Adventures in the Gobi Desert
The International School of Macao, Cherry Choy, Fiction: Group 2
N
o! Mother! Father! Come back!” I woke up and bolted upright on my firm bed. “Mother...
father… you promised me you would come back for me. Two months have passed, where
are you?” I sobbed softly and tears rolled down my pale face. “No way they left me here
all alone!” I whimpered. “I must find them and bring them home. I’ll set off tomorrow
morning for the Gobi in search for them!” I decided.
So I started packing my traveling sack. I got my strong camel ready for the adventure and
gave her lots of water. I patted Kamell’s wiry, golden-brown fur. Without her I would not be able to
find my parents.
The next morning, I set off at dawn. We rode further and further away from our hometown.
The Gobi was barren and brown. The sand screeched with each of Kamell’s steps. I massage her
rough fur for comfort. There was nothing, but sand dunes before our eyes and the blazing sun
above us.
After days of traveling, I only had a few sips of water and a piece of bread left. Still clueless
whether I was any closer to my parents, I took out my map of the Gobi and saw a small village
to the west. Suddenly, a ferocious gust of wind blew the aged and crumpled map out of my weak
hands. That evening feeling lost, I ate the last of my bread and drank the last drop of water.
Another day passed as we wandered through the desert. At sunset, I saw a few huts in the
distance. “Hurray!” I exclaimed. As we drew near, excited I got off Kamell and tried to walk, but
thirsty and exhausted, I dropped to the ground unconscious.
When I woke up, I found myself stretched on a mat in a cool hut. A girl rushed over to help
me up. “My name is Bayarmaa, what’s yours?” she asked me.
“My name is Xanada!” I replied. Then, she asked me what I was doing all by myself in the
dangerous desert, so I told her my whole story. She shared hers. “My mother has disappeared, too.
I’ve always thought of searching for her, but never dared to. What if I join you on your journey,
and we find our parents together?”
“That’s a great idea! Let’s pack your bag and we’ll set off tomorrow morning!” I said and we
started to prepare for the next day. Suddenly, I remembered something, “Bayarmaa, I came here
on a camel. Do you know where she is?” I asked dreading her answer. “She’s fine, Xanada. I tied
her to a wooden pole behind the hut,” she answered with a smile.
The next morning, we hoisted our full bags onto Kamell and headed back into the desert.
Bayarmaa and I chattered along merrily. Her laughter was as sweet as her shining black hair
flowing down her back like a river. She said brightly, “I hope we find our parents! We must!”
And so we rode for many days, keeping each other company and hoping to find our parents
soon. Our supplies started dwindling and I stopped drinking water for fear we might run out of
it and die. Suddenly, under the scorching sun, I caught sight of my mother and father. I jumped
off Kamell without warning and raced to them. Bayarmaa steadied Kamell and raced after me.
Am I doing something wrong? I looked at Bayarmaa, and then looked back at where I saw mother
and father, but they were gone! Bayarmaa shouted, “Xanada, come back here right now! You’re
hallucinating, have you not been drinking water?” If I refuse to tell her the truth, I might die. I
told Bayarmaa what happened. She said, “It’s fine, things like that happen. Here,” she handed me
“
