"Indeed, Grandfather Har, I am the grandson of your old companion, Sudirjo," Havi declared, his voice steady and unwavering.
"I only discovered this truth last night, revealed to me by my parents."
The elderly man stood motionless for a moment, as though the weight of time itself had pressed down upon his weary shoulders.
A tremor ran through his ageing limbs, and for the briefest instant, he feared his legs might betray him.
His breath came shallow, and his mind reeled, struggling to reconcile the past with the present.
"Ridho and Saras," he muttered at last, his voice barely above a whisper. "They are your parents, are they not?"
Havi inclined his head solemnly, "Yes, they are my parents."
Grandfather Har exhaled slowly, lifting his gaze towards the heavens as if seeking answers amongst the drifting clouds.
Then, with a weary chuckle, he shook his head, "Sudirjo, you old scoundrel! To think you had a grandson such as this,a young man brimming with vigour and relentless determination. I must admit, I find myself envious of you, my old friend."
There was a wistful glint in his eyes as he studied the boy before him, "It is no wonder I sensed something familiar about you, lad. The fire in your spirit, the way you stand your ground, it is him, through and through."
A silence stretched between them, filled only by the distant rustling of the trees and the occasional call of a bird overhead.
Then, squaring his shoulders with newfound resolve, the old man turned fully towards Havi.
"Very well, lad," he said at last, his voice imbued with newfound energy.
"In honour of your grandfather, I shall lend you my aid in every way I can. Come now, let us make our way to Wira Falls. Perhaps, once we arrive, I shall find the wisdom to guide you further."
Havi's heart leapt with exhilaration, and without hesitation, he stepped forward, offering his arm to the old man.
Grandfather Har accepted the gesture, leaning slightly upon him as they set off down the winding path that led into the wilderness.
The road was not an easy one. The path, once well-trodden, had long since been claimed by nature, tangled with roots and strewn with uneven stones that threatened to unseat even the most sure-footed traveller.
Yet they pressed on, their journey interwoven with the stories Grandfather Har now chose to share, tales of Sudirjo's exploits, of hardships endured and victories won, of the laughter and camaraderie that had once bound them together.
To Havi, it was as though he were walking through time itself, catching fleeting glimpses of a past that had long since faded into memory.
With every tale that spilled from the old man's lips, his admiration for his grandfather grew, and a fierce pride blossomed within him, a yearning to honour the legacy of a man he had never truly known.
Nearly an hour passed before they arrived at their destination, the long trek made arduous by the limitations of Grandfather Har's ageing frame.
Yet when they finally stepped into the clearing, all exhaustion was forgotten.
Before them stood Wira Falls, its cascading waters tumbling from the cliff's edge in a silver rush, churning into a crystalline pool below.
Mist hung in the air like a veil of gossamer, catching the sunlight and breaking it into a thousand shimmering hues.
The sight was both powerful and serene, untouched by the passage of time.
Grandfather Har let out a long breath, his eyes tracing every detail with reverence, "It is just as it was," he murmured, almost to himself. "Not a stone out of place… not a ripple changed."
For a long moment, he stood motionless, lost in memory. Then, with a faint smile, he turned to Havi.
"I count myself fortunate to witness this place once more," he admitted.
Havi, though captivated by the beauty of the falls, could no longer contain his excitement.
"So, Grandfather Har," he pressed eagerly.
"Do you believe this place could sustain a waterwheel?"
The old man chuckled at the boy's impatience, shaking his head, "Hold your tongue, child! A matter such as this requires careful thought."
Grandfather Har surveyed the terrain with a furrowed brow, his keen eyes tracing the path of the rushing river as it plunged from the heights above, creating a fine mist that lingered in the air.
The ground beneath his feet was uneven, treacherous even, strewn with slick stones and the gnarled roots of towering trees.
Slowly, he began to move, his every step deliberate as he navigated the precarious footing.
Occasionally, he would nod to himself, stroking his silvered beard in contemplation.
"Hm… a place of undeniable beauty," he murmured, his voice barely audible above the roaring cascade. "Yet hardly an ideal location for a waterwheel."
Havi, standing a short distance away, watched him with bated breath, his youthful eyes alight with expectation.
He knew that if there was a man who could devise a solution, it was his grandfather's old friend.
Grandfather Har turned, his gaze settling upon the boy, "Listen well, Lad," he began, his voice tinged with the weight of experience.
"Constructing a waterwheel here is not an impossibility, but it will require careful thought and meticulous planning."
Havi nodded eagerly, "So… what must we do, Grandfather? Should we seek another location?"
A quiet chuckle escaped the old man's lip, "No, child. That would be the easy path. And where is the joy in that?" His eyes twinkled with the thrill of a challenge.
"Instead, we shall take the harder road one that demands patience and ingenuity."
He gestured towards a gentler slope to the left of the falls, "First, we cannot place the wheel directly beneath the waterfall. The force of the current is far too great, it would batter the structure into ruin before long."
"Instead, we must construct a diversion, a secondary channel, if you will, that will guide a controlled flow of water to our desired location."
Havi listened intently, his mind absorbing every word.
"Next," continued Grandfather Har. "The foundation must be unyielding. Wooden supports alone will not suffice, not against the ceaseless onslaught of water and time."
"We shall reinforce it with stone, using the very boulders that nature has scattered across this land."
"And as for the frame of the wheel itself, it must be fashioned from ironwood or teak. Anything less will rot before the seasons have turned."
He cast his gaze towards the towering trees that lined the riverbank, "The teak wood would serve well, but it is costly. Ironwood, if we are fortunate enough to find it, would be ideal."
"Otherwise, we shall preserve ordinary timber with damar resin to grant it longevity."
Havi's heart swelled with excitement. The vision of their creation was beginning to take shape in his mind, the promise of its realisation setting his spirit alight.
"And the paddles?" he pressed. "What of them?"
Grandfather Har's lips curled into a knowing smile, "Ah, the paddles… A delicate matter, indeed. Their angle must be precise. Too steep, and the water will slip past without yielding its full force. Too shallow, and the wheel will turn sluggishly, its power wasted."
He nodded, as though affirming his own calculations, "I shall draw the schematics later. Balance is the key."
He exhaled deeply, the cool mountain air filling his lungs, "Beyond that, we must consider how best to harness the wheel's energy."
"Perhaps a simple gear system, one that will translate the motion into something tangible. A millstone, perhaps, or even a rudimentary generator."
Havi could barely contain his enthusiasm, "Then let us begin at once, Grandfather! I shall seek out the sturdiest timber, gather those who will lend their strength, and we shall fortify the foundation with stone."
A laugh, warm and rich with fondness, rumbled from the old man's chest. He reached out, clapping a firm hand upon the boy's shoulder.
"You truly are your grandfather's grandson," he mused, a touch of wistfulness in his voice.
"Eager, relentless, ever hungry to act. But heed my words, child, wisdom must temper enthusiasm. The greatest endeavours are built not upon haste, but upon careful thought."
As the afternoon sun cast golden hues upon Wira Falls, Havi clenched his fists with newfound resolve.