Manusia Tak Terlihat

Orang Asing Itu Datang

The Strange Man Arrives

Orang asing itu datang ke Iping pada akhir Februari, di tengah angin dingin dan salju lebat. Itu salju terakhir tahun itu. Dia berjalan melewati bukit-bukit dari stasiun Bramblehurst dengan sebuah tas hitam kecil.

The stranger came to Iping at the end of February, through cold wind and heavy snow. It was the last snow of the year. He walked over the hills from Bramblehurst station with a small black bag.

Pakaian menutupi dia dari kepala sampai kaki, dan topi lembutnya menyembunyikan wajahnya. Hanya ujung hidungnya yang mengilap terlihat.

Clothes covered him from head to foot, and his soft hat hid his face. Only the shiny tip of his nose showed.

Dia hampir jatuh saat masuk lewat pintu penginapan Coach and Horses.

He almost fell through the door of the Coach and Horses inn.

“Api!” teriaknya. “Tolong, berbaik hatilah! Satu kamar dan api!”

“A fire!” he shouted. “Please, be kind! A room and a fire!”

Nyonya Hall pemilik penginapan itu. Dia mengibaskan salju dari tubuhnya di bar, lalu mengikuti Nyonya Hall ke ruang tamu untuk tamu. Dia berbicara sangat sedikit, tetapi dia melempar dua koin emas ke atas meja. Koin itu membayar kamarnya.

Mrs. Hall owned the inn. He shook off the snow in the bar and followed her into the guest parlour. He said very little, but he threw two gold coins on the table. They paid for his room.

Nyonya Hall menyalakan api dan pergi memasak makanan untuknya sendiri. Seorang tamu di musim dingin adalah keberuntungan yang luar biasa, dan tamu ini tidak berdebat soal uang.

Mrs. Hall lit the fire and went to cook his meal herself. A guest in winter was wonderful luck, and this one did not argue about money.

Pelayan mudanya, Millie, lambat, jadi Nyonya Hall mengatakan dengan jelas apa yang dia pikirkan. Lalu dia membawa piring dan gelas ke ruang tamu dan menata meja.

Her young servant Millie was slow, so Mrs. Hall told her exactly what she thought. Then she carried plates and glasses into the parlour and laid the table.

Api menyala dengan baik, tetapi orang asing itu masih memakai topi dan mantelnya. Dia berdiri di jendela dan memandang salju di luar.

The fire was burning well, but the stranger still wore his hat and coat. He stood at the window and looked out at the snow.

“Boleh saya ambil topi dan mantel Bapak?” tanyanya. “Saya bisa mengeringkannya dengan baik di dapur.”

“Can I take your hat and coat, sir?” she asked. “I can give them a good dry in the kitchen.”

“Tidak,” katanya, dan dia tidak berbalik.

“No,” he said, and he did not turn.

Dia membuka mulut untuk bertanya lagi. Orang asing itu menoleh dan memandangnya dari balik bahunya. “Saya lebih suka tetap memakainya,” katanya dengan sangat jelas.

She opened her mouth to ask again. He turned his head and looked at her over his shoulder. “I prefer to keep them on,” he said very clearly.

Sekarang dia melihat kacamata pelindung biru besar itu, dengan kaca di sisi-sisinya juga. Rambut tebal turun menutupi kerah mantelnya dan menyembunyikan pipinya.

Now she saw his big blue goggles, with glass at the sides too. Thick hair came down over his coat collar and hid his cheeks.

“Baik sekali, Pak,” katanya. “ Terserah Bapak.”

“Very well, sir,” she said. “ As you like.”