The Wood : Part 5

Continued from The Wood : Part 1, The Wood : Part 2,  The Wood : Part 3 and The Wood : Part 4

   When Stryber suddenly stood upright, fear gripped me. I felt for the knife on the table. But it turned and went out of the house. I saw it sniffed and circled a tree. The tree, which bore odd-looking fruits the size of football, was located on the left side of the house. It was just a small tree and I can easily reached for the fruits. I picked two, curious to know what's inside the coarse brown skin. Maybe Stryber would eat it. Next to it I saw, to my amazement, a biscuit tree! Well, not biscuit, really, more like a tidbits tree. It was really amazing, who had ever seen snacks grow on a tree before? The smooth, soft skin was transparent, almost like a plastic wrapper, which allowed me to see what's inside. It looked heavenly! Egg tarts, chocolates, sweets...my, my, what a feast we're going to have! I picked several of them to put inside the jars I found in one of the kitchen cupboard.

   I tried to hack open the 'football' fruit. One swing of the knife and the skin fell aside to reveal what's inside. Immediately Stryber sprang to my side. I looked and saw that the fruit contained meat! Laughing aloud, I understood then why Stryber was so attracted to it. I put those meat on a plate and then preceeded to open the next one. Shaking my head I muttered, "Will I cease to wonder? Now will there be a salt and sugar tree too?" I tried scouring the kitchen more thoroughly and finally I found them, sealed tightly in containers. 

   Nevertheless, I succeeded in making a satisfying 'bruncher' - breakfast plus lunch plus dinner. I was ravenous! I tucked in like a person who hadn't eaten for ten years!, Later I was lying on the sofa, contented but quite ashamed of the unladylike way I had gobbled up the whole pot. I bet Stryber was ashamed of me too. Hah. He was lying on the rug, satisfied with his dinner. The warm glow of the fireplace and a tired body soon drew me to sleep. I could still hear the music of the forest, accompanying me to slumberland.

   Before long I began to dream. I dreamt that I was in the hospital and my friend Jill was sitting next to my bed. I saw the situation as if I am another person in the room. I inched nearer to get a better look. What a state I was in! Covered in bandages, hooked up to the machine, IV bag...surely I didn't need that? How bad was my condition actually? It was so weird. This is considered a nightmare! I suddenly wanted to be inside that sick body. You know, just to get a taste of how it feels. Is it possible to do that in a dream? What a stupid feeling, who wanted to try feeling sick anyway? But maybe I could tell Stryber all about it during breakfast.

   I seeped, or dissolved, or whatever it is, into the body, and I immediately felt cold. I shuddered and instinctively knew that something wasn't right. I was wriggling inside, trying to find the perfect fit in the body so that I wouldn't be so uncomfortable like this. But then I decided that it was no use and after all, it's a dream and honestly, I was starting to dislike it. I struggled with all my strength to break free again. It was terribly painful, and it struck me that maybe this is how it feels in the sick body. I hate the uneasiness that lurked in every part of it. I felt stiff and hot. I didn't feel belonged. I yearned to be back in the cottage, lying in the coolness of the night. I want to stop this really, really bad nightmare! If only I could wake up. God,  I prayed, I don't want to be stuck in a time, at a place, that is unreal. I can't believe I'm caught in this, I thought. My strength was fading away...

   Just as I was beginning to lose hope, so sure that I was trapped forever...a firm grip on my hand pulled me back to the present. Stryber! My eyes snapped open. I saw Jill bending over me with a panicked look. Then I saw the concerned doctor and the nurse. Nobody else. My strained eyes searched the room, but everything was white and cream under the bright light. I didn't see any black stripes. I couldn't see Stryber and I was not at the cottage. I was not even in the wood. So, it's true...I was really stuck in the dream. Recognizing defeat, and feeling so weak and thoroughly confused, I drifted into sleep, determined to go back to the cottage again if I could 'dream' about it. I swore I would! Surrendering does not necessarily means defeat, right? I would get back to Stryber.

   Alas, I didn't. I was awake once again to find myself still in the same room, the same hospital ward, Jill by my side. I felt betrayed. Jill was in this! In some kind of conspiracy to keep me from the wood. Why? Because I didn't deliver Mrs Faig's eggs? I was going insane. Is there some kind of witchery? What else could have done this?

- To be continued -

Continued in The Wood : Part 6 (Final)

The Wood : Part 4

Continued from The Wood : Part 1, The Wood : Part 2 and The Wood : Part 3

   So I rose and began to walk slowly. It rose, too. I thought that it was going to pounce and I waited for the worst to happen, breaking in cold sweat. But it didn't, so I made a move, and the next, and the next, and the tiger followed me closely. Finally I felt at ease when it didn't harm me. I even tried to pat its head. When it didn't bite my hand or reacted aggresively, I knew that I've got a companion in the isolated forest.

   My stomach felt sucked in. By then I knew that I was really starving. Just then i caught sight of a cottage. My heart leaped with joy and I was smiling from ear to ear. "Come on!" I said to Stryber the tiger. Yes, that's the name I gave him. It bounded along the path beside me as I sped towards the cottage. When we reached the gate, I suddenly didn't know what to do. And I found out that the road ended there instead of a bend as I had predicted. Although I called out a few times, no one answered. I was convinced that I should go into the house because there was nowhere else for me to go.

   I pushed the creaking gate. It was not locked. Why didn't the owner oil the hinge? It sounded terribly creepy. Going up to knock on the door, I stayed near Stryber all the time. No one opened the door. I twisted the knob. It was not locked too. I debated with myself whether to go in or not. What's the worst that can happen? After all Stryber was with me. It will kind of be like Goldilocks and the three bears, won't it, only I didn't have golden locks. Oh well, who cares?

   When I got in, I was astounded. The furniture were covered with white cloths and everything was so dusty. It's clear that no one had lived in the house for quite some time. "Let's stay here, Stryber. At least for now." Stryber just watched as I pulled off the covering on the furniture and coughed when dust filled the air. I had to go out of the house for a while until the dust settled. I discovered where the kitchen was and that there was only one bedroom. The toilet was near the kitchen, on the northeast corner. It's an old-fashioned house, but there's a fridge and an old stove. I found the broom and as I swept away the dust, my stomach suddenly growled with hunger. I had forgotten how hungry I was in my excitement of exploring the house. I hurried to the kitchen and found where the cutlery and cooking utensils were in the kitchen cupboard. But where could I get the food? The thought hit me so suddenly. I looked out of the kitchen window, hoping to spot any edible plant or fruit. To my delight, I saw that there were many kinds of it growing all over in the garden. No wonder, since there's nobody to take care of them. Except, maybe, magic? I opened the kitchen door that led into the backyard. It was quite large. I brought with me a basket to put in all the vegetables. Stryber followed behind as I plucked, picked and dug potatoes, carrots, beans, radishes, toamtoes, cabbages...before long my basket was full and I went to have two more picking trips. I put all of them in the fridge. Stryber sniffed at the basket. 'What a cat!' I smiled to myself. Then I remembered. He must eat meat! Where am I going to find it? Salt, spices...oh...I sat on the chair with resignation. I turned to Stryber. "Stryber, can you bear eating vegetables just like that everyday? Are you going to hunt for your own food or do I have to prepare it for you? Hey, I'm not your food, right?" He just looked at me with inquiring eyes. I just hoped that he didn't suddenly decided to have me for dinner!

- To be continued -

Cerita Keanak-anakan : Tolong Selamatkan Mereka!

    Malik memerhati dari celah pokok sambil memegang kemas pistolnya. Dia mencapai walkie-talkie yang terselit di pinggang.

"Tuan, apa yang harus saya lakukan sekarang?"

    Tiada jawapan. Berkerut dahi Malik menunggu. "Tuan! Saya ulang, keadaan tebusan adalah tidak berapa baik. Saya bimbang jika dibiarkan lebih lama lagi, kita akan terlambat dan mereka akan mati. Arahan seterusnya, tuan!" Walkie-talkie masih senyap. Malik mula tidak senang duduk. Kenapa Mejar Hamdan senyap?

   Di depan matanya kini ada beribu tebusan yang terbaring lemah dan tidak mampu bergerak. Berulang kali mereka dipijak dengan kejamnya oleh pengganas-pengganas tersebut. Tidak cukup dengan itu, kadangkala mereka diludah pula. Seorang pun daripada mereka tidak berani bersuara. Mereka hanya mampu membiarkan. Makanan dan air langsung tidak diberikan. Para tebusan cuma berpeluang minum jika hujan turun. Walaupun dengan keadaan mereka dibiarkan kesejukan dan basah dalam hujan, mereka dapat minum sepuas-puasnya dan terlepas daripada seksaan pengganas buat seketika.

   Malik semakin geram melihat beberapa pengganas yang tidak berperikemanusian membunuh dan mengerat-ngerat beberapa tebusan yang ada. Tidak!!! Hatinya menjerit. Semangat perjuangan dan belas kasihannya membara. Dia memutuskan untuk mengambil tindakan sendiri tanpa menunggu arahan pihak atasan. Kalau asyik tunggu, ribuan nyawa akan terkorban dulu!

"Tuan, saya akan cuba menyelinap masuk ke kem sasaran. Beberapa tebusan telah dibunuh. Saya tak boleh biarkan sahaja, tuan! Tak kisahla tuan nak kata apa!"

   Dengan terhendap-hendap ala Hidden Tiger Crouching Dragon Malik berjaya membolosi pertahanan pihak pengganas dengan mudah. Lantas dia mendapatkan tebusan yang terdekat dengannya. "Encik, encik tak apa-apa? Boleh bangun tak?" Tebusan tersebut terkulai layu tidak menjawab. Tiba-tiba dua orang pengganas muncul. Dengan sepantas kilat Malik menembak.

   Hah??! Pengganas-pengganas tersebut terus berlalu tanpa cedera sedikit pun. Malik terduduk. Siapakah mereka ini? Macam orang kebal, sedikit pun tidak lut senjata. Nasib baik mereka tidak sedar kehadirannya di situ. Kedudukannya agak terlindung di balik semak, tambahan pula dia telah memasang silencer pada pistolnya. Mereka terus berjalan seolah-olah tidak terkena langsung peluru. Mustahil! Memang aku tembak tadi. Dia merenung kelongsong peluru kosong di sisinya. Pengganas ni alien ke apa?

" Hoi, kamu yang di balik semak! Buat apa tu?! Keluar!"

    Alamak, exposed! Malik bingkas bangun dan segera meluru ke dalam hutan semula. Terdengar hingar-bingar suara orang mengejarnya. Aku tidak boleh tertangkap! Matilah aku kalau tertangkap! Nak lawan dengan hape?! Kalau tembak dengan pistol pun tak ada kesan...

   Akhirnya Malik sampai ke tepi jalanraya. Tanpa teragak-agak dia melintas dan terus berlari ke sebuah bangunan tidak jauh dari situ.

"Tuan! Tolong selamatkan mereka, tuan! Pengganas tu alien, tuan! Saya tembak tak mati, saya-....!"

"Bertenang, Malik! Kamu cakap apa ni? Tarik nafas betul-betul dulu."

"Takde masa nak tarik nafas, tuan! Mereka-"

   Malik tarik nafas.

"-mereka seksa tebusan tu, tuan! Mereka pijak-pijak, ludah dan tak bagi makan minum pun. Kita kena bertindak sekarang sebelum semuanya mati dibunuh!"

"Mana tebusan tu? Tunjukkan pada saya, Malik."

   Malik membawa Mejar Hamdan ke tempat para tebusan tadi berada. "Malik, mana tebusan?" Malik menuding jari.

"Tu, tuan!"

   Mejar Hamdan geleng kepala. Dia membuat isyarat memanggil dua orang attendan yang kelihatan tercari-cari. Kemudian dia berpaling menghadap Malik semula. "Malik, kamu tahu tak yang kamu tunjuk tu apa?" Mendengar soalan itu, Malik kehairanan.

"Tebusan la, tuan..."

"Itu kan rumput. Memang padan  la orang pijak-pijak pun, tak bagi makan minum, ludah...err, ludah?? Siapa yang ludah tu! Kamu kene ingat kat sini tak boleh meludah sebarangan. Ingat tu, Malik."

    Dua orang attendan yang dipanggil tadi pun sampai dengan termengah-mengah. "Maafkan kami Dr. Hamdan, Malik larikan diri dari biliknya tadi. Kami tak sempat nak kejar, puas kami cari tadi rupanya menyorok balik semak." Dr. Hamdan menggangguk dengan serius.

"Pastikan tidak berulang lagi. Pesakit jiwa ni kene jaga elok-elok, nanti jika berlaku kejadian yang tidak diingini kita yang akan dipersalahkan. Macam Malik ni, rumput dia kata tebusan. Kamu ni pulak dia kata pengganas. Siap dia kata tembak kamu lagi. Nasib baik pistol air, kalau dia pegang pisau?? Dah, bawa dia masuk."

    Malik tersengih-sengih. "Rumput eh, tuan....hehehe....."