Myths of The Land

Naga

It was a bright day that day. The sun was high up in the sky. Yet, you could smell the metallic smell of rain, feel the coldness touching your bone, and hear the raindrops on the zinc roof of your house. A young boy sat at the window of his house. He was looking at one of the puddles in front of his house. The way the rain fell on the red soil road, forming a sort of small islands along it. The boy was making up imaginary stories of little people gathering resources to protect their small island. Building small houses, shelters, shops, bridges. A small settlement.

His little story got interrupted by a sweet voice, "Adam, sayang. What are you doing over there? Come here. I made a cup of hot milo for you." His mother called. Instantly, the smell of hot cocoa filled his nose. He could imagine, while he was busy daydreaming about the small people, his mother was in the kitchen. Pouring in four scoops of Milo, two spoons of thick and creamy condensed milk, a hot water into his favorite brown mug. "Yes! Hot Milo! Thank you, Mak." He rushed for the hot beverage. Instantly he regretted his decision. He felt as if his tongue was numb. He choked a bit on the drink. His mother just smiled while looking at the antics of her only son. It had always been the two of them. Always will. Her husband left her as soon as Adam was born. So she raised him up all by herself in this small town. Her family rejected her after Adam was born. For obvious reason. Luckily for her, an old woman took pity on her after she met her sleeping on the street one night. She was still young at that time. Adam was only a few weeks old. She was cradling Adam at that time. Keeping him warm and at the same time trying to rock him to sleep. Adam was trying to suckle what his mom had left. He was hungry and cold. Suddenly an old woman came and without even asking anything, gave her a box of milk and a loaf of bread. She knew she shouldn't easily trust a stranger, but what else was there to do? Her own nectar of life for Adam was almost dried up, for she herself had not eaten nor drink for a few days. So she took the gift, because all that matter was her son. That same night, the old woman, whom introduced herself as Mak Limah, invited them to stay with her. And so she raised Adam up, working at one of the Pawn Shops near the pasar during the days, and leaving Mak Limah to take care of Adam.

"Mak, it has rained non-stop for a few days now. Do you think there's going to be a flood?" Adam asked. "Let's hope that doesn't happen, dear. The sky is bright today. Even though it is still raining. I think in a few days the rain will stop." She assured her son. Adam started to move near his mom. His left side is now touching his mom's right side. His head on her shoulder. His mom just let out a small laugh. "What do you want?" She knew her son too well. Adam was playing with the end of her kain by now. "Is it okay if I go out? I'll wear my raincoat and everything. And the rain looks like about to stop. Can I, Mak? Please. It has been so many days since I got out. Please. He begged his mom. His mom just shakes her head and smiled. "Ok. But be careful alright?" "Yes! Thank you Mak!" Adam jumped and kissed her cheeks. He put on his raincoat and got out of the house.

Adam walked through the trees in front of his house. Sometimes he would jump in the puddles just to make it splash. When he got to the main road, he could see that the water in the drain was almost filled up. He turned left and ran as fast as he could. He was smiling and while he was running, the hood of his raincoat fell off. He could feel the rain on his skin. Cold and refreshing. A woman screamed at him, "Hey! It's hujan panas! You will get yourself sick!" She said. Adam didn't know who she was. Probably one of the neighbors or the nurses at the hospital on the side of the road. He stopped when he reached the river bank. Even from afar, he could hear the river roar. The current was so fast that he knew if he fell into the river, he'd reach the other side of the country in minutes. And the level was so high, that the stick they used to warn the flood, was nearly submerged. They say that if the water level is above the red line, a flood will hit the town. He heard a story from Mak Limah when, a few years ago. About a dragon living underneath the town. The legend goes that, once there was a beautiful girl living in the, then village, of their town. She was a Princess. Her name was Puteri Santan. She was fair and kind-hearted. A magical man name Malim Deman fell in love with her. But one day she was taken away, so the man, vowed that until the princess returned to him, this town would suffer from a huge flood every century or decade. Some even said that he turned into a dragon and live underneath the town. He went into deep sleep waiting for his beloved. And when he moved, there will be an earthquake and flood. Or at least that's what Mak Limah told him.

Suddenly he heard a loud crack. And saw waves in the river. He turned to see that a huge branch from the Big Tree fell into the river. Before he knew it, one of the smaller branches got hooked with his leg and pulled him into the river. Adam couldn't do anything as the current was too fast for him. He struggled to break free. He tried calling for help, only to get water into his mouth. Slowly, Adam lost his strength and he seemed to lost consciousness. Is this the end for him? He flashed back to before he leaves the house. He kissed his mom. Was that the last kiss? He could feel lost his breath. He accepted his fate now. But out of nowhere, he felt as if there was a hand, or a rope maybe. Wrapped around him. And pulled him free. He was taken to the river bank, under a big tree. He coughed out the water. His eyes were trying to readjust to the scenery when he looked back into the river. He thought that he had lost his mind or maybe he bumped and hit his head on something in the river. He caught a glimpse of something long and white. With white pearly scales all over it. Just enough before it submerged underwater. Too big to be a fish. Or maybe it wasn't a fish....

Adam ran back to his house. He bumped into Mak Limah, who was tending the lawn. "Ha! this boy! What happened to you?!" Mak Limah asked. Adam just looked into her eyes and hugged her. And then Adam asked something that made Mak Limah's weak heart beat faster than usual. She froze and just looked at the innocent face of a young boy. The question was simple enough, yet it will lead to many more questions. Adam repeats again as she was not answering. "Can you tell me about the Naga?"