They finally emerged from Laoshan Forest just as dawn broke. The convoy halted and some of the students threw themselves on the ground and pulled out their canteens. Lian counted some twenty wagons and carts. The ones pulled by donkeys carried the heaviest items. One was stacked with pots and pans, another with fragile laboratory equipment. Three of the wagons carried books and reference materials the students would need for classes while on the journey. Their luggage was lashed to handbarrows and carts. Some staff members had brought their families, and children slept squeezed between luggage and rice sacks. There were several handbarrows and carts drawn by laborers, glad for the pay and a chance to evacuate with the university.

Like all the other students, Lian carried a canvas rucksack on her back. She pulled out her volume of the Legends and opened the brown paper to look at the book again. Tales of Celestial Deities. She had wrapped this one herself several days ago. She looked around at the rest of the group, suddenly overcome by the knowledge that she and the other students were more than classmates now. They were caretakers of the Library of Legends, bound by a common duty. This realization lifted some of the numbness that had gripped her emotions since the terrible morning at the railway station.

“Surely the gods will protect us for looking after the Library of Legends,” a voice beside her said. “I’m going to interview Professor Kang and write an article about the history of the Legends. It deserves a piece in our school newspaper. When we manage to print Minghua News again, that is.”

It was Yee Meirong. She dropped down cross-legged on the ground beside Lian and smiled.

“Actually, there’s already something about the Library of Legends’s history,” Lian said, somewhat apologetically. “By Professor Kang. It’s printed up in a pamphlet available from the university library.”

“Obviously, I didn’t go to the library often enough,” Meirong said. “All right then. I’ll write something when we get to Chengtu about the further adventures of the Library of Legends on its epic journey out of Nanking.”

“There are copies of the pamphlet somewhere in the book carts,” Lian said. “I’ll find one for you, if you like.”

“Thanks. You know, Lian, there are only twenty of us girls in this group. We must look after one another.” Meirong beamed, a smile so wide and sincere Lian couldn’t help but warm to her. Meirong gave her a nudge. Mr. Lee was making his way up the line.

“Nearly there, nearly there,” Mr. Lee called. “Let’s move, Minghua 123, let’s move! Just two more hours to Shingdian Village and we can eat and sleep.”