to beat me!’ It did nothing to ease the tension that swam across the top of wall but it did raise their spirits
a little.
‘
How many men did he say he would return with?’ Dong-long asked anxiously. ‘Why?’ Niao enquired.
‘
Because he’s going to need ten times that many’ Dong-long spluttered out, his eyes widening and his
breathing growing short. Before him streams of Mongol barbarians swept out from the base of the hill and
onto the plains as far as the eye could see. Archers, spearman, cavalry and swordsmen numbering more
than 20,000 stretched out ominously before them.
The enemy finally reached the base of the wall and again their ladders bit into the crooks of the wall.
The Mongols started to climb and it didn’t seem to matter how many they shot or cut down, more and more
just kept coming. The gore and blood flew in all directions – slaughter was everywhere! Dong-long
continued to slash, strike, hack and stab killing more men then he ever believed he was capable. As night
fell and the stars began to shine in the clear night air the fighting gradually ea sed. Dong-long managed to
take rest in one of the guard towers. One minute he was staring at the stars the next he was being shaken
awake ‘ Hurry, gather then rest of the men, the captain will return soon, victory will be ours’. General
Niao rose to his feet and as he turned he screeched and blood dribbled down his dirt-ridden chin. He fell
forwards, paralyzed, a barbed arrow protruding from his back.
Dong-long stared in disbelief. Then he shook off the shock and let rip a roar of pure anger. He rushed
passed the lifeless corpse of his comrade and leader charging fearlessly down the steep steps from the
tower to the massing Mongols below. His battle cry could be heard from miles around. Rushing uncaringly,
a battle frenzy gripping his very soul, he struck out recklessly at anyone and anything within sword’s reach.
Metal against metal, wood against wood, flesh against flesh – there was no Mongol on earth that could
withstand him.
What was that sound? He thought, could that have been an imperial horn? Cries of joy were coming
from the soldiers around him; cheers of victory surrounded him, sighs of relief. Dong -long sunk to his
knees with joy, could they really have won, was it really over? His breath quickened, his visions blurred
and his mind became calm. ‘Did we win?’ he whispered to no one in particular, ‘Did we win?’ The
Mongol General sniggered as he surveyed the devastation his army had wrought.
‘
Not on this day China man!’
‘
You!’ Dong-long said accusingly as the Chinese Captain chuckled and raised the scythe to Dong-
long’s neck.
Dong-long turned his face to the beating sun and let its warmth bathe over him. No longer was it the
enemy but now apparently a friend, soothing and calming him before the end. He closed his eyes and there
was a whisper of sharp metal cutting through the air.
When Dong-long opened his eyes again a blue lake glistened before him. He cupped his hands and
drank deeply of the cold crisp water. He was home at last.
* * *