*Note this story is in Tagalog
Sa bayan kung saan lumaki ang lolo ko, bawal magsalita kapag gabi na.
“Naririnig ko pa rin yung tunog ng bakal na kariton n’ya,” madalas sabihin ng lolo ko.
Kakaiba ang naranasan ko nang tumatanda kasama siya. Nung bata pa kami at mag-iingay kami tuwing gabi, tatakbo siya papunta sa ‘min at sisiguraduhin n’yang tahimik kami, habang hindi siya nag-iingay.
Lagi kong pinagsisisihan dahil tinanong ko kung bakit.
Sa bayan na ‘yon naglalakbay “siya”, hila-hila ang kanyang bakal na kariton. Puno ang kariton ng mga bungo ng mga biktima n’ya.
“Yung mga hindi marunong manahimik.”
Sa paraan ng pagkukwento ni lolo, halatang nawalan si lolo ng mahal sa buhay dahil sa kanya. Hindi nya masyadong binabanggit, pero tuwing gabi naririnig ko s’ya.
“Ernesto, Ernesto kapatid ko, hayaan mo na siya.”
Sabi ni lolo dumaan daw “siya” sa bahay nila. Yung kapatid nya matapang at ignorante, akala niya walang makakatalo sa kanya. Bakas ang kahambugan ng kabataan sa kanya.
“Hinamon niya yung halimaw at nagbayad siya.”
Laging magsesermon si lolo tungkol sa kabayaran. Kung paano nakukuha yung bayad kung masusunod “siya”. Hindi ko naintindihan, hangga’t nung pinaliwanag niya.
“Hindi naman importante kung buhay lang ang kinukuha nung halimaw, pero ang kinukuha nito’y bagay na si kamatayan lamang ang nararapat humawak.”
Nanakaw nito ang kaluluwa ng kapatid ni lolo.
Ngayon, hindi naman ako naniniwala sa mga kaluluwa o halimaw na nakikinig sa gabi, pero nang mamatay si lolo nagsimula na marinig ko yung mga tunog.
Naririnig ko ang pagkalembang nga mga bungo sa isa’t isa sa loob nung bakal na kariton “niya”. Naririnig ko ang sigaw ng mga biktima “niya”, nagmamakaawa para sa panghabangbuhay na paglaya mula sa kanya. Naririnig ko ang huling hininga ng lolo ko, nagmamakaawa para sa kaluluwa ng kapatid niya.
“Parang awa mo na, ako na lang ang kunin mo.”
Pinagdadasal ko na mawala na ang mga tunog. Hindi ko alam kung bakit “niya” sinusundan si lolo, at kung bakit “niya” sinusundan ako. Sinusubukan kong wag na lang pansinin, pero ‘di ko kaya.
Sa bawat gabing lumilipas, palakas nang palakas ang mga tunog.
————————–
English Version
In the town where my lolo was raised, no one was allowed to talk at night.
“I can still hear the sound of its iron cart,” my lolo used to say.
Growing up with him was strange. When we were kids and we would make a sound at night he would run towards us and make sure we were quiet, trying not to make noise himself.
I always regretted asking him why.
In that town it traveled at night, pulling its iron cart. The cart was filled with the skulls of its previous victims.
“The ones that didn’t know how to keep their mouths shut.”
The way my lolo told the story, I knew that he had lost
someone to the monster. He never spoke of it much, but sometimes, at night while he was asleep I could hear him.
“Ernesto, my brother Ernesto, leave him alone.”
He told me it passed by their house. His brother was brave and foolish, he thought he was invincible. The truth of youth was strong within him.
“He challenged the monster and paid the price.”
Lolo would always go on about the price. How it was something that was paid when it got its way. I never understood what it really was until he explained.
“It would not matter to us had the monster only taken lives, but it took something that only death should claim.”
My lolo’s brother had lost his soul to it.
Now, I don’t really believe in things like souls and monsters that listen in the night, but after lolo died the sounds began.
I could hear the skulls knocking against each other in its cart. I could hear the screams of its victims, begging for their eternal release. I could hear the last gasp of my lolo, pleading for his brother’s life.
“Please, take me instead.”
I wish the sounds would go away. I don’t know why they followed lolo and why they’re following me. I try to ignore them, but I can’t.
Every night they get louder.
————————–
Written by Karl Gaverza
Tagalog Translation by Ghost Kendrick
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Ghost Kendrick
Inspired by the Kuraret legends from La Union
Kuraret Illustration by Leandro Geniston
FB: That Guy With A Pen
Color by Alexa Garde:
Website: Lexa.us
