The Red Rebels
Shloka Sahoo, Group 2: Fiction, Delia School of Canada
eads of sweat rolled down Mr. Lee’s face as he dashed across 21, 196 km long wall. Mr. Lee’s heart
was pounding so fast and hard and it was audible to anybody within one metre. When the Red Rebels
were no longer visible, Mr. Lee fell on his knees, panting, and waiting till he could get back on his feet.
Just then he heard footsteps and murmurs. He wanted to run away, but his body wouldn’t move an
inch.
It all started on a fine Tuesday in mid-July. Florence, Mr. Lee’s daughter, helped him pack up for a business
trip to China. Florence was born and brought up in Texas and is an American born Chinese.
B
That evening, Mr. Lee left for China. A day or two later, Mr. Lee’s colleague called up. “Mr. Lee is no
more,” he sighed. Florence’s heart shattered and she dropped the phone. Mrs. Lee snatched the phone, “Why!”
she cried. The colleague cleared his throat. “While Mr. Lee and I were strolling down the Great Wall, a man in a
red bandana grabbed Mr. Lee by the collar. Mr. Lee escaped the grip and ran. I haven’t seen him since. The
local people told me that he was murdered”.
Florence and Mrs. Lee both went to bed without a meal, and mourned Mr. Lee. Neither of them actually
slept that night. In Beijing, Zoe, Mr. Lee’s sister went to the Great Wall where the body of Mr. Lee was
retrieved, to find any possible clues about the murderer. The body was already cleared off, but the area was
neither sealed nor cleaned. Zoe saw a red bandana and a headband; both were identical because they had the
letters ‘R.R’ printed on them. She understood that the Red Rebels group was a part of this murder. She was
familiar with the bandana, as her husband once worked with the Red Rebels. All members of the Red Rebels
were to wear an article of clothing that has the letters ‘R.R’ printed on it.
Though Florence didn’t get any sleep last night, she went to school. While Florence was at school, Zoe
called to invite her to Beijing for a month on her summer vacations. As soon as Florence was back, her mother
told her to pack up. “Why?” asked Florence. “Your aunt Zoe invited you to her house in China. You will be
staying there for a month,” said Mrs. Lee. Florence’s eyes twinkled. Florence ran to her room and flung her
cupboard open. She got her bag and stuffed in as much as she could. Finally, Florence came out, ready to leave
for China. “Dear, Florence, you are not going to China today,” said Mrs. Lee. Florence knew that, however she
couldn’t wait to get to China.
The day arrived. “Take care of yourself,” shouted Mrs. Lee from behind as Florence walked in to board the
plane. Florence held her head high and was happier than ever. When she reached China, she saw her Aunt Zoe
waiting for her. Florence ran and embraced her Aunt.
Florence and Zoe drove home. Zoe tried to comfort Florence because Florence had started sobbing since
she had seen a poster of the Great Wall on the way. Florence was told about the Red Rebels’ bandana and
headband spotted on the Great Wall. Florence vowed to herself to get her father’s murderers punished.
To find clues, Florence and Zoe went to the murder spot. Florence sat down and holding her tears back, she
carefully picked up the bandana and the headband, and placed them into plastic bags. Florence then asked her
aunt to drive her to a forensic lab for a DNA test. She explained to the people in the lab about the murder and
asked them to see if the hair on the headband matches the DNA of any of the Red Rebels.
At night, Florence rolled around in her bed trying to get some sleep, however, the memory of her dad kept
her up. At midnight, there was a knock on the door. Florence, who was fed up with rolling, had decided to read a
book by then. Anyways, she got up and opened the door. Zoe came in to sleep with Florence as she had heard
the rolling.
Early the next morning, Florence and Zoe left for the forensic lab. The DNA matched and now that they
had proof, Florence and Zoe could lodge a complaint against the Red Rebels. Zoe and Florence rushed to the
police station. “We have had many cases against the Red Rebels but we were unable to find any evidence.
However, as you have found proof, we can prepare an arrest warrant and nab them,” said the police chief. The
police then tried to trace the Red Rebels’ phone calls and found out that they were going to be at the Great Wall
today at 3:00 pm.
Florence, Zoe, and the police went to the Great Wall at 2:00 pm and spread themselves all over the wall.
Florence kept looking at her watch desperately. At about 3:15 pm, the Red Rebels were spotted by the police.
Twenty minutes later, Zoe saw the Red Rebels group and was shocked to see a familiar face; it was her husband
(
they were divorced). Zoe and the police were now after the Red Rebels. As soon as Florence saw a red bandana,
she put her leg out and one after the other the Red Rebels kept tripping over. Very soon they were caught and
taken to the police station.