When giving grilled eel, Lot did not observe Nek Mo's house. The hut house is like a goat pen, but quite large and made of wood and bamboo. The walls are made of bamboo. "This is my shelter from the heat and rain. The villagers are very nice. Even though they are not rich people, they really care about a poor person like me."
Lot looked inside. There is a bed made of bamboo, there is a mat, and a very shabby little mattress. The gaping hole in the wall is stuffed with plastic.
"I am the only child of parents who were both born as an only child. I once had a family and had children," said Nek Mo. "Do you like studying history?" Lot nodded. "Of course you have learned about the history of this country, including the events of 1965. My husband and son are missing and there has never been any news. They died but I don't know where their grave is." Nek Mo said that without a sad expression, instead smiled, and after that looked down as if no one else was nearby.
Nek Mo then said, "I forgot. Didn't I want to show you something?"
Lot said, "Already before. Grandma gave me snail meat."
"That's not what I mean. Maybe you've heard from Kabul or something." Lot didn't know what Nek Mo meant. "Wait a moment." Nek Mo went into the house and came out with her shawl and stone statue. Lot smiled. It was the stump of the head that would be shown to him? "Let's go to that shady place." Nek Mo walked under the shady mango tree. Then sit under it. The scarf is opened. The statue is no longer stump. The head is already in place. What will the statue show, thought Lot. "This is the game that always strengthens Grandma."
While saying Nek Mo took something from her cloth. A stone the size of a free-range chicken egg. "This is the root of the stone, the heart of the stone, or Stone Heart." Who is Nek Mo? But there is something even more surprising. Nek Mo put the stone into the back of the statue which turned out to be hollow. The hole is then closed with rubber ties. Nek Mo was silent and closed her eyes.
Surprisingly, the statue moves like a robot. Lot remembered what Toto said that the Nek Mo statue could walk. Now, he saw it for himself.
"Let's jump my soldiers," whispered Nek Mo. The statue jumps. Lot was astonished. "It's just that it can't talk." Once the stone was removed the statue stiffened again.
"Is this what people were saying as jelangkung, Grandma?" asked Lot. Jelangkung is a doll that can move itself.
Nek Mo chuckled. "Of course it's different. Jelangkung moves because of the power of spirits. This statue moved because of the heart of this stone. That said, Stone Heart is the ancestor of stone. This stone was taken from the core of the earth." Taken from the core of the earth? Again, Lot was amazed by Nek Mo. This granny is very mysterious.
Judging from its origin, rocks are divided into three types, igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks. Igneous rock is composed of several minerals that are formed due to the freezing of magma. Igneous rock itself is divided into two types, plutonic igneous rock and volcanic igneous rock. Sedimentary rock is formed due to weathering and erosion processes that are deposited. While metamorphic rock is rock that is formed due to changes in temperature or pressure.
"Can I tell my friends about Stone Heart, Grandma?"
"No one will believe you. You will be laughed at or worse, you are already considered infected by me," said Nek Mo. "If the stone is inside then this statue cannot be broken. Beyond iron. If you have time tomorrow come here again. I'll tell you the history I know about Stone Heart."
Lot nodded though not sure if he would return to this hut tomorrow. What he saw had confused him. "Grandma, I'm home." Goodbye lot.
"Bring gifts for your two cute friends, okay? Tell me this is Grandma's snail menu." Nek Mo wrapped the conch dishes, all of them, left and handed over to Lot.
"What about Grandma?"
"Don't have to think about it." Lot received the parcel. This was done so that the old woman would not be disappointed. Lot left Nek Mo's residence. Some of the villagers' eyes saw it and looked surprised. City people entering Nek Mo's house is considered strange.
"There are no village children who want to go to the house, why are you there, son," said a middle-aged man who approached him.
"I was invited."
"Next time, if invited, don't want to."
"Why?" asked Lot. The person replied so that he would not catch a strange infection. Lot became hesitant about the snail meat he brought. He thought about throwing it away. But when he was about to act he felt guilty. The conch is a sincere gift from someone whose life is very difficult. If he throws it away where is his conscience. Lot brought the parcel. Even if later Lit and Lot would not eat it, he would eat it himself.
"Where were you come from?" said Lit when Lot arrived.
Lot replied, "Take a walk. This is a souvenir." He showed the package of banana leaves he was carrying. Lit looked at the contents, his eyes sparkling. In the past, he had eaten a handful of conch at Kabul's house. Without further ado, Lit picked it up and ate it. Lat comes. As soon as he saw his two friends chewing something he got involved.
"Where did you buy?" asked Lat. "We'll buy more later, okay?"
"No one sells it," said Lot. Lit asked, "So where did you get this from?"
"Given by Nek Mo," replied Lot. The other two bombers were very surprised.
"Grandma Mo?"
"Yes," said Lot. Lit and Lat looked at each other. "You think Grandma Mo can't cook?" In fact, Lot knew that was not what his two friends were thinking. Before his two friends said anything bad about the old woman, Lot said, "It turns out that what Lanjar said is true."
"Which Lanjar word?" asked Lat.
"It wasn't Lanjar, but Toto who said that the Nek Mo statue could walk. That's when you burn the eel. I've seen it myself. This conch was given after I saw the statue could walk." Lit looked at Lot without blinking. There was something to worry about this friend of mine.
"You've caught Lanjar," said Lit.
Lot laughed but was disappointed that his two friends did not believe his words. But it is impossible to force others to believe. Believe it or not, it's up to each person. After all, what he said did not make sense.
That day Lit invited Lat, Lot, Kabul, and their village friends to play in the hills. When they reached the hill, when they saw the green expanse of rice fields and some yellowing rice plants, Lot immediately remembered Siprit. Where's Siprit?
"You said you wanted to introduce another friend, where?" bill Kabul.
"He was out with his friends," said Lot. Kabul was surprised. "Going with his friends? How many people came from Jakarta, anyway?" Lot put his index finger to his lips, signaling Lit and Lot not to reveal the secret. Kabul is getting curious.
The distance between the hill and the village is about 500 meters. The hill is located in the middle of rice fields, while the Japanese cave is not far from the hill, about 200 meters. Its height is about fifteen meters higher than the surrounding ground level. Is it true that the hill exists because of the construction of a Japanese cave? Was the Japanese army at that time willing to go to great lengths to make it? Make no mistake, they didn't bother. With the weapon cocked, the villagers are made difficult. They make caves by forced labor or romusha. Refuse? Shot.
Lit invites Kabul into the cave. Kabul said that the condition of the cave was already fragile. Fear of landslides. Several goats were on the hill to graze. Being on the top of the small hill, they can freely see Grandma Lit's village.
"During the war, my grandfather said, the Japanese soldiers put some lights on this hill. The goal is to outwit the opponent, so that this hill is bombarded."
"Why do you have to install lights? Wouldn't it be that if the lights weren't installed, they wouldn't be bombed?"
Toto replied, "By installing lights on this hill, it is not the village or the hiding cave that is being shot at."
While his friends were chatting, Lanjar came down from the hill. Seeing that Lot followed him. "I have something to ask," said Lot. Lanjar stopped and faced Lot. Lot whispered, "Is it true that you have seen the statue of Nek Mo walk?" Lanjar smiled but looked confused to answer the question. "Did you see it for yourself? Don't tell the others, I saw it too."
"You saw it too?" asked Lanjar. Lot nodded. Lanjar whispered, "One day I was asked to deliver cakes to Nek Mo. When I wanted to go home, she stopped me. Nek Mo then showed me the statue that could walk on its own. Did you see the stone that was inserted into the statue?" Lot agreed. "But no one believed me. Just you. That's because you've seen it yourself. When I told this to my parents, I was even forbidden to meet Nek Mo again. I saw that Nek Mo was disappointed with my change in attitude because before I liked to help her. But Nek Mo has come to terms with it."
"Then where are you going?" asked Lot.
"Pee," answered Lanjar.
Lot grimaced and went back up the hill, gathered with his friends. Kabul shouts at someone. From a distance there were two girls waving at them. One of them had her hair in two braids. "Lots!" shouted Lit with a laugh. When they found out that Lot was already among them. "Look at that! There is a girl in two braids. It turns out that here is a replacement for Odora. What's the name of the girl with the two braids?"
"Cousin Lanjar. Her name is Eci, a child from Surabaya. She is also on vacation like you guys," said Toto. "The girl with Tari, Lanjar's young sister."
Lot said, scratching his head. "Ouch, my head hurts when there is a girl in two braids," said Lot. The two girls came to the hill. Their trousers had grass flowers.
"Why did you come here?" asked Lanjar, when he found his sister and cousin on the hill.
Tari said, "Is it okay if we come here? We are currently surveying because later we will bring a tent." Eci is prettier than Odora. Lot, Lit, and Lat became acquainted with Eci. Lat, Lit, and Lot also became acquainted with Tari. Unfortunately, when Lot asked for her mobile number, Eci did not give him. When he asked Lanjar his number, his friend didn't know. Eci is very stingy when it comes to cellphone numbers.
"You don't have to use a cellphone, okay? Just use the traditional way. You can send a letter to Eci via Lanjar or Tari," Lit teased to Lot. When they went home, Eci and Tari didn't want to be together. They chose their own path through different rice fields even though it was further away. Eci seemed arrogant.
The next day Lot also got up earlier than Lit and Lat. Lot clean bathrooms. Lit's Grandma was already cooking in the kitchen. Lit's grandmother told Lot to have breakfast, there was no need to wait for Lit and Lot who would wake up late.
"Let's have breakfast with me," said Lit's Grandma. It was at the dinner table that Lot asked if it was true that Nek Mo used to have a family. Grandma Li confirmed. "Her son and husband are long dead. Long before you were born. Her husband is Soviet Union, now Russian. Prior to 1965, under President Soekarno, relations between Indonesia and the Soviet Union were very close. In Jakarta there is Harapan Hospital that was built by the white bear country. However, all of that fell apart when there was a transfer of power in our country. Nek Mo's husband and son are missing, kidnapped by unknown people."
"Is her husband an antique collector?"
"I doesn't know for sure, maybe so. After all, anyone can become a collector of anything, as long as they like it and have money if it has to be obtained by buying. She said her husband was very rich. Why are you interested in asking Nek Mo?"
"Yesterday, she gave me a bunch of snails because I brought banana leaves to someone's house. I refused but was forced."
Lit's grandma laughed. "It's a fortune so it doesn't have to be rejected. Nek Mo is good at cooking and her food is clean. She often brings me her own processed food, even if it's only a little."
"But isn't she a person who lacks?"
"We see it that way. But maybe she doesn't see it that way, the proof is that she likes to give. Even the decent clothes I gave her were given to beggars passing by. When I asked, she answered that the beggar needed it more."
Lot nodded. People usually give when they have excess, and this is normal. Whereas poor people like to give charity is extraordinary. Most people prefer to be given than to give. Lit and Lat left the room. Lit was about to sit at the dinner table but her grandmother told him not to. He had to take a shower first. But Lat had entered the bathroom first. Lit into the living room and sit on the sofa. Seeing her grandson's behavior, the grandmother shook her head.
"That's my grandson this one. You as a close friend probably know better than me."
Lit shouted, "Wheter I can eat yet, Grandma?"
"Take a bath first!"
"If I take a shower first, the side dishes will be doubled, right?"
"Yes!" said his grandmother, while laughed. Secretly, his grandmother took a knife and took a side dish of a piece of fried beef liver and cut it in half. The pieces of the heart are set aside in a small saucer. Lat finished his bath and Lit took his place. As soon as he finished showering and dressed neatly he headed for the dining table. "Your side dish is in the cup."
Lit looked at the side dish. "Two but how come the size is smaller than the Lat's side dish?"
"Didn't you ask for double the side dishes?" asked his grandmother, Lit nodded. "How many side dishes do you have?" Lit held up two fingers. "Lat's?" Lit held up his index finger, one. "So your side dish is twice that of Lat, correct?"
Lit pouted. "Stingy grandma." His grandmother laughed and hugged her grandson.
"I'm going for a walk. Would you like to come along?" asked Lot.
"Meeting two braids at Lanjar's house? Wait a minute, let me show you Lanjar's house!" said Lit.
Lot glared. "Who wants to go there? Knowledgeably!" After finishing eating Lit hurriedly took Lot to Lanjar's house. "But what are we pretending to do?"
"Looking for Lanjar," said Lat. Lit asked again, "After meeting Lanjar?"
"You'll see," said Lot. Arriving at Lanjar's house, Eci was not there. She went with Tari. Camp at the top of the hill? Lit scrambled to find a tree and climbed up. He wanted to know if there was a tent on the hill.
"There's a little tent over there! Njar, are Eci and Tari camping on the hill?"
"Apparently yes! Let's follow up," said Lanjar. "Then they will be angry. Tari is so fierce!" said Lit.
"She's fierce but kind," said Kabul, who suddenly appeared with Toto. They agreed to go to the little hill. But Lot would go there later. He said he had a sudden stomach ache so he had to go home first to lose about an ounce or two. However, as soon as his friends left for the small hill, Lot turned towards Nek Mo's place.