Life and Death

<p>Despite being a woman Marna no longer cared about gender boundaries or physical strength. The nine bodies had to be buried that day as they had been left in her house for more than two nights.</p><p>Feeling sufficiently exhausted Marna took a length of raffia rope. She dragged Bahrun's body which was stiff and completely helpless. His gruesome condition lacking genitals and starting to decompose was visible. Marna dragged him by looping her arms under his armpits and pulling with all her strength to get the body out through the door. After dragging Bahrun to the front porch Marna went back inside and pulled Dadau's body which had similar injuries to Bahrun's.</p><p>Marna knew that all those people were from Kasongan City especially Bahrun. She recognized him when she saw his photo displayed with his extended family in a single frame on the wall near the reception desk of the boarding house.</p><p>One by one Marna successfully removed the bodies from her house but her task was not yet complete. She contemplated how to get the nine bodies down the 1.5-meter-high stairs. Besides being difficult carrying them was too heavy for her strength as a woman.</p><p>Exhausted Marna sat down and stared at the nine bodies. Sweat continued to pour down from her forehead and neck. She took a drink from a 1-liter bottle of water.</p><p>The most extreme method she considered was dropping the bodies down. It seemed like the easiest way at the moment. However the risk was substantial. The bodies in the process of decomposition would likely break apart and not remain intact. But this was the only method Marna could use.</p><p>Starting with Rawen's body Marna kicked the large man causing him to roll and fall to the ground.</p><p>Crash!</p><p>The sound of the body hitting the ground made Marna close her eyes as Rawen's arms and legs visibly separated from his body.</p><p>Feeling a sense of horror Marna pushed Dadau's body next. The same thing happened to Dadau's corpse. Marna continued with the remaining bodies and eventually all nine were on the ground.</p><p>She dragged each lifeless body to the grave pit. Despite her exhaustion Marna did not consider stopping even for a moment. The intense midday sun could not penetrate the dense forest canopy so her pale skin remained unburned by the sun's heat.</p><p>The nine bodies some of which were dismembered were now in the same grave pit. Marna proceeded with the next step covering the pit with soil.</p>