Michael Strogoff

Pesta Dansa di Istana Baru

The Ball at the New Palace

“Baginda, ada pesan baru.”

“Sire, a new message.”

“Dari mana?”

“From where?”

“Dari Tomsk.”

“From Tomsk.”

“Apakah kawat telegraf terputus setelah kota itu?”

“Is the telegraph wire cut after that town?”

“Ya, Baginda. Sejak kemarin.”

“Yes, sire. Since yesterday.”

“Kirim pesan ke Tomsk setiap jam, Jenderal. Beri tahu saya semuanya.”

“Send a message to Tomsk every hour, General. Tell me everything.”

“Baik, Baginda,” kata Jenderal Kissoff.

“Yes, sire,” said General Kissoff.

Waktu itu dua jam lewat tengah malam pada tanggal enam belas Juli. Di Moskwa, pesta dansa di Istana Baru sedang sangat meriah. Kelompok musik memainkan lagu polka dan wals sepanjang malam. Ratusan pasangan berdansa di ruangan-ruangan besar. Cahaya dari seribu lilin bersinar di cermin-cermin. Di luar, para prajurit berjalan mondar-mandir dalam kegelapan. Helm mereka berkilau terkena cahaya dari jendela. Di bawah istana, perahu-perahu bergerak lambat menyusuri sungai.

It was two hours after midnight on the sixteenth of July. In Moscow, the ball at the New Palace was at its best. The bands played polkas and waltzes all evening. Hundreds of couples danced in the big rooms. The lights of a thousand candles shone in the mirrors. Outside, soldiers walked up and down in the dark. Their helmets shone in the light from the windows. Below the palace, boats moved slowly down the river.

Pria yang berbicara kepada sang Jenderal adalah tuan rumah pesta dansa itu. Ia mengenakan seragam sederhana, dan ia tidak suka pakaian mewah. Di sekelilingnya ada pria-pria dengan seragam yang cerah dan mewah, tetapi ia berpindah dari satu kelompok ke kelompok lain dengan mantel sederhananya. Ia berbicara sedikit. Tubuhnya tinggi dan ia ramah, tetapi wajahnya bersungguh-sungguh. Beberapa tamu penting memandangnya dan berpikir, “Ia memiliki kekhawatiran.” Tidak seorang pun bertanya kepadanya tentang hal itu.

The man who spoke to the General was the host of the ball. He wore a plain uniform, and he did not like fine clothes. Around him were men in bright, rich uniforms, but he moved from group to group in his simple coat. He spoke little. He was tall and friendly, but his face was serious. A few important guests looked at him and thought, “He has a worry.” Nobody asked him about it.

Ia tidak ingin kekhawatirannya merusak pesta dansa. Jadi musik terus bermain, dan para tamu berdansa.

He did not want his worry to spoil the ball. So the music played on, and the guests danced.

Tetapi sang Jenderal masih berdiri di sana. Tuan rumah membaca pesan itu lagi. Wajahnya menjadi lebih muram. Ia meletakkan tangannya di atas pedangnya. Kemudian ia mengajak sang Jenderal ke dekat jendela.

But the General was still standing there. The host read the message again. His face grew darker. He put his hand on his sword. Then he took the General to a window.

“Jadi kita tidak punya kabar dari saudara laki-laki saya, sang Adipati Agung, sejak kemarin?”

“So we have no news from my brother, the Grand Duke, since yesterday?”

“Tidak ada, Baginda. Sekarang tidak ada pesan yang melewati perbatasan Siberia.”

“None, sire. No message crosses the Siberian border now.”