Keong Mas -The Golden Snail (4) by Ken Kendro

For several months, Candra Kirana aka Sekartaji, the young princess of Daha, lived like a golden snail on the bottom

of the river Brantas. She chose to stay on the edge of the river, eating moss day in day out. The center of the river is deep and dangerous. She pray to Lord Wenang, Shiwa, Durga, and others for her safety. Unknown to her, the stream of the river pushed her farther away from Daha Kediri, toward Mojoagung. (The site of the Majapahit Kingdom.)

Worst yet, Simbok Emban Madusari, now a black raven, must protect the golden snail.

She promised Galuh Ajeng to keep Candra Kirana alive. For months. she too perched on trees next to the river bank.

Eating raw fish (not even sliced sashimi style, with shoyu and mustard), frogs, worms and other raw stuff.

She longed for her old warm bed in her cozy home in Daha. Having coffee tubruk in the mornings, nasi goreng istimewa (extra ordinaire fried rice), srabi (javanese pancake) with coconut syrup, rujak (hot fruit salad), and other delicatessen,

One rainy morning, cold and miserable, our black raven can not stand it anymore.

She said to herself: "What am I doing here? Punishing a young innocent princess. And punishing myself. Hoping to find a great job when her sister is crowned the queen of Daha. Am I crazy or what? And Galuh Ajeng is enjoying herself in the palace.

What if she is not selected as the next queen. I better fly back to Daha to see Simbah Fiery Frog. Immediately"

So she did. The distance Mojoagung to Kediri, can be done in 30 minutes with your Mercy 450 SL cabriolet, now.

But in the 13th century, our poor black raven must flap flappety flap with her wet wings, for several hours.

At noon or so, she arrived at Simbah Canthuko Mowo, our shaman. She was exhausted, knocked on the door with her

tired beak: " Knock, knock, knock."

Grandma F. F. " I know you. No need to identify your self. The door is open. Come in."

Black raven: " O honorable grandma, have mercy. Million mercies."

Grandma F.F.: "Now, what?

Black raven: "Ooh please I am tired, I am exhausted, I am hungry, please change me back into simbok Madusari, please."

Grandma F.F.: "That will be very easy, but then the minute you become Madusari, the golden snail will be the beautiful Candra Kirana again. Plus interest too, because she was doing non stop praying, while she was under water.

And all the Lords in Suralaya (heaven) will grant her her requests."

Black raven:" Oh I don't care, she deserves it. I am guilty, the law of Karma will be in effect, Galuh Ajeng and I will suffer."

Grandma F.F.: " I am glad, you know, the English saying is, "you will reap what you sow." If you are ready, stand still."

Grandma F.F. pointed her bend arthritic right pointer. In a second the black raven became a wet simbok Madusari.

Grandma F.F, feed her, nasi rawon, (rice with black colored beef soup,) with sambel kemiri (candle nut hot pepper paste)

krupuk udhang (fried shrimp chip) and fresh bean sprouts. Da best!! Make me home sick, try it if you are in East Java.

At that same time when our black raven decided to fly back to Daha, an old widow from the village of Mojoreno arrived at the edge of the river, in the same area where our golden snail swim . (caution: old Javanese stories always have a "poor widow from a certain village", no name just the widow from such and such. No widower neither. The ladies outlive their hubbies, just like now)

Anyway she earned money selling dry twigs and branches to the big market in Mojoagung. She also have a fish net, to catch small fish swimming on the bank of the river Brantas, for her snack. After collecting enough dry wood, she try her luck with her fish net. Ahter she scooped the net in the river, walla that net is full with snails. Our French friends will just love it, escargot!!!

And one of them is a golden snail. She said to her self: "why bother to walk to the market in Mojoagung, I can go home and have a sate kerang (another East Java delicacy, escargot on sticks on charcoal) with hot peanut butter sauce. Its raining its miserable."

So she dropped her twigs and branches bundle. Walk home happily with her fish net full with escargot.

At home after drying her self "the widow of Mojoreno" separate the golden snail from the rest. She kept the golden snail in a

bucket, It is too beautiful to be consumed. Before she is able to start washing the escargot, a blinding white flash of light came from the bucket, where the golden snail was. It was exactly the same time the black raven became simbok Madusari.

A beautiful young lady stood in front the widow from Mojoreno. It is princess Candra Kirana.

The widow from Mojoreno was scared to death, she did not know who she is. She prostrated in front of the young lady,

and said: " Oo Holy Lampor (river ghost), Goddess of the river Brantas, daughter of Baruno (Lord of all the oceans in the world),

have mercy on me, for stealing those escargot. Please, punish me." Tears roll from her eyes.

Before Candra Kirana answers her, the twin Lord Sadhana and the Goddess Sri arrived in the widow's hut. Lord Sadhana explained everything to the widow. Candra Kirana said thank you to the widow for saving her.

Then the Goddess Sri created a hot meal for the three of them, and blessed the widow. She will be able to catch one big fish everyday for her daily meal from the river, the rest of her life. After that Lord Sadhana and the Goddess Sri bid farewell to Candra Kirana and the widow. That was part of the boon for the golden snail.

Next come Lord Kamajaya and the goddess Ratih, the two love birds of Suralaya. The goddess Ratih dressed Candra Kirana properly, and the three of them flew to Jenggala to meet Inu Kertapati, the son of the governor of Jenggala.

The governor of Jenggala is very happy to see Candra Kirana, and Lord Kumajaya and the goddess Ratih.

Lord Kumajaya explained everything to the governor and his son Inu Kertapati, and asked the Governor of Jenggala to take care of Candra Kirana. While the mess in Daha Kediri can be solved. She warned Candra Kirana and Inu Kertapati, to remember the Indonesian kroncong (music) saying:

empat dan empat, jadi delapan. (four plus four, is exactly eight)

boleh dilihat, dipegang jangan. (you may watch each other, but no touch touch.)

With that Kumajaya and Ratih flew back to Suralaya.

Now, it is the turn, of Lord Narada, the brother of Shiwa (the upper lord in Suralaya) to visit Daha Kediri.

He called King and Queen Kertamerta, princess Galuh Ajeng, and simbok Madusari.

After they got together, he said: "Shame on you, you forgot to pray the Lords or what. You can ask for advice you know."

All four trembled of fear. Together they said: "Have mercy Lord Narada, we will follow your guidance, from now on."

Lord Narada:" Ok. here is what you must do. Have a big wedding for Candra Kirana and Inu Kertapati.

Then make Candra Kirana the queen of Daha, later. She suffered enough.

Galuh Ajeng, you dont need to attend the wedding, its to painfull for you. Your mom and dad will send you to Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Contact Ibu Irene for detailed information. Take courses in Government Administration.

Dont goof off, after you get your Ph D, come home. Your sister will send you to Peking China to be the Daha Kediri's ambassador.

Bring simbok Madusari with you, may be she can learn how to make "crispy Peking duck."

The four answered: "Yes lord Narada , we will follow your order."

With that the long story of the golden snail is over.