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231 | The Elders
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2024-10-29 19:42:56I 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
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 232 | The Elders 2
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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 233 | Donnie's Song
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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 234 | Clear Sky
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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 235 | Cheap Gossip
The next day, as usual, I warmed up my motorbike in the yard. While at the store, my mother was busy serving customers. While I was cleaning the motorbike, Jenny – my little sister – passed by. He greeted me then asked me."My friends have been talking about you a lot lately," Jenny said."Really?" I asked, "Isn't that a good thing?""Some, yes," Jenny replied, "some not.""Well, I guess that's how it should be. A celebrity that people talk about,” I boasted."Yes, gossip is natural," said Jenny, "but when it's bad gossip, and it's about my older brother, I'm bothered.""And what kind of oblique gossip about me on campus?" I asked."You and Kacey are dating," Jenny said.“Isn't that obvious? I introduced her to mom, and the few times I was with her in college? Then, what makes it such bad news?” I asked.“I don't mind, you dating Kacey,” Jenny said, “I just get annoyed when
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 236 | The Rumors
"Is that true?" I pretended to be amazed because I thought that's how parents comfort their children by praising them."I'll go back to the shop first. There's a customer," said my mother.While my mother was away, I went to CLOFUS first to attend college. However, I will be leaving Clofus after the first course. You see, at 10 o'clock, Zoey and I have an appointment with Donnie at his studio.On-campus, I was taken aback by the scene before me. Amelia and Billy do not hesitate to show themselves in public. Previously, I caught them just staying in the car until Amelia came out.Now, the two of them were shamelessly sitting in the garden of the Faculty of Letters. Is Amelia no longer afraid of losing me? Damn.I passed in front of Amelia and Billy, who looked intimate together. Apparently, Amelia knew I was passing through. But she just looked at me without greeting or surprise face. Maybe that's why Amelia deliberately chose a place in the open.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 237 | New Reyna
I immediately got into trouble with three different girls in one day. First, there was Julia who wanted us to be friends as usual after knowing my party photos, videos, and gossip circulating on campus. But I did not want to be just friends. I want more.Julia turned it down because she was already engaged to a cop. That was my thought.Then, there was Amelia who began to dare to present herself with Billy – her boyfriend – in public. In fact, she told me that I was all he wanted. Even so, I was still heartbroken. I judged what she was doing to offend me. And of course, what she did was because of my party photos and videos and rumors circulating.After that, there was Aisha passed me, but she did not even greet me. When I called out to her, she turned away disapprovingly. Aisha even called me disgusting. She said in front of me, preferring Ahmed over me. It offended me so much that I responded with a bad word about Ahmed.Just as I was thinki
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 238 | The Audition
AFTER attending the Cross-Cultural Understanding lecture from Miss Reyna, I immediately left the class because I remembered the promise with Donnie to take Zoey to his music studio.I've been ignoring Aisha and Julia in class. I also stopped looking for Amelia in Chinese Literature class. They chose not to care about me anymore.As I descended the stairs to the first floor, I met Kacey and her Uptown Girl gang. I told Kacey that I had a recording appointment with Donnie at his music studio. I'm not completely lying. I just didn't tell the part about Zoey."Do you need me?" Kacey asked."No," I replied, "it's just a matter of music. You have fun.""Okay," said Kacey. "be careful.""Sure."I rushed to the parking lot on my motorbike and drove straight to Zoey's apartment, where I had hidden her.I looked at my watch, and it was half-past 10 in the afternoon. In half an hour, Zoey and I should be at Donnie's studio. I am a person
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 239 | The Audition 2
"That was amazing," said Donnie. "You haven't forgotten how to sing. You sing like a pro.""Thank you," Zoey replied."It's been four years. How can you keep such a good voice?" asked Donnie curiously."I sing every day," Zoey replied."Is that true?" Donnie's response, "does that mean you're under a contract with another band or label?""Not like that," Zoey replied shyly.“Calliope works at a karaoke place, Donnie. That's why he sings every day,” I joined in."Ah, it's just natural that you keep your voice up," said Donnie.According to Donnie, this Chandelier song does sound like an ordinary popular song. Especially the relaxed part of the verse. But, when it comes to the chorus-refrain, that's where things will become difficult for the singer.“For budding singers,” says Donnie, “Chandeliers will make the singer feel like running a marathon, being chased by a dog too. Exhausted!"
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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
