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40 | The Nomads
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"WANNA additional lessons," Zoey offered me gently and spoiled.
Geez! Her voice was so melodious until it rang in my ears. I did not want this serenity to end quickly. Just let her sulk later. The important thing was I wanted to enjoy the warmth as well as the comfort of ...
"Hey!" there was another female voice. "Young man, hey!"
I was gasped.
Damn! Where was Zoey? I turned my head to the right and left. She did disappear!
"Zoey?" I asked in a panic.
"She already leaves back to Arynn's. You were asked, but you kept your mouth shut!" Ursula scolded me.
Damn it!
"Are you going to let your cell phone ringing?" Ursula told me, pointing at my cellphone on the table.
Shit! I was so hypnotized till I could not hear a thing. I then took my cellphone, then I saw the name Big K, calling via WhatsApp.
"Hello?" I answered his call.
"# $ _ & = ©%," said Big K.
"What?" I could not hear him clearly.
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 41 | Arynn House
I got into Santos's Jimny car, then started the engine. I stepped on the gas lightly. The offroad wheels rolled slowly. When I passed the deep puddle, I could feel the hardness of the car's suspension. Even though it was designed for offroad, the springs were still not soft. Not comfortable. What else could I do? Instead of using my car, it would go straight to the car repair shop.Not far from Bli Wayan's black-fibered house, my pheromone radar alarm blared. I pushed my body as well as my head, look toward left and right. Even though I knew, even if I sat upright, my view was the same. But I insisted focus on finding Zoey!Apparently, in this block, there were more and more productive age women milling about. On either side of the road, I could see each house with a large windowpane the size of its terrace.On the windowpane, tacked stickers like the one on the barbershop windowpane. Some say BARBARA, MADONNA, ANGELA, and other hot names. From behind the
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 42 | Arynn House 2
I felt uncomfortable warding off her gift. Alright, instead of making her heart hurt by refusal, I would respect her by sipping the contents of the dimple mug. But half of it first? I was not strong enough if I immediately finish drinking in one gulp."Finish it," said Zoey.Ready, Ma'am!There was a sound of giggling. Then, as usual, Big K began to break the silence by pulling me back into the sofa. I drank the fermented drink without being distilled until it spilled over the sides of my mouth. It was fresh, to the point that my eyeballs were more sensitive to light."Music ...!" asked Big K to play the music again.Then, Big K introduced me to two other men I didn't know. This first man was thin and tall when compared to the girls on either side of him. Her hair was straight and wavy at the bottom, framing her pale white face. His nose is pointed like Pinocchio. In short, there is a Middle Eastern feel to it."Malique," he introduced himse
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 43 | The Chanteuse
THE guests who attended the assembly looked shy. They just smiled. Ashley herself looked upset, so she was angry."Is there anyone who wants to go to school?" she asked.Ashley deserved to be upset. She was allowed to be angry. The thing was, Ashley and friends had accompanied these guests since 11 o'clock in the afternoon, as said Big K earlier. However, four hours later, no one was interested in 'school'."Really?" said Ashley, "I have accompanied you from eleven, and still no one wants to go to school?" Ashley then snorted.Suddenly, an intro to a song that I recognized, followed by a verse, confirmed my guess. At first, I thought this song would be sung by these girls. Therefore, I did not take it seriously.However ..."Party girls don't get hurt. Can't feel anything when I will learn. I push it down, push it down," sang a woman.Her first note was perfect and caught my attention instantly. That hoarse voice reminded me of the or
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 44 | A Promise
"NOPE," I stopped her.Zoey was surprised.Zoey then stood up. Sighed then walked away from me. I did not know if she was disappointed or happy? She turned to face me, leaned back against the doll rack, and then crossed her arms over her chest. Zoey said nothing. Or she was thinking about if I have a deviant sexual orientation."So, what do you want?" Zoey asked, breaking the silence by herself."Can you sing Adele's song Rolling in the Deep?" I asked.Zoey nodded."Sing it," I asked her, "I'll be the guitarist."When she turned around, unbeknownst to her, I positioned my cell phone in such a way that it could be seen that half of Zoey's upper body."Why it must be this complicated?" she protested while giving me the guitar."I already paid you," I answered carelessly.I then asked her to sit in front of a rack full of dolls."This is odd," she snorted, crossing her arms."Why?" I asked her while tun
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 45 | A Tribute
WHEN I promised to free her, suddenly, the atmosphere became quiet. There was a strange frozen moment enveloping this 3x3 room. But Zoey remained silent, then nodded again as if to bless what I just said.Then I felt guilty myself for urging her to tell a story. I shifted my seat to get closer to her. It felt like I want to hug her. I guess Zoey also thought the same thing. When we were sad, we want someone to be around us.Then, Zoey took a breath, then exhaled. It was as if she was taking off some of the burdens of the past she was carrying."May I hold your hand?" I was asking permission."You already paid me," Zoey replied, "you can do whatever you want."I just shook my head."I just wanted to hold your hand," I repeated.Zoey then held out her palms.I held her palms then rubbed them as if I was going to read what had happened to the palms. It was rough. It reminded me of Julia's palm. I guessed the two of them are hardwo
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 46 | A Tribute 2
"Huh?" I was surprised. "What tribute?""The cash flow is now lacking," Zoey explained. "It's not smooth anymore."I still did not understand what Zoey means.Then, Zoey explained that every month, each brothel in Saltyroth-Dolly had to 'deposit' millions of rupiah to officials and other concerned parties.If it was totaled, Zoey said, the tribute that must be given by Mommies to official members could reach tens of millions per brothel per month."How do you know these kinds of things?" I asked."I," said Zoey, "in this Arynn's, is a part of that tribute," said Zoey softly and then exhaled cigarette smoke.What? I was shaking.Zoey took my arm then invited me to walk. I was obedient while stroking my own chest. I thought, after experienced a series of suffocating incidents in the past, Zoey was still used as a means of exchange. These are humans, not things! I growled to myself."Then, how come it's not enough. How come
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 47 | A Windbreaker
I imagined Zoey's face and voice as I cleaned myself in the bathroom. As if she was like the Narcissus goddess who made anyone who saw her become falling in love. Beautiful face, sweet voice, body curves, soft-spoken, and graceful every swing of her waist.Still the same Goddess Narcissus - because of her beauty charm - she was chased by many gods who were crazy about her, even Zeus. Moreover, the gods were fighting each other over her. So that they made their heaven fall apart.To avoid further bloodshed, Narcissus fled from heaven to earth, then got lost in Saltyville. I meant Saltyroth-Dolly, to be precise.The gods who knew Narcissus were running away, chasing her while stabbing each other. Some of them perish at the edge of the other god's sword.Tired of being chased by the handsome, rich, and powerful CEOs in heaven, Narcissus finally could no longer run away and chose to rest on the banks of the salt pond.When she was about to drink water
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 48 | Soundrenaline
AS I have told you before, Clover Leaf University of Surabaya was just a stone throw away from my house in Certajava. Both were still in the same Goobank Sub-District. That was why I was not in a very rush.I felt that tonight would be bright. The stars in the sky were cheerfully twinkling while the perfectly round moon shone brightly. I spurred the motorbike through the wind, which made my hair curl crookedly.When I saw the view of the sky, I was reminded again by the tears and round face of Julia.However, for some reason, every time I met Julia, there was always something strange about me. I could not seem to be honest with my own feelings for her. I always pretended to think of Julia as just a childhood playmate.In fact, I realized I like her, even since I was in middle school. Yes, I did not know. Julia was probably my first love. But I never had the guts to express it. I was afraid Julia would reject it.I realized I prefer to keep our rela
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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
