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| The Journey of the Bottle |
12 years. It had been 12 years since he left. Iskander sat in the corner thinking about his son. 12 years ago, Wira, Iskander’s son, had left his father to join the army. Though Iskander had not heard from Wira since 2 years after he left, the fact that he lived in a poor secluded village had not prevented him from hearing about what a legend his son was becoming. Wira was now a respectable soldier, a hero even. Just like his namesake. 8 years after Wira left, Iskander had sent out a scroll in a bottle in hopes that it would reach his son.
4 years after the bottle was thrown out to sea, in the present day, it was found by an old fisherman named Jamba, as he caught it in his net. Jamba opened the bottle and read the scroll inside, only to find that it was for none other than the hero Wira. Jamba set out to find Wira, though it was not all that hard, as Wira’s name was known far and wide. On his mini journey, Jamba encountered a marksman who had recently seen Wira, and so he took the bottle and set off. When the marksman found Wira, he was looking out to the ocean. The marksman tapped Wira’s shoulder as he dropped the bottle at his feet. He then left. A minute after the marksman left, Wira realized that someone had dropped something. Wira bent down and picked the bottle up. Wira opened the bottle. There were a few words on the outside of the note. They read: To my little hero. Wira, curious, unrolled the scroll. It read: My dear son Wira,”. A tear fell from his eyes as Wira realized that it was from his father. He read on. “If you are reading this, then this letter must have reached you. I don’t know how much time has passed, Please, come home. I have missed you greatly ever since you left, and worry for you every day.” Since he left for the army, especially because of his growing popularity, Wira was unable to contact anyone, nor was he able to travel. In the first time since 12 years, he was finally permitted a break. After reading the scroll, Wira decided to set out and find his father. Alone, as he had no one else to travel with, he set off to the dock to rent a boat. Wira had no experience with boats, and so he had trouble picking one. While he was deciding on which boat he should take, he met up with a sailor. The sailor immediately recognized Wira as the Great Hero, and asked if he could be of assistance. Wira told the sailor about the bottle, his father, and everything else that had occurred in the past few hours, including his need for a boat. After hearing Wira’s story, the sailor offered to escort him. “It would be a great honor for me if you allow me to escort you,” the sailor said. Wira, grateful to the sailor, thanked him and accepted his offer. Realizing that he did not yet know the sailor’s name, he asked the sailors name. The sailor responded, saying that his name is Kusama. Kusama asked Wira where he would like to go, with Wira responding Indonesia. Based off of the currents in the route from Africa to Indonesia, Kusama chose a compatible boat. Wira asked Kusama how he knew which boat to take, to which Kusama replied that he based it off of the currents. Although Wira was well educated, he had not learned much about oceanography. Wira explained this to Kusama as he asked for an explanation of how currents work. And so, while they stocked the ship, Kusama explained that “Ocean Currents and driven by wind, salinity, density, and change in temperature.” Wira, still having a slight bit of trouble, said “Sorry to trouble you this much, but I still don’t understand it all that well. How does Wind, Salinity, Density, and Temperature change affect the currents? To this, Kusama replied “Salinity is amount of saltiness or dissolved salt in a body of water. Density is the measure of mass in something. Wind affects water because it moves the surface of the water. Temperature change affects currents because it causes the masses of different water areas to change.” Wira, now able to completely understand the topic, thanked Kusama, who replied that it was his honor. They finished stocking up on food and supplies, and set off on their journey. During their journey, Wira was responsible for the sails, while Kusama steered a boat. Several days later, they finally reached Indonesia. Wira’s father lived in a small village near the coast. The village was poor, as well as all of its residents. Iskander lived on the outskirts of the village, away from the other houses.
Wira and Kusama walked to the village, as there was no form of transportation in that corner of the country. Once they reached the village, everyone greeted Wira with pride and joy, even preparing for a feast in the evening. Kusama had departed, wanting to see more of Indonesia. Wira asked about his father, but no one knew much about him. According to the villagers, he barely ever showed up in the village. Not since 6 years after Wira left. Hearing this worried Wira greatly, and so he rushed to their house. Once they reached the house, Wira opened the door, only to find his father lying in bed, looking terribly ill. Wira asked his father what had happened, and he told Wira that he had fallen ill 6 years after Wira left. Wira, of course, ran to get help, coming back with the village medic. The medic checked on Iskander, and even identified his illness. The illness, unfortunately, had been seen before, but none of the victims had survived so far. There was no cure for this illness. Wira was devastated by the news. His father, whom he had not seen for the past 12 years, was on the verge of death. Wira was determined to save his father, and so, once again, he set out, seeking a cure. Wira asked around in all of Indonesia, but had no luck. Finally, just as he was about to give up, he ran into Kusama. Kusama saw the solemn look on Wira’s face and asked what was worrying him. Wira explained his father’s situation to Kusama, who asked to see his father.
They had reached Wira’s home. Kusama began to ask the medic about Iskander’s conditions, recognizing the illness. Kusama spoke to Wira, and said that there was a cure for the illness back in Africa. And so, as quickly as possible, the two stocked up their ship once again, and traveled back to Africa, bringing along Iskander, as if they took the time to travel there and back, the condition would worsen to a truly incurable state. Several days later, they once again reached Africa. Wira stayed back on the boat along with his father while Kusama brought a medic who could cure the illness. Weeks later, after many times of taking medicine, Iskander was finally cured. Kusama and Wira left to Indonesia once again, and a feast was prepared in celebration of Iskander’s health and Wira’s homecoming.
About a month later, suspicious people had come to the village looking for Wira. A new war had started, and without Wira, the army was sure to lose. It was a war between Africa and Britain. The agents of Britain had arrived on orders to assassinate Wira. In the dead of night, they set Wira’s house on fire. They woke up immediately, but as the house was made of straw, it was too late. The entire house was collapsing. Wira attempted to run out along with Kusama and Iskander, but he tripped. Just as a flaming chunk of ceiling fell upon Wira, Iskander pushed him out of the way, burning under the rubble. His last words were “Wira, Run!” Wira was shocked. He ran towards his father in a desperate attempt to save him, but Kusama pulled him away, as Iskander was already dead. They ran out together, surviving.
In the following days, Wira had marched into battle and achieved victory. The same week, Iskander’s funeral was held. All of Africa and Indonesia was present. It was a funeral for not only Wira’s father, but also a hero. A hero who had died saving the Hero of the Land.
