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74 | Golden Riverbank
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2024-10-29 19:42:56ALL the way back to Wigan, Amelia said nothing. From the side, I could see her eyes were teary. It seemed like she's enduring a tight feeling in her chest. Usually, I would play music to comfort a woman who was sad or angry. But not this time. Looked like this is serious.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" I asked.
"After that night, I thought we had a special relationship," Amelia cried. "Apparently, it's just my dream."
"We do have a special relationship, Mel," I said, comforting her.
I thought I really want to tell the truth to Amelia. But I couldn't tell her because I was in a difficult situation too. And Amelia was one of the reasons why. Listening to the speech about the role of youth and Vincent's insinuation earlier made me feel excited.
"I'm working on my goals, Mel," I added. "And that's important to me. I hope you can understand."
"And what is it?" asked Amelia.
"Do you still remember when we were in elementary or junior high school?
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 75 | Golden Riverbank 2
PAPADOPOULOS continued, since the chaos in Slatyville, the plan to evict Key Phu Thich was never realized. It's just that life was getting more difficult because the status of residents who live on the outskirts of the Golden River was not recognized as residents of Surabaya.To work in offices, they were rejected because they didn't have identity cards. Even being a beggar, they were arrested by City Guard personnel. Even if they intended to do business, they didn't have the capital. Most of the residents worked as scavengers, including Papadopoulos and Aretha."We really felt the discrimination. We only eat one meal a day,” said Papadopoulos, staring at Amelia."Then there's this little boy," said Papadopoulos, still staring at Amelia. "Periodically, he came to visit this slum area with a basket full of groceries."Amelia seemed so fixated on Papadopoulos's story that she didn't even blink. I could feel the sadness turning into warmth from Amelia.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 76 | Golden Riverbank 3
Throughout the trip, Amelia couldn't stop smiling. It was as if she had just discovered something extraordinary. In fact, her white teeth were showing because she couldn't help it. But I didn't know what Amelia was really thinking.Meanwhile, I was still processing new information from Papadopoulos and Aretha earlier. They said that Key Phu Thich was actually going to be evicted by the Surabaya City Government for a long time, but it has not been realized. In contrast to Guysville, which had been evicted by the Newton Regency Government. On the other hand, Saltyville was likely to have the same fate.I suspected it was because in Key Phu Thich there was no sinful activity going on over it, such as drug trafficking and drinking, gambling, and prostitution."Why are you so gloomy?" asked Amelia."Oh, I'm all right," I replied. "I just thought why the Surabaya City Government insisted on evicting Saltyville but not Key Phu Thich."Amelia just nodded a
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 77 | The Phone Call
I was grateful Amelia didn't ask any further questions about me. I thought she already understands why it is difficult for me to find a lover. Now, in my room, my mind returned to Saltyville.Vincent Limantoro has made it clear that he is on the side of the villagers. Meanwhile, he was supported by Malique with his Saltyouth. Before this, Aisha said, from Zidan's confession, her younger brother was kidnapped and held by the group with a coastal accent.Malique and his Saltyouth group come from Saltyville where was located on the north coast of Surabaya City. As I recalled, Sisters Ursula and Zoey said that the Saltyouth non-governmental organization was often asked by certain parties for dirty work such as collecting debts.But I felt weird about it. The problem was, if it is true that Malique and his friends were involved, it would be detrimental to them. Hendryx the Boumerank was the owner of the Saltycraft and Resources trading business. It helped to keeps Sa
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 79 | The Phone Call 2
JULIA came home with her face down. I did not know what makes her that way. On my happy day, she should be cheerful too. Earlier, Julia congratulated me and claimed to be joyful. But I did not see and feel it that way.Light drizzle finally got heavier. I only saw Julia's back until she disappeared behind the door of her house. While I was still standing under the cherry tree. My feelings were mixed between happiness and sadness. I sensed that Julia had something to hide from me on purpose.I then returned home to notify my friends. The first one I used to call when I was happy is Julia. But, she already knew firsthand from me beforehand. So, I thought I would connect with Big K, Cole, and Santos. They had the right to know in advance."Hello," said Big K, "What's up, Bro!""Hey," I replied, "do you have time? I have something to say.""Yes, I'm at Inferno. Don't tell me you want to quit Ryg's and join Boumerank?” called Big K and laughed.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 79 | The Phone all 3
Still, in the room, I left the last two special people to contact. Both of them had two different personality backgrounds. One was religious, and the other was mysterious. Yes, they were Aisha and Kacey. I was wondering who to contact first.Alright, I would contact Aisha first. You see, I had a promise with her to help her find information about Zidan's kidnapping and imprisonment. Said Aisha, the kidnappers had an accent on the north coast of the Surabaya.Before this, I met Malique, Darmann, and Jack at the announcement of Vincent Limantoro's advance as a candidate for mayor of Surabaya from the Indonesian People's Democracy Party. The three of them were people from Saltyville who have a distinctive north coast accent.Especially Malique. He was the leader of the non-governmental organization Saltyouth. According to Ursula and Zoey, Saltyouth used to work to collect debts and incite the public to join in demonstrations. Because of that, I thought Malique was
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 80 | The New Member
TODAY was a special day. I would be introduced as a replacement for Hendryx Boumerank at the Grand Wahid Hotel - where he was arrested for alleged drug involvement. The venue for new members of the Boumerank introduction was in the same ballroom as the anti-drug seminar held by the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency some time ago.I still remember that day. At that time, I first met Zoey, who was participating in the government's anti-eviction demonstration. And now, I was with Brother Quinn and Brother Eric - hotel manager - once again.From behind the ballroom curtain stage backdrop, I could see many reporters and invited guests who attended. Some of which I could recognize. Flashes of camera light were visible from where I was standing. It looked like the reporters were taking pictures of a beautiful female master of ceremonies."Are you ready?" asked Brother Quinn."Ready is my middle name," I said and laughed."Confidence is a good thing for
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 81 | Private Interview
AFTER the introductory ceremony was over, Boumerank - including me, of course - and Quinn returned backstage. They laughed incessantly at the answer, "Hell yeah, I'm a rockstar, and I can do anything.""That's a really great answer," said Ray."I did not think you would say something like that in front of the media," added Ivan."I'm sure it will be in the headlines tomorrow," Frank said.They then laughed again while I just smiled.At the same time, I saw Quinn talking to a reporter. I recognized him from the East Java Regional Police Headquarters. A young man with dreadlocks. They seemed to be talking, seriously.Quinn then came to me. He said there was a journalist who asked permission to interview me privately. Quinn added that the journalist was from Indonesia Herald."Are you willing to be interviewed privately?" Quinn asked me."He's from Indonesia Herald, isn't he," I said, "it's the media company owned by Alex Limantor
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 82 | The Rehearsal
I was with Quinn in a car that took us to the Boumerank Homebase on Pourapenh Street, northern Surabaya City. I was still hearing what Ethan said about the oligarchy. Was Surabaya really controlled by certain people or groups? That obviously bothered me a lot.This was because the people and groups who were in power in Surabaya are Abdul Rasheed and his family. Jamaal Al Rasheed was a mayor, while his wife was a chairman of parliament. Before Jamaal, Fatima was the mayor of Surabaya. Fatima was Abdul Rasheed's wife and Jamaal's mother.Alex Limantoro said that the Surabaya City Government was trying to change the status of the Saltyville community land to state land. That way, foreign investors invited by the Mayor of Jamaal could build elite housing complexes and beachfront hotel resorts.It was just that their plan did not go smoothly. The problem was, the residents of Saltyville village strongly rejected the eviction. They were determined to survive on their
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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
