The Kecik Spring, which is not far from the village, is rumored to emit a reddish glow at night. The news was obtained from someone who was not known by the villagers. Maybe, he was a traveler who stopped to wash his feet in the spring. But a few days later that person was reported to have found a ruby gem in Kecik Springs. The rubies are very rare and expensive, so this type of stone is hunted by collectors and the price is very expensive. Mirah means red. The types of precious stones include ruby (mirah), sapphire (sapphire), cat's eye (cat's eye), emerald (emerald), and jade (jade).
Agate is not a precious stone so the price is cheap when compared to precious stones. The discovery of the ruby then became the talk of the residents. "He must be a holy man, otherwise where would you be able to get the stone," said Janponi whose real name is Ponijan.
"Just how lucky that guy is!" replied Jori, whose real name is Roji.
"That person can be rich. The stone of mirah delima is not a random agate."
Cipo followed the development of the ruby. Because basically he likes to listen to strange stories. "Why does agate glow in water, Dad?" Cipo asked to his father.
"Maybe because it reflects the moonlight, but is it true that the agate reflects a very bright light? If it shines like a flashlight, we shouldn't believe it," replied his father.
"In the world, there are certain objects that can store sunlight, when night falls, they release the light so that it looks like it's burning. Maybe it works like solar energy electricity. Don't you often see fireflies or caterpillars that glow? The animals glow because they contain phosphorus." Cipo was stunned to hear his father's explanation.
Nek Imeh even talked about what happened tens of years ago. It is said that the story is in the spring there is a ruby which is very rare and expensive. It's just that the stone can't be taken because there is a guard. If taken will cause havoc, there will be a loss of forty human lives. Hi, anyone who hears Nek Imeh's story will shudder. "Nek Imeh could just make up a story!" said Mrs. Jonet.
Nek Imeh was offended. "Well, believe it or not it's up to you! But that's how it used to be!" Since finding the ruby, Mr. Srengsreng, the name of the inventor, has often been in their village. Many residents were lulled by the story about the discovery of the stone. But among the residents, the one who spoke to him the most was Mr. Jlog. Mr. Srengsreng is very good at winning people's hearts. What he told seemed really true, even though what was told didn't make sense though. For example, when he told about how to get the ruby agate. He said he didn't need to go down into the water, just his arms crossed with the rock jumping at him. Mr. Jlog is always amazed by him.
"If someone buys this stone, Mr. Jlog and this village will get a share. After all, I got the stone in this village," said Mr. Srengsreng.
Mr. Jlog's eyes lit up, "Really?"
"Yes!" replied Mr. Srengsreng. "I already put an ad in the paper! Just waiting for prospective buyers to come!" The man had a cell phone, but no one was given his number. Even so, Mr. Srengseng gave an address. "If at any time someone is interested in buying my stone, please contact this address!"
The Kecik Spring is indeed quite large, so far it has been relied on by farmers to irrigate the fields. It is only about two hundred meters from the end of the village. The spring is on the side of a not-so-big road. It would not be strange if Mr. Srengsreng when passing by saw the light. But why did Mr. Srengsreng pass through that deserted street at night? Was he looking for eels or toads? Mr. Srengseng never gave a reason why he was at the spring at night.
One day Mr. Jlog told people that he met someone who wanted to buy rubies that Mr. Srengsreng found. He immediately looked for the address that Mr. Srengsreng had left. An agreement was reached, Mr. Srengsreng will meet the prospective buyer at Mr. Jlog's house. The date of the meeting was agreed upon by both parties. Residents flocked to see the sale and purchase of expensive stones. The prospective buyer was named Mrs. Cita, a collector of antiques. By Mrs. Cita, Mr. Srengsreng was asked to test the stone he found.
"There has to be evidence that your ruby can actually reflect light underwater. I don't want to buy a cat in a sack!" said Mrs. Cita.
"Definitely not a cat, Mom, but agate," said Mr. Jlog jokingly.
"Get a glass cup and clear water!" ordered Mr. Srengsreng to Mr. Jlog's wife. Mrs. Jlog immediately took a glass and filled it with clear water. The glass of water was placed on the guest table. Because there were so many people watching the stone testing, Cipo and his friends had to be willing to sneak in between the armpits of adults to see it.
Mr. Srengsreng took the stone from a special cloth bag and put it in a glass. Blunt! Immediately the water in the glass became the color of the agate, reddish. People were amazed. Mr. Srengsreng looked around, smiled and said, "How are you guys, have we seen for ourselves that this ruby is real?" people nodded their heads. Mrs. Cita asked that the test be repeated one more time. Now Mrs. Cita herself put the rubies into the glass of water. The water becomes the color of the stone.
Finally, Mrs. Cita believed. "How much should I pay for it?"
"Two hundred million rupiah!" replied Mr. Srengsreng.
People squealed in awe at the rupiah figures mentioned. "Wow, you can buy a drawstring for someone from the district!"
"Could be for a party of seven days and seven nights by slaughtering some elephants!" another exclaimed.
"Uh, it's your money!" said another. Strangely, Mrs. Cita was so calm when she heard that number.
"Can't be less, sir!" offered Mrs. Cita.
"How much are you willing to pay?" challenged Mr. Srengsreng.
Mrs. Cita replied, "Half of it!"
"One hundred and seventy five million!" said Mr. Srengsreng.
Mrs. Cita didn't want to lose, "One hundred million!"
"Alright, just take one hundred and fifty million!" said Mr. Srengsreng firmly.
Mrs. Cita seems to have finished her offer. "I'll pay with a check at the hotel!" said Mrs. Cita.
"Okay!" said Mr. Srengsreng.
Before leaving the village, Mrs. Cita asked to be escorted to Kecik Springs. Crowds of people followed her. When she arrived at the spring, Mrs. Cita shook her head and said, "Surely no one would have thought that from the springs of this village, a very beautiful stone was found." After Mrs. Cita excused herself from the spring, Mr. Srengsreng and Mr. Jlog joined the car. Be sure to go to the hotel to make the ruby payment. Surprisingly, when he returned home, Mr. Jlog looked gloomy. When people asked about how much tip he got he didn't answer.
Just last night, Mr. Jlog admitted that he had not received the tip that Mr. Srengsreng had promised. "The check hasn't been cashed yet!" said Mr. Jlog.
"That's how greedy people are, it's good to want to enjoy yoursel," someone scolds. No one know if the scolding was directed at Mr. Srengsreng or Mr. Jlog.
One day when the young journalist Cipo was fishing alone, because Jalu and Endol could not join. Jalu went to his grandmother's house, in Prambanan. Meanwhile, Endol is sick with a cold, so his parents forbid him to be hot so that his snot doesn't run continuously. At that time, Cipo saw a buyer of used goods having difficulty guiding a bicycle in a basket on an uphill road. Cipo immediately helped him, by pushing the bicycle. "Thank you, if it weren't for you, I would have fallen with my bicycle," said the man breathlessly. "Indeed, the basket doesn't contain anything of value, but if it falls and scatters, I have to work again to clean it up!" After leaning the bicycle on the mahogany tree, the man sat down and took off his hat. Not very old, about fifty-five years old. Cipo went to continue fishing again, but the person called him.
"Do you like orange?" asked the man, handing him a small plastic bag filled with oranges. Of course Cipo really liked it, but he was shy. Later he thought it would help because he saw the orange. Cipo didn't see the oranges fruit before.
"Thank you sir," said Cipo politely refused. It's a pity if that person's share of duku is reduced because of him.
"Come on over here and sit down. Wasn't it not long ago that someone in this village found rubies?" the man asked. Hearing the question Cipo refused to fish again.
"Sold, fifty million!" said Cipo passionately. "Have you ever found such an expensive antique?"
The man laughed. "If I had, I certainly wouldn't be a second-hand searcher!"
"The stone has been bought by a woman!" Cipo said.
"So the person has sold the agate and the buyer is a woman?" the man asked.
"That's right! Why do you seem surprised?" asked Cipo curiously.
The thrift seeker sighed and said. "Maybe, it be an old game."
Cipo was stunned to hear his words, then asked, "Old game?"
"It's a fraud!"
"A fraud?"
"Yes!" replied the man. "Is that man a skinny black with a small mole on the corner of his left lip?"
Cipo immediately replied, "Yes, black and skinny! But about the mole on the corner of his left lip I don't know yet. I never paid attention to her lips!"
"Try to ask the others," thrift search said. "What are the characteristics of a woman, short fat and white skin?" Cipo opened his eyes, it seemed that the secondhand searcher knew Mr. Srengsreng and Mrs. Cita.
"His name is Mrs. Cita and the boy is Mr. Srengsreng!" Cipo said.
"Names are easy to change, fake ID are also easy to get!" said the man.
"How do you know these people so well?" asked Cipo more curiously.
The used goods scatter replied, "They once deceived the merchants around the Sangiran Museum. Because of his actions, the antique market in Sangiran has gone down. I'm from Sangiran. My name is Bejo," said the thrift seeker. Mr. Bejo told that when in Sangiran the two pairs of fraudsters claimed to be named Joko and Anik. "We call him Mr. Joko and Mrs. Anik, they are collectors of antiques. In fact, they often become our intermediary in selling antiques. Until finally a few trucks of antiques that my friends and I brought and they never came back. We looked for it because the merchandise was entrusted to someone, so it was not our own. We must be accountable to the owner. It turns out that they are not new players in the crime of antiquities fraud! Sometimes it is said that the findings are the result of "sucking", that is, taking with supernatural powers. In fact, once they brought a lump of yellow stone which was declared as raw gold. Where's the raw gold! They liar!"
"Mr. Bejo suffered a lot of losses?" asked Cipo.
Mr. Bejo looked away, looking sad. "Yes, because of their actions, I was accused of cheating by people whose goods were entrusted to me. I had to give up the house and the inheritance to replace the things they had taken away."
Cipo saw Mr. Bejo, he felt pity. "Have they never been caught?"
"Finally caught and served several years in prison. After all, I've already gone all out," said Mr. Bejo with a sigh. "When was the last time they appeared?"
"After the trade, Mr. Srengsreng has never come to this village again!"
"Ah, it's just a charade!"
"What's the point of them acting?"
Mr. Bejo smiled sarcastically. "To make the impression as if the stone was indeed found in the spring. I am absolutely sure, if they are really the people I described, the rubies were obtained from the proceeds of crime. To remove traces. Besides, they are also after the real buyers." Cipo listened carefully to Mr. Bejo's story.
"Wow, how come it's so exciting!" Cipo said.
"Can you meet me with someone who is familiar with Mr. Srengsreng?" "That's easy, let me take it to Mr. Jlog!" Cipo said. The man just left his bike, sure no one would take it.
"He never appeared again, sir!" said Mr. Jlog when Mr. Bejo asked about Mr. Srengsreng. Indeed, after the agate test and buying and selling, Mr. Srengsreng seemed to have disappeared. No matter where no one knows. Mr. Jlog searched at the address given, nothing, only temporary contact. Mrs. Cita was no longer at the hotel that Mr. Jlog had visited. Mr. Bejo asked about the mole on the corner of his left lip. "Yes, he has a mole on the corner of his left lip!" said Mr. Jlog. "I was embarrassed for the neighbors, thinking I had gotten a tip from them."
After leaving Mr. Jlog's house, Mr. Bejo said to Cipo, "I will expose their crimes." Mr. Bejo also told Cipo that while in Sangiran Mr. Srengsreng had practiced as a special psychic to look for heirloom weapons. But it's also a hoax. For example, when someone needs an heirloom kris, once he meditates with his client, his messenger throws the keris from a distance. "It was made as if the kris had fallen from the sky. Even though he bought the kris at the flea market."
"Does it need to be framed, sir?" asked Cipo.
"Trapped up how, doesn't he never appear again!" replied Mr. Bejo.
Mr. Bejo was lucky, because one afternoon someone came to Mr. Jlog's house by driving a luxury car. He said tomorrow he would have a meeting with Mrs. Cita and Mr. Srengsreng. Mr. Jlog hopes that this time Mr. Srengsreng will keep his promise. "Twice trade, I should have gotten two tips," said Mr. Jlog happily. Receiving this information, Cipo did not remain silent. He asked about what time Mr. Srengsreng came. After receiving confirmation, Cipo contacted Mr. Bejo, who left the telephone number near his house.
"So tomorrow they will come to buy and sell again?" asked Mr. Bejo.
"Yes! Around four o'clock in the afternoon, at Mr. Jlog's house!" Cipo replied.
"I will come!" said Mr. Bejo. The next day, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Bejo arrived and waited at Cipo's house. At three o'clock in the afternoon the luxury car that came yesterday has appeared, it seems the clock is filed. Not long after, Mrs. Cita's car appeared. You see, Mr. Srengsreng was also in Mrs. Cita's car. Does it even look familiar? Maybe only Cipo and Mr. Bejo noticed this. The new person introduced himself, he was named Mr. Salim whose real name was Liem Sie. Mr. Salim came with some people? They went straight to Mr. Jlog's house.
After making small talk, Mr. Salim said, "Even though this ruby has been tested at the hotel, I ask that it be tested again in front of the villagers. I want to ask the residents for certainty, is it true that this pomegranate is obtained from this area!"
There was already a glass filled with clear water in front of them. Mrs. Cita took out the stone she had bought from Pak Srengsreng, then put it in a glass of water. The water changes color as usual. Mr. Srengsreng then raised the glass up high as he stood up, then shouted to the residents: "Brothers and sisters, is it true that this stone was obtained at the village spring?" Some people immediately confirmed. But Mr. Jlog's voice was the loudest, because he remembered the tip,
"That's right, the rubies were obtained at Kecik Springs!" Mr. Salim looked around, he saw that the residents confirmed Mr. Srengsreng's statement. But Mr. Bejo immediately appeared and shouted, "Watch out this is a scam!"
"Who dares to speak like that!" shouted Mr. Srengseng as his eyes darted around.
Mr. Bejo put on his body, "Me! It seems that the disease has tricked you again!"
"Who is this person?" shouted Mr. Srengsreng. The people's eyes were fixed on Mr. Bejo.
Mr. Salim was no less surprised and looked at Pak Bejo. "Who are you?" asked Mr. Salim.
"He's not from here!" said Mr.Srengseng with a changed expression on his face. It's no longer bright, and so is Mrs. Cita.
Mr. Bejo came forward and said, "Have you two forgotten about me? Didn't I fall victim to your cunning fifteen years ago? Remember the fraud incident in Sangiran?"
Mr. Srengseng argued, "What do you mean, I don't know what you're saying? Call the police immediately, this person will harm us!"
"Yes, that person is dangerous for us!" said Mrs. Cita panicked.
"Only dangerous for the two of you, nothing else!" snapped Mr. Bejo. "These two guys are old players in this kind of deception!" cried Mr. Bejo. "You want proof?" Mr. Bejo asked Mr. Salim. Without waiting for an answer, Mr. Bejo opened his bag. He took out old newspaper and magazine clippings, but they seemed obsolete. "This is the proof, look at the photos and this news is still intact! Haven't their looks only changed a little bit, only more wrinkled?"
Suddenly Mr. Srengsreng tried to grab the clipping, but Mr. Bejo was able to dodge. Mr. Srengsreng and Mrs. Cita turned pale. Mr. Salim borrowed the clipping and his brow furrowed, then looked at Mr. Srengseng. "So you want to trick me with this fake carnelian of yours?"
"Fake how? Hasn't Mr. Salim proved it himself? Also, all the residents agree that I got the stone in this village's spring?" Mr. Srengsreng is not easy to bully.
Mr. Salim replied, "I have been suspicious since we met a month ago. Indeed, this is real pomegranate agate, but it was stolen from my friend Abdul Hakim at Jatibening Market, Jakarta!" It turns out that Mr. Salim is really a collector of gemstones, including agate. "Pomegranate rubies are very few in number, and I happen to know who has them. I received a report that Mr. Abdul Hakim's rubies were missing! Obviously I know the shape, because the stone was once entrusted to me when Mr. Abdul went on a pilgrimage!" Precious stones are also accompanied by a letter in the form of a certificate, to guarantee their authenticity.
"Call the police!" cried Mr. Bejo. Mr. Srengsreng and Mrs. Cita were about to go to the car. But the residents have built a posse so that Mrs. Cita and Mr. Sreng-sreng are confined. Not long after, Brigadier Anwar and Brigadier Sanusi came and arrested them both. It turned out that the names Srengseng and Cita were fake names and their ID was fake.
"Oh my bad luck, so all this time I've only been used. You liar! No wonder my bank account never increased, before disappearing he promised to transfer the promised tip. Her words are sweet but poisonous, you swindler!" Mr. Jlog scolded.
Mr. Salim who was not a victim of fraud said many thanks. "Fortunately there is Mr. Bejo, if not then I have been deceived! Before Pak Bejo appeared, I also didn't think that the ruby ruby agate belonged to a friend of mine who was missing!"
Before leaving, Mr. Bejo stopped at Cipo's house and told him a lot about Sangiran. The village of birth that was forced to be abandoned because of being deceived by Pak Srengsreng and Bu Cita. "The name Sangiran cannot be separated from the name of GH Ralph Von Koenigswald, a paleontologist from Germany. He came to Sangiran to research prehistoric fossils, and the research began in 1934. Koenigswald can prove to the world that Sangiran is one of the places that contains ancient relics." He also told about the umbrella child from Koenigswald, namely Citro Suroto, whom he invited to accompany him to research in Sangiran every day, looking for fossils in nearly 32 square km of the Sangiran "dome" or dome area.
The umbrella boy's job is to protect him from both the sun and the rain. In fact, little Citro Suroto was considered his own child. The research lasted 7 years, and managed to find hundreds of ancient human and animal fossils that were 10 million-63 million years ago. After the umbrella child grew up, he already understood the intricacies of fossils in his area. So that the umbrella child knows how the original form of the fossil is, how to take it or treat it so that it is not damaged, as well as how to estimate the age of the fossil. Over time the knowledge of the umbrella boy's fossil was passed on to his children and neighbors who were eventually involved in the discovery of the fossil. "Sangiran, which is barren and minuscule, makes its residents make a living by looking for fossils. But since Sangiran was made a cultural heritage area, the people have become makers and sellers of souvenirs and antiques that still smell like fossils or prehistoric relics. So that ancient coins, copper statues, and various jewelry pieces made of stone were made and sold around the museum premises."
"Fortunately there is Mr. Bejo, so that a pair of swindlers can be caught!" Cipo said.
"Hopefully after this incident they don't repeat what they did," said Mr. Bejo and then excused himself, of course he was ready to be a witness in court if Mr. Srengsreng and Mrs. Cita were tried. Meanwhile, the ruby ruby agate cannot be returned to its owner immediately, because it will be used as evidence in court. Cipo wrote a story about the arrest of a pair of swindlers and sent it to the Kriminol magazine. Mr. Soku was beyond excited, because he thought the story of a pair of con artists was quite funny. Well, Cipo is just waiting for his writing fee. (*)