The Canoe That Drifted

Tao and Yuki paddle a canoe on a wide river. The morning starts clear and calm. Thick fog rolls in around midday. Soon, they cannot see the shore clearly. Their paddles dip quietly into the gray water.

Tao dan Yuki mendayung sebuah kano di sungai yang lebar. Pagi itu dimulai dengan cerah dan tenang. Kabut tebal datang menjelang tengah hari. Tak lama kemudian, mereka tidak bisa melihat tepi sungai dengan jelas. Dayung mereka masuk dengan tenang ke air yang kelabu.

"We drifted off our usual path," Tao says. Yuki checks the small map in her bag.

"Kita hanyut dari jalur biasa," kata Tao. Yuki memeriksa peta kecil di dalam tasnya.

Two routes lead back to the dock. One route cuts straight through a narrow marsh. The other route follows the wide, open river.

Ada dua rute untuk kembali ke dermaga. Satu rute memotong lurus melewati rawa yang sempit. Rute lainnya menyusuri sungai yang lebar dan terbuka.

"The marsh route looks quick," Tao says. "But the water there gets shallow and rocky."

"Rute rawa kelihatannya cepat," kata Tao. "Tapi air di sana dangkal dan berbatu."

"The river route takes more time," Yuki says. "It stays open and safe the whole way."

"Rute sungai memakan waktu lebih lama," kata Yuki. "Tapi terbuka dan aman sepanjang jalan."

Tao thinks about the fog and the rocks. "Let's take the safe route," he finally says. Yuki nods and steers the canoe right.

Tao memikirkan kabut dan bebatuan itu. "Ayo kita ambil rute yang aman," katanya akhirnya. Yuki mengangguk dan mengarahkan kano ke kanan.

They paddle along the wide, open river. The fog slowly lifts around them. Sunlight breaks through in warm, soft patches.

Mereka mendayung menyusuri sungai yang lebar dan terbuka. Kabut perlahan terangkat di sekeliling mereka. Sinar matahari menembus dalam bercak-bercak yang hangat dan lembut.

After thirty minutes, the dock comes into view. Tao points at it and smiles with relief.

Setelah tiga puluh menit, dermaga mulai terlihat. Tao menunjuknya dan tersenyum lega.

"Good choice," Yuki says. "We stayed dry and safe."

"Pilihan yang bagus," kata Yuki. "Kita tetap kering dan aman."

They pull the canoe onto the sandy shore. Tao looks back toward the quiet, misty marsh. "Next time, with clear skies," he says. Yuki folds the small map and laughs softly. They carry the canoe up to the car together.

Mereka menarik kano ke tepi yang berpasir. Tao menoleh ke arah rawa yang sunyi dan berkabut. "Lain kali, saat langit cerah," katanya. Yuki melipat peta kecil itu dan tertawa pelan. Mereka bersama-sama membawa kano itu ke mobil.