EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD:
The Great Stairs of the Gobi Desert
Bradbury School, Jay Hugh Ahn, Fiction: Group 2
Chapter 1 - Lucan
In a tribe somewhere in the Gobi Desert, I lived with my father Chuluun. I was named Lucan after
my grandfather. I was not tall for my age and was rather wiry. My dad was a great leader and he
tells me my eyes and laughter remind him of mom and that they cheered everyone up in this dry
and cold desert.
“Daddy, do we really have to move again?” I cried in a whiny voice.
“Son, you will understand when you grow up.” My dad replied in a calming voice.
“But why tomorrow? I just planted my saxaul! I want to see it sprout!” I shouted, whining again.
“It’s a matter of survival! Now stop whining and will you help me?” My dad was losing patience.
“How is moving around every time from here and there for our survival?” I cried.
“It’s the grass Lucan! Without the grass, the lambs can’t live. If lambs don’t live, we do not
either. We need to find more grass.”
“Can’t we grow the grass?” I asked.
“To grow grass, we need water. Look over those tall mountains over there. Do you see the
dark clouds?”
As I looked far ahead, I understood that under those clouds there would be rain and noticed
the Himalayan mountains stopped the clouds from passing. It was then that I knew something had
to be done.
Chapter 2 - The Meeting
I stared into our tribe chief’s eyes, not letting him turn look away. The chief sighed and said
“Fine! Son of Chuluun, your wish will be granted. It is brave of you to try to cut the tip of the
mountain to let the clouds pass. Our future generations will have rain. With enough rain, we will
not have to move all the time and we will build a great city.”
Chapter 3 - The Adventure
I quickly packed up and was ready to go. I took off with my takhi, Jade Eye. I knew I was not
alone in this adventure. My mom would be watching me from the heavens above and my father
watching over me with his kind soul. I was not going to let them down. After praying, I looked
around. It was a heart stopping sight. The desert was a breathtaking. It was an ocean of yellow,
peach and beige waves all paralysed. The trees were coral, small lizards and mice were fish, oxen
and takhi were sharks and big fish. I saw the beauty and the spirit of this desert. I had to look for
a place to rest before nightfall. I found an abandoned den. I decided to rest there for the night. The
den was just big enough for me. It was cozy instead of cold which was unusual for a small den.
