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LINDA CHRISTANTY THE FINAL PARTY & OTHER STORIES 1 Linda Christanty 2 i Linda Christanty The Final Party & Other Stories English translations by Debra Yatim German translations by Monika Arnez ii iii Linda Christanty Contents The Final Party & Other Stories (a trilingual edition in English, German, and Indonesian) Copyright to Indonesian-language stories © 2015 Linda Christanty Copyright to all English-language translations © 2015 Debra Yatim Copyright to all German-language translations © 2015 Monika Arnez Copyright to this edition © 2015 The Lontar Foundation vii Publisher’s Note All rights reserved. xi Introduction No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from The Lontar Foundation Jl. Danau Laut Tawar No. 53 Jakarta 10210 Indonesia www.lontar.org 3 The Final Party BTW is an imprint of the Lontar Foundation 21 The Flying Horse of Maria Pinto Editorial Team: 35 Fourth Grave John H McGlynn (Senior Editor) Yusi Avianto Pareanom (Indonesian-language Managing Editor) 51 The Wild-cherry Tree Nirwan Dewanto & Nukila Amal (Co-editors) Pamela Allen (English-language Managing Editor) Jan Budweg (German-language Managing Editor) Saira Kasim & Wikan Satriati (Editorial Assistants) Publication of this book was made possible, in part, with the generous assistance of BNI 46 Partial funding for its translation was provided by 71 Letzte Feier the Translation Funding Program of Badan Pengembangan dan Pembinaan Bahasa, 91 Maria Pintos fliegendes Pferd the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Republic of Indonesia. 107 Das vierte Grab Design and layout by Emir Hakim Design Printed in Indonesia by PT Suburmitra Grafistama 125 Die Wildkirsche ISBN No. 978-602-9144-65-9 iv v by the way… (a note from the publisher) 147 Pesta Terakhir Siince its establishment in 1987, the Lontar 165 Kuda Terbang Maria Pinto iFoundation of Jakarta, a non-profit organization 179 Makam Keempat devoted to the promotion of Indonesian literature, 195 Pohon Kersen has focused on the goal of creating a canon of 213 Publication History Indonesian literature in English translation. With 215 The Translators that as its mission, the Foundation has published close to 200 books containing translations of literary work by several hundred Indonesian authors. In its 28 years of existence, Lontar has published numerous significant and landmark works. By the end of this year, 2015, for instance, Lontar’s Modern Library of Indonesia series will contain fifty titles by many of Indonesia’s most important authors, with representative literary work spanning the entire twentieth century and beyond. These titles, together with The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Drama, The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Short Stories, and The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Poetry–the latter two of which will be published this year–will make it possible to teach and foster appreciation of Indonesian literature anywhere in vi vii the world through the medium of English. Further, authors was difficult to make, but Lontar’s hope is with changes in print technology, Lontar’s titles are that if the series proves successful in achieving its now available throughout the world in a matter of goal, the Foundation will then be able to produce days and for a fraction of the cost in former times. translations by another 25 authors and then another The authors whose work Lontar has published 25 authors and so on in the years to come. are recognized by both foreign and Indonesian literary critics and literati as some of the best Because of the not-for-profit nature of Lontar’s writers Indonesia has ever produced. Naturally, work, none of Lontar’s numerous ventures would however, given the scope of time covered by Lontar be possible without the generosity of others. In the publications (from the late nineteenth century to case of BTW Books, Lontar is especially grateful the present) many of these authors are now elderly to BNI 46 for its generosity in underwriting a large or already deceased. Which is why Lontar has now percentage of the cost of this series’ publication. developed a new imprint, BTW Books, through Lontar is also grateful to the authors in this first which the Foundation will now begin to introduce stage of the series who, in their knowledge of the to the world other talented Indonesian writers promotional nature of this series, agreed to forego whose work is hardly known outside the country’s royalties and other forms of monetary recompense. borders yet has been deemed by both literary Lontar must also thank Emir Hakim and his critics and Lontar’s editorial board to be worthy design team; the many talented translators who of international attention. (In general, authors contributed much valuable time to this project; and, who already have one or more books available last but not least, my editorial board and staff who in translation, either in English or another major selflessly devoted themselves to the goal of making international language, were not considered for this project a success. inclusion in this, the first stage, of the series.) Because of the abundance of talented John H McGlynn Indonesian authors, the selection of the first 25 viii ix Introducing Linda Christanty Linda Christanty writes short stories, essays and media reportage. Born on Bangka island in the province of Bangka-Belitung, Indonesia, she graduated from University of Indonesia, Jakarta, where she read Literature. Linda was member of several student organizations and became politically active during Indonesia’s Reformasi and post-Reformasi period as the repressive New Order regime toppled. After graduating, she worked for Pantau magazine, and resided in Aceh for several years, where among other things she was a voluntary teacher at a junior high school in Lamteuba, Aceh Besar. Upon returning to Jakarta, she joined Dewi magazine, doing the Arts and Culture page, while serving on the Literature Committee of the Jakarta Arts Council (2013-2015). Her political activism is reflected in her prose, in which she tackles themes such as student activists abducted in the Reformasi period, and political detainees. She is also passionate about women’s issues, injustice, and humanitarian issues in general, exploring the marginalized and disenfranchised, x xi sexual abuse towards children, and war; both within Bangkok, Thailand. She has also received awards for Indonesian shores and beyond. her women’s activism: nomination for the N-Peace Her characters are set in various events and Linda Award 2012 in Asia Pacific, and the Kartini Award explores their inner battles within these settings. 2014 (Indihome Women Awards 2014). Her short Though peppered with flashbacks and personal story collection in the Thai language was published insights within the frame of right and wrong and under the title Seventeen Tigers of Luta (November justification, her characters do not necessarily 2013). Linda currently resides in Jakarta. achieve redemption nor resolution to their problems. Linda explores the dark side because, to her, our history and our humanity are fraught with bitterness and gloom. It is as if she feels the need to tell these things, in order for us not to forget, and also maybe not to flinch when facing the demons of history. Linda has published three short fiction anthologies and two essay compilations. Her work has won several literary awards: two Khatulistiwa Literary Awards for Best Fiction Book, for The Flying Horse of Maria Pinto short story anthology (2004), and Selma’s Secret (2010). She also received an award from the Language Board for her essay compilation, From Java Heading To Aceh (2010), and her short fiction anthology, A Dog Died in Bala Murghab (2013). Her short story, “Dry Leaves,” received the Best Short Story award from Kompas 1989. In 2013, she received the Southeast Asian Writers Award in xii xiii xiv 1 The Final Party The afternoon wind felt dry and sharp. The air in the garden was dusty. The stench of mud evaporated from the shallow pond that looked like a buffalo’s wallowing pool. Mouldy fallen lily leaves floated on the surface of the brown, murky water. In the corner of the pond, a statue of a plump female figure holding an urn stood covered in grimy soot. The old man stood erect in front of the open window, looking ahead to the statue in the garden. Dust, dust…. How to scrape away the dust that had thickened around his soul? He looked at the falling leaves fluttering from the tree. Felt as if there was something amusing in his life. But his eyes stung, felt watery. Before the dry season came, clear water fell abundantly from the urn. Now you could no longer hear the tinkle of falling water. A few catfish surviving in the pond’s depths preferred to languish at the bottom rather than flit about. They had surrendered to the inevitability of death. Many of 2 3