30 Dreaming Of Rainstorm

The scorching sun hangs high in front of them. The water they had prepared before they left had run out because the horses had drunk most of it. Just before the sun was about to set, Taban ordered everyone to rest for the night.

Sitting down on the ground, discovered that the ground in the south is much harder than the ground in the north, perhaps because the ground is too dry and there is no moisture in the soil. After washing her face with the prepared towel, she realized that her forehead was burning hot.

Chinua said, "Khenbish, look at my brow, is it burns?"

Khenbish said, "Chinua, your forehead is sunburned. It's all red now."

Chinua frowned, "I should have covered my forehead too, but the handkerchief is too small."

"You're not the only one with a forehead burn. Look at mine," Erden said pointing to his own forehead. "Mine are worse than yours."

Terbish said, "We really need to figure out something else, otherwise when we get to South Gate Camp, we're all baked and ready to be eaten."

Och turned to look at Muunokhoi and asked, "Hey, why didn't your face get burned?"

Muunokhoi smiled guiltily and said, "I have a layer of clay on my forehead. My father told me that this way, the sticky dirt will protect your skin from the sun and mosquitoes."

Timicin throws the empty water bag at Muunokhoi. "You bastard, you knew about this, but you didn't tell us," he frowned. "Are you happy knowing our foreheads burn and ache?"

Muunokhoi picked up the empty water bag and said, "I thought everyone knew about it."

Chaghatai said, "Next time I will shout for you to watch out after you got struck by an arrow."

Muunokhoi, "Hey, better be nice to me, or you going to get to eat dirt in your meal."

Chinua said, "Let's see how much water we all have and divide the water back to us equally."

"That's right. Let me see," Terbish said, grabbing the water bag from his waist and finding that his and Erden's bag were only half empty. "Mine are only half empty."

Timicin said, "As you can see, I have no water."

"I don't even have half of mine," Khenbish said.

Khunbish said, "Chinua's and mine are half down."

Chaghatai took the water and distributed it back to the twelve people equally. Chaghatai said, "Let's just pray that we will cross this dry land before the water runs out."

Och said in a daze, "It seems that we will run out of water before we reach the top of that mountain."

Terbish said, "Right now I hope there's a big storm coming our way."

Chinua frowned, "I have always hated storms, but at this moment, I don't mind if there is a storm."

Muunokhoi asked, "Chinua, why do you hate storms?"

Chinua said, "I don't like the sound of thunder. I was born on a thunderous night."

Och said, "I love to sleep when it rains because I was born on a rainy night. I didn't believe there was thunder, but I was pretty sure it was raining."

Timicin asked, "How can you be so sure, you've only just been born."

Och smiled and said, "My parents said it, and my grandmother also confirmed it."

The eleven- soldiers sat around a small campfire, talking about their youth, their families and their friends.

Timicin looked at Chinua and asked, "How about you Chinua? How many brothers and sisters do you have?"

Chinua said, "Me? Ameh… my father had three wives. I had a brother and three stepbrothers and three stepsisters. My mother wanted my brother to join the army, but he had problems with his legs, preventing him to walk, so I joined the army on his behalf."

Muunokhoi asked, "What? So, is Chinua your name or your brother's name?"

Chinua said, "My name is Chinua. My brother's name is Ba."

Khunbish said, "Chinua...enough."

Chinua realized that she might have said too much, "Okay."

Terbish said, Chinua, for the past two years we have been wondering how a woman like you can join the Northern Army. Can you at least tell us why?"

Chinua said, " I made a bet with a very senior officer that I would finish my training and not get special treatment like everyone else. Sorry, I can't tell you more."

Timicin wants to know more. He wanted to know how high this person was to make Batzorig so fearful. Anyone higher than Batzorig is probably a family member of King Batukhan's concubine.

Chinua looked at her friends and said, "I promised everyone, I will let you know who I am when the time comes, and don't mention this again in the future."

Chinua grabbed two pieces of dry beef and a roasted potato. She got up and walked over to where Hye was sitting. She put the potato and two pieces of beef in front of Hye.

Hye said, "If you don't untie me, how can I eat?" He looked at Chinua. "To be honest, you don't need to bond my hands like this. Look around you, where can I run to?"

Chinua said, "I'll take you all the way to Southern Gate Camp."

Hye looked at Chinua and said, "I understand now, just because I refused to help you, you framed and kidnapped me."

Chinua said, "You said it yourself; you will not help anyone in the Northern Camp, but down south is different."

Hye said, "Even if you torture me, or even kill me, I won't help."

Chinua laughed, "I'm sure you'll change your mind."

Hye said, "If you tell me who you are, I might consider helping you."

Chinua said, "No deal. In your dream, you cry out Nabi's name, and everything that happened to Nabi must be unforgettable for you."

Hye said madly, "You dare to mention Nabi's name in front of me... Magoli." He clenched his fits tightly because of anger.

Chinua said, "There is no deal. You call Nabi in your dream, and what happened to Nabi may now be happening to people in southern Hmagol. With your talents, you can save many Nabis in need, but refusing to help, you're creating hundreds of Hyes."

Hye shook his head and said disappointedly, "One person's knowledge can never change the course of history. Don't get me wrong, Magoli, I saw it with my own eyes."

Chinua asked, "How can you be sure that a piece of knowledge cannot change the course of history? Perhaps that person's knowledge was used at the wrong time and place in history."

Hye said, "You know very well that you can never help all the people who need your help. Why do you even bother?"

"I knew I couldn't help everyone, and I accepted it, but at the same time, I never gave up because I would try to help as many people as possible," Chinua said.

Hye sneered and looked at Chinua, "You are dreaming of a rainstorm that will never come your way."

Chinua said, "At least I have a dream and work hard for it."

Hye laughs at Chinua's stupidity, "Why are you trying to change something that can never be changed?"

Chinua said, "If you want to change something, you have to work towards it. Sitting wasting your life away, the change you want will never happen. You ask Khawn if he is on the right side of history. At least he has chosen a side. How about you, are you on the right side of history?" Chinua stood up. "So, tell me Hye… do you want to join me in changing history?"

Hye couldn't find any words to refute Chinua. He could only stare at Chinua, watching Chinua walk away from him. He picked up the roasted potato and took a bit. "I'm not even sure if I'm alive, how can I be sure which side of history I'm on," he murmured. "Nabi, her words affect my thoughts, am I on the right path?" He sighed.

The next day, as the Southern Army continued to rush to the South Gate Camp, the thirteen Northern Army soldiers began to sweat profusely. The southern soldiers walked past them, smiling at them.

Taban looked at Haitao and threw his almost empty water bag at Haitao. "You're not used to this weather, soon you will get used to it."

Haitao said, "I have been to the south, but I have never been so far south." He opened the lid and took a sip of water. He threw the water bag back to Taban. "How far do we have to go?"

Taban said, "Not far. We are very close to the village." He pointed ahead. "Over that mountain."

Haitao scoffed, "It's still far away... I can hardly see what's ahead."

Taban said, "Southern Camp, have another name."

Haitao was taken aback, "Oh, why haven't I heard of it?"

"Only the people who live there know," Taban said, turning to look at his comrades. "Guys, what do we call South Gate Camp?"

"Paradise City." The soldiers shouted.

Timicin looked at the smiling southern soldiers as they answered Taban's question.

Timicin said, "This city of paradise, I want to see it."

"Soon you will see when we get to the top of that mountain," a soldier rode by Timicin said with a smiled. "I can smell home from here." He chuckled.

Although she hid behind Khunbish all the way, Chinua still felt her face was hot. Her complexion may be darker than the average Hmagol women in the north, but her skin is not as dark as that of the soldiers who traveled with her these days. Chinua lifted the top of the water bag, but no more water flowed from it. She swallowed lightly.

"No more water Khunbish," She frowned. "Did you drink any water before we ran out?"

Khunbish lied, "I have. Don't worry about me."

Khenbish looked at Chinua and said, "Khawn and I have no water either."

Two soldiers rode past, and one of them patted Chinua on the back. "Hold on, soldier. We're almost home," he said, handing Chinua his almost empty water bag. "Not much left, but it might quench your thirst."

Chinua took the water bag and threw it at Khenbish. "You two drink first," she said.

Khenbish lifted the lid and took a sip. He handed the water bag to Khawn who sat behind him. Khawn took a sip and handed the water bag to Chinua. Chinua took the water bag and handed it to Khunbish.

"Drink," she said.

Khunbish took the almost empty bag, took a sip, and returned the water bag to Chinua. Holding the water bag, Chinua estimated that there was only enough water in the bag for one or two people.

"Timicin," Chinua handed the water bag to Timicin.

Timicin took the water bag and found that there was only a small amount of water left. He took a sip and handed the water bottle back to Chinua.

Chinua took the water bag to her mouth and handed it to Hye. "Here."

Hye took the water bag and drank quickly to the last drop. He held the empty water bottle and looked at Chinua. Chinua quickly tidied her handkerchief and covered her face again. He felt bad seeing that Chinua didn't drink any water.

With no more saliva on the tip of her tongue, Chinua began to feel the effects of the heat. Chinua always hated the rainy season, but now in the hot summer, on the dry desert land, she could only wish for a big rainstorm as they continue heading up the mountain.