The Thief

by Rama Nugraha

  The deck trembled like the surface of a percussion played without a tune. The Royans moved fast to grab the closest thing they could use to steady themselves. Kanas examined the situation, his blue eyes shifted to many directions, looking for something.

  “Don’t worry, Lady and Gentlemen!” Edgar shouted from the bridge while turning the steering wheel fast, making the ship swerved abruptly. “Seekar will be alright!”

  The tension was heightened. Kanas startling them by heading to the shelf of weapons at the side of the deck. He took a spear with a sharp iron head, the best one Pobos used to catch some fish. Without saying anything, he jumped into the sea.

  Datan’s jaw dropped, the hair of his body risen. “Did he just jump into the sea?”

  Irirana’s jaw clenched, her face tensed. A terrifying deep groan was heard from the water, competing with the sound of wind blowing the sail and the hitting waves. It was like a sign a gigantic predator being enraged.

  Datan felt his breath stopped in his throat. He took another spear. “Don’t follow us,” he said to Irirana.

  “You know, Kanas doesn’t have any experience in water combat,” she told him.

  “Well then he’s just showing off,” and with that response, Datan followed Kanas into the sea.

  “Stop Seekar, Edgar!” Irirana commanded. “Kanas and Datan are in the sea!”

  Edgar was frowning when his head came out of the opened cabin window. He commented under his breath that what the two Royans did was beyond ridiculous. Irirana just shook her head. Looking away from Edgar, her bronze-colored eyes glistened like her sight was penetrating the surface of the water. Irirana found it hard to swallow when she saw the giant squirmed, chasing away little Hunigs and any other fish, and it swam at a high speed towards Seekar.

  ◆◆◆

  The cold water embraced his entire being. It was thick and reek of fish’s scale mucus, sea sand, and saltwater. They felt the force of the current pulling them deeper. The night attire clung to their skin. Both men dove in deeper, fighting the water pressure that made their chest heavy. Their pupils widened when blood vessels break in their eyes due to Elpa breathing.

  Neena’s eyes could see the underwater world as clear as in the surface.

  Surrounded by light from the sun that had penetrated the water, it looked bluer the deeper it got. Datan felt conflicted as he saw the most astonishing sight he had ever seen.

  “I thought you are fishing for dinner!” Datan shouted, his voice broke and passed by the water until it reached Kanas who was next to him.

  Kanas turned around. “This creature is about to crash against Seekar if we didn’t chase it away!” he replied.

  “That’s better. Otherwise, he’ll swallow us whole!” Datan swallowed water as he talked. He coughed as his nose felt like it had been stung.

  For Datan, breathing using Elpa membrane never went as smooth as he hoped, especially when he talked underwater. In the past, people of Marra was known to learn Mundara—the language of whistle people use to communicate underwater. But now? Mundara had been extinct among people from the Age of Resurrection.

  Now he wonders can Irirana use a Mundara?

  A Hunig, with teeth resembling a saw and a mouth as wide as a cave looked capable to swallow a carriage in one go, glared at them furiously. His black scale glistened like a hardened bronze armor. A pair of fins stuck out in both sides of its body like a pair of arms. White thorns in his back looked like a sharpened knife, they moved horrifyingly. The Hunig looked around impatiently. It emerged from the bottom of the steep ocean where there was no light nor the beauty of corals.

  Datan shook his head. “No. I don’t want to get any closer!” he shouted.

  “Oh, pan! Don’t be such a coward!” Kanas snapped back.

  “I’m not! I just don’t want to be eaten!”

  “For Unum! That’s not going to happen!”

  “That really is possible to happen! Don’t you see how big his mouth is?” Datan persisted as his heart beat way too fast. “Besides, how do we chase off a creature this big?”

  “I’m thinking about it!”

  Datan groaned. “Oh, now you just become stupid!” he bellowed. “Do you actually think we can take him down? People in Falla face Hunig in a group! This is insane and useless!”

  Kanas’ face tensed, although his expression showed that he knew Datan was right.

  “No, we can’t fight him here,” Datan stressed out. He swam towards the surface. “Come on, up! I prefer facing him on the surface. Come on, Kanas!”

  The Hunig roared and the soundwave created awful vibration in the water around them. Kanas paled. His had melted. He almost lost consciousness if only he did not heighten his awareness. He swallowed his pride and followed Datan to the surface.

  They had to swim farther to reach Seekar which had moved slightly. The Hunig was trailing behind them, moving swiftly. Datan realized how hard it was to escape underwater. He moved his limbs as strong as he could that he looked like a swamp frog chased by a boa.

  “This is humiliating!” Kanas shouted, air bubbles coming out of his mouth.

  “Well, whose fault is it that we’re here right now?!”

  Datan saw Irirana peeked from the side of the deck, shouting something inaudible. Then Edgar and Pobos poured something into the water. Datan was startled seeing the thick red liquid with lumps of coarse black feather from the barrels mixed with the seawater, covering their vision and made it hard to breathe.

  “What are they doing, pan?” Kanas scream hysterically.

  “I don’t know! Come on! Swim faster, Kanas!”

  They swam through the concentrated liquid which stuck to their skin. Rotten smell of carcasses and blood pierced their lungs, giving them no other choice than to hold their breath until their head managed to get to the surface.

  “Get up, quick!” Irirana shouted. Kalantaka was ready in her hand. The grip of which was craved gleamed in the gold shade, emitting the allure of a masterpiece.

  They hurriedly climb the stair made of nets stretched out in the hull. They grabbed Pobos’ hand and stepped into the deck, drenched in disgusting liquid. Datan nearly retched. His red skin was so itchy that it almost brought him to tears. Datan scratched his neck and his stubble. Pobos looked like he understood what Datan went through. He took a water scoop and a bucket of seawater and pour it over Datan’s skin who were exposed to the odd liquid.

  “What did you pour earlier, pan?” Kanas panted, he looked disgruntled at his own body.

  “Leklek, Sir. The blood of a blind goat and Ludaj’s feces, sit for a day,” Pobos answered. “It was a great trick to make Hunig nauseous and swim away from a ship.”

  Datan felt his stomach acid boiled and he finally vomited. He should not have heard that. The image of a dirty goat killed for its blood and a Ludaj crouching down to take a dump appeared vivid in his head right away.

  Kanas smirked bitterly, then he looked at another crew. “Edgar! Let’s get outa here!”

  “I’m trying, Sir—“

  Hunig’s roar was heard once more, closer than ever!

  Suddenly the Seekar shook. The surface of the sea looked like it was whirling. The people on the ship hold the closest thing to them as the Hunig’s face emerged from the surface. Water splashed onto the deck followed by sharp taps on the wood.

  Simultaneously, they looked at the black eyes, which was as big as the steering wheel, glared at them. Its face was covered in sharp grey scales, glistening under the sunlight. Its teeth were small but they would tear one’s flesh in one bite. The Hunig had a line of gills which were as blue as the ocean. It smelt foul as it was covered in Leklek.

  Edgar was taken aback. “For Unum! Did the Leklek not work?”

  “… Pan!” Datan elbowed Kanas slightly. “You go!”

  Kanas did not respond. He gapped. It was unclear if he was scared or piling up the courage.

  Suddenly the Hunig sneezed, spurting white fishy mucus towards them. None of them said a
nything, except Irirana. She lifted Kalantaka, aiming an arrow towards the nose of the Hunig. She looked calm and certain. Irirana then gave it two choices. It was as if her bright eyes was whispering, ‘I don’t want to hurt you.’

  The Hunig roared again, shaking its head as it looked at Irirana. It looked restless and conflicted. It swam back and forward, again and again, rustling in the water, moving around, calculating. It surrounded Seekar while its head remained in the surface. Irirana’s bow never left it, following it closely wherever it was. The Hunig faced Irirana, sneezing once more as he returned her gaze. Until finally it snorted like a cow, deciding to obey her. The creature submerged itself into the water, roaring again before swimming away from Seekar.

  The deck was no longer shaking. The tension faded from the people on the ship. Irirana lowered his bow, wiping the sweat in his eyelids and Hunig’s snot in her cheek. She turned around towards those who were dumbfounded at what they had just seen.

  “Shall we continue?” Irirana asked simply.

  Seekar sailed away in full speed. Edgar estimated that they could reach Wanageeska that afternoon if the wind was stable and there was no more obstacle in their way. Datan was the first person who was happy to hear that because Edgar’s guess turned out to be right. Edgar and Pobos soon reported to the officer in the port. They took care of the Royan’s visit permission, helped them paying the administration fee and declaring their intention to check the condition of their ship in an available maintenance shop.

  “You came during the hunt,” the officer complained. “That’s why you’re attacked. You should have waited in the open water until it’s over, then you could approach us.”

  “Ah, you’re right,” Edgar tried not to prolong their debate. “My bad, I was in a hurry.”

  Datan’s eyes scanned the small port. Wanageeska looked like a warm and beautiful tropical island. It did not look as solemn as he initially thought. The sky was reddish blue during twilight. It was windy, the sand on the beach was white and there was a row of coconut trees.

  Edgar and Pobos had just gotten back to the ship when the Royans decided to move.

  “Now, where can we find this woman, pan?” Kanas asked.

  “I don’t see Erkal,” Irirana said, her eyes looked at every row of ships in the port carefully. “Do you think Sami is here already?”

  ◆◆◆

  Perching on the tip of a pole, Kiar opened his eyes. For a moment he watched his mistress walked towards the dock before continuing his afternoon nap. They had just blended with the crowd when a hooded woman approached them confidently. The black wristlet reacted all of sudden, alerting the wearer. Around them, the people avoided them like a river flowed to the side avoiding a giant rock.

  Datan froze in his spot. His jaw was clenched, his eyes were widened in fury and her heart beat fast seeing Nymeria right before him. His hands were sweaty as he held himself back not to strangle that woman in the middle of the crowd.

  Nymeria was wearing all-black attire with the mask brooch in her chest. A were-lizard hissed on her left shoulder.

  “Datan! Oh! I’ve been missing you, my friend!” Nymeria greeted cheerfully. She stood her ground, her hands gripping each other under her chin as if she was holding herself not to hug Datan. Nymeria looked sweet and friendly, bargaining her smile like usual. “You really turned red! How did it feel? Does it still hurt?”

  Datan had enough. “I really hoped we never have to see each other again, Nay,” he replied in a cold tone.

  Nymeria laughed as if he was hearing something ridiculous. “It’s Meria, Datan,” she corrected him. “Oh, don’t you know? I almost thought you don’t want to get your father,” she turned to the lizard. “But then my partner said, the Black Wave ship was sighted in the water of Wanageeska.”

  Datan’s face stiffened. He was irritated seeing Nymeria acting friendly.

  Nymeria turned at Kanas who was looking at her closely. She sniffed then she frowned, fanning the air around her nose. “Kanas, did you spill your perfume?” she asked, narrowing her eyes, making Kanas’ face blazing red. “Don’t get me wrong. I know about you from Datan.”

  “My perfume is not your business,” Kanas spat.

  Nymeria glowered, and looking away.

  She turned to the tip of Kalantaka in Irirana’s back, welcoming the Kahisar’s intense yet curious gaze. “You’re Kahisar Irirana, aren’t you?” she asked, could not stop herself from smiling awkwardly. She stroked the head of the lizard on her shoulder, who tried to look adorable though there were obviously two dots in its forehead. She turned at Datan, “You’re great at picking allies, Datan,” she said before turning back to Irirana.

  “I am sorry for being impudent some time ago, Kahisar.”

  “Let’s just get this over with, Meria,” Irirana stated.

  “The damned Anag should beg for forgiveness from me, Nay,” Datan added sharply. He glared at the lizard, filled with the urge to squeeze it like a mop. “He’ll pay for this.”

  “He also almost died in the hand of the Kahisar, Datan,” Nymeria said. The lizard hid inside Nymeria’s straight untied thick hair. “Besides, you attacked first, didn’t you? He just came to deliver you a message.”

  Datan paid her words no mind. Thinking that when the time came, he would make the Anag pay for what he had done. “Where is my father, Nay?”

  “Your father is alright. Uncle Mattan eats and laughs a lot. He also talks a lot about hunting in the forest. I saved him from loneliness, Datan. Come, you’ll see for yourself.”

  They walked out of the port area, entering the street illuminated by golden lanterns. On the background was vast land uneven terrain, some of the hills were quite tall. Under the purplish sky, the river flowing towards the sea looked glowing. Plenty of people were traveling by foot or by bike, there was no Khuku carriage. The life in Wanageeska felt peaceful. There were not too many people. It was just enough.

  They take a turn in a T-junction, then to a stone bridge to cross a big river. They passed a girl with glasses on the side of the road. The girl was running hastily when she passed by them. Datan’s heart raced faster, he almost stopped his tracks if only he was not reminded of Irirana.

  Datan smelt the scent of sulfur.

  Datan felt uneasy, but he kept walking. He tried not to think of other things except saving Father. In front of them, Nymeria kept talking chirpily like she was a tour guide. She told them that people of Falla were very friendly towards newcomers; that they liked to ride bicycles; that they hunt in the sea with after their face had been powdered; that they liked to play percussion made of cow skin; and that they love mangos. Irirana looked like she was enjoying their walk. She even managed to greet, shake hands and laugh with some of the dark-skinned children they met.

  While Kanas and Datan stayed cautious.

  “Oi,” Datan whispered as he walked beside Nymeria. Kanas and Irirana were behind them. “Did you actually kill Sami?”

  Nymeria grinned, showing off her neat teeth. “Of course. I’ve shown you that. It was real,” she replied in a whisper as well, glancing at the back row once in a while. “They did not know?”

  “They will kill you. My part might only be throwing your dead body from a cliff.”

  Nymeria gasped, then she laughed like Datan was not being serious. “You bring the stone?”

  Datan turned away.

  “I believe you have it,” Nymeria singsong.

  “Stop this vision thing, Nay.”

  “I can’t even if you threaten my life. Not now, Datan. For now, you should just enjoy the show.”

  Datan’s jaw tightened, he was furious.

  Nymeria could not care less. “Whatever happens,” she continued. “Don’t say anything about the vision in front of my family. Just pretend that we’re not friends.”

  “We are not friends!” Datan hissed. He massaged his throbbing head. “Do you realize that I am filled with the desire to choke you to death, right?”

  Nymeria starred at h
im with her probing grey eyes. She smiled, shaking her head. “You are too nice. You can’t do it,” she replied calmly. “I’m sorry. I have no other choice, Datan. This is what I have to do.” She sighed. “I hope we could have a better relationship in the future.”

  Datan opened his mouth, though no sound came out. Nymeria sounded very serious that it was unbelievable, it was as if she was the right one, the defender of the truth. Datan did know how to react to it. What will Nymeria show him?

  ◆◆◆

  They arrived at an old building in the middle of the island. It was located near the big river. It looked like the square Urgut house was alienated. The house’s wall was made of clay and was painted with a dull green color. There was a crack in the flat roof, and on the other side, it was completely perforated. The lawn was filled with thicket. Other plants with thorny vines grew covering the building the wall as though it was trying to swallow that small house. For a moment, Datan found the plant similar with one holding the gold statue in Pollo’s house.

  “You make my father live here?” Datan asked as they went through a stone fence into the lawn.

  “The roof was only broken yesterday because of a storm and I didn’t get a chance to fix it. It’s still a decent shelter, though.”

  Nymeria opened the wooden door covered in flaky paint. The hinge creaked miserably because it was so rusty. She invited them in. Datan stepped into the house first, followed by Kanas. Irirana came a little later after examining the small craving in the wall which was the craving of a door swallowed by soil halfway through.

  The sunlight penetrated the glass in the windows. The living room with minimum furniture had old flooring which squeaked when stepped on. There were two people waiting inside. One of them was reading a book through a glasses which had bones as the frame, he was lying on a worn-out, patched sofa. Another was in a daze, leaning on the side of an opened window while smoking babag. Datan noticed that they all had golden mask brooch pinned in their chests.

  Father was not in the room.