Bebegigs
Chapter 23

At the southern end of the field, separated from the crowd of houses, away from the rice fields, far across there the river at the foot of the mountain, a high rock hill sticking out onto the surface of the canyon, leaning towards the waterfall as if trying to grab the dark forested river opposite it.

At the height of the black rock hill, slippery because of the thick and damp dew, in the shadow of the sturdy rock hill, isolated and desolate, the, unless there was only a waterfall dam into the merciless river, a bat slid and floated down to the meeting place between the mist and the clouds, spinning rapidly at the top of the cliff while folding its wings, twisting in a spooky and rhythmless dance, then landing without sound.

He emerged from the dance in the form of a human being, changed into a boy with eyes glittering red, out of anger.

Very angry with Magenta.

At the same time, a thick fog settled down under his feet, enveloping the entire place around Magenta so that the guy suddenly lost his way.

He turned back to the field where Magenta was struggling to find a way out.

He flicked his shoulder-length curly hair back by jerking his head, then crossed his eyes at the rocks that were sloping steeply into the abyss, thinking hard.

He was silent for a long time, while Magenta kept twitching and circling in the same place, trapped by the ancient invisible force.

Magenta continued to walk up the chest-high weeds, but the weeds stretched from one hill to the other, endless.

The familiar-looking black-robed scarecrow was stuck tilted amidst the weeds at the foot of the cliff.

More than three times Magenta found the scarecrow.

It's weird, he thought.

How can I get lost in my own place?

Shouldn't this end of the weed field be my rice field?

Why does it feel like these fields are endless?

Magenta paused for a moment and looked around. Research every corner of the place around him. His breath was puffing from tired walking. And that rarely happens when he just goes fishing and commutes to the rice fields.

The distance he took was clearly different from usual.

But he recognized every corner of the place well.

I'm not going anywhere! he concluded.

Then observe the scarecrow stuck on a high pole tilted above the weeds with squashed eyes.

He could not see it clearly, but he knew exactly that the scarecrow was the same scarecrow they used to make from time to time. But they've never made it again now.

Who made a scarecrow like that? thought.

A deity?

Does God still like the fear of being attacked by the ghost of a scarecrow?

Feeling awkward about the situation, Magenta decided to change course. He turned into the middle of the bushes towards where the scarecrow was planted even though there was no trace of the path as a sign that the place had been passed by someone.

He doesn't care.

He just wanted to make sure if the scarecrow was what he thought it was.

He opened the bushes with both hands like the movement of someone who was swimming, without looking back and forth, his gaze remained fixed on the scarecrow.

Then out of his expectations, he suddenly came out of the bushes and arrived at the grater of his rice field.

Magenta was stunned and looked around again.

Shouldn't he have reached the foot of the cliff?

Magenta chuckles cynically. It's obviously not right, he thought. Then turn his gaze towards the small hut in the middle of the rice field, locals used to call it Saung Ranggon, a small hut the size of a patrol post to rest while working in the rice fields.

Perhaps they still have a supply of drinking water in their hut, Magenta thought.

He was thirsty and very tired. He might rest a little and start a fire. Who knows, it might help him calm down a little.

He did not feel afraid of the magical rope that is commonly called Areuy Bindeng. This kind of phenomenon is common around fields and rice fields, or plantations. Where everyone who even knows the place well can still get lost and go around in circles in the same place. It is one of the magical phenomena.

One of the myths believed by the local people.

Upon reaching the hut, he lit the plastic lighter he used to carry everywhere and started making campfires.

His breathing was still wheezing when he finished making the fire. He checked the jug in the corner of the hut. The water is still full. He took a bite and sat down for a moment to recover his breath.

The flames began to grow in the hut yard, not far from his feet. The crackling and flickering reflect a pale light that gives off a slight illumination.

It was at that moment that Magenta realized someone was still working in his paddy field.

A white woman with batik and caping cloth, bent between the rice clumps in the middle of the rice field.

Who still works these nights? thought surprised.

What time is it now?

He was not sure how long he had been stuck in the fields, which he knew he was separated from the orange when the sun sank.

Maybe not too late, he thought. But it's still too late to work in the fields.

Magenta immediately came out of his hut with a slight bow due to his low roof, then looked up to the middle of the rice field next to his rice field. Then call the woman, "Mom…?"

The woman remained bowed.

Magenta stepped onto the matter and wrapped his palms around his mouth forming a funnel, "Mom!" call again. A little raised his voice.

The woman remained bowed.

Magenta rushed over to the woman and bowed at the edge of her rice field, "Bu—" his voice choked in the throat.

The woman was apparently not bending over to work, but was cross-legged reading a book.

Reading books?

In the middle of the rice field?

Magenta gulped with great difficulty and gasped back a step, almost toppling over, one of his legs mired to the side of the grunter.

He could hear the whisper of the woman. His voice was low and hoarse.

"But it rains Ngagelebug, komo wanci sambekala. Kade Bebeggig, Anaking! Kade Bebegig's! Bebegig mawa dodoja."

The feathers of Magenta simultaneously bristles. He screamed stifled and held his breath as he staggered backwards.

Is he cast a spell? Magenta asked in his heart. Is that book some kind of magic book?

How can one read a book in the midst of a paddy field in the darkness?

"Ne-who's granny?" Magenta asked stammering.

Suddenly the woman raised her face.

And Magenta gasped for a moment.

His face was not too old even though his hair was all white.

Similar to the mother of Orange, Magenta thought.

The woman's face lit up in the darkness until Magenta could see her smile.

He's smiling!

Magenta.

"The book of Ambu soek-books of Mother's torn," said the woman as she lifted her book, trying to show the torn part to Magenta. "Sik cukcruk kaaf-kidul-please look south!"

Magenta only blinked, his entire body frozen except for his eyes.

"Geuwat--hurry!" hardik the woman to Magenta. "Tong talangke-don't melt!"

Magenta flinched and without thinking he ran away from the plumber, away from the woman, running home in a hearty manner.