At the end of the day, it does not make much difference if I had caught them up an hour
earlier or two. As I walked closer to the gate, much to my disappointment, it was locked. It
was a math puzzle lock, with Chinese numbers displayed as the digits. Either it’s down to the
fact that I had thought there was a short cut that lay behind it, or it was the fact that I always
wanted to look for a bit of excitement in life I started shifting the numbers on the lock.
Although I was not entirely sure what number went first and what number followed, I
remembered from television that it was always about how to rearrange the numbers so that
every row and column would add up to the same aggregate total. Obviously, none of it
worked, so I quickly lost interest and headed back the path I came from.
As I turned my back from the gate, my shoulders felt something heavy and naturally I
tried to get away from the hold on me. I felt a sting on my neck. Then, black out.
I woke up and reached immediately for my back pocket. It is a natural reaction for any
man; in case he had a robbery. But my wallet remains intact. As I found myself untouched, I
cursed repeatedly and got up to my knees. Much to my surprise, the gate was now opened. I
looked at my watch and much to my shock; it is almost six in the afternoon. I gambled and
entered past the gate and followed the path ahead. It was getting dark.
Chapter 2
“
Yes, a hundred thousand as agreed.’ The voice was short and crisp, yet in this simple
sentence, coldness radiated. As the phone was placed back onto its stand, the man sat back
onto his leather seat. Like a street broker, the man’s eyes were sharp, icy, and did not show
any sort of remorse or gratitude for he believes every man was for himself. The name? No
other than Kasiv Gondolv, leader of the Chinese Antique black market
‘
Mr. Kasiv, we have successfully connected to our comrades!’A henchman screamed
as he ran into the room at haste. It was strange but you can always tell a henchman from the
protagonist or the main villain because they never have the nerve to handle a pressuring
situation.
‘
Let’s go then.’ Mr Kasiv responded.
Chapter 3
The thunderous sky was hazy, it was probably undecided whether to rain or not. So
were my thoughts. My heart pounded as my fingers brushed against the metal. I took one big
breath and swung open the gate and set about my task to find my colleagues.
The stone in my shoes pierced against the bottom of my foot. The stones that formed
part of the legendary Great Wall have now turned against me. I sighed as I decided to soldier
on, but I felt that I was a lone soldier lost from his troops. I glanced at the Great Wall across
the horizon. To me, the Great Wall was always part of an archaeological study. In ancient