Michael Strogoff

The Ball at the New Palace

Pesta Dansa di Istana Baru

“Sire, a new message.”

“Baginda, ada pesan baru.”

“From where?”

“Dari mana?”

“From Tomsk.”

“Dari Tomsk.”

“Is the telegraph wire cut after that town?”

“Apakah kawat telegraf terputus setelah kota itu?”

“Yes, sire. Since yesterday.”

“Ya, Baginda. Sejak kemarin.”

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

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

“Yes, sire,” said General Kissoff.

“Baik, Baginda,” kata Jenderal Kissoff.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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