Chapter 2: A Glimpse of Vengeance
Jaka Someh walked along a narrow path, only about two meters wide, that seemed to split the Halimun forest1 in two. With his spirits still burning brightly, he continued his journey southward down the mountain. The chirping of birds became his cheerful music along the way.
Halfway through, as he crossed a small, clear stream, Jaka paused to refill his bamboo water container. He took a few sips, savoring the refreshing sensation that seemed to seep into his very soul. Once his bamboo container was full, he continued on his journey.
Not a hundred steps from that spot, Jaka suddenly saw a group of rough-looking men hurrying down from the mountain’s peak. Their expressions were fierce, and they were dragging an older man whose face was battered, as though he had just been beaten.
Jaka froze when he recognized one of the men. He would never forget the face of the man who had killed his father, even though it had been more than five years. The man was Ki Marta2, one of Juragan3 Permana’s henchmen, the very person who had murdered his father.
Seeing Ki Marta, Jaka could only stand there, paralyzed, unsure of what to do. Inside his chest, emotions clashed—anger, hatred, and confusion. He wanted so badly to confront Ki Marta, yet he knew that such an act would be suicidal. Ki Marta was a feared fighter from Kampung Rawa Balong4, while Jaka was just a young boy with no martial skills. How could he hope to stand against Ki Marta and his men?
Still, his anger and hatred overwhelmed his fear. Jaka stopped in his tracks and positioned himself in the middle of the path to block Ki Marta and his gang.
As they approached him, one of the men, the thinnest yet with a menacing look, yelled at Jaka, “Hey, you scrawny kid... Why are you blocking our way? Do you want your stupid face to end up like Ki Madun’s here?”
Jaka froze, dumbstruck, his eyes glaring straight at Ki Marta with a piercing gaze. Seeing Jaka’s sharp stare, Ki Marta grew angry.
“How dare you… Why are you looking at me like that, huh? Want me to teach you a lesson?” Ki Marta sneered, threateningly.
Hearing Ki Marta’s threat, Jaka only intensified his glare. He continued staring at Ki Marta with eyes full of fury and hatred. Angered by Jaka’s defiance, Ki Marta lunged at him, slapping his face hard. Not stopping there, Ki Marta kicked Jaka in the stomach, causing him to stumble backward, his bamboo flute falling from his waistband.
Before Jaka could stand, Ki Marta’s men joined in, kicking and punching him mercilessly. Jaka reflexively raised his arms to shield his face and body. The sadness, anger, and despair swirling inside him momentarily numbed the pain of the blows. Fortunately, his body was strong, allowing him to withstand their relentless assault. But with each unceasing punch and kick, he began to feel his strength waning, the pain finally breaking through.
As the pain reached its peak, Jaka instinctively cried out, tears streaming down his face in sorrow and frustration at his helplessness against Ki Marta and his gang.
“O Lord… Oh, it hurts... please…have mercy…”
Ignoring Jaka’s cries, Ki Marta and his men continued to beat him mercilessly. Eventually, Jaka couldn’t hold on any longer and lost consciousness. Seeing that Jaka was unresponsive, one of them shouted to the others, urging them to stop.
“That’s enough. The kid’s barely alive. It’s pointless to keep going—we’re just wasting our energy. At least he learned his lesson... now he’ll think twice.”
Ki Marta and his gang finally stopped. Satisfied to see Jaka lying motionless on the ground, they left him there, unconscious, and resumed dragging the older man they had been holding.
Footnotes
- Halimun: A dense, mystical forest located at the base of Mount Halimun in Indonesia, renowned for its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. ↩
- Ki: An honorific title in Javanese and Sundanese culture, commonly used for elders, warriors, or respected individuals. ↩
- Juragan: A title in Indonesian culture denoting a person of wealth or influence, often a landlord or boss. ↩
- Kampung Rawa Balong: A fictional village in this story, representing the rustic and tight-knit communities often found in rural Indonesia. ↩
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