The Color of Sacrifice 牺牲的颜色 – Chapter 22
The story of a young Chinese peasant’s search for a better life and the Long March … 中国青年农民寻找更好的生活与长征的故事 by 作者: Ramses Rashidi 华蓝星
Chapter 22 On the Road Again
Ping took a bus to Kunming about 600 km away. The trip was long and difficult. There were people sitting in the middle of the bus so it was really hard to move. Ping was not comfortable. He felt that many of the passengers were looking at his amputated leg. He was also careful not to engage in a conversation to avoid divulging his destination and mission to join the communist forces.
There was a checkpoint where government forces were checking to see if they could find communist soldiers and arrest them before they would join the Red Army. Everyone in the middle of the bus had to get off. A young officer came on the bus and looked around. Ping was sitting in the first row behind the driver where there was more room for his crutches by the window. The officer looked at Ping and looked at his leg. Ping’s heart was pounding. It seemed like the officer was suspicious of him. After a few tense moments, the officer went towards the back and asked for ID from a couple of young people. Ping was sweating and feeling nervous. He felt like this was the end of his trip. He could see himself in prison again. He prepared for being arrested as he grabbed his wooden crutches and bag of food.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the search was over and the officer quickly got off the bus. The people who were sitting in the middle were able to get back on the bus and the bus left the checkpoint. Ping was on the road again. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he put his head against the headrest.
The bus ride was very rough on the bumpy dirt road which made it impossible to go faster than 50 or 60 kilometers per hour. Getting off and on the bus proved to be more difficult than Ping had anticipated. So, the driver, would help him each time. Going to the bathroom was another major challenge. When he was staying at teacher Liang’s home. He had a couple of short crutches for the squat-type hole-in-the-ground toilet. But here he no longer had access to those and had to get really creative to take care of his need for relief.
Ping was in deep thoughts as the bus made its way through the countryside. He was wondering if he could really be useful to the Red Army. Lots of ideas were going through his mind. He thought about getting off the bus and going back home to join his family. But then he would quickly remind himself of the decision to join the Red Army all the way to victory. He was determined to finish what he had started.
The bus arrived in Kunming late at night. Ping checked into a small guesthouse right by the bus terminal so he could get on another bus the next day to go north where the Red Army was at the time. Actually, Ping was not sure if the Red Army would was still in Sichuan and where he was going. According to the last piece of information he had received from teacher Liang and his communist contacts, he was on the right track. Even though things could change in a matter of hours or days.
Ping slept really well after the long bus journey. The next day, he had a good breakfast and headed to the bus terminal just short distance away from the guesthouse.
“Where are you going?” asked the bus terminal clerk. “Luding County.” Ping Replied with a little hesitation. Luding county was near the place where the communist forces were supposed to be. There was a long pause. Ping looked to his left and right to see if there were any government soldiers around.
“There is a bus to Liangshan in about 2 hours. You can take another bus from there to Luding. But that is not a safe area right now. There are communist forces there and the government is trying to clear up the area. So, you have to be very careful.” Explained the bus terminal clerk as he looked at Ping with suspicion.
“Thank you for letting me know. I will be careful.” Ping responded with a sad face while in his heart he was happy for being on the right track and that he could join the Red Army again.
Ping felt strong and committed. Hardships were helping him to rise to new heights. The thought of being so close to joining the Red Army was exciting. He couldn’t wait to reconnect with Lei Feng and Libo up in the communist camp where he was just hours away.
The Journey north on the rough countryside dirt road was difficult. The bus was moving slowly full of people with some standing or sitting on a bag or bucket they were carrying. Ping was fascinated looking at Yi people with their colorful dresses. He was going to Liangshan a mountainous area and the center of the Yi Minority people in China. There were also many old farmers on the bus. Ping could see himself getting old and what he might look like.
The bus was moving up on the narrow road carved on the side of the mountain where on one side was a steep rocky cliff and on the other side a rocky ditch. It was late in the warm sunny afternoon and some people were taking a nap.
Suddenly, there was a big bang and sound of glass breaking. Before anyone had a chance to react …. the bus was rolling down the hill. A large rock has fallen off the cliff crashing into the bus towards the front pushing it into the ditch.
There was broken glass and bodies on top of Ping who was sitting on the left side of the bus away from the crash side. The sound of crying and moaning was intense. There was blood all over the place. Several people had been crushed by the massive rock.
The driver of a truck that was coming behind the bus and shortly after another bus that was coming from the opposite direction came to rescue the passengers who were stuck in the bus. They broke into the large shattered windshield in the back of the bus and started removing the bodies and help the ones who could walk. Ping had several cuts in his arm with pieces of glass inside the skin. He had lost one of his crutches. Someone lifted him up and helped him get out and sit on a rock.
This was a barren area and before long there were wild animals and vultures attracted to the smell of blood. The bus that was coming from Liangshan was now faced with a blocked road with the huge rock. So, the driver decided to turn around and take the injured including Ping to Liangshan to be treated and get help to remove the bodies. So, the dead were left behind with some passengers volunteering to stay and watch over them till help arrives. It seemed like at least 10 people had died including the driver and his helper.
Upon arrival in Liangshan all the injured were taken to a small local hospital where they were treated. There were several pieces of glass in Ping’s right arm which were removed and stitched in a couple of places. He was extremely lucky. Several people had severe cuts with glass and metal sticking out of their body. Many had broken bones and of course those who lost their lives.
After being treated at the hospital, Ping was able to go to a guesthouse to rest where he had a good warm dinner made by the local Yi people. What seemed like a regular bus journey in the countryside had turned into a nightmare. However, Ping was grateful for sustaining only minor injuries. The hospital also provided him another wooden crutch to replace the lost one.
The next morning Ping went outside after breakfast where he noticed a couple of young men that were wearing the communist green jacket and hat with the Red Star. Ping was not sure if they were really from the Red Army or they were just earing the hat and jacket because it was cool. So, after a few moments of debating whether he should ask them or not. He went up to them as they were shopping for food and vegetables on the sidewalk.
“Are you with the Red Army?” Ping Asked with trepidation.
The young men looked at each other as their faces turned pale. “Why are you asking?”
Ping smiled. “I am comrade Liu. I am on way to join the Red Army. I had to leave because of my injury.”
One of the guys said. “I remember you. you look so different now. What happened to your leg?”
“Well, it’s a long story.” Ping responded
“Please wait for us to finish shopping for food supplies. We will take you with us to the camp. It’s not too far from here. How did you know we are here?”
“I have been following the Long March while I was recovering in Zunyi.” Ping explained with a big smile
During the ride to the Red Army camp, Ping told the boys the story of him losing his leg and his time in Zunyi and the bus crash. They were just amazed as they listened glued to his every word. What was more amazing was that Ping was smiling and laughing while recounting his ordeals. It seemed like the hardships had helped him see the light, a higher level of understanding. The two communist soldiers were immensely inspired by his spirit.
Right before lunch they arrived at the camp where all the leaders of the communist party including comrade Mao were preparing for the next major move to capture and cross the Luding Bridge on the way to the northern territory.
© 2021 Ramses Rashidi
The fervent personal quest to complete what seems righteous... who can ever know what is in fact "right," what it will eventually entail, and what other things spin off from it.