The golden embers drifted up towards the dark sky dotted with a vast multitude of stars. I could feel the warmth of the fire contrast the cold night air as it drifted from the north onto my skin. I rubbed my hands together and held them in front of the flames. Even though we were all gathered in front of the fire with a rather close proximity to each other, a cold wind occasionally found its way to our shivering selves. I felt Wang Peng shift next to me as the wind nipped our faces and made our eyes water. I looked over to the elders who were telling stories while the children were gathered around them with eyes filled with curiosity and excitement. As I watched the embers glow and the flames dance, I craned my neck to hear the elders' tales.
"And then the great warrior prince defeated all of his enemies, and they all lived happily ever after." The old man smiled. Now that he was finished, he could sit down and enjoy some long-awaited rest.
"Mister?"
A tug on his sleeve directed is attention to a little boy who looked up at him with big, pleading eyes. "Yes, child, what troubles you?" he inquired trying his hardest not to sound slightly annoyed. The boy pointed to his right at the opal-colored carved statues with fear in his eyes.
"What are those scary blue dolls?"
"Oh," the old man laughed, "there's nothing to be afraid of. That is a statue of the great Buddha. Now let me tell you a story…"
That's right. I remember hearing many stories about Buddha and other philosophers from the other soldiers. The tales about the gods and founders always sounded amazing and magical, but distant. I had never met anyone with any direct experience with anything like Confucianism, Buddhism, or Hinduism; only priests who stayed in the temples and carried out their own sacred rituals. If Hinduism and Buddhism both came from India, what else did China have from India? What did India have that was Chinese? I guess all the philosophies traveled along with the spices and silk, except they came from the people, not from the silkworms or herb gardens. What would life be like without the Silk Road? People would not have had such a rapid means of exchanging ideas and goods. That is, if it made it through the Gobi Desert.
I have heard many fearful stories of the Gobi Desert, and the terrors it holds. Instead of milestones, there are the skeletal remains of unsuccessful caravans to guide the way! I shivered. What if we…ended up like- A punch to my shoulder shook me out of my dreadful thoughts.
"Ow! What was that for?!" I yelped, offended.
"That," Wang Peng started, "was for being a worry-wort." I blanched. "Oh, come on! I know that look." He made a face and cried in a high-pitched voice, "That's the oh-no-we-we-are-doomed look." He accused. I just looked at him while trying not to laugh. I had to keep some dignity. I couldn't let him know he made me laugh. That would be too much of an ego boost for his own good. "You need to stop worrying, and start enjoying yourself. You may never see a desert again! So calm down." He commanded. Maybe Wang Peng was right. Maybe we would be fine. But I just couldn't shake this feeling of danger.