Our Fabulous Trip To JieMuXi (4) - Camping by the brook

April. 10 , 2007

　　 Our Fabulous Trip To JieMuXi (4)

　　 Camping by the brook

　　 We had a early supper at about 18:00, then a big warm campfire was made in a field next to where we camped. Our camp was in a perfect place, a flat wide field fluffy with grass that naturaly made a good soft mat for us. The fields were arrayed by the brook, both were surrounded by exuberant woods. For being afraid of the just waking-up snakes, we sprinkled sulfur powder in a circle round our camp. For camping out, the lethal poisonous snakes were always the potential deprivers of lives.

　　 After supper, we played game as usual in a ring round the campfire. The loser would be smeared with black ashes from burned wood. The game of "phoenix flies" was always our favorite, though which was very interesting, it didn't last long. All of us seemed tired from the climbing by day, soon after we got into respective tent before nine o'clock. Then telling stories of ghosts began.

　　 Perhaps DingDang didn't camp out too much before, she was very excited and told the most stories of ghosts. Every story ended with her serious warning "Please believe me, it's true. Do as what I said, or the ghosts will get you." ZhuErBao was a believer of ghosts, he even brought sword for keepig off ghosts and a ring of beads of Buddha round his wrist. ErBao told the most horrible ghost-stories very seriously, the three ladies seemed a little scared, screaming in their tents. I didn't believe in all sorts of spirits or ghosts. Even if ghosts really exist, I think, they have their rules and won't deprive lives of the innocent. I would rather believe there exist good she-ghosts, just like the ones in the book of "LiaoZhai". I wished they would come into my tent, enjoying the nice night with me. (Oh, I was letting out the secrets of men, it didn't mean I wasn't a good guy).

　　 So I told the ghost-believer:"Since you are afraid of ghosts, that's Ok. All ghosts, listen! you can all come to my tents, please don't bother into their tents." The men yelled at me:"You are the Lothario, the same kind to the ghosts. They won't like you." the ladies warned me:"Don't say that, you will be sorry for your audacious words."

　　But I don't care, repeating my words.

　　 Laughters and screams fade away, the silence reigned the camp. Soon after light snore came from some tents. Obviously, some members fell into deep sleep. I didn't get used to sleep early though I was kind of tired too, especially in the mountain's heart, beside the brook, beneath the trees and stars. I listened to the sounds of swooshing water, the casual singing of night birds, the fluttering of the leaves in breeze. How tranquil it was! If the pure water in the brook could clean my heart, such solemn quiet washed my soul, soothing my ever boisterous thoughts.

　　 Hushed by the solemn-sounding waterfalls lightly stirring into the small pools and many small soothing voices in sweet accord whispering peace (not the noisy chirp of insects), and partly because of the tire from day's effort, finally I fell into sound sleep.

　　 To be continued ...