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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Action & Adventure
- Subject: Adventure
- Published: 05/27/2014
Prologue
China
Jan 23-1556
Qinkeda, the scholar stood outside of the house near Yellow river, Qin mountains. The wind was swirling around. Rustling of dry leaves heard. He thought of himself. I couldn't sleep. Something disturbed my mind. I watched the yaodungs in Qin Mountains. My house was in the outskirts. It was calm. I thought people were deep in sleep. I observed it in silence. Wei river valley as a whole looked like a grave in dark. It was time for the evening star. Last week people told me about the peculiar behaviour of animals.
Suddenly, I felt the tremor underneath. I heard big "thut" sound. "Run away, the earth surface is cracking" someone cried in local language. My legs became shaken. Within a second yaodungs became flat. I ran down the valley as far as possible. Water gushes out from the crevice with sand.
Screaming and crying sound are heard. The tremor last for few seconds. Many lost their lives, many lost their families. Corpses everywhere. Temple and other building collapsed.
I too had bruises. "Why this mother earth earthed this whole. Why did she be so furious, swallowing millions of mob?" my eyes burned with tears.
Chapter-1: Reaching Destination
China
June, 1976
It was the month of June. I woke up at 7:30 am in a fine deck. It was morning of curiosity. Caesar, my dog friend wagging his tail waiting for the breakfast. I watched the calm sea waves and ate my bread sandwiches shared with my Caesar. He was a breed of Siberian husky, very dangerous. I made myself as a strong leader to tame it.
Captain said, “We will reach china this afternoon”. I smiled back. It was a long travel from Spain to China from my home land Barcelona. We started our journey roughly before a month at port Algerious bay. I was assigned to work in pit 2 excavation Qin warriors Xi'an, Shaanxi.
My name is Alexander Logan, archaeologist. I was born in 1948. This was my first trip there. I knew Chinese and English. My friend Wan (Chinese archaeologist) who worked with me in US last year will be waiting there in Shaanxi.
Finally we reached the port in China. Usual routine checking went up. All people were in the military uniform (red star in the batch). Veterinary check-up was done for my pet.
When we came out, Lu Shan, the cab driver was waiting for us. Lu Shan is short, fair with two small eyes. He knew little English. He greeted me "monsieur, get in". He was afraid of my dog. He was arranged by my friend Wan. It takes half a day to reach our destination Xi'an, the capital of old Qin dynasty.
Chapter-2: Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
June 21, 1976
I and Caesar had spent a peaceful night in Wan's place. Xu, Wan's cook brought me noodles and bread with stew for breakfast.
"Bring knife and forks" I asked. He stared at me. "We regard it as weapon here", Wan laughed. Later Wan and I had a nice tea. "Hurry up, let's go to the workspace" Wan said. I told Xu to take care of my Caesar.
It took 15 minutes to reach the pit 2 excavation place. We went by bus. People in the bus peered me differently.
We met Ch'en, chief archaeologist of our project. I looked pit 2 with jaw dropping. There are about thousands of life size Terracotta figures of warriors arranged in battle formation. 90 chariots of wood are found. The work was at primitive stage. Ch'en explained me that these pit 2 was found on April only. Initially the peasants near Tomb of Emperor Qin found Terracotta potteries in 1974. That paves the way to find these things.
He gave me ten days of time to get settle in this new place. I nodded and went to my work. “What do you think" Wan asked. "Why this man Qin needed this sum of warriors" I asked. "The emperor ruled the underworld now, he needed these warriors" smiled Wan.
"Oh”, It is all about eternity”, I nodded. Chinese believed in life after death.
I saw the terracotta figure of Emperor Qin in chariot. "He might be a great warrior", I mumbled. He was the first emperor of Qin Dynasty around 221 BC. Qin's minister made these army for his beloved King in his grave. I recollected the information given by wan earlier. I glanced the whole pit 2. It was about 7172 yards and L shaped. It took years to finish, I thought.
I took my working tools and started to attend a soiled soldier. I love my work always. I immersed in my work deeply.
"Alex ", Wan called me.
"It is time to retire", he finished.
We went back home. After taking shower, I spend my valuable time with newspaper and Caesar. After dinner, I comforted myself in bed.
Chapter-3: Weekend Trip
Sooner at 6 am, wakeup call disturbed me. Wan stood on my bed side.
"Hey, get ready for weekend trip”, wan said.
"This time you don't get chance “I said to Caesar.
He gave me a disappointing look. I packed my emergency bag with torch, lighter, few dry food stuffs and medicines.
Wan laughed," Is it necessary, Alex ". I said, “Yes".
Lu shan was waiting outside.
"Where now?" I asked.
"To Henan", wan replied.
"How long it will be?"
At least three hours from here, wan answered.
"It has many scenic spots, “He added.
"Is it on yellow river's side”, myself in an excited tone.
"Sure”, wan said.
On the way Lushan stopped at yu'nan.I saw Mao's headquarters in cave houses.
"People still in loess caves after 1556", I wondered.
"Brave people friend”, wan smiled.
Loess is made of silt sand from Gobi desert.
Lushan enthusiastically explained about their communist government.
I remembered Edgar Snow, writer, who came here to meet Mao Zeodung.
We saw shaolin temple, Neolithic museum etc. Finally we reached banks of yellow river.
Now I got it. Why it get the name yellow river?
It picked lot of silt from loess. It is the cradle of Chinese civilization.
I was in a great eager to take snaps. I asked Lushan to park our car somewhere near river bank. He did so. I read “Dangerous”. Wan warned me too.
It is so lovely and so a few clicks, I argued.
No, No, Don’t, cried Wan. What happened? I could not imagined.
Swirls pulled me inside. “Alas, I fell into water. Something stumbled me.
The pull of water was too hard. Somewhere screaming of my friends heard.
I could not see them.
Chapter-4: Survivor
River pulled me vigorously. It had many swirls. It was very deep. My swimming efficiency challenged the force of river. I struggled to reach the bank. "I will surely sink ", I feared. I followed the way where the river took me. My hands and legs seemed to lose their strength. I felt exhausted. “please, save me .show me some
way God". My true prayers surely rose to heavens.
Darkness started to spread their arms. I could not be able to see things properly. I lost my hope to reach the bank but I kept on swimming. Finally, my hand experienced a rock like thing. I assured, I was in a tunnel. Rays of hope widened. The river seemed to change its direction. I tightly clinged on to the rock. My elbows started aching. I climbed on to the rock slowly. Finally, I climbed.
I thought "I am alive". No more water, which made me happy. Now I was in a cliff. I breathed a sigh of relief. I took rest for some time. My god emergency bag was with me. "It was not wet" I overwhelmed. I took my torch and aimed before me. Flash light guided me. I started to move. Dry leaves was found everywhere. Tall trees were visualized. I felt safe. "What else waiting for me" I thought. I stopped on the way to kill my starving with dry foods. Then I moved. The way was filled with bushes.
To my astonishment, I saw movement of some creature. It was an extinct type of Panda. Their size made me to shiver but I was excited in watching them. “They are coming towards me" I feared. I hide myself behind the bush, they left me. I tried another way without disturbing them. "Alas! It was a pit" I fell down. My torch rolled away, I tried to grab it. But all in vain, I became very upset. It was certainly a cave. Suddenly, I thought of my lighter. I aimed to the cave. I looked it thoroughly, my eyes widened. I saw a tablet inscription of 2nd century BC. It was all about earthquakes around 200 BC. It also gave information about the future earthquake and floods. The map of that period was found. I thought of taking photos with the camera found in the emergency bag. But my bad luck, it was wet.
I searched for the exit. At last, I found a scattering of light. I moved towards it with happiness. It was forest again. The colour of the sky started increasing. I thought of telling these things to Wan. Wan might be worried for me. I graved and realized my mistake. It was around 4:00 AM. My eyes began to close. Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm. My heart began to beat faster. I heard a voice behind me, "Who are you?, Why are you here?" in Chinese. I turned around. I answered "I am an archaeologist working in Xi'an. I lost my way. "Do you know, this is Qinling Mountains?" he asked. I was puzzled. He told that, he was a trekking guide. I told him about my story of reaching here. He was astonished. He took me to his camp. I spent the rest of the morning peacefully there. Finally, I met Wan. He hugged me happily.
Chapter-5: Exploration in Loess
Wan asked me “Take rest for few days". I said "No". We were back in work. Even then my mind was occupied with night mares. I felt weak inside.
"What about this weekend? Do you plan for any adventure" Wan asked mischievously. Ha! Surely I returned with a wink. Wan took me to Loess this time .I took Caesar with me. We stopped in an inn for our lunch. When we reached the destination, I admired the small cave houses built in Loess.
"These are victim place of Earthquake" Wan said. "This is where Qinkeda stand" he added. He explained about the development and population of that area.
Grasslands invited us. We had a walk there. Suddenly, Caesar stopped and started barking. He was digging the loose sand. I asked Lu Shan to bring spade from the car.
Wan and me started digging. Our spade hit something, it was some vessel of ancient time. We safely handed over to the archaeology department to check their age. I said my time here is full of exploration. Wan and I overjoyed. We returned back to home.
Chapter-6: Quaking News
Our excavation were published in local newspaper. We were overwhelmed with joy. The things we found was used by the first Qin Emperor "Qin Shi Huang".
Colleagues in our site congratulated us. During lunch Wan and I talked the other news we saw. It was about the warning of Tangshan earthquake. Wang Chengamin of the State Seismographic Analysis (SSA) and prediction department warned that Tangshan would meet earthquake between July 22 to August 5, 1976. Wan and I discussed about the possibility.
I said "We can't predict or prepare for the earthquake". "The government will not mind it" Wan worried. "What about our trip there" I asked. "My friend Peter runs a dispensary in Tangshan, we can travel this Monday" Wan said.
At the end of the day I finished almost my assigned work. This weekend, we stayed in home to prepare for Tangshan.
After the weekend, we started our journey to Tangshan. It was July 26, Monday. We planned to stay for three days with Peter. Caesar also came with us. Lu Shan took us there in his cab. Tangshan was an industrial city. It was hugely populated with buildings. It was built on Luanhe river plain. It took 6 hours to reach from Xi'an. Peter was waiting for us. We saw people who led simple life. They were kind. We roamed the whole city. It was a good experience.
Chapter-7: Incidents before Earthquake
July 27, Tuesday, 1976
Tangshan, China
we visited the coal mines. Peter discussed us about the earthquake. Wan and I went to see the well water which was repeatedly rose and fell three times.
Peter's neighbour told that 1000's of chickens did not eat their food yesterday.
On the way, we saw a fish shop. A goldfish leaped out of the bowl by and then. We watched the restless movement of the fish.
I witnessed Caesar lied on the floor without eating from morning. I wondered about the peculiar behaviour of animals. My intuition said "something is wrong". I asked Wan "Do you witness any earthquake? Are we in wrong time?"
He said me to be relaxed.
Lu Shan told us that gas spout out of the well for the past 10 days in another village. These news worried me. He asked whether we liked to leave. Wan said "No". Later, I lied on my bed thoughtfully. Caesar was nervous and he did not sleep.
Chapter-8: Feeling Tremors
My legs were plunged into sand. I couldn't get rid of it. The sand was up to my neck now. I screamed to a maximum. I heard my mom's voice. She said "Don't worry, hold my hand. I am here for you".
Suddenly, someone called my name "Alex, get your sense". This was Wan's voice. I felt a lot of sweat. "Oh god, it was a nightmare" I said. Wan asked "Are you okay". I just nodded my head. It was about 3:40 AM. Peter and Wan sat on my side. They comforted me. I drank water. Caesar started to bark. Suddenly, we felt tremor.
"An earthquake” Wan gasped. “Let’s leave the house" Peter yelled. We ran out of the building. The walls were cracking and roof were shuddering. The concrete floor was heaving under the feet. People started to come out of their house. There was commotion everywhere. Someone screamed "Coal mines are completely perished".
Dust and smoke crowded everywhere. A big crack opened in the ground below. Plant, buildings were collapsed like toy houses. Water gushed out with sand through the crack. My legs started shaking. My eyes was filled with fear. "Do we escape" I shouted. I saw Caesar running towards the crack. I ran behind him. I saved him. The earthquake last for 12-14 seconds. But made a big devastation. Millions of people died. We were helpless. I heard a moan of someone. It was Lushushan, a Chinese teacher. He was stuck in his damaged house. We went there to help him. He cried "I lost my family". His leg was fractured. Peter gave him first aid.
The earthquake broke our heart. People were still in mental shock. They were panic. Telephone lines were dead and roads were blocked.
Chapter-9: Impacts of earthquake
Nobody in the capital knew about this incident. Survivors are were supposed to face with no water, no food, no electricity.
Coal miner Li Yulin tried to say the word devastation to Beijing. We all helped him to ride ambulance. He drove it through the broken roads. We were waiting desperately for the rescue team. Peter asked "Why don't we set a tent for injured".
We helped many injured. Wan and I collected all the eatables from the broken market.
We all buried the corpses in the crack. We used the medical kit found in the ambulance.
Many young people joined with us. We worked together in this bitter
moment. Days are found to be long. We couldn't get clean drinking water. People get caught in epidemics. We were in a worst situation. After two days, biscuit packets were thrown from the helicopters. We collected and shared to the needy ones.
Wan and myself slept on the road. My Caesar was injured in his limb. My dress were torn. We tried to clean our place. Four days went like this. Finally, a rescue team came to save us. We stood in a queue to get food, clothes, and blanket. After a week, all the roads were cleared and telephone lines were connected. Wan and I got back to Xi'an with Caesar. This was an unforgettable event. After a long break we rested in Wan's house.
Epilogue
Chinese government gave only building materials to the people of Tangshan. They repaired their houses and started to continue their normal lives. Resist in earthquake and rescue ourselves was the government's motto. They refused to get the UN sanctions.
More than three million people died. It was said that magnitude of the earthquake is 7.8 in ritcher scale. As the people bravely recovered, Tangshan got the name brave city of china. I thought it took many years to rebuild Tangshan.
This beautiful earth gave us wealth and unpredicted calamities but let us hope they won't occur frequently. Life is not a bed of rose, even then face it happily. Be kind to others. I sadly went to my homeland.
Quaking Dynasty(Hariharan)
Prologue
China
Jan 23-1556
Qinkeda, the scholar stood outside of the house near Yellow river, Qin mountains. The wind was swirling around. Rustling of dry leaves heard. He thought of himself. I couldn't sleep. Something disturbed my mind. I watched the yaodungs in Qin Mountains. My house was in the outskirts. It was calm. I thought people were deep in sleep. I observed it in silence. Wei river valley as a whole looked like a grave in dark. It was time for the evening star. Last week people told me about the peculiar behaviour of animals.
Suddenly, I felt the tremor underneath. I heard big "thut" sound. "Run away, the earth surface is cracking" someone cried in local language. My legs became shaken. Within a second yaodungs became flat. I ran down the valley as far as possible. Water gushes out from the crevice with sand.
Screaming and crying sound are heard. The tremor last for few seconds. Many lost their lives, many lost their families. Corpses everywhere. Temple and other building collapsed.
I too had bruises. "Why this mother earth earthed this whole. Why did she be so furious, swallowing millions of mob?" my eyes burned with tears.
Chapter-1: Reaching Destination
China
June, 1976
It was the month of June. I woke up at 7:30 am in a fine deck. It was morning of curiosity. Caesar, my dog friend wagging his tail waiting for the breakfast. I watched the calm sea waves and ate my bread sandwiches shared with my Caesar. He was a breed of Siberian husky, very dangerous. I made myself as a strong leader to tame it.
Captain said, “We will reach china this afternoon”. I smiled back. It was a long travel from Spain to China from my home land Barcelona. We started our journey roughly before a month at port Algerious bay. I was assigned to work in pit 2 excavation Qin warriors Xi'an, Shaanxi.
My name is Alexander Logan, archaeologist. I was born in 1948. This was my first trip there. I knew Chinese and English. My friend Wan (Chinese archaeologist) who worked with me in US last year will be waiting there in Shaanxi.
Finally we reached the port in China. Usual routine checking went up. All people were in the military uniform (red star in the batch). Veterinary check-up was done for my pet.
When we came out, Lu Shan, the cab driver was waiting for us. Lu Shan is short, fair with two small eyes. He knew little English. He greeted me "monsieur, get in". He was afraid of my dog. He was arranged by my friend Wan. It takes half a day to reach our destination Xi'an, the capital of old Qin dynasty.
Chapter-2: Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
June 21, 1976
I and Caesar had spent a peaceful night in Wan's place. Xu, Wan's cook brought me noodles and bread with stew for breakfast.
"Bring knife and forks" I asked. He stared at me. "We regard it as weapon here", Wan laughed. Later Wan and I had a nice tea. "Hurry up, let's go to the workspace" Wan said. I told Xu to take care of my Caesar.
It took 15 minutes to reach the pit 2 excavation place. We went by bus. People in the bus peered me differently.
We met Ch'en, chief archaeologist of our project. I looked pit 2 with jaw dropping. There are about thousands of life size Terracotta figures of warriors arranged in battle formation. 90 chariots of wood are found. The work was at primitive stage. Ch'en explained me that these pit 2 was found on April only. Initially the peasants near Tomb of Emperor Qin found Terracotta potteries in 1974. That paves the way to find these things.
He gave me ten days of time to get settle in this new place. I nodded and went to my work. “What do you think" Wan asked. "Why this man Qin needed this sum of warriors" I asked. "The emperor ruled the underworld now, he needed these warriors" smiled Wan.
"Oh”, It is all about eternity”, I nodded. Chinese believed in life after death.
I saw the terracotta figure of Emperor Qin in chariot. "He might be a great warrior", I mumbled. He was the first emperor of Qin Dynasty around 221 BC. Qin's minister made these army for his beloved King in his grave. I recollected the information given by wan earlier. I glanced the whole pit 2. It was about 7172 yards and L shaped. It took years to finish, I thought.
I took my working tools and started to attend a soiled soldier. I love my work always. I immersed in my work deeply.
"Alex ", Wan called me.
"It is time to retire", he finished.
We went back home. After taking shower, I spend my valuable time with newspaper and Caesar. After dinner, I comforted myself in bed.
Chapter-3: Weekend Trip
Sooner at 6 am, wakeup call disturbed me. Wan stood on my bed side.
"Hey, get ready for weekend trip”, wan said.
"This time you don't get chance “I said to Caesar.
He gave me a disappointing look. I packed my emergency bag with torch, lighter, few dry food stuffs and medicines.
Wan laughed," Is it necessary, Alex ". I said, “Yes".
Lu shan was waiting outside.
"Where now?" I asked.
"To Henan", wan replied.
"How long it will be?"
At least three hours from here, wan answered.
"It has many scenic spots, “He added.
"Is it on yellow river's side”, myself in an excited tone.
"Sure”, wan said.
On the way Lushan stopped at yu'nan.I saw Mao's headquarters in cave houses.
"People still in loess caves after 1556", I wondered.
"Brave people friend”, wan smiled.
Loess is made of silt sand from Gobi desert.
Lushan enthusiastically explained about their communist government.
I remembered Edgar Snow, writer, who came here to meet Mao Zeodung.
We saw shaolin temple, Neolithic museum etc. Finally we reached banks of yellow river.
Now I got it. Why it get the name yellow river?
It picked lot of silt from loess. It is the cradle of Chinese civilization.
I was in a great eager to take snaps. I asked Lushan to park our car somewhere near river bank. He did so. I read “Dangerous”. Wan warned me too.
It is so lovely and so a few clicks, I argued.
No, No, Don’t, cried Wan. What happened? I could not imagined.
Swirls pulled me inside. “Alas, I fell into water. Something stumbled me.
The pull of water was too hard. Somewhere screaming of my friends heard.
I could not see them.
Chapter-4: Survivor
River pulled me vigorously. It had many swirls. It was very deep. My swimming efficiency challenged the force of river. I struggled to reach the bank. "I will surely sink ", I feared. I followed the way where the river took me. My hands and legs seemed to lose their strength. I felt exhausted. “please, save me .show me some
way God". My true prayers surely rose to heavens.
Darkness started to spread their arms. I could not be able to see things properly. I lost my hope to reach the bank but I kept on swimming. Finally, my hand experienced a rock like thing. I assured, I was in a tunnel. Rays of hope widened. The river seemed to change its direction. I tightly clinged on to the rock. My elbows started aching. I climbed on to the rock slowly. Finally, I climbed.
I thought "I am alive". No more water, which made me happy. Now I was in a cliff. I breathed a sigh of relief. I took rest for some time. My god emergency bag was with me. "It was not wet" I overwhelmed. I took my torch and aimed before me. Flash light guided me. I started to move. Dry leaves was found everywhere. Tall trees were visualized. I felt safe. "What else waiting for me" I thought. I stopped on the way to kill my starving with dry foods. Then I moved. The way was filled with bushes.
To my astonishment, I saw movement of some creature. It was an extinct type of Panda. Their size made me to shiver but I was excited in watching them. “They are coming towards me" I feared. I hide myself behind the bush, they left me. I tried another way without disturbing them. "Alas! It was a pit" I fell down. My torch rolled away, I tried to grab it. But all in vain, I became very upset. It was certainly a cave. Suddenly, I thought of my lighter. I aimed to the cave. I looked it thoroughly, my eyes widened. I saw a tablet inscription of 2nd century BC. It was all about earthquakes around 200 BC. It also gave information about the future earthquake and floods. The map of that period was found. I thought of taking photos with the camera found in the emergency bag. But my bad luck, it was wet.
I searched for the exit. At last, I found a scattering of light. I moved towards it with happiness. It was forest again. The colour of the sky started increasing. I thought of telling these things to Wan. Wan might be worried for me. I graved and realized my mistake. It was around 4:00 AM. My eyes began to close. Suddenly, someone grabbed my arm. My heart began to beat faster. I heard a voice behind me, "Who are you?, Why are you here?" in Chinese. I turned around. I answered "I am an archaeologist working in Xi'an. I lost my way. "Do you know, this is Qinling Mountains?" he asked. I was puzzled. He told that, he was a trekking guide. I told him about my story of reaching here. He was astonished. He took me to his camp. I spent the rest of the morning peacefully there. Finally, I met Wan. He hugged me happily.
Chapter-5: Exploration in Loess
Wan asked me “Take rest for few days". I said "No". We were back in work. Even then my mind was occupied with night mares. I felt weak inside.
"What about this weekend? Do you plan for any adventure" Wan asked mischievously. Ha! Surely I returned with a wink. Wan took me to Loess this time .I took Caesar with me. We stopped in an inn for our lunch. When we reached the destination, I admired the small cave houses built in Loess.
"These are victim place of Earthquake" Wan said. "This is where Qinkeda stand" he added. He explained about the development and population of that area.
Grasslands invited us. We had a walk there. Suddenly, Caesar stopped and started barking. He was digging the loose sand. I asked Lu Shan to bring spade from the car.
Wan and me started digging. Our spade hit something, it was some vessel of ancient time. We safely handed over to the archaeology department to check their age. I said my time here is full of exploration. Wan and I overjoyed. We returned back to home.
Chapter-6: Quaking News
Our excavation were published in local newspaper. We were overwhelmed with joy. The things we found was used by the first Qin Emperor "Qin Shi Huang".
Colleagues in our site congratulated us. During lunch Wan and I talked the other news we saw. It was about the warning of Tangshan earthquake. Wang Chengamin of the State Seismographic Analysis (SSA) and prediction department warned that Tangshan would meet earthquake between July 22 to August 5, 1976. Wan and I discussed about the possibility.
I said "We can't predict or prepare for the earthquake". "The government will not mind it" Wan worried. "What about our trip there" I asked. "My friend Peter runs a dispensary in Tangshan, we can travel this Monday" Wan said.
At the end of the day I finished almost my assigned work. This weekend, we stayed in home to prepare for Tangshan.
After the weekend, we started our journey to Tangshan. It was July 26, Monday. We planned to stay for three days with Peter. Caesar also came with us. Lu Shan took us there in his cab. Tangshan was an industrial city. It was hugely populated with buildings. It was built on Luanhe river plain. It took 6 hours to reach from Xi'an. Peter was waiting for us. We saw people who led simple life. They were kind. We roamed the whole city. It was a good experience.
Chapter-7: Incidents before Earthquake
July 27, Tuesday, 1976
Tangshan, China
we visited the coal mines. Peter discussed us about the earthquake. Wan and I went to see the well water which was repeatedly rose and fell three times.
Peter's neighbour told that 1000's of chickens did not eat their food yesterday.
On the way, we saw a fish shop. A goldfish leaped out of the bowl by and then. We watched the restless movement of the fish.
I witnessed Caesar lied on the floor without eating from morning. I wondered about the peculiar behaviour of animals. My intuition said "something is wrong". I asked Wan "Do you witness any earthquake? Are we in wrong time?"
He said me to be relaxed.
Lu Shan told us that gas spout out of the well for the past 10 days in another village. These news worried me. He asked whether we liked to leave. Wan said "No". Later, I lied on my bed thoughtfully. Caesar was nervous and he did not sleep.
Chapter-8: Feeling Tremors
My legs were plunged into sand. I couldn't get rid of it. The sand was up to my neck now. I screamed to a maximum. I heard my mom's voice. She said "Don't worry, hold my hand. I am here for you".
Suddenly, someone called my name "Alex, get your sense". This was Wan's voice. I felt a lot of sweat. "Oh god, it was a nightmare" I said. Wan asked "Are you okay". I just nodded my head. It was about 3:40 AM. Peter and Wan sat on my side. They comforted me. I drank water. Caesar started to bark. Suddenly, we felt tremor.
"An earthquake” Wan gasped. “Let’s leave the house" Peter yelled. We ran out of the building. The walls were cracking and roof were shuddering. The concrete floor was heaving under the feet. People started to come out of their house. There was commotion everywhere. Someone screamed "Coal mines are completely perished".
Dust and smoke crowded everywhere. A big crack opened in the ground below. Plant, buildings were collapsed like toy houses. Water gushed out with sand through the crack. My legs started shaking. My eyes was filled with fear. "Do we escape" I shouted. I saw Caesar running towards the crack. I ran behind him. I saved him. The earthquake last for 12-14 seconds. But made a big devastation. Millions of people died. We were helpless. I heard a moan of someone. It was Lushushan, a Chinese teacher. He was stuck in his damaged house. We went there to help him. He cried "I lost my family". His leg was fractured. Peter gave him first aid.
The earthquake broke our heart. People were still in mental shock. They were panic. Telephone lines were dead and roads were blocked.
Chapter-9: Impacts of earthquake
Nobody in the capital knew about this incident. Survivors are were supposed to face with no water, no food, no electricity.
Coal miner Li Yulin tried to say the word devastation to Beijing. We all helped him to ride ambulance. He drove it through the broken roads. We were waiting desperately for the rescue team. Peter asked "Why don't we set a tent for injured".
We helped many injured. Wan and I collected all the eatables from the broken market.
We all buried the corpses in the crack. We used the medical kit found in the ambulance.
Many young people joined with us. We worked together in this bitter
moment. Days are found to be long. We couldn't get clean drinking water. People get caught in epidemics. We were in a worst situation. After two days, biscuit packets were thrown from the helicopters. We collected and shared to the needy ones.
Wan and myself slept on the road. My Caesar was injured in his limb. My dress were torn. We tried to clean our place. Four days went like this. Finally, a rescue team came to save us. We stood in a queue to get food, clothes, and blanket. After a week, all the roads were cleared and telephone lines were connected. Wan and I got back to Xi'an with Caesar. This was an unforgettable event. After a long break we rested in Wan's house.
Epilogue
Chinese government gave only building materials to the people of Tangshan. They repaired their houses and started to continue their normal lives. Resist in earthquake and rescue ourselves was the government's motto. They refused to get the UN sanctions.
More than three million people died. It was said that magnitude of the earthquake is 7.8 in ritcher scale. As the people bravely recovered, Tangshan got the name brave city of china. I thought it took many years to rebuild Tangshan.
This beautiful earth gave us wealth and unpredicted calamities but let us hope they won't occur frequently. Life is not a bed of rose, even then face it happily. Be kind to others. I sadly went to my homeland.
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