Aldi continued to spur his chameleon along the waters of the southern side of Java Island. He still had miles to go to get to Karanghawu, and their journey would not be comfortable with the chameleon's broken windshield. He had to find a place to fix that if he wanted to continue his goal or at least someone.
The GPS installed between the two chameleon handlebars confirmed to Aldi that they had passed through the former Ujung Kulon National Park area. Aldi is accelerating the chameleon even more. He glanced back, it seemed Ely was fast asleep under her blanket. A thin line etched at the corner of Aldi's lips, he shook his head before finally increasing the speed of his vehicle.
"Hopefully, on Deli Island there is someone who can help me," Aldi muttered half inaudibly. "And some food."
Aldi slowed his chameleon, turned off his spotlights, deliberately kept his distance when he was almost on a small island.
Aldi wanted to make sure that there were no ruler's peoples on the small island, even worse, the Federation's people.
Too risky, thought Aldi. Even though there is a gap between the Andalas Government and the Java Government, who can guess? Too much manipulation of the senses carried out by the rulers so far. Sight, hearing, which in the end hurt the feelings of the common people. Mainly again, for those who are wasted. Like me, Aldi muttered in his heart.
For a while, Aldi watched Deli Island with binoculars in hand, and he saw neither the ruler's patrol nor the Federation's presence. But, Aldi did not want to take the risk. So, the chameleon is back at low speed, while the PSG gun in his left hand is always on standby.
The last time, as Aldi knew, there were several illegal workshops in the Deli Island area. Well, even if only in a matter of five fingers. Hopefully, they will be paid only 50K Foros – the current currency, taken from the Greek: fóros, which means tribute – even though the windshield itself costs almost double the money Aldi has.
Aldi is getting closer. Its existence is not very visible from the mainland. Not only because it's still dark, but also because of the piles of garbage on the sea surface. And that's being someone's favorite place for one interest.
Located only a few meters from the beach, Aldi did not find anything unusual on the mainland—at least, on the north side of Deli Island. Aldi runs his chameleon, a little to the west.
A couple of minutes later Adli finds a workshop. Well, it can be known from the sound of the tools from the building. Not wanting to get into trouble, Aldi watched through his binoculars. He could smile, there were only two people who were repairing something in the workshop.
Two people who were busy in the workshop noticed the presence of a chameleon in front of their workshop. The two of them looked at each other. An older one gave the code with a flick of an eyebrow, and a younger one hurried off toward the back door. The older one approached Aldi who had gotten off the top of his vehicle.
"Is there anything I can help you with, young man?"
Aldi smiled, but his eyes watched the surroundings. There were two people, then, where's the other one? His two hands were on his waist. A little suspicion wouldn't hurt, Aldi thought.
"Hmm, I have 50K with me now," Aldi approached his chameleon and activated its windshield. The remnants of the protective glass poked out at the front of the chameleon's head. "I want a new one. Can I?"
The middle-aged man laughed. He folded his arms across his chest. "You're not joking, are you, young man?"
"That's all I have," Aldi tried to familiarize himself with the man. He came closer, only five steps apart. "Come on, Old Man. Do you want to be kind to me?"
"Unless heaven exists," the man snorted. "Just take your chameleon somewhere else."
Click!
"Sorry, Bro…" The young man who was with the man suddenly appeared from behind a pile of worn-out chests on the right side. A shotgun-type weapon aimed at Aldi's head. Slowly, his aim was down at Aldi's chest. "You're not going anywhere. Stay there!"
"Wo-wo-woo…, chills out, man! Relax…!" Aldi raised his hands.
The middle-aged man glanced at the youth. He just thought, maybe the young man – who was his son – was just threatening Aldi. No more. But the old man's guess was wrong.
With his left hand crossed under his right, the son handed a leaflet to the father.
A wanted poster.
The man chuckled looking at the poster and turned to Aldi's face. "350K, huh?" again he laughed, even louder. "This is not what I expected."
Aldi smirked, tilting his head slightly. "Well, it should be higher than that. If you knew what I was thinking." Aldi slipped the toe of his right shoe slowly into the sand.
"You don't understand, young man," said the man, and grabbed a strand of wire. He chuckled again like he'd found a diamond. "350K is more than enough for me and my son. Do you want to be a good boy, or…?"
The young man was getting more and more excited to aim his weapon at Aldi's chest.
"Hey-hey-hey, watch out, man! The shock is very strong. Can you handle that?"
It turns out they worked double as bounty hunters. Damn it! Aldi was trying to buy time, at least, before he was ready to take charge of the situation.
"Hey, Old Man! Why don't you try contacting the dogs? Tinjil Island is quite close from here, isn't it?"
"You're planning to trick me?"
"Hey, come on, Old Man! Don't you see? Your dashing son aimed his shotgun right at my heart?"
"Jus, leave it, Dad!" said the young man who became furious because he felt that Aldi was being mocked him. "Let's just break his legs first!"
"Wo-wo-wooii…!" Aldi raised his hands higher. "Relax, man. Don't be so quick to anger. That's not good for your health."
The old man laughed again. "You are right. The dogs should value your head higher than this," he complimented Aldi's suggestion.
The old man stepped over to the long table, then grabbed a communication device lying on it.
"See, right?" Aldi said to the young man while pointing at the old man.
And when the young man turned his eyes to his father, Aldi quickly kicked the sand at the young man. The young man covered his eyes, and he accidentally pressed the trigger.
Bang!
TO BE CONTINUED ...