Mountain of Fire Read Online Free

Mountain of Fire
Book: Mountain of Fire Read Online Free
Author: Radhika Puri
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giant tree shaded Pak Eko’s house and over time its roots and branches had pushed the mountainside back, till a gentle hollow had been carved right behind the house. Fitri was going to push her way through the crowd of people, but Agus pulled her back and asked her to follow him.
    â€œCome on, I’ll show you a good spot to watch from,” said Agus, pulling on Fitri’s sleeve. ”It is behind the rock over the hut. No one goes there.”
    â€œOne day you are going to fall into Pak Eko’s pot,” warned Fitri. “He’ll cook and eat you.” But Agus wasn’t listening and scampered away.
    He turned around and went up the road, just behind Pak Eko’s hut. The main mountain road went on ahead, curving through the mountain till it reached the watchtower, where Fitri had gone just the other day. But just after the watchtower, the road split into two; one fork went further up the mountain and half a kilometre away was a government signpost: Berbahaya!. Danger.
    Sometimes people would go towards the crater with many bags and ghost-like white suits. They would lower themselves into the crater wearing the white clothes. Her father said the people were men of science from the city who kept a check on the volcano.
    No one was stupid enough to venture beyond the government sign, unless they absolutely had to. Once a year, Pak Eko would lead a ceremony to the top and throw rice and offerings into the crater. This was to keep the volcano happy. But even that was done only when it was absolutely safe to go up there.
    â€œWhat is it like up there?” Fitri had asked her father once. Ayah always went on these ceremonies.
    â€œThe air smells different, like burnt matches and rotten eggs,” he said. “It’s no place for children. Okay?” He had told Agus and Fitri he would tie him up and leave him near the crater overnight if he ever found out Agus had been there without an adult.
    The second fork from the watchtower turned around – like a sort of u-turn – and joined up with a path that led to an area just behind Pak Eko’s hut. Here Agus stopped and parted the leaves and branches to go through some bushes to a small clearing. There the mountainside extended out like a stretched hand directly over the hollow clearing of Pak Eko’s hut.
    Agus touched his finger to his lips and lay down on his stomach. He gestured at Fitri, asking her to do the same. Fitri rolled her eyes but followed him. The two children then slowly slithered on their stomachs till they reached the end of the overhanging rock.

    The large tree partly blocked the view and the children had to move around till they found a spot through the branches. There through the leaves of the tree, Fitri spotted Ayah, right upfront standing with a group of men. She did not recognise any of them. They were obviously from neighbouring villages. Word had spread like the wind. “A bule is here! To see Pak Eko!”
    Many people had come to see what the fuss was about.
    The white man, Pak Andersen, was speaking to the old man. “Mbah,” he said, using the respectful term of grandfather for the old man. “You must listen to us. The volcano dome on the southern side has expanded. The mountain is not safe.”
    Fitri could see Pak Eko shaking his head. “It is not time to leave yet.”
    â€œThere are women and children to think of, Mbah,” said the man in the polisi uniform, softly, with a slightly bowed head. It was very important to be respectful to the old man. After all he was a village elder.
    â€œPerhaps we should listen to the bule. The government will look after everyone and you will be safe. You and the people can return once the volcano settles down.”
    â€œThe signs are not right,” said Pak Eko. “I am the Guardian of the Mountain and it is my duty to protect these people. The mountain will not erupt yet. The signs say so.”
    The foreigner snorted
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