If he hadn’t closed his eyes, if he had been one of those who could truly see, he would’ve noticed jeweled glimmers shining out from the forest’s depths and the fluttering of bamboo leaves that had nothing to do with a train rushing past. He would’ve witnessed a giant bird rise out from the forest canopy, its crimson head crowned in feathers like silver spikes. Then the flurry of lapis-blue wings and the flash of gold tail plumes as the phoenix shot into the sky. Then another. And another. Until an entire flock of phoenixes soared to circle above the bamboo forest. When they were all airborne, the birds veered northwest and vanished into a saffron-gold sunset.

A DOZEN SENIOR students from the first four groups that left Nanking ahead of Minghua 123 greeted them at the Changsha train station. They were there to guide the new arrivals to their lodgings. Lian and the other girls followed the senior assigned to take them to the boarding school that housed all Minghua’s female students. They were anxious to get to the dormitory but they couldn’t help slowing down as store signs and enticing smells caught their attention.

The huge influx of refugees had transformed Changsha, and its enterprising citizens rose to the challenge of profiting from the flood of new arrivals. Every block was noisy with the pounding of construction work. Private homes hung out signs for room rentals and restaurants overflowed. Restaurants put signs on the sidewalk touting their house specialties.

“Pork belly steamed with pickled vegetables. Rice noodles with stewed beef,” Ying-Ying read. “Oh, look! Bean curd and red peppers.”

“I’m tired of steamed buns,” Meirong said. “Let’s come back here as soon as we’ve put away our luggage and get something nice to eat. Eggs cooked in spiced soy sauce.”

“In Changsha, food is still cheap and plentiful,” the senior called over his shoulder, “but expect prices to go up as the war goes on.”

“All I can afford are sweet potatoes,” Lian said with a sigh. They hurried to catch up with him.

“We’ve been here for weeks,” he said, “and our classrooms are at Hunan University, across the bridge. We share the campus with two other universities.”

They were being housed at Hande Girls Boarding School. Because of the war, Hande had closed its boarding school and kept it open only for day students. When they reached the school dormitory, classmates waiting at the entrance greeted them with cries of welcome. There were hugs and tears.

“I’m so happy to see you!” A tall girl with a long ponytail threw her arms around Meirong. “So the Literature Department is finally here! And the Agriculture Department, too?”

“Finally is right,” Meirong said. “How long have you been in Changsha, Tan Wendian?”