Ping’s mind suddenly jerked back to reality when he heard a loud thump and saw a frail old man fall in
front of him.
‘
Get up,’ roared the guard as he cracked his whip, ‘Up, scum, on your feet!’
The old man grunted and climbed to his feet.
‘
Pick it up,’ snarled the guard. The man looked down at the boulder, bent his knees, and grunted while
lifting up the big rock. His knees buckled and he fell on his face. ‘You useless little git,’ the guard kicked the old
man in the shin. The old man groaned.
As Ping watched, he recognised this old man. On his first day at the Great Wall, an old man peered at his
face and whispered, ‘you must be Ping. You look just like your father. He talked much about you. He was a dear
friend to me. He died under the brutal beating of those guards, who didn’t care that your father was injured and
weak. My days are numbered too. No one can last too long here.’ The old man had a son, Ping recalled, a son
close to his age. Just a week ago, the old man had come running towards Ping, a big goofy smile on his face,
waving a letter at Ping’s direction. The old man announced that he would soon have a grandson, and he would
be able to see his grandson in a few years… if he lived that long..
‘
Put your back into it,’ roared the guard. ‘Get up!’ The old man moaned as he shoved against the boulder. It
didn’t even budge.
The guard growled and raised his whip. It came slashing down with a crack, so loud it made Ping cringe.
The old man gasped. Ping saw a river of blood flowing down the old man’s back.
‘
Move!’ The old man started thrusting the boulder with all his might. The guard raised his whip again.
Crack!
“
What are you looking at? Move!” the guard poked the spear at Ping. Ping forced himself to keep walking.
He continued walking up the hill, with his eyes still fixing on the old man.
‘
You lazy little…’ Crack! The old man uttered a little scream.
‘
Please,’ the old man begged. Crack! ‘Please don’t!’
‘
Please, have mercy! Please, argh! I… have… a… son… Please! I’m not… going to… let him… be
dragged… to this… living… hell. PLEASE!’ Crack!
The wind carried a very weak voice – the old man’s voice, ‘my son. I’m so sorry, my son.’ Ping’s heart
skipped a beat when he heard it.
Tears swelled in Ping’s eyes. He could see his father in this old man, being dragged away, being beaten to
death. Crack! The old man cried out in agony.
Ping turned around. The old man was on all fours. His lips were mouthing silent prayers.
‘
Get up, old man! Or you’ll have hell to pay for!’
And that’s when Ping ran. He dropped the boulder and he ran.
The guard’s hand rose to bring the whip down one more time.
Ping grabbed the guard’s hand. And they both tumbled backwards. The guard was caught off guard.
‘
Run,’ screamed Ping as he grabbed the guard into a headlock.
The old man raised his head to look at Ping. A deep appreciation shone in his eyes. He fled and blended into
the crowd. That’s when Ping knew he made the right decision.
The guard’s outrage filled the air with roars. Several guards came running. Crack!
Ping bit his lips hard to stop from screaming. Crack! Crack! Crack!
The beating grew more violent, yet Ping didn’t feel the pain anymore. He looked up into the heaven. Dawn
was breaking. For the first time in years, Ping smiled because he knew somewhere a son would have a chance to
live. For the first time, there seemed to be hope. And smiling, Ping closed his eyes.
* * *