The Sphere: The Phantom of the West Rim Read online

  “No, how do I?” said Rey still laughing.

  Then he checked the mailbox. It was rusty and broken and the name plate was covered in dirt. He swept it and found the name ‘Ahimsa’ was written on it. Then they rose and looked at the house which stood grim before them. The wind blowing cold and the banyan tree swaying whispering fears into their heart, and suddenly a crow screeched above the tree like a bad omen. They’re frightened but at the same they curious about it as if something inside have lured them to get close.

  They walked around, slowly and carefully. The door was shut tight and on the terrace they found a little patch of garden, filled with flower and looks lively among withered yard. And when they walked beside the house they found old stroller and on it there’s something bulged wrapped by dirty blanket. Asti stretched his hand trying to touch it and as her hand touched the blanket something sprang out of it suddenly. They’re startled and palm their mouth to mute their scream. Soon they looked at it, a doll it was, one eyed with stain on it like crying in black tears, and not only stroller but they also found many stuff scattered there, old and broken, and all made them creeps.

  They continue to explore the house. The house had an old style, maybe built before Proclamation of Independence in 1945. But all of them look sturdy and endure like never devoured by time. All the windows were nailed but it seemed recent looking from wood and bright nails.

  “Here!” called Asti.

  She brought him to a window. It hasn’t yet nailed but few wooden bars were below it. Asti opened the window and she jumped through it.

  “We’ve came this far, come in.” said Asti.

  Rey jumped the window and now they found themselves on a small bedroom. There’s only bed and wardrobe there, nothing weird there except all looks old-fashioned like they’re in different time. The door was half opened, showing dim corridor with picture and ornaments which filled the wall.

  They walked on the corridor. There’s a song played among the silence and dimness there, a classic song which they don’t know much about it. The lyric tells about daily life but the old gramophone makes it sounded like a lament as if the song was sing by ghost wandering there. Then they follow the song until they found a room full of goods. All of them look antique and classic, from the painting, old lamp hanging above, Kris, animal skull, stone and gramophone which played now.

  “This place like a museum.” said Asti. “I can built my own studio with all of this.”

  Rey stared at her with frown.

  “I’m just kidding. I never interested in something like this.” said Asti.

  Rey stood and looked up at the painting on the wall. A painting of an old man, a Balinese he seemed from the traditional clothes, he sat and smoking a kretek. On the other side Asti moved her head left and right examined a Kris before her – it stands with point down but strangely it doesn’t fell at all. And then her delinquent eyes found something and without doubt she took it.

  “Hey look at me! I’m Thor, son of Odin.” said Asti, as she raised a sledgehammer to the air. The hammer was made of stone, tied on the wooden hilt and looks raw as if came from Stone Age.

  “Will you put it back?! What if it’s broken?”

  “Geez, easy kid, this is why Melody will never interested to you. You’re always serious.” said Asti teased him.

  “I will change my personality later. But now I need you to put it back. That thing was seriously worth a lot of money.”

  Suddenly a feeling of horror strikes them as they felt a sudden presence on the room. Then they turned aside and there, very close to them, stood a black figure stared at them with grim face. For a moment they’re frozen in horror looked at that grim old face, and soon Asti shouted, “Run!”

  Both of them ran away, passed the window and jumped the fence, and the next thing they knew they had already outside with paddy fields stretched green on their left and a horn from motorcycle passing by.

  “Huff, huff, huff, that was close.” said Rey out of breath while looked at the old house hundred meters away.

  “Close? We almost buried in the back yard. Did you see that grim face?” said Asti.

  “Hey what’s on your hand?” said Rey, as he looked at the stone hammer on her hand. “Oh great, now we must back.”

  “I will not back there.”

  “But we have to give it back.”

  “No we keep this and keep alive.”

  “No we return it.”

  “No we’re not return.” said Asti pushed him with that hammer.

  Then they tugged it each other and without expected it slipped off their hand and falling to break.

  “You break that ‘seriously worth of a lot of money’.” said Asti.

  “No, we did.”

  “What now? Still thinking of getting back?” asked Asti.

  “Well, I’ll think about it later. Now we must pick up all the pieces.” replied him.

  They bent down to gather it. And suddenly, as they tried to gather all pieces, they found something stuck in the middle of the stone. Like metal capsule it was, silver colored and had the size like a can of cola. Rey pulled it out and examined it.

  “What is that?” asked Asti.

  “I don’t know.” answered Rey. For few seconds he fixed to the capsule, wondered and amazed. He turned it over and over as if he doesn’t believe what he had just found.

  “Are you done looking? We must clean this mess immediately before that old man come and after us.”

  Quickly they gathered the pieces and put it in Rey’s bag while looked around, especially to the old house. Even after few moments they don’t see someone came out from that house or even a sound to yell at them, all was still and quiet there. And after they got all pieces they walked away, and sometimes they look back to the old house.

  “Why all put in my bag?” asked Rey.

  “Because I don’t want to carry it,” answered Asti easily.

  ***

  It was a fine night. The twilight has went away and the crescent moon peeking between sailing clouds. Under the Great Bear a plane passed like red twinkling points among silver stars. It flew straight to the west to the Greater Jakarta.

  Trees rustled as if shivering by cold night wind and the cicadas presents a beautiful choir for this calm night. And far away they heard the noise of sleepless traffic, but seemed their horn and roaring sound of engine seemed never disturb the town calmness.

  Street light were turned on and glimmered on the road with soft orange hue. From the office the white collar had just parked his car in the garage. On the other side, those who earn their fortune on the streets walked with their cart, roll out their mats and then set up their unique sidewalk café. And the street musician strikes his guitar going around from one house to another.

  Rey walked home. White koko he wore with blue square-patterned sarong and peci cap on the head. With him was an old man. He was Mr. Rahardjo, Rey’s Grandfather. Although he was nearly sixty years old with hair-loss around the crown and gray but he looks youthful and spirited especially with chevron on his face. He still fit as fiddle and had upright posture for people of his age. He was a man of ‘silence is gold’, doesn’t hasty in tongue and guard his speech, his lips always tight but at the same time always seen a faint smile on his face. The light in his eyes looks fainted yet his gaze was very attentive as if give meaning for everything he sees.

  Later they met five men who were sat in the post that made of bamboo, doing neighborhood watch. A patrol schedule posted on the wall with some hand-made bell – a rusty steel pipe hanging in the left corner of the post with an iron hammer to ring it with a hit. Two persons put serious face on the chessboard, two others chatting about politics while drink a coffee and one other just take a nap and dreams about something.

  “Good evening!”

  “Good evening sir! Coffee? It’s green coffee, your favorite, traditional hand processing from East Java. My cousin sent me few packs.” said one of them.

  “Tha
t’s very tempting, but this one …” said Mr. Rahardjo while show his paunch “… it will get big badaboom if I take a coffee at late night. Please come by to our place.”

  “We will sir!”

  Rey and his grandpa then walked into a house which not far from the post. It was simple two storey house. The wall was white and looks so homely. The front yard looks smooth and green with soft grass. Many varies of flowers was arranged on the edge and few pots was hanging at the brick wall. On the terrace there’s a table and three chairs made of rattan with a cushion on each. And a garage built on the left side of the house, a 90’s minivan was inside when Rey opened it to check inside.

  Rey was lived with his grandpa only. Back then they were perfect as a family. Happiness shared almost every day and problems seemed never arose as they had always understand each other. And they were completed by the birth of Rey and his sister. But life seemed never perfect. In the morning of New Year’s Eve a car crash happened and took both of his parents along with his sister who was still toddler. Leave Rey as a sole survivor even he was seriously injured at that time.

  After the accident his grandparents take care of him. Love and attention seemed never less in his everyday life, even with his parent gone. However two years ago their happiness had lessened with his grandma, Mrs. Rahardjo’s wife passed away. Even so they lived their lives with steadfast and wholeheartedly, and Asti has become the color of their lives all this time.

  Rey warmed food on the table and less than 10 minutes later they were sitting at the chair. The dish is very simple, just a bowl of ‘sayur asem’ with fried shrimp and tofu, and hot tea as a drink.

  “How’s your school today?” asked Mr. Rahardjo.

  “Everything just fine, even better.” said Rey, as he relived Melody’s smile that still feels fresh and beautiful in his memories.

  “A girl?” asked Mr.Rahardjo, gently stared to him. Long he does think to answer, but his face has told everything to his grandpa. “Then fight for her.” told him.

  “Yeah the problem is she belongs to someone.” said Rey.

  “I don’t see it was a problem.”

  “He’s cool and had a car, shining red, her favorite color.”

  “Does she crave all of that? Is that what she wants? I sold many books and I never found one that could understand women completely.” said Mr. Rahardjo. “If she really worth just step forward and fought for her, at least make a smile on her face then you’ll never regret in this life.”

  “I’ll try.”

  “No, you must do.”

  “Ok, I’ll do.”

  “That’s my lad.” said Mr. Rahardjo. Then he prepared a small portion of dish along with a glass of milk and put in on the tray. “When we out an hour ago, I’ve heard about …”

  “I knew, I heard it too.” replied Rey.

  “So, can you take this honor young lad?”

  “Sure. Who else anyway.” said Rey. Then he brought the tray and went into his room in the second floor.

  ***

  Rey put the tray on the table. From the window he saw Asti sitting perplexed in her bed with a headset on her head. No wonder what song comes from it but her face look so sad, her eyes was so puffy and dried tears was painted her cheek. Now she looks very different from the cheerful girl he walked with on this afternoon. Then he untied a rope and with that down an iron ladder to make a bridge between their rooms, a bridge that created their friendship since they’re little and that bridge always connected them.

  With unsteady step she crossed the ladder. The girl seemed doesn’t really care if she suddenly fell from the ladder, instead she looks like a desperate person who wants to slip and fall 12 feet from the ground, perhaps – if his best friend didn’t look at her now.

  “You must be hungry.” said Rey, as he offered the meal to her.

  Without a word Asti immediately eat it. Both sadness and happiness were felt on her now and a tears she shed involuntarily till it fall into the meal. But she wiped it immediately, for she always want to look strong in front of others.

  “Did you hear all of it? His madness?” asked her.

  “Hey, I’m here, we’re here for you, always.” said Rey. “And if you still hungry, there’s your favorite lychee pudding in the refrigerator.”

  For a moment they don’t speak a thing, Rey read a book and Asti eat the dish, slowly with hand bit trembled. Then after she feel better she asked something to him, “That thing we found this noon, do you already knew what it was?” asked Asti with a slightly hoarse voice.

  “No I don’t. Many times I saw and observed it but still I didn’t know what it was and what it does. The hammer was well-preserved so we must think that it was really old and valuable. But something inside looks very advanced. At least a metal with that shape, with that smoothness, only exist one century back while the hammer-shell looks much older than that. It’s like we found King Tut’s flash drive.”

  Asti laughing, tough in her eyes there’s still a bit of sadness left. Rey was glad seeing a smile on her face.

  “My guess it was a time capsule.”

  “Time capsule?” asked Asti curious.

  “Like we did in elementary school, we gathered a thing and put it together in steel box and buried. From the size it could be documents, jewelry, something which not bigger than our cell phone.” said Rey. “Obviously we wouldn’t know what it was until we brought it into an expert.”

  “Whatever, but if it make the news, I want the credit, I want my name was written as the one who found it. It would be nice for the popularity of my band.” said Asti.

  “Yeah but you forget one thing, we stole it. Well, it accidentally stolen but still it was stealing. Yeah we’ll be on the news but for thievery and burglary.” replied him.

  “I never think about that. Well do as you wish, besides I never interested in something like that.” said her. “I go now.”

  Asti then went to the sill, but then he stopped for a moment and turned to him. “And Rey ...”

  “What?”

  “Thanks, I just … I don’t know how it was if you weren’t here.” said Asti smiling wistfully. “Well, send my thanks to the old man.”

  “I will.”

  “Night.”

  “Have a good sleep.” replied him.

  Then she goes, crossing the ladder. Now her steps look firm as if she found new strength and spirit.

  ***

  Half an hour later Rey had still sitting at his desk, watching and flipping the metal capsule. His eyes look out on every detail of the surface, trying to figure out what mystery behind it. And like before he didn’t find something unusual except the slits in the middle which indicates that it can be opened by splitting in two and the surface embossed by golden pattern like sealing it. Long time he examined it but still he couldn’t find out how to open it.

  He sighed, “I’m sorry for stealing you from that Ahimsa guy.”

  Suddenly, after he spoke that, the pattern-seal dispersed into gold dust and at the same time it opened. Then his eyes caught something shiny inside. He took it and stared at it with amazement. It was a crystal ball, black and has the size of ping-pong ball. Inside it there was something like countless stars swirls around the black vortex with the pillar of light pierced through the center as if there’s a black hole inside the crystal.

  So beauty and enchanting the black crystal was till remind him of Melody. The crystal looks amazing, what if he gave it as a gift to that girl? Is that girl would look at him after he gave it? And like a stars inside, his highest hope is if he could find a beautiful place there – a place where he can be happy with her loved ones.

  “I wish I could find a better place.” said Rey faintly.

  All of sudden his room turned dark as if the shadows have consumed it. All was lightless, left only a light from the crystal ball in his hand. And suddenly the light inside spreads and burst into countless stars around him as if the black hole inside breaking out. The universe like stretche
d around him and he floating among the stars and darkness, yet he could steps on nothingness. For a moment he was stunned with all views in his room, if he’s still in it. Then with remarkable suddenness all the darkness, all the stars disappeared in a flash. The room back into the light, nothing has changed, only the room was empty now.

  Chapter 3

  In the Cave

 

  Rey slowly opened his eyes. Nothing he could see but the faint light among dimness. He didn’t know what has happened or where he is now, what he felt now just something hard and rough like he was on the floor of rock, coarse and moist, obviously he wasn’t in his room anymore. His cheek was wet by puddles and pungent smells so thick in his nose. And his hand holds something, black crystal it was but there’s something different about it, no stars or light seen inside the crystal ball but faint gleam in the surface. Now it’s look black and solid like a tourmaline ball.

  Rey tried to get up, even though he wasn’t injured at all but he felt dizzy as if there’s something bang his head from inside and made him little difficult to move his own body. He doesn’t know where he is or how he could get into this place but from the darkness and the hard rough of stone of wall looks like he was in a cave.

  He walked with a stagger. Only faint light guided him in that dark cave and he have to feel his way through cave walls. Sound of water drops echoed in the deep silence and he heard wind blows inside the cave but strange it sounded as if the cave was alive and breathing.

  “Hello!” said Rey.

  “Hello ... Hello ... Hello ... Hello ... Hello ...,” his voice echoed. He shouted 2-3 times but no answer except his own voice which always followed by strange gust of wind and it sounds more bizarre every time he made a sound. Suddenly, from the shadows behind someone swept him and grabbed his mouth, swiftly and noiseless.

  “Ssshhh”, the mysterious figure whispered faintly in his ear, a man voice.

  However that mysterious guy keeps his mouth too strong till Rey can’t take a single breath. He muttered to tell the man behind and the mysterious figure let off his hand immediately. He took deep breath right away and turned to see the mysterious figure. In the dim light he couldn’t see clearly who he is but he could measure that he slightly taller than him.