AUTHOR: INDONESIA HERO
Review: ZULKARNAIN MUZAKAR II

“Who is it, Bang?” ask my wife – Maryam.

“Include, Mistress. I Setiawan Santosa with my colleague – Nurdin, came to talk to our old friend, Mr. Zulkarnain.” Setiawan introduced himself. I initially did not recognize Setiawan in the slightest, his hair was bleached, wrinkles covered his skin, and the thick glasses he used.

“Who are you?” ask me.

“I Setiawan.”

“No, I just did not see Setiawan two years, who is this old man?” ask me again.

“Zul, you have to listen first.” This time it was Nurdin who started the conversation, I was sure that the one who spoke to me was Nurdin. He did not change much, staying tall with brownish eyes.

I confusedly let my two old friends in, or that's what I knew. Maryam was friendly, asking what they were both about to drink. If I don't remember wrongly, Nurdin and Setiawan compactly say water only.

“I'm dying, Zul. Look at me now,” Setiawan said in a weak tone.

“Tell me everything.”

“After I returned from the United States two years ago, I got the acquaintance of a wealthy businessman who was ready to welcome our exploration. Right on your wedding day, I left for Padang. I don't know what I'm doing, I'm not sure why the businessman would want to fund us, but when he gets there. I became understand.” Setiawan paused the story for a moment, then gulped down the white water that my wife served.

“The entrepreneur is old, almost as old as this country. However, he heard our research, about the Antarctic DNA from the black market.”

“Dark market?” ask me to cut the story.

“You know, it turns out that the research we do is to find longevity drugs, body regeneration drugs, even immortality drugs. That's why ASOC wants to fund our research, but because it doesn't show results after seven years. They gave up,” explained Nurdin.

I was never told about it while working at the ministry. I was surprised not to believe that what we have been working on is an amazing discovery.

“DNA Antarctica that the ASOC found managed to make a mouse regrow its tail, but failed if done in humans. Need a last variable, can you guess?” tanya Setiawan looked at me. At that time, what I was thinking about was something beyond human reason.

“Nation Collaboration?” reply I doubt.

“Nation Labo-Labo to be exact!” sambar Nurdin was quick.

“Will I continue. I get enough money and a laboratory facility in a bunker in South Sumatra, quite far from Padang but the place is very strategic.” Setiawan wrote down a coordinate behind a photo of me and Nurdin. Then Setiawan pasted the photo paper again piled it.

“What do?” ask me a question.

“If I had forgotten, this point would be a reference. Long story short, for two years, I continued my research. I've got the Antarctic DNA we've been looking at. From the black market of course.” The water in front of them was gone. Setiawan asked for one more glass, I myself this time who took it because I did not want Maryam to listen to our chat.

After getting water again, Setiawan continued his story. “Six months ago, I tried injecting a rudimentary drug serum because the owner of the capital was impatient with the results.”

“All become messy and you age.”

“Betul. DNA doesn't match, we need DNA from living things, too. Come with me, Zul. I need your help.”

I actually felt moved to help Setiawan because I knew how big of a problem Setiawan was facing. However, I also felt doubtful because I didn't know if he was capable of it.

"Wan, I don't know if I'm capable of it. My married life and that of Maryam has not been easy for the last two years. We often face financial problems that make our lives difficult" I said in a doubtful tone. Moreover, these two years I have never touched any laboratory equipment whose doubts have become more virulent.

"I know that, Zul. But, I'm sure that you can do it. You are the most skilled person among us. No offense Nurdin. This research is not without money either. I'm sure you can help continue this research" Setiawan replied in a confident tone.

I again felt moved by the words of Setiawan. I felt that I could not refuse Setiawan's request. Especially when Setiawan said he would give money.

"Alright, Wan. I'll help you. I'm going to continue the research with you," I said in a stern tone.

Setiawan smiled happily at his wrinkles. "Thank you, Zul. I know you won't disappoint" Setiawan replied in a grateful tone.

I said that Maryam would go for a job with Setiawan and Nurdin. He was too innocent and believed just like that.

So we went with some other people on a German-built submarine. I did not know that this was the beginning of the birth of Kahar. We dived at a depth of three thousand meters below the surface of the water.

We couldn't go deeper because of the pressure. We did this research to find the remains of the Labo-Labo people. We're moving based on legend, what a crazy thing. In the darkness of the water, I remember Setiawan talking about his father long ago.

“When my father was a fisherman, one day I was invited by my father to catch fish in the middle of the sea.” As she coughed as she spoke, I began to worry about seeing friends my age age age faster. Setiawan took a tissue and cleaned his mouth and nose before starting to speak again, “Unfortunately, in an afternoon that was being drenched in the ocean. My father fell into the sea, I tried to help him, but something happened. Human figure pulls father into the sea, grips his neck and disappears with high waves.”

“I who was a child did not understand what happened, the ship adrift two days without a driver, I just cried. All I remember is that on the third day, a fishing boat from the Philippines saved me. I carried over into the Southern Philippines. What a brutal day, from that very day, I vow to kill every creature of Labo-Labo.”

“Laboration and Labo-Labo are just legends, Wan. It's just a local tradition.”

“What if there is?”

I from there realized something else in Setiawan's heart, it's not just about finding a cure. It's probably about revenge I think.

The study was conducted over two months, we only rose to the surface once a week to refuel and pick up supplies. Our submarine continues to traverse the Sulawesi Sea. There was no sign of the Labo-Labo people, and the submarine could not descend to the bottom of the ocean to see the broken plates.

“This is our last week, if we fail, it is all over,” Setiawan said in a weak tone.

“We have been doing this research for seven years and show no signs of success, two months is a short time, Wan. Please be patient.” Nurdin approached Setiawan in the hull of the submarine.

“Nurdin, do you know much ‘kan about the Labo-Labo nation, is there any way to call or detect them according to legend?” I asked him to try to solve the mystery.

“Mantra, there is a mantra that is believed to call Collaboration,” said Nurdin.

“We've done a lot beyond scientific rules, but mantra?”

“Wan, this can be tried.”

“Buhay na paggawa mabuhay da mamatay, mamatay da mabuhay muli, no Dan Fofo Elaboration may stowrm sael sa dagat na yumuyuko Awrg mga namamatay, namamatay. Collaboration!” nurdin repeatedly said. Language we do not understand.

Nothing happened, Nurdin looked disappointed. He wrote down the mantra in Indonesian which I could understand on paper. He handed me the paper. Research must be completed, no results are proud.

We went home with our heads bowed, Setiawan was the most sad at that time, his old face, getting worse. He said he would contact his investors and would work in Jakarta as a lecturer. Nurdin will also continue his career as a writer. I was also actually sad, the hard work I did did not produce results, but fortunately Setiawan still gave some money that saved my family kitchen.

Everything is back to normal. I continued my work as a fisherman. I think my daily life is back on the table. A week I went back to sea, the raging sea situation refused the presence of our ships.

I became bowed lethargic like Setiawan the other day. I could only look out at the sea with Maryam on a clear afternoon. The stormy sea is a frightening sight.

High and rolling waves stretched out in all directions, making loud noises and breaking the thump of water in all directions. A thick, black cloud covered the sky, as if it wanted to tell you something bad was about to happen. The wind that blew fiercely with a melodious sound made the trees around the beach sway.

The trees looked as if they were about to collapse because they were too weak in the face of the strong wind. Coupled with the heavy rain, making the situation even more frightening. The entire beach looked empty, no one dared to come out of their homes in a time when a storm this strong struck. Only Maryam and I still dared to sit on the beach, staring at the storm-torn sea attentively.

"I think we should go home, Bang," said Maryam at last. "This storm looks so strong."

I nodded in agreement, but somehow or maybe I was hit by sea fever. I paused for a moment to recite the poem that Nurdin had once given. I feel that the present situation fits perfectly with the poem. Maryam was confused but could only wait for me to finish.

Every time he finished reciting a verse of poetry, the sea seemed to greet the poem with a thunderous lightning strike. I got more excited, and Maryam became worried.

“Explications live!” I shouted out loudly beating the sound of lightning. Suddenly silence was present. The sea became tame. The sun said that this was the farewell of the day.

On that night, I will note it as the birth of my son – Kahar Muzakar. Or rather, the day I found the two eggs that the sea gave us.