alone falcons. Yeye said that China was a place to hunt money, not birds. Yeye promised Ahlan that if they
returned back to Kashgar he could learn everything about Falconry. Ahlan never forgot this secret dream.
Ahlan protested: “But, if YeYe and NaiNai want to go back, they know both places and it must be the
right thing to do : to live with our own kind of people. We’ve got to start packing then, we have to leave before
it’s too late!”
“
Our problem is if we go back to Kashgar we won’t be able to come back to China.” His mother sighed
and continued to explain. “Baba and I have made a decision. We are staying in China. The business is going
well and we have all settled in here. There is no reason at all for us to leave.”
“
But China isn’t our home, we can’t stay here.”
“
Why are you being so selfish? Think about Yeye and NaiNai! Imagine how hard it would be for them
to travel such a long way! Who will take them there, you?” Ahlan’s mother was suddenly angry.
She got off of his bed and stood by the door. Her expression immediately softened. “Go to sleep now,
don’t be so sad. We will talk about this tomorrow.”
“
Stupid wall.” Ahlan muttered as he lay in bed. Suddenly, an idea formed before his eyes. He could
bring his family back to Kashgar. Mama and Baba would remember their hometown and decide to stay. It would
make Yeye and Nainai so happy. And Ahlan could finally learn from the greatest Falconer, his Yeye. Ahlan
could first figure out how to get to Kashgar then return to bring his family with him. Without another thought,
Ahlan packed his bag and tiptoed down stairs. He stepped out of his family restaurant and breathed in the cold
night air, and thought to himself, Time to go to Kashgar!
Ahlan dragged his tired legs on the cracked, crumbling ground. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had
started out full of energy. Jumping, running and dancing on the streets. But now his eyelids drooped.His arms
hung on his body and was breathing heavily. Just as he was about to sit down and give up he heard clomps on
the fragmented ground and the sound of rickety wheels squeaking. The repetitive sound got louder and louder.
Clomp, clomp, squeak squeak, until a camel caravan stopped in front of Ahlan. He stood up. ‘Who’s inside the
caravan?’ He asked himself, ‘bandits?’ He started running, using every little droplet of energy from his body.
His shoes pounded against the ground.
“
Hey!” A voice shouted behind him. “Where are you going?”
Ahlan slowed and turned. A man stood by the caravan; a young man, not too much older than Ahlan.
“
I want to go to Kashgar.” he answered.
“
I see. A young boy like you shouldn’t be outside, alone at night.”
Ahlan stared at him, not sure what to do.
The stranger continued to talk. “I am heading towards Kashgar. Do you want to come with me? My
name is Rebiya Kadeer.”
If Ahlan wasn’t so tired he would have said no. But right now his options were a cozy looking caravan
or the cold, shattered concrete ground.