HORROR OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS
THE RESULT OF THROWING AWAY ARBITRARY PADS

The white grandfather seemed to say something to the old mother. Seriously the old mother listened, followed by a nod. He slowly turned to the man who was holding his blackened neck. Without saying anything he just nodded, but it seemed that the person understood. He told me to stand up. Apparently we were asked to go down immediately and leave the white Grandpa with Nyi Linggi.

Before I left I saw the old mother kissing Grandpa's hand. Gently the white grandfather patted her on the shoulder. Followed by that person who not only kissed the hand, but also restrained if not held by the Grandpa. And just like the old mother, this Grandfather also patted the person's shoulder. It is me who does not know what to do. I finally followed the two, kissing White Grandpa's hand.

His hands are so soft and fragrant. Just kissing her makes me feel safe. While stroking my hair, I heard him speak softly, "you're home. Make this a lesson. Watch your behavior and speech wherever you are." I nodded slowly. Hearing the word go home, unconsciously my tears flowed. He patted me on the shoulder and let me go.

Too reluctant to look at her face, I looked down and said my regards. Trudgingly I followed the man and the old mother down the path, leaving Grandpa with Nyi Linggi. No one spoke between us. In the darkness of the Ciremai path we stepped silently.

I felt my pants pocket, the doom-bearer was still there, wrapped in white cloth. Why white cloth? I asked in my heart. Did those dirty pads become some kind of occult thing or something? Because at first glance I know, mystical objects such as kris, spears and the like are usually wrapped in white cloth as well.

But whatever it is later, I'm obviously happy to be able to bring it down. This thing is the key to Ayu's recovery. From behind, I observed the old mother's hunchback. This mother took care of Ayu, also went up to pick me up at a really critical moment. The world has no shortage of good people. Then that guy. His usually agile steps, now walked slowly following the steps of the old mother. Without him, I obviously wouldn't have survived tonight.

Outside of his annoying smile and his slick words, he was a good person. His sepulchral appearance typical of mountain climbers hides his religious observance. Many times, tonight he always reminds me to pray, to pray and to remember God. Once this is done, I promise to repay her kindness.

But then I realized something strange. I went up again to take that shit as a condition of Ayu's recovery. Why do these creatures stop me? Shouldn't they be happy. Why did they terrorize me along the way? Not just ordinary terror, they intend to harm me.

A thousand questions suddenly popped into my head. Tonight will never be forgotten in my entire life. That person glanced at me, his smile looking ignorant. "Wheel up Ciremai boy?" I can only smile when asked that. The kapok? So vivid. Not just Ciremai, it seems after this I retired up the mountain "Don't weak boy. This incident took his lesson." Said again. That guy can read my mind.

I nodded in agreement. "Bang, thank you so much for helping me bang." I said this time, "if there's no brother, don't know what my fate is." That guy was laughing sucks, but I was happy to see his laugh.

"Lu survived not just because of the cave boy. You should also thank a lot of people who howled you. There are Mak Ncep, people in Cibunar, your parents who did not break up do'ain you at home, Ayu, including Nyi Linggi. And show your worship as the same form of gratitude as the Great One" replied the man. Then he continued "There's a meaning to every boy incident."

"I mean bang?' my question is not to understand. "Don't make this your private lesson. The story to your friends, the story to many people, you humans do not live alone. There are other beings who share the world with you. Stop doing damage on earth."

"Yes bang," I replied briefly. His words just now felt seeped into my heart. "Oiya bang, who was Grandpa?" My toot. That guy just smiled. It seems that my curiosity will not be answered easily. "Kalong wewe how is the fate of bang?" Ask again.

"Dead." Answer's short. "When we said goodbye to Grandpa why Nyi Linggi diem aja, do not nyerang or why do it bang?" I asked again. "Bawel you ya." Ketus answer. But he still replied, "Taking a chance when people are off guard is not a commendable act boy. Who do you think Nyi Linggi is? Human?"

I accepted the answer and felt ashamed. Even supernatural beings have tattoos and manners. The path we went through started to open rather wide and tended to be flat. A thin mist drifted between the bushes and trees. I kind of felt weird seeing the fog and darkness without any ghostly appearance.

Am I getting used to it? Perhaps that was why that person looked ordinary to see the apparitions of all the demons on this mountain. Without feeling we have reached Condong Amis, where I first met the man. The old man walked towards an empty cottage. Maybe he wants to rest a while. We followed behind him.

When I just unwinded at this lodge suddenly my neck and cheeks Kalong wewe chuckle was throbbing again. I rubbed my neck slowly, feeling sore. But the pain is getting unbearable. That guy laid me down on the floor of the lodge. Next to me the old mother scowled my right palm as her mouth muttered. My head suddenly felt heavy.

A beam of sunlight seemed to pierce through the window as I opened my eyes. I woke up on a soft bed. Next to me, behind the blue curtains was an empty bed. An infusion hose stuck in my body connected to a plastic filled liquid dripping slowly on the pole beside where I was lying. I was in the hospital.

The door opened, and I saw Ayu's face again. It feels like years. He came closer and hugged me while crying. I heard him apologize many times while continuing to cry. I wanted to hug her back, but my hands were too weak to move.

"Is it okay, Yu?" My toot. He nodded while wiping away the tears.

"Sorry cave in. Because your cave is like this." He apologized again.

I smiled while nodding. ''It's important we survive." I said, "who brought the cave here?"

"Ne also know. The cave is also waking up already here" replied Ayu.

I remembered the old mother. I secretly thank you. That guy too. He must have taken me down from Condong Amis to Cibunar, and then here. Then I remembered she gave me something before I fainted.

"Yes, look at the pin that the cave holds and I fainted?" My toot. "Oh ada's. Just stay away." Said. He then removed the carrier's headgear, took the thing I asked, and gave it to me. I accepted. That's right it's a pin. That night I couldn't see what was printed on this pin when I first met that guy because it was too dark.

I looked at the picture printed there. It looks like a logo. Pictures of lizards and mountains, the writing below is a bit faded yellow but still read by me: Edge Mountain. I don't know what that means. But this pin I will keep forever as a reminder of the night of terror in Ciremai.

I remembered something. Kuraba pockets my pants. Blank. That damn thing seems to be gone. I imagined supernatural rituals being performed on that filthy thing to heal Ayu. "They're wearing your sanitary napkin inside that white cloth now where's yu?" I asked because I was curious.

Ayu was a bit surprised to hear my question. "Ohh.. It was dumped in the trash" he replied. I'm honestly a little disappointed to hear that. But that's the most logical thing. A place for dirt is just a dumpster. The surprised look still read on Ayu's face. He then asked, "Kok you can tell about the pads on the white cloth in? You've been passed out all this time."

I smiled hearing his question. Remember how many horrors of the trip that night to take again the damn thing last night. There was a sense of pride and a little bit of a hero because somehow I managed to save Ayu. Then Ayu's question that makes me sound a bit silly and funny, how the cave can know about the pads on the white cloth?

I want to pat my chest and tell you everything. Ayu's surprised face was still not gone, and her eyes looked curious. Then a smile rose on his face, he then said, "when all this time you had fainted in the. But yes, after that night it seems like the cave will not be surprised if it is horrified strange things again."

And he continued, "later deh gua storyain the cave trip to take the pads in Ciremai. Later cave story about Nyi Linggi, Kalong wewe, brother Moka. Uh we'll be here again sometime. Mak Ncep keeps ngerawat and keep you awake during your fainting and trance. We owe him a lot of debt"

Now it's my turn to be surprised...