A Bird’s Eye View
Ana Daruka, Group 4: Fiction, Zhuhai International School
ections of the Great Wall were built so fast that camera shutters had a hard time capturing the
movements.
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Just like the previous morning we decided to fly out of our nests to explore the vast and subtle
beauty of the longest man-made structure. It was early in the morning and the sun was only just peeking
over the clouds crowning the walls. The Great Wall looked like a wiggly tail; as Ana, my younger sister with
bright blue orange wings and big wild far reaching eyes had described the other day.
As we flew above the Great Wall, we could see nothing but ruins, which gave me an empty, abandoned
feeling. The bricks had eroded and only a few parts were still held together. The pathway was uneven with ups
and downs. It was like a battle had just been fought.
We flew steadily for a few more hours, our eyes still upon the ruins, and reached a part where the
atmosphere was different from the others. The Great Wall was at its magnificent glory; it was as if a shield had
protected it from the harsh environmental attacks. The path made of strong and solid bricks looked as if it had
been built just yesterday. The sudden difference caught our interest, so we decided to lower down on the wall to
explore further. We flew corner to corner and then found one hidden cave, which led down into the Earth by
staircases hidden from normal eyes.
Everything felt cryptic which just made our curiosity grow and led us to go inside to see. It seemed as
though the cave was small, but from the inside, in fact, it was large. We marveled at the sight which was lit by
golden and red fire torches. What was more spectacular was the box that stood alone in the centre guarded by
terracotta warriors. The box was heavily decorated in green jade, with lions and elephants guarding each vertex.
For some reason my senses were telling me that we would be better off staying away from it; but it was
too late. Before I could say no, Ana, being as adventurous as ever, went forth through the gaps in between the
terracotta warriors and sat on the jade boxes to look at the animals carved into it. As she did so, the lid of the
box moved slightly and at once Ana jumped back, darting towards me. As she came, I clamped her under my
wings, calming her as her skin brushed hot against my feathers. From the background we could hear sounds of a
door screeching, and the lid of the box burst open. A reeking smell reached our noses, changing the atmosphere
from extraordinary to ghostly.
From inside the box raised a human figure. I looked at it concentrating on his face trying to recognize
him since he felt familiar, which was an odd reaction. His face was wrinkled and locks of dark, unshaven grey
beard cascaded his clothes till his chest. In parts where his body wasn’t covered with silk, I could see the veins
carrying his blood. In fact, I realized it was the face of one of the famous Emperors.
I noticed we weren’t the only ones stunned at his presence in the cave; the emperor too was looking
around the room in four directions, as though trying to get a sense of the time.
It all happened suddenly and I didn’t know whether I wanted to feel honored or scared. I knew from the
stories that my parents used to tell me that only few officials in the higher posts were able to meet the Emperor
in person. As I was lost in thought, I didn’t see that instead of looking all around the room, he was looking
directly at us, with eyes that were buried in deep thought; his eyes like mazes where turning every corner would
reveal something about him.
I and Ana looked at each other and before we knew it, we were flying towards the entrance of the cave,
trying to escape.
“
What are you two little birds doing here?” he asked in a very annoyed manner, discovering that we
were trying to escape the cave.
We turned back, “We have heard a lot about the Great Wall and so we have come to see it,” we blurted
out, fearing that if we weren’t quick enough, he would get angrier then he was.
“
Ah, what do you little creatures know about the Great Wall of China. You are too mean of a creature
to understand the glory of the Great Wall. In the modern world, all the living creatures are too selfish to
understand this sublime jewel. But wait I will still tell you. Long long ago, in the period of 220 B.C, under Qin
Shi Huang, sections of the Great Wall of China were built. It was built with the intention to protect the Northern
Empire of China from the barbarians that ruled in the Land of Genghis Khan. Since then it has continuously
been built till the 17th century. From the Qin Dynasty, it has only been expanded further by dynasties like Han,
Zhou, Tang, Ming and Qing. I must state, though, it wouldn’t have been possible without the Ming Dynasty, as
before it, 70% of the Great Wall was composed of rammed Earth. It was one mighty dynasty. It has been the
witness of the rise and fall of the history of China.
S