had a strong will, and didn’t accept death. He head-butted the attacker, and slid off the sand slope
next to the road. The attackers fired at him, but Lucas escaped. The leader of the attackers said, “
Let him go. He won’t last for half a week in this desert without food and water. Let’s just leave.”
Lucas walked aimlessly through the desert. He wanted to cry, but he knew crying would cost
him his life. He felt tired. He hid under the shadow of a rock and slept.
“Hey! Hey! Are you okay?” asked a man right in front of Lucas’s face.
“Where am I? Who are you?” replied Lucas.
“You are in a town in the desert, and I am the person who saved your life. It is very dangerous
to walk in the desert alone.”
“I thank you for your kindness, but I need to go now. I have something to confirm. Can you
teach me how to survive walking through this desert?”
After talking with his savior, Lucas began his journey south to find his true self. He walked
relentlessly to the border of Outer Mongolia.
Unfortunately, he met a border patrol group. He was arrested for trespassing as he was unable
to present any valid documents. They asked Lucas his name for the report. When Lucas finished
saying his name, the soldiers dropped onto the ground one after another. Lucas was afraid what
was about to come out of the bushes. It was a man with a gun, a man who looked so familiar.
“Don’t be afraid. They’re just stunned. I’m not here to hurt you. I’m here to help you,” said the
man. “Follow me. I can lead you to safety.”
“Who’re you? Why should I trust you?” replied Lucas.
“I’m Logan, and I’m the person to trust if you want to go past the border patrols.”
Given that he had no choices, Lucas trusted him. They made it to Baotou. They stopped there
to rest, and stayed in a house of a friend of the man.
“I am a mercenary here. I take jobs offered by others,” said Logan.
“Why did you save me? I mean I’m nothing for you,” replied Lucas.
“You’ll know, you’ll know,” replied Logan.
They chatted for a long time and then Lucas tried to sleep. Logan didn’t sleep but sat on a
chair. He packed some gun ammunition into a bag. Lucas couldn’t sleep. He looked at Logan’s
back. He had seen something familiar.
That night, small Lucas slept on the lower bunk bed. He couldn’t sleep, so he looked at Logan,
who was working in front of the table. “Brother, you are still up?” asked Lucas. “Lucas, you
haven’t slept? I’m reading articles about guns. Lucas, sleep well.”
The scene which appeared in Lucas’s head was so similar to the scene right in front of him.
“Have we ever met before?” asked Lucas
“Yes, we have -”replied Logan,” Wait, Lucas, pack your things. We need to leave now. The
soldiers are coming.”
They quickly packed their belongings and left the building through the back door. On the
stairs near the third floor, they ran into a group of three soldiers. Before the soldiers could pull
* * *
* * *