Wiro Sableng Book 1 Chapter 10
“Listen well Wiro…. More than 40 years ago I took a disciple named Suranyali. At that time he was only two years old. From that two years old, I started teaching him all kinds of basic martial arts and martial skills, but then after I found out that I had taken that beast of a human as my disciple. I let Suranyali to go down the mountain, I had given him all kinds of advices but deep inside that Suranyali was not a decent human being, once he was down the mountain, all the skills that I have taught him was used to do evil, to do wicked things. He brought chaos eveerywhere he was! Becoming the headof bandit! A blackmailer that even kidnapped many beautiful women and tainted their purity! I believe he is now around half a century old, already near his end! But this doesn’t give him any sense of regret. His crime recently is getting worse, already went beyond measure! Now he is brewing an evil plan against the Pajajaran (TN: an ancient kingdom based in the modern West Java). Pajajaran has been planned to have a blood bath in it! Therefore you have to quickly locate that accursed human being and told him to come here to face me and took responsibility for all that he had done while adventuring in this world outside! And for you to know, Suranyali is now using a new name, Mahesa Birawa!”
Wiro Saksana felt how sad it was to part with his master that had taught him for the last 17 years. But considering that this parting is to conduct a task from his master, he felt a bit conslation in his heart. Thus the youth replied: Granny’s task will be done without fail. Just that, what should I do if that Mahesa Birawa guey doesn’t comply with the order to come here….?”
“The answer is ne thing Wiro, beat that guy! Kill that cursed human! ” Wiro Saksana fell silent. In his silence he pondered up to what level is the might of this Suranyali a.k.a Mahesa Birawa? Would he be able to fight against a man that in actuality is his senior martial brother?!
“I know what’s in your mind Wiro,” Granny Sinto Gendeng suddenly said. This really surprised Wiro Saksana. “Suranyali is strong, I even heard that he took apprenticeship to another mighty sage on Lawu Mountain! But fear not! You have the Fire Dragon Hatchet 212. And you stood on the side of justice! Therefore you are truly in the right to kill this man, Wiro. First is because this is a task that I burdened on your shoulder to take! Secondly because this Suranyali a.k.a Mahesa Birawa himself was the one who murdered your father and mother!”
Wiro Saksana’s whole body abruptly shook violently. His expression grew increasingly solemn and grim! Since little, since he moved in seclusion at the peak of the Gede mountain he never knew what was hate and vengeance! But at that moment, his chest felt like it was about to explodeby the flame of hate and anger, as well as unprecedented feeling of vengeance!
“Your father’s name was Ranaweleng! He was murdered by Suranyali. Your mother was taken away by him. Afterwards, she committed suicied after her honor was tainted. You yourself almost met your end by fire when your father’s house was burnt down by Suranyali and his goons. It was a pure coincidence that I was passing by that place….”
Wiro dropped himself in front of his master.. “My gratitude Granny…. If you weren’t there, I….”
“Stand up!” scolded Sinto Gendeng. This weird lady hated the most being knelt at like that. “It wasn;t me that helped you, it was God!” she said. “Quickly rise!”
Wiro rose back to his feet. And Sinto Gendeng narrated the event that happened seventeen years ago as clear and vivid as she could. Now Wiro understood what was behind the lyrics of his master’s song from before. He braced his heart to control his feeling that was all over the place. He braced himself to hol the tears that was about to flow down his eyes!
“Granny….,” hissed Wiro Saksana, “When Granny was down the mountain, in that Jatiwalu village, why didn’t you intervene personally….?”
“Are you leaving soon, Wiro?” The youth didn’t directly answer. And then he slowly nodded.
“My last will Wiro, when you are out of this mountain, use the name WIRO SABLENG (Sableng = Erratic, eccentric). It will be better for you. The teacher is crazy, the disciple is eccentric.” And after she said that, the old lady laughed giggling for a long, long time. But that laugh was only to hide her vulnerable heart, that sadness was only to hold back the tears that were close to bursting out!
“Granny…. when can we meet again?” asked Wiro.
Master Sinto abruptly stopped her laugh. “As long as the sky is still blue, as long as the forest is still green, as long as the river still flows to the sea, we will definitely meet again Wiro Sableng….!”
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That restaurant was quite big, but at that moment there were only few patrons. Wiro Sableng gulped down his own saliva. He didn’t have enough money but his stomach was already hurting with hunger, his throat parched with thirst. He finally entered that restaurant.
Wiro sat on one of the corners. The chairs and table were covered in dust, but this long-haired youngster just ignored that thick dust. A grey-haired man came closing into him. He was the restaurant owner.
“Having your meal young lad….?” said he.
Wiro nodded. “But please not too expensive, I don’t have that much money!” said Wiro Sableng straightforwardly. The owner frowned. In his long years opening the shop in Jatiwalu, it was only today that there was a patron coming to his shop and said so. His eyes wandered Wiro Sableng’s body from his long-haired top to his dusty feet.
“You must be a traveler….” he said.
“Indeed I am,” Wiro scratched his hair. “Please be quick with the rice, sir. I am absolutely starving….!”
The waiter immediately fetched a plate of rice and a glass of water and then put them down on the table in front of Wiro. Wiro drooled upon seeing the food. For the seventeen years he stayed on top of Gede Mountain he only knew brown rice and vegetables. Now, facing white rice and fish as well as that delicious curry, he wolfed down the food with gusto. Sweat trickling down his face, he drank the water.
While he was rubbing his hard, full stomach, four men entered the restaurant. All of them were wearing black, with sabre on their waist. Their looks were truly ugly. They entered and sat carefreely. All four of them were bearded. The owner of the restaurant saw the presence of these four men and quickly went to serve them. It appeared that these four men were definitely people of great importance. Not long, delicious food was served on the table. Pure wine was also placed on a bamboo tube along with four glasses which were also made of bamboo.
All four men ate with their feet on the chairs. The noisy munching sounds of their mouth could be heard even to where Wiro Sableng was sitting. But of course this young man couldn’t care less about it. Even if they were munching as hard as the rumble of a thunder he still wouldn’t care! Wiro Sableng waved his hand to summon the waiter.
“How much do I have to pay?” asked Wiro.
The waiter spelled out the amount that needed to be paid.
“Oh my… so expensive!” complained Wiro. “I told you please not be too expensive…”
“That much was already very cheap, young sir,” the waiter said.
Wiro Sableng scratched his head. “There goes all my money for this meal.” He took out his money and gave it to the waiter. At that moment four waves of laughter could be heard from the four people sitting on that particular table. One of them, the shorty-baldie one spouted,
“If you ain’t got no money, don’t enter the shop, Brat!”
Another one chained, “Rather than fearing to spend money, you better find your food from the trash can!” All four men chuckled loudly.
Wiro looked at them. Even when he was jeered like that, this young man was still calm, and even a smile rose up on his lips while still scratching his head. Another man with long, falling moustache asked up, “Do you want to get money to buy your food?”
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