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132 | The Empire
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"The Grisees are so funny," said Kacey.
"Oh, you haven't heard everything," I said. "Would you like another story?"
"Is there anything more serious about the Grisee?" Kacey asked.
"You can see Matt," I joked.
“I mean the story about the Grisee. Is there anything more serious?”
"There is. But this story is set in today and mixed. But remember, this story is just a story. Not sure if it's true," I said.
"Okay," Kacey agreed.
Then I started my story.
This person introduced himself as Jagalpati, the nickname of Mu'talim Jagalpati, his full name. He is one of the survivors as well as a living witness to the tragedy of the Kalamunyeng massacre in 1517 AD. At the age of almost 560 years, his body still looks solid. One thing that is unique from his appearance is that there are cut scars across the face. The incision injured his left eye which made him one-sided blind.
That afternoon, we met at a well-known universit
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 132 | The Empire
"The Grisees are so funny," said Kacey."Oh, you haven't heard everything," I said. "Would you like another story?""Is there anything more serious about the Grisee?" Kacey asked."You can see Matt," I joked.“I mean the story about the Grisee. Is there anything more serious?”"There is. But this story is set in today and mixed. But remember, this story is just a story. Not sure if it's true," I said."Okay," Kacey agreed.Then I started my story.This person introduced himself as Jagalpati, the nickname of Mu'talim Jagalpati, his full name. He is one of the survivors as well as a living witness to the tragedy of the Kalamunyeng massacre in 1517 AD. At the age of almost 560 years, his body still looks solid. One thing that is unique from his appearance is that there are cut scars across the face. The incision injured his left eye which made him one-sided blind.That afternoon, we met at a well-known universit
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 133 | Ordinary Guy
"Now it's my turn!" Kacey said."Turn for what?" I asked."I wanted to tease you," Kacey said."You mean?" I asked.“Some time ago, a friend sent a private message via Whatsapp. The message sent is a 46-second video. At first, I ignored the post because this friend's nature really likes to share his sexy video collection. Usually, I'm not necessarily attracted to play it immediately. But especially this one, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I thought you'd like it," Kacey said with a mysterious smile."Let me see," I saidLike Whatsapp private messages in video format, before downloading, the video preview looks blurry. Moreover, it is not accompanied by additional information about what the video is about.But, somehow for this one. My instincts are urgent. In the dim preview, she looks like a woman wearing only pink tank tops and thrashing around with her lower body clad in a batik-patterned brown bag. He looked like he was b
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 134 | A Blind Man
I then turned the car into an extraordinary school. Kacey looked surprised as I parked the car. I then invited Kacey down."Junior High School A Foundation for Blind Children's Education," reads Kacey. "Why did you invite me here?""You say you like exotic things?" I said."Yeah, that's true," Kacey replied."I'll introduce you to someone," I said.I then took Kacey and took her to a room. While walking, I told a story about this one friend of mine.In a corner of the hamlet, a group of elementary school students seemed to be playing happily while waiting to enter class. Like schools in general, the courtyard is filled with cheerful laughter, the typical joy of children before the bell rings.There, the most agile 2nd-grade elementary schoolboy. His oval face, framed by thin straight hair on the side. His skinny body was wrapped in tan skin. As an eight-year-old boy, he was agile running around.As in general, old-style school
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 135 | A Blind Man 2
Since he was an adult until he entered college, the feeling of pity from people continued to haunt Titus. He was furious. Titus can no longer stand discrimination against persons with disabilities. His heart stirred. Titus also decided to join as a member of one of the organizations with disabilities in the city of Surabaya. It's just that, as long as Titus has been a disability defender, Titus' progressive ideas have not found space where they belong."My ideas, such as holding seminars to distributing brochures, were rejected," said Titus. "Maybe because I was a junior at that time," he added with a chuckle. "Oh yes, it is often said that there are no funds."Titus could not do much to defend his fellow man. Discrimination is still a scourge for people with disabilities. The government, continued Titus, was accused of being one of the culprits. You see, at that time the government only built school buildings for people with disabilities up to junior secondary level (
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 136 | Old Cinema
Kacey stepped out of the extraordinary school in awe. He was amazed by Titus's unyielding spirit.“Do you still want to hear about Grisee? I still have one story and it really bothers me,” I said."What is that?"“Cinema,” I said. “In the past Grisee was one of the centers of film entertainment. But now it's faded. Want to hear the story?""Yes," said Kacey.When I was in the car, I started to talk.The long history of the cinema building in Grisee Regency in its golden age made this area one of the biggest screen industry players in East Java Province to be reckoned with. However, the glitter of cinema faded with time.Now, there is little history left to tell. The fragments of this glorious memory can only be traced through the spoken body of the elderly, plus modern literature in cyberspace, with very limited information.The current generation is guaranteed to be deaf and blind about the histor
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 137 | Mother's Suspicion
The car I was driving with Kacey as a passenger finally arrived at my house in Certajava. I purposely went back home to pick up some luggage that I had to take to the airport.When she got out of the car, Kacey looked serious as she saw the front of my house being ravaged with a police line in front of it. I then invited her into the living room.Jenny – my little sister – greeted Kacey warmly. Vice versa. They then chatted about what had happened while I went to my room to get the luggage that I had prepared beforehand.As I was about to leave the room, I thought of Julia. I thought back to how she arranged all my needs ahead of Ryg's concert. As I said before, Julia was the one who makes me famous as Che the Bassist with the Mask.I took my phone out of my pocket and considered, should I call her to say goodbye, again?I then put the phone back in because I thought I had told her a lot. Even I said that she is the person I've been wai
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 138 | At the Airport 1
ON the way to the airport in a taxi, I wondered to myself, what made my mother act like that? Did my mother ever know the people Kacey mentioned earlier? Lindsey, Torstein, and Lodewijk Scierholt.While next to me, Kacey seemed busy playing on her cellphone. Looked like she's typing her social media status or chatting with her friends. But, I was surprised by this one girl's indifferent attitude when my mother asked about her family."Kacey!" I called her."Yes," she turned to me."I'm sorry my mother asked so much earlier," I said."Oh, that's okay," Kacey replied, "everyone I've just met is asking the same thing.""Don't you find it strange?" I asked.“Yes,” Kacey replied, placing the phone on her thigh. “At first, I was surprised, but after a while, I got used to it. When I said this to my mother, she said that the Schierholt family was famous in the past.”I nodded as if starting to understand what w
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 139 | Mysterious Place
"SO you're Che's girlfriend," Quinn said as he adjusted his glasses, "sorry, I meant Langley."Kacey turned to me with a lazy look. I replied by shrugging my shoulders."Come on, I'll help you carry your luggage," Quinn said as he carried one of my suitcases.I carried one backpack and one tote bag. As for Kacey, she only brought one travel bag. Very simple. I thought girls would carry a lot of luggage when they were traveling. But not with Kacey.“The others are already gathered at the VIP,” Quinn said as he led us on our way to check-in for international flights."I thought they were a bunch of people who weren't on time," I replied.“I mean, the crew. They are already present. If you mean Ray, Fred, and Ivan, they're probably still sleeping," Quinn said."I thought so," I replied.I glanced at Kacey, and she just smiled at our conversation.After checking in, we proceed to the VIP boarding room. Here
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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
