Karto's Misfortune<\/p>\n
By Sartono Kusumaningrat<\/p>\n
The heavy downpour that had pounded the hilly land since early
\nthat morning seemed to mock Karto, who wanted to go out weeding
\nhis farm. The daily rains would hasten the growth of wild grass
\non his cassava farm. The grass roots would suck all the nutrients
\nfrom the cassava roots. They would plunder all the nutrients in
\nthe soil. This would mean that Karto could not expect a good rice
\nharvest this year and he could not hope for very much fruit in
\nhis garden.<\/p>\n
He did not want to see anyone or anything like the wild grass
\nundermining his cassava crops.<\/p>\n
The rain forced him to cancel his plan to work on the farm.
\nThe cool air in the hilly area became even cooler with the
\nincessant rains. Karto daydreamed in his house with its dirt
\nfloor. He sat legs folded on a wooden chair and covered his
\ncrooked body with his worn-out sarong.<\/p>\n
\"Paaak! Paaak!\" His wife called out from the kitchen, the door
\nof which faced a hill.<\/p>\n
\"Yeah, what?\"<\/p>\n
Karto felt annoyed.<\/p>\n
\"See the water at the back of the house. It is falling from
\nthe hill slope, eroding the earth right under the beam at the
\nback corner! This wooden house may collapse any time now. Do
\nsomething, don't just sit there like a boss.\"<\/p>\n
\"Damn!\"<\/p>\n
Karto rushed to the kitchen where the family kept all the
\nhousehold and farming equipment. He snatched a hoe and ran out
\nthrough the door facing the hill. He tried hard to divert the
\nwater that hit the beam in the corner.<\/p>\n
He tried to block the stream but to no avail because the clay
\nhe used to dam the water was easily washed away by the strong
\ncurrent. Karto swore.<\/p>\n
\"How is it, Pak?\" his wife called out from the house, poking
\nher head out of the door to check on her husband who was wet
\nright through.<\/p>\n
\"Impossible! The water is too strong. Let's beat the kentongan
\n(wooden drum) for the neighbors' help,\" replied Karto, who had to
\nshout to overcome the sound of the pounding rain.<\/p>\n
His wife beat the kentongan that was hanging on the left
\ncorner of the verandah as a distress signal. She beat it with
\ngreat anxiety. In a matter of minutes Karto's neighbors came,
\nbraving the rain without umbrellas because they were too eager to
\nsee what was happening to the Kartos, or maybe they just did not
\nhave an umbrella between them. Some covered themselves with
\nbanana leaves, conical bamboo hats or the bamboo trays used for
\nwinnowing. They carried all sorts of equipment: a hoe, a crowbar,
\na basket, a sickle. The community seemed to know what to do to
\nhelp someone who suffered an accident during such a rain storm.<\/p>\n
As soon as they found Karto fighting to stop the water
\nstreaming from the hill, the neighbors promptly lent a hand --
\nwithout orders, without talking too much. They all knew what to
\ndo.<\/p>\n
\"The rain has brought on all these problems,\" one grumbled,
\nwhile collecting earth to dam up the raging water.<\/p>\n
\"But without rain, it would be equally difficult for us,\" said
\nanother. \"People can never be satisfied with their environment.\"<\/p>\n
\"Just imagine if our houses were all made of bricks -- then we
\nwould have no problems with water like this.\"<\/p>\n
\"Don't be wishful. We are not rich enough to buy the
\nmaterials. It's good we can afford to survive. Only the wealthy
\nmay make such a wish.\"<\/p>\n
The light conversation improved the relations among the folk
\nof the hilly neighborhood. It was also effective in keeping up
\ntheir cooperative spirit. It often happens that such a chat has
\nled to the solution of common problems in Karto's neighborhood.<\/p>\n
All of a sudden, a thunderous noise from the top of the hill
\nwas heard. Everyone looked to where the noise came from.<\/p>\n
\"Run.. run... the land is sliding!\" screamed a man as he ran
\naway.<\/p>\n
Many of those dumbfounded had no time to run. The mud sliding
\ndown the slope buried them alive. Karto had no time even to
\nscream for help. Other screams were also silenced by the land
\nmass, the rocks and the trees roaring down the hill. The
\nlandslide also smashed Karto's wife onto the floor, ejecting the
\nbaby in the cradle that she held.<\/p>\n
\"My baby... my baby...\" she screamed in horror. Moments later
\nher screams died in the mud.<\/p>\n
The baby cried out loud from the cradle that was pushed hard
\nall over the place by the mud like a sail boat hit by a
\nrainstorm.<\/p>\n
The pouring rain, cold air and the streaming mud that carried
\nthe cradle all terrified the baby.<\/p>\n
Karto's neighbors who came to the rescue would do everything
\nto save the baby. Kartiman, Karto's son who came to the scene
\nrisked his life to save the baby, his brother. He plunged into
\nthe flood of mud, trying to reach the baby's box. He used his
\nlast strength to lift the box and threw it to safety.<\/p>\n
Everybody watching the drama was moved by the baby's cries but
\nthey only felt a bit relieved that the baby was safe. Kartiman
\ndisappeared in the flood of mud. He was gone with Karto and his
\nwife.<\/p>\n
-- Translated by The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kartos-misfortune-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }