Shortlisted
Keep Calm and Stay Alive
in the Gobi Desert
Bradbury School, Anjali Darling, 9
H
ello, my name is Thomas, are you ready to read this terrifying story of the way I
survived in the freezing cold Gobi Desert? It shows what I had to go through, how all of
my hope nearly vanished when I trudged through the enormous mountains covered in
fluffy snow, which blocked out the distance as far as the eye could see.
This could possibly be one of the best days of my life, I was going camping all the way to
the Gobi Desert. With my family and my best friends, Harry and Ethan. So, I felt very excited
but worried after all it was the Gobi Desert, miles and miles of empty spaces. The desert was
surprisingly beautiful with the mountains sparkling away as if nothing bad ever happens.
Anyway PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE let me explain all of that in the morning. G-O-O-D-N-I-G-H-T!
So about what happened yesterday, we flew into the desert then exited the plane with a
parachute. When we were in the air it felt as if there were billions of icicles blowing in my face. It
was a freezing cold day. We then set up our tents. I was sharing with my two friends. Anyway, I
wanted to explore so I sneaked off all alone. The sun was shining onto the glittering snow it made
my eyes ache and squint in pain. The wind was starting to pick up and made loud howling noises.
I started to walk through the snow-covered valleys. I could not hold my excitement I started
running into the distance making loud crunching sounds as I ran. I put my hand over my eyes
and peered in to the distance behind me.
That was when I stopped and gasped. The camp I was staying at was out of site. I decided that
I would retrace my footsteps and that should lead me back to the camp. But when I looked down
there was no trace of my footsteps. The wind must have blown them away. Deep inside my body
I screamed a loud piercing scream, this could not be happening. I decided to climb up a towering
naked tree and see if I could see the camp. Slowly I climbed up the tree but half way through I
collapsed sobbing until my stomach hurt in panic. This was unbelievable!
Could I really make it to the camp before nightfall? Lots of doubts were racing in my mind. As
I walked the sound of the animals sounded like they were laughing and teasing, it was dreadful.
Night was falling I needed to hurry I definitely did not want to spend the night alone with all
the bugs. Though, I did not know about all the other darker creatures that lie in this desert. I
shuddered at the thought. Soon it was night I slowly curled up into a ball beside a big boulder
and rocked like a baby, sang a little lullaby. My fingers were numb in pain it felt like -30ºC until I
finally fell asleep.
As I woke up this morning the moment my eyes opened I jumped and was terrified and
wondered were on earth I was. As yesterday came flooding back to me tears started springing
into my eyes all of it happened to quickly. I slowly got up and started walking. I stood by a tree
gasping for breath, but hold on what was that a brown dot in the distance. I started running
towards it. “Wait, help, PLEASE!” I shouted. By the time I saw what it was it was too late. The bear
started bounding towards me. I turned and started to run though deep down I new I would not
outrun the beast.
I heard the bear skid to a halt I turned to see what was happening but the moment I did I knew
