gathered around the ongoing construction site. The once serene air of the south Gobi Desert was
filled with the noise of loud gossip and the suffocating smoke of lighted cigarettes.
I was tired, so tired… I was aching all over, and my mouth was as dry as the desert itself.
Every inhalation was a whetted sword piercing my lungs, forcing me to capitulate to the
circumstances. Yet, I could not bring myself to do so. After everything we’d given up! To stop
now would be the act of a coward. As soon as those heinous criminals crossed my mind, I found
myself with renewed stamina and dashing faster than ever towards the uncharted territories of
the wild North, kicking up a cloud of dust behind me as I went. Faster, run faster.
Two important-looking men exited a vehicle, one of them holding a large piece of paper while
the other held a radio phone, and slowly made their way towards our hiding spot while having a
heated discussion, though completely oblivious to our presence.
‘Are you sure that there really is a gold-copper mine here?’ the official-looking man peered
through his spectacles.
‘I am absolutely positive! Why else would I have already employed two hundred mine workers
and brought them here all the way from Khanbogd and Dalanzadgad to build exploration drill
rigs? Efficiency is the key! Did you know that this place – this very soil you’re standing on right
now – has a net worth of US$6.6 billion? You and I, my friend, are going to be rich!’
‘What about the Environmental Social Impact Assessment? Have you a full report of it? What
becomes of the herders? And the animals? I heard there are a few Gobi bears in this area.’
‘We’ll just resettle the herders some place maybe a few miles away, and the construction of
the power lines would probably get the beasts moving as well. There might be a small problem of
water shortage in the Gunii Hooloi aquifer, but we’ll take care of that. Now, seriously, enough with
the questions, are you going to look at the blueprint or not?’
The inquisitive man silenced and the duo began examining the large piece of paper,
discussing in hushed murmurs: ‘Now, you see that dune over there? That’s where the deposits are.’
‘Yes, yes, we’ll remove those troublesome berry bushes to make way for the open pit, underground
mine, and the workers’ tents.’
My blood boiled in my veins. What did they think they were doing? Vile intruders! Who gave
them the right? This was our land, our territory– our home! Our Oyu Tolgoi!
No longer able to hold myself back, I straightened to full height, and roared before either Ma
or Papa could stop me. A deafening roar of anguish, of melancholy, of animosity.
I glanced warily over my shoulder, nearly tripping over the scattered bushes of weed as I
looked back. No sign of pursuit, but that did not mean I had the luxury of slowing down. Yet, a
tear threatened to escape as I caught a glimpse of everything we had forsaken: our old life, our
beautiful homeland, my mother…This is not the time for reminiscence. Run faster.
* * *
* * *
* * *
