electricity, or with venom. Its hide is impossible to human touch as it is extremely toxic. Anything
in contact with its venom would appear yellow and corroded, and would result in instant death.”
“As a matter of fact, sonny, the worm is most active in the summer months. You won’t want to
risk your lives. Go! Go as soon as morning rises, this is not the right time to explore the depths of
the desert. Please do return when winter comes. The beast would then be dormant, and would not
come out to search for food.”
Tim was the first to break the silence. His laugh came out in short, hasty puffs of white breath
in the clear, frosty air, apparently amused by the absurdity of such possibility.
“So you are saying that…that thing, can kill us with poison…” said Charles, darting his eyes
across the insides of the ger, as if seeking out for the said worm.
“And with electricity shocks.” questioned Tim, with a skeptical quirk of his eyebrow.
“That is quite correct, lads. Now go to sleep, you would want to get up early tomorrow.”
As Timothy closed his notebook and tucked it safely in his pocket of his trousers along with
his pen, he turned round, and found out that Charles was still wide awake, his eyes staring into
the nothingness of the ger’s ceiling.
“Hey, what’re you thinking? We gotta wake up real early tomorrow to start the scavengin’.”
Tim asked, pulling out his comforter from his backpack.
“Nothing, I guess. I’m not really tired or anything.”
“You thinking ‘bout that worm thing?” said Tim, a half smirk played on his lips.
“…Doesn’t that scare you in any way?” Charles turned to Tim, the trace of doubt and fear
etched clearly on his face.
“You tellin’ me you actually believe in this?”
“Why not? Better safe than sorry. Besides, Mr. Gundsambuu’s seems sane enough. I don’t
think he’s lying. C’mon, let’s just head to somewhere else for gold. ”
“Are you out of your mind?” Tim quickly rebuked, his voice a hushed, fierce whisper, “After
all that planning and three flights and all that money you are saying you are gonna give up just
because of a mythical worm? For goodness’s sake Charles, I never thought you would just give up
that easily. This is literally the most pathetic excuse. Don’t disappoint me, man. We will and must
find the tomb. Don’t tell me you don’t want that fame and sweet cash we’ll have later on.”
“But Tim…”
“You could leave first if you want to. But I certainly won’t leave till I dig up somethin’.”
The rain next morning was unexpected yet welcomed. But since when were desert rains
predictable? The sudden downpour left a trail of lush greenery in its trail, all flourishing in the
gossamer wake of precipitation in the blink of an eye. And so Tim woke up, saw the rain and
overflow of fauna, and instantly felt majorly empowered and so very confident that he would at
least find a gold nugget or two today. The heavens are with me today, why else would it rain?
Humming, he casually joined Gundsambuu’s in breakfast of tough desert breads, ready to conquer
the day.
“Sonny, you shan’t leave today.”
“Ah, you have finally realized that we wouldn’t stop at all costs, let alone a worm. Thanks,
Mr. Gundsambuu.”
“…No, son. I mean you shan’t leave the ger. It’s just that after raining, the worm would become
more active…”
“Alas, mister, worm or not, we will head out to the desert. Don’t you worry about us. We can
