The Ring in the Sand

The beach is cold and nearly empty. Gaspar walks along the water with his hands in his pockets. The wind is strong.

Pantai itu dingin dan hampir kosong. Gaspar berjalan menyusuri tepi air dengan tangan di saku. Anginnya kencang.

He takes one hand out to pick up a shell. The ring slips off his cold finger and drops into the sand. He cannot see it anywhere.

Ia mengeluarkan satu tangannya untuk memungut sebuah kerang. Cincinnya terlepas dari jarinya yang dingin dan jatuh ke pasir. Ia tidak bisa melihatnya di mana pun.

Gaspar kneels and pushes the sand with his hands. It is a plain silver ring from his wife. He looks for an hour. His knees are wet, and his fingers are red. He finds nothing.

Gaspar berlutut dan menyibak pasir dengan tangannya. Itu cincin perak polos dari istrinya. Ia mencari selama satu jam. Lututnya basah, dan jari-jarinya merah. Ia tidak menemukan apa-apa.

A man with a long metal tool walks over. "Did you lose something?" he asks.

Seorang pria dengan alat logam panjang berjalan menghampiri. "Ada yang hilang?" tanyanya.

"My ring," says Gaspar. "I cannot find it."

"Cincin saya," kata Gaspar. "Saya tidak bisa menemukannya."

"I have a machine for that," the man says. "My name is Rufus. Show me where you walked."

"Saya punya mesin untuk itu," kata pria itu. "Nama saya Rufus. Tunjukkan di mana Anda berjalan tadi."

Gaspar shows him the place. Rufus moves the machine slowly over the sand. It beeps. They dig with their hands. It is a bottle cap.

Gaspar menunjukkan tempatnya. Rufus menggerakkan mesinnya pelan-pelan di atas pasir. Mesin itu berbunyi bip. Mereka menggali dengan tangan. Ternyata itu tutup botol.

The machine beeps again. This time they find a coin. Then they find another bottle cap. Then they find an old coin with a hole.

Mesin itu berbunyi bip lagi. Kali ini mereka menemukan sebuah koin. Lalu mereka menemukan tutup botol lainnya. Lalu mereka menemukan koin tua yang berlubang.

Rufus laughs. "This beach is full of treasure," he says. "Everyone loses something here."

Rufus tertawa. "Pantai ini penuh harta karun," katanya. "Semua orang kehilangan sesuatu di sini."

Gaspar sits back on the sand. He thinks the ring is gone.

Gaspar duduk bersandar di pasir. Ia mengira cincinnya sudah hilang.

Then the machine gives a long, loud beep. Rufus stops. "This one is different," he says.

Lalu mesin itu berbunyi bip panjang yang nyaring. Rufus berhenti. "Yang ini berbeda," katanya.

Gaspar digs in the wet sand. Something small shines in his fingers. It is the ring.

Gaspar menggali di pasir basah. Sesuatu yang kecil berkilau di jari-jarinya. Itu cincinnya.

"Next time," says Rufus, "keep it in a warm pocket."

"Lain kali," kata Rufus, "simpan di saku yang hangat."

Gaspar pushes the ring back on his finger and closes his hand.

Gaspar mendorong cincin itu kembali ke jarinya dan menggenggam tangannya.