Luccane
Chapter 15: The Story Behind a Piece of Castellan Cake

"You have to shake the cake dough until it is thick after that we can form the dough according to taste," instructions Luccane who pay attention to every movement of me who is struggling to make a delicious Kastengel cake with an original recipe from the Netherlands.

Since then Luccane has been busy giving instructions to me so that the cake dough does not fall apart or cannot expand perfectly. Yeah, he's like a professional cook now.

"Is the dough I can form now?" ask me after feeling the dough that I was processing has become kalis.

"Good, the texture and color of the dough is very fitting. Now you can shape the cake dough to your taste" Luccane replied with a full smile.

I nodded vigorously, starting to form the cake batter in my hands little by little following the instructions from Luccane so that the dough could expand perfectly.

Capitalizing on an old-fashioned oven that I had to bake on the stove in order to function, I began to carefully bake the pre-formed cake batter.

The smell of baked pastries began to pour out in all corners of the kitchen after the cake batter was put in the oven, making Luccane smile with pride.

"I'm sure the cake will be very good" Luccane said, sitting himself on a wooden chair.

I nodded with a smile.

"thank you for the recipe, Luccane."

After a long wait, I finally managed to bake all the cake dough until there was nothing left. The aroma of the cake is really delicious makes me impatient to want to eat it immediately.

I took one piece of my own Kastengel cake proudly, then ate it without hesitation.

"Out of my guesses it tastes a lot better, Luccane!" seruku glee.

This is the first time I've been able to make my own cookies with such a wonderful flavor that it makes me even more proud of myself.

"Do you know the story behind this Kastengel cake? But actually it's just a story that was witnessed directly by my Tantu back when in Batavia," Luccane impolitely said, making me curious.

"What's the story about?"

"You're studying history, aren't you? Have you ever heard or read stories about Kampung Pecah Kulit?"

Kampung Kulit Rupat? I never heard it make me wonder what Luccane is going to tell me this time.

"I've never heard of it or read it, what's wrong with the village? Why is his name so strange?" curious says.

"Then stop eating first if you want to hear the story" Luccane said.

I gulped, hurriedly closed the jar filled with Kastengel cake then focused on Luccane preparing to hear the full story.

"At one time, Aunt and Oom were friends with a man of European-Siamese descent named Pieter Erberveld. He is not of Dutch descent, but German and is a successful businessman who has a very large land in the Batavia area," Luccane began his story.

"Then what happens next?"

"That day, Mr. Pieter Erberveld ordered a cookie to Auntie for a meeting. And sure enough, the next day after ordering a pastry on his aunt he held a meeting with the natives at his house but unfortunately one of Jongos Mr. Pieter Erberveld leaked the information in the meeting to the Dutch authorities in the area."

"What was the meeting about?" manya curious.

"Knowing Mr. Pieter Erberveld's plan, heavily armed Dutch forces search for the whereabouts of Mr. Pieter Erberveld as well as his followers. When Auntie was about to deliver a pastry ordered by Mr. Pieter Erberveld to her house, Aunt instead had to watch Mr. Pieter Erberveld executed in a very cruel way by the government of the Dutch East Indies."

Not yet Luccane explained how the Dutch-Indian government eliminated Mr. Pieter Erberveld, I was shuddering in horror.

"Securing Mr. Pieter Erberveld's comrades without any remaining, they tied Mr. Pieter Erberveld's hands and feet to four horses. And yes, the four horses ran in the opposite direction, causing Mr. Pieter Erberveld's body to shatter unformed."

Naturally if Luccane told me to stop eating, it was beyond my expectation that I would come back to hear such a cruel story.

"From that event the name Kampung Pecah Kulit came from. In the past, the government to make a memorial at the scene and put the skull of Mr. Pieter Erberveld him on the monument. Their cruelty was completely indiscriminate with the intention that there would be no more such rebellion."

I grimaced, horrified to hear the story.

"Are you born at that time?"

Luccane shook his head. "yet. Papa said I was still in Mama's womb."

"Then, do you know where downtown Batavia was when the Dutch East Indies government was still in power?"

"The city center of Batavia used to exist in what is now called the Old City. I went to Batavia a few times to visit Auntie and Oom. If you're curious, you can see Dutch ghosts wandering around the Old City and ask them, too" Luccane said.

Old Town? I admit that the place is still very well maintained until now with the original building of Art Deco architectural style typical of the Netherlands is very charming.

"I have no intention of going to Jakarta. After all, if I asked the ghosts I could be crazy," I said back.

It was a bit annoying when there was a layman who with his pretentiousness suddenly said I was crazy for talking to myself. Huh... If only they could see what I saw.

I believe God gave me this one advantage with a purpose that I still do not know until now.

"But you can't help the ghosts you encounter whatever the reason," said Luccane, who looks more serious this time.

I looked at Luccane confused.

"Why indeed? Is there a special reason?"

Luccane nodded. "yes, if you help one ghost only, the other ghosts will queue up and continue whining for your help. you can't choose to help just one ghost person because the other ghost will know that you've helped one ghost."

"Well how could the ghosts in this house not know that I could see their whereabouts?" Again Luccane made my curiosity soar.

"Of course because I convinced them you couldn't see them. They will always believe my words because for them I am Master" Luccane said to make me smile amusedly, it turns out that ghosts can also lie and be lied to.

"From the beginning I was sure that you were no ordinary ghost" I muttered as I looked at Luccane's face.

"Indeed, I'm the ghost who loves you the most!"

Luccane, I can only hope that he can return to where he should be and be happy more than he is now.