to block her family's intentions? There were thousands of people living on the land of Saltyville. Aisha replied that she was only a Muslim woman. She had no power to decide. I accused Aisha of enjoying the result.Aisha started crying, telling me this was not what I accused her family of. I asked, then how exactly. Aisha replied she couldn't expose it.Then, I clashed with Aisha by accusing her of being hypocritical because she pretended not to know what was going on. We both mourned each other and move away from each other.So it was with Kacey.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 279 | Investigation
Knowing that I again urged my mother to talk. However, Lidia did not budge. Then, I said goodbye and would find out for myself and continue Bradley's struggle. Lidia strictly forbade my intention. But I was determined.Based on clues from Brad's book and Zoey's notes, I and Amelia, with Vincent's help, discover the mode of money laundering by the Rasheed and Schielhort families. Bribes to and from Jamaal, Syahnaz, Fatima, and Malloch, were deposited through the CLIF Foundation and Islamic boarding schools and houses of worship as a form of charity.Besides, some were used to establish Islamic boarding schools in Jombang and Madura. This was done by asking one of the pesantren students to be used on his behalf. That way, the Rasheed and Torstein families were not legally touched. An example was Bowie.While tracing this dirty practice, I continued to experience terror.Exploring further to Jakarta, I also discovered a flow of money to state officials. The
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 278 | Bradley's Diary
The next day, I asked my mother, Lidia, about Saltyville in more detail. The village elders refused to talk about it unless Lidia had already told me. And how did Bradley relate to all of this? But Lidia refused to talk about Bradley and Saltyville.I insisted that I read old documents at the Dr. Sue Thompson Regional Hospital. The document stated that there was the name of Lidia Tanoto, who gave birth to twins without a father. Lidia didn't budge.I was not broken. Then, I rushed to the warehouse of my house. I unpacked old chests and suitcases that were there. Every old document I read to find what I looking for. But, actually, I didn't know what I was looking for. I only knew Bradley and Saltyville.Then there was a clean pocketbook, tied with ropes from torn cloth. I opened it slowly because the book had rotted with age. In the book, apparently, Bradley wrote his daily life up to three days before mysteriously disappearing.In the book, Brad wrote abo
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 277 | Burning Revenge
After Brody investigated, it was Troy who was about to collect Zidan's debt from Jamaal. Troy told Jamaal that Zoey was somewhere in Newton and would kidnap her as bail. Shortly after, there was an IMD raid into the Guysville prostitution complex that left three people dead.We said Brody - referring to himself and Troy - concluded that the mastermind behind the brothel attacks was the Rasheed's. Brody also revealed that the most responsible behind Calliope's past to bring down Jamaal was Vincent. I was surprised.Brody added that Vincent found out from Zidan. And the Zidan was pretending to be angry and running away from the house so as not to stand out, that he was the one who leaked it.I also asked, how did Zidan know if Calliope was Zoey aka Melody? Well, therein laid the mystery. Who told Zidan? Said Brody.I further asked why Brody was willing to let Zoey go to me. Brody answered because I was his nephew.Then, I was reminded of Troy. Actual
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 276 | Climax
Then, suddenly the rumor spread that Vincent Limantoro was a descendant of communists. Vincent's family said the issue once defended Saltyville because they wanted immorality to continue in Saltyroth. George Limantoro was touted as a dissident against the regime.Shortly, Mayor Jamaal announced three villages, not two, whose citizens were asked to leave immediately. The problem was, the three villages would be evicted by the authority in a couple of days. The three villages were Saltyville, Wigan, and Certajava. For Saltyville in particular, the eviction would be the next day.Those facts made me even angrier. I ignored Brody's advice to remain silent. At a concert that refused the eviction in Saltyville, I participated in openly voicing my rejection of Jamaal.At that concert, I was no longer wearing Che's robes. I wanted the world to recognize me and the voices I represented.Then hundreds of IMD masses suddenly attacked Saltyville. There were clashes b
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 275 | Dangerous Teror
It was Santos. To me, Santos confessed that he and other service officials travel to Singapore for a comparative study on the construction of city parks also the cleanliness rules. He gambled in his spare time. At first, I understood Santos's reasons.We then talked about music and other things. We didn't have much time together because Santos had to leave, while Quinn and I went back to the hotel.The next day, I had a concert with Boumerank. As usual, the atmosphere is always lively. After that, we all returned to Indonesia.Day by day, Zoey's life began to improve. I had also kept his promise to fulfill Zoey's dream of becoming a singer.However, when everything seemed fine, I and Zoey were suddenly hunted down by strangers. They demanded me and Zoey shut our mouths or be killed. Zoey and I at first thought it was someone from Zoey's past.In the midst of her popularity, news spread that Calliope was a former drug addict and prostitute with the
