First Tail - Chapter 1

FIRST TAIL

~ AREA T.T. ~

         He looked right and left, matched his compass direction with the map.  Snorted, grinned widely.
         "Gotcha! This is the place," he mumbled.
         As far as he could see at a glance, where he staid was surrounded by natural stones walls. Its stones roof dropped lime that at last created stalactites and stalagmites everywhere. But this stones structure wasn't usual. It's clearly enough made by human. He looked to front.
         A stone wall with height about 3 meters became one with the cave roof. The stones structure was looked rough, created abstract pattern along the wall. He tilted his head, closed one of his eyes. When finally those images got their mean in his brain, he kneaded the rumpled map in his hand.
         He put his hand on one of the stones, traced the rough texture with his fingers. His hand stopped when he found awkward cavity. Its surrounding stones clearly formed triangular pattern. One on the bottom, one on the left, and one on the right. The last stone was bigger than the other two.
         "Turn it right!" His instinct gave a command to his hand.
         He put his hand into the cavity, made a smooth winding to the right.
         That very instant creaked noise was heard. The walls and the ground trembled. Stones, soil, and lime pieces fell down. He startled. Confused and frightened. The walls trembled. Smashed. He turned back, blankly glanced. His body was stiff. Hissing sound was heard loudly broke out.
         "Aaaaaaaack!!!"

*****

         Cin D. Laras frowned. That 10 years old boy excitedly watched a small TV that is installed behind the oarsman's chair. While the motion pictures in TV told about news info with noisy sound, the oarsman was keep rowing his small boat. A traditional boat roofed by green tarpaulin decorated with lace. Some young coconut leaves were installed in its mast. Like the other days, that day he seeks a living from his festive boat passengers.
         Today, he got 3 passengers plus 1 chicken. Besides Cin, there were 2 other passengers. First is a cool young man with an eye cover on his right eye. He carried magazines, so he had to carry pistol or rifle. Malin Qndang, the pirate brought also his wife, Ziran, a ship captain. Chicken that always perched on Cin's shoulder was Jagow, a yellow furred cyborg chick. They and Cin wanted to enjoy Xpazoen rivers sceneries which were famous in entire galaxy. The best way to enjoy all of the sceneries was by a festive boat.
         Suddenly, the TV program was stopped by breaking news.
         "For the umpteenth time, adventurer who tried to find hidden treasure in T.T. disappeared just like that. The witnesses around T.T. reported that the lost adventurer is a freak man who brought an antique map everywhere. Seen began to enter Area T.T. about 8.00 AM seven days ago and not come back until now. The villagers around T.T. believe that the lost adventurers were killed by T.T. guardian. Polices can't do anything. A caution was issued for all in Xpazoen: ‘It's not allowed to approach Area T.T.', the caution is effective for uncertain time limit. "
         "Well, well, today people are too easily lied by illogical fairy tales, aren't they?" commented Cin after the breaking news finished.
         "Today is era for sensation, Cin," Ziran added.
         "And also era for the liars." Cin glanced Ziran with a sarcastic sight.
         "Hey, sensation must be there to ease business. Now goods are too many. If it isn't spiced by strange and illogical stories, our goods become ordinary goods. With fantastic stories, buyers can be attracted and at last buy our goods." Ziran stood enthusiastic. "Same with that," she continued, "Black market business is no doubt more profitable than legal business. Because of that our pirate business is so beneficial. With sensation, we can make money come to us like magnet!!!! Hahahahaha!!"  Ziran uproar laughed.
         "What a benefit?!! Even my salary hasn't paid yet!!" Cin jumped up.
         "A kid who can eat freely, just shut up!!"  Ziran replied.
         "Oh, what's my fault so I must meet person like this," wheezed Cin. Lost in thought, he gazed miserably. "Return me to my mom!!!"
         "No trader spirit microchip developer," teased Ziran.
         "Ziran!!! Whaddya say?!!"
         "Hihihi," the oarsman twittered. His voice was wailed although he wheezed. "You're wrong for thinking that Area T.T. is lie like the ancestor's fairy tales."
         "What do you mean?" Cin and Ziran turned face to the oarsman together.
         "Not like you thought, T.T. isn't a fairy tale. But really a true mystery although it's very dangerous." The oarsman hid his twitter behind his shoulder. "Moreover, that story... has a connection with a lasting life potion."
         Malin thumped the chair, focused his sight to the oarsman. That oarsman who had smiled since a while ago was startled for seeing him.
         "Take us there!" Malin's deep voice commanded him.
         "Bu... but, Malin," Ziran tried to protest, "We can't go there only because of this oarsman's fairy tale, can we!"
         "Yes, this right!" replied Cin. "Moreover, his face isn't a trusted person's face." He glanced to the oarsman.
         "Shut up! I want the potion!" Malin stressed his line.
         "Fufufu,"  the oarsman twittered again, "T.T is a dangerous area. Of course it has a special fare."
         Malin glanced to the oarsman sharply. "What's your name?"
         "Sangkuriang, Sir!"
         "One thousand rupsas. Take us to T.T.!"
         "With pleasure, Sir!"
         Sangkuriang bowed to honor Malin. His right hand erected a spoon-shaped oar in side, while his left hand held a fork-shaped oar-assistant crossed his chest. Ziran looked that man angrily. Cin mocked while he wheezed. He stroked Jagow which courted to him.
         "That's a businessman spirit," he mocked to Ziran.
         "What do you say, kid?!!" screamed Ziran.
         Sangkuriang's festive boat glided, cleaved the water. Followed the Xpazoen river to the mysterious area, T.T.

 First Tail continue to Chapter 2.