"Now tell me, do you want to get out of this place?" I asked.
Zoey loosens her arms and looks me in the eyes. Zoey then nodded.
"I will free you."
Zoey's eyes widened. Maybe she's surprised I was able to free her so quickly. Previously, I promised Zoey to be steadfast while I saved the money from my gig with Ryg's.
Apparently, fate willed otherwise. By The Boumerank, I was appointed as a replacement for Hendryx, who was imprisoned for drugs. Just by taking two international tours, I already have hundreds of millions of rupiahs. With that money, I would make up for Zoey.
"This fast?" Zoey said.
"Why?" I said, "I don't want you to work like this any longer."
"I lied to you, and you're still helping me?" said Zoey, still in disbelief.
"I told you, I'm a man who keeps his promise," I said.
"I don't know how to return it," Zoey said.
“I set you free so you can fulfill your dream of becoming a professional singer,
"FROM Troy's story, I immediately knew who the southern lovebird was," I said. “What surprised me, even more, was that the woman was the mistress of the major of Surabaya.”"Candidate." Zoey corrected my words. "Jamaal was still a candidate for major at that time."Finally, Zoey opened her mouth.“Now I know how you came to know so much about the Rasheed family and the Indonesian Muslim Defender,” I said."Not everything I tell you is a lie," Zoey defended herself.“So are you going to tell me what really happened?”Zoey finally confessed everything to me. Zoey confirmed the story of the Lovebird from the south. She used to be Jamal Al Rasheed's mistress. At first, the two of them had known each other at the Rasyeed family's Islamic boarding school in Jacobsburg four years ago."I work as a staff accountant at the boarding school owned by the Rasheed's," Zoey began.Staff accountant? Interest
"YOU know who the old woman I mean? Yes, she is Mother Arynn," Zoey explained to me. "I've been drug-free since then. Thanks to Mother Arynn," said Zoey.Mother Aryann, of course.I remember the first time I met the fat old woman who had a karaoke house and a row of boarding rooms at the back of this house. At that time, I felt I had met this woman at some point in time.At that time, I was amazed by Arynn's firm attitude and nurturing of her daughters. She gave money to her daughters before her own interests.Yes, I misjudged Mother Arynn before. I think she's just taking advantage of her prostitutes. Apparently, Mother Arynn was a savior like those prostitutes.She took the prostitutes from misery to hope. Mother Arynn provided her daughters with sewing skills. I thought this step is a preparation in case the brothels in Saltyroth are evicted by the Surabaya city government."So that's the story," Zoey said, "I don't intend to deceive anyo
WHILE Zoey went back to her room to pack, I quickly settled my own ransom payment for the lovebird from the south freedom. Despite losing one of her best assets, Mother Arynn did not look worried. She seemed normal with this."Where are you taking Zoey?" asked Mother Arynn."I already have a place for her," I said."Make sure her identity remains a secret," Mother Arynn ordered."I will," I replied.After saying goodbye to Mother Arynn, I hastily stepped back into Zoey's room. When I was in front of the open door of his room, I saw that there were two large suitcases that were neatly packed. Behind it, Zoey was sitting at the dressing table.I walked towards her without making a sound. From behind her back, I saw Zoey brushing over an old, faded polaroid. I still remember the photo Zoey was holding. It was the same photo I saw when I first met her at Arynn House.Zoey said the two girls in the photo were sisters from Jacobsburg. The b
"That's a cute name," Zoey said, "I like it.""I knew you'd like it," I said."How did you find Calliope's name?" Zoey asked, sitting up on the bed."As usual, I looked up at the stars in the sky, and the name suddenly popped up," I replied."You still like looking at the sky, don't you?" Zoey asked."That's the only thing that can calm me down," I replied, sitting down next to Zoey."Okay, what are we going to do now?" Zoey asked."That's up to you," I said, "as long as you're not far from here."“I mean, how are you going to make me a professional singer?” Zoey asked, "Doesn't that mean I'm going to be a celebrity in the future?""Yeah, you'll be a celebrity," I said, "prove it you can make it. Can you do it?”"I don't know," Zoey said, "I'm suddenly unsure of my own goals."“You have participated in various singing competitions and managed to become the winner. That means you have
I returned home to Certajva, leaving Zoey at the apartment. Since I became the bassist of The Boumerank, I have never gathered with the elders of my neighboring village. An afternoon like this, they should all be at Laymisch's.I immediately drove my car to Certajava. Along the way, I recalled the background of the Certajava people's village.Rumors say Wigan – Certajava is a place for outcasts in the past. Most of them are con artists, robbers, rapists, and assassins, and serial killers.At first, I wasn't interested in finding out what the story really was. As far as I know, people find it hard to find work, especially in government agencies. Only Santos works at the Gubeng District Office. Even then, Santos only works as a temporary employee.Wigan – Certajava was once a wilderness filled with shrubs, trees, and wild animals. No one is willing to work on it. Then came a man and his followers. The man bought land cheaply from a Dutchman. The
After greeting the elders, as usual, I ordered my favorite coarse coffee. Then, we talked about my busy life as a musician. They admitted that they did not expect one of the Certajava people to become such a famous person."You deserve to be famous, Langley," Cameron said."Yes, your grandfather Bradley used to be famous, so it's not wrong for his grandson to follow in his footsteps," said Ratty, followed by Shu Benjamin's nod."I'm sorry," I said, "I don't really know my grandfather. I was born he's gone.""Yes, it's a pity," said Laymisch."Can you tell me about my grandfather?" I asked."Did Lidia, your mother, never tell you about Bradley?" Cameron asked.I just shook my head, “Just the story of the struggle against the invaders and the regimes of the Old and New Order governments. Besides, I don't know anything about Bradley."All the elders present looked at each other as if seeking each other's approval."Di
It was great to be able to talk again with the Certajava elders this afternoon. Now, it was night, and I was alone in the room. After exchanging messages with Kacey, I called Donnie Erpid 19th. I casually asked him if the audition as a singer for his new song was still open.Just to remind you, Donnie is currently in a dispute with Indonesia Muslim Defender (IMD). Previously, a group of people in a turban - about hundreds - was shown filling the front gate of the Aegle Marmelos Hotel. They were shouting, 'Allahu Akbar!' so many times. Some of them carried banners and cardboard with the words 'Supporting Prostitution = Infidels', 'Apostates', 'Your place is in Hell', 'Infidelity', and so on.Yes, everyone in Surabaya knew what that scene was about. A month or two before, Erpid 19th frontman, Donnie, could not leave the Aegle Marmelos Hotel Surabaya, where he was staying. He was blocked by the IMD crowd from leaving the hotel. Donnie actually intended to take part in the
After talking to Donnie, I called Zoey to ask what she was doing in her new apartment tonight. In addition, I also told Zoey that Donnie Erpid 19th is willing to see his singing ability tomorrow at 9 am."Hey, Calliope?" say hello.“Looks like I'll have to get used to my new nickname. By the way, I've been waiting to hear from you," Zoey answered on the other end of the line."What are you doing?" I asked.“I just lay down. Previously I was tidying up my new home,” said Zoey."I was just talking to Donnie," I said."Oh yes?" Zoey's response was, "what did he say?""He told you to come to his music studio tomorrow at 10 am," I replied."This fast?" Zoe couldn't believe it."Yes," I said, "what do you think? Are you ready for tomorrow?”"I don't know," said Zoey, "what am I supposed to do tomorrow?""You sing," I replied."Just that?" Zoey asked.“Yes,” I repl
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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