The Brick
Vivan Gu, Group 3: Fiction, Chinese International School
tour guide pointed up at the useless-looking brick lying innocently on a horizontal ridge sort of like a
windowsill encircling the high tower of the Jiayuguan Pass in the Great Wall: “According to legend,
when the tower was first completed, the gods put that brick there, in the middle of the side ledge half
way up the tower, to stabilize it. If the brick was moved, the whole structure would collapse.”
A thousand years before:
Chang and Ming raced to the window and watched with horror the unfolding scene outside.
A huge black horse reared up, neighing, eyes wild. But the two brothers’ eyes zoomed in on not the
fearsome creature but the man who sat astride it – or more accurately, the bundle he carried under his arm.
“
Oh no!” Ming gasped, heart sinking.
“
We have to get it back.” Chang sounded grim, “Come on!”
“
How can we?” Ming’s eyes were wide and scared.
Chang glared. “That package is Father’s responsibility. If it goes missing he’ll be punished. We have to
get it back now.” The man outside on his black monstrosity rode off in a gallop.
Chang untied the family horse, lifted his little brother into the saddle, and leaped in behind him. “Let’s
go!”
“
There!” Ming’s sharp eyes picked out a figure in the distance. It was rapidly nearing the huge
structure that stretched out along the horizon.
“
The thief is headed for the Wall, for the Jiayuguan pass.” Chang observed.
“
How do we stop him?” Ming wanted to know.
“
The brick.”
“
What?!”
“
We have to.” Chang looked fierce. “I’ll get him into position. You get the brick.” Chang instructed,
easing Ming off the horse. Ming stared up at the Wall, only yards away, with a terrible sense of dread.
“
You’ll be killed!”
“
Hopefully not until you bring the Pass down on him.” Chang said grimly. “Don’t worry about me –
it’s the only way.”
“
We’ll be sent to prison! That tower cost thousands to build!”
“
Can’t worry about that now.” Chang leaned forward on the horse and it sped off toward the Pass,
leaving Ming in a cloud of yellow dust.
“
The gods help my crazy brother.” Ming muttered.
“
Stop, thief!” Chang yelled bravely. The figure in black turned slowly, and Chang nearly fell off his
horse.
The man was huge. He seemed three times the size of the boy. But Chang held firm. “Give it here.” He
nodded at the package.
The man raised an eyebrow, “My horse can outrun yours. I will leave you dead at this Pass. Who are
you to stop me?”
“
Nobody,” Chang gritted his teeth, “but more than you, a petty thief.” Hurry, Ming! he pleaded silently.
Ming raced up the ramp to the top of the Wall, and cast his gaze up to the watchtower. On a ledge
running belt-wise along the side of the tower lay the brick. He took a deep breath, glanced heavenwards, and
started to climb the tower.
In front of the gate under the tower, tension was growing. Chang had steered his horse so that he was
blocking the path of the huge man – a suicidal if valiant move. His horse whinnied in fright, but Chang held him
steady.
The man unsheathed his sword.
The blade was three feet long, made of black metal that radiated a cold aura, like ice. “Well, it’s been
nice talking to you, boy. But I must go, and you seem to be in my way.”
The horse reared, shrieking in terror at the sword. “Ah!” Chang shouted, yanking hard on the reins.
White knuckled, he managed to keep the horse from bolting.
“
You’re not a bad horseman, youngster. But that won’t save you now.” The man raised his sword.
The climb had taken most of Ming’s energy. Little black spots danced in his field of vision as he stood
on the ledge. But black spots the size of mountains couldn’t stop him from seeing his brother far below, dodging
another blow from the giant man’s sword. Ming forgot about his mission. He opened his mouth and shouted at
the top of his voice. “CHANG!”
A