His big hand wrapped around hers. Robbi, the mountain guide, was holding Penny's hand tightly. He was in charge of an expedition, bringing children up the mountain and back with two teachers in tow. It was a quiet dawn climb and the forest was blanketed with a serene landscape. Everyone had to hasten their footsteps to avoid the scorching sun that burnt in the afternoon.
“Uncle Robbi, are we there yet?” Penny asked the umpteenth time, her slit-like eyes gazing into his dark chocolate brown ones.
“Soon, Penny. Soon,” came the good-natured reply. Robbi flashed his toothy signature grin as his sunglasses rested on his beanie. His thick jacket and gloves protected him well from the freezing cold. His legs were tired but his spirit was not. He knew vigilance was the key to protect the climbers under his charge. It was an awesome duty and he never failed to take his responsibility seriously and to heart.
As they trudged on, a sudden rumble tore the silence into two. It was a thunderous roar and the ground beneath their sore feet began to shake. An immense earthquake hit the mountain and rocked it as if the gods were in fury, refusing to be appeased. Boulders, some huge like trucks, began plummeting down everywhere violently. Rocks rained down torrentially and without mercy.
Instinctively, a teacher yelled, “Quick, run under the overhang NOW!” and bundled the children under the shelter of a shallow overhang for protection. Like the two teachers, Robbi tried to use his body to shield Penny from the hurtling boulders as they ran. Rocks struck him like heavy punches. One hit him hard on his beanie and Robbi could hear a faint ‘crack’ sound. The duo fled from the avalanche of soil into the protective arms of the sheltered but narrow cliff face.
The kids watched helplessly as they witnessed some of their friends struck down by the falling rocks. Seconds later, silence fell again. The landscape changed drastically and the scene was a horrible picture of complete devastation.
By this time, Penny was shaking like a leaf. She had fractured her leg and sat with tears falling down her dusty cheeks. Panic was in the air. The teachers were comforting the crying children, despite their own fear and anxiety too. There, they rested for two hours, making sure that the coast was clear before they made their next move.
Robbi then went to survey the land. He brought back bad news. The route was decimated and massive landslides were everywhere. The news brought great discouragement to the group. They knew they could not huddle along any wall. The risk of a landslide was very real. Instead of being stranded, they decided to trek back to the base.
Noticing that Penny could no longer walk, Robbi offered to piggy-back her. Penny declined for she could not understand why Uncle Robbi would do so much for her, She was just an almost-stranger. Despite her weak protests, he took off his jacket and gloves to keep her warmth, leaving himself in just a T-shirt. With her heaved on his back, they slowly made their descent.
On the way, Robbi had to keep an eye on the children, looking out for signs of stress, injury and sickness. His feverishly-hot head was in throbbing pain but he pressed on and told no one. As they plodded forward in this perilous journey, no one spoke much but everyone was looking out for one another. Mountain-rattling tremors and treacherous rain came and went. Along the way, there were sights of corpses lying uncollected in the rock fall, pinned under rocks and boulders.
Fretful. Fearful. Dreadful.
The group labored on forward, knowing that the potential of being caught in another landslide could be any moment now. Everyone was wet and famished for none had eaten since one in the morning. Robbi went about in search of wild fruits which satisfied their hunger a little.
Night fell. In the freezing dark, some were getting hypothermia and huddling one another for body warmth. Fitfully, they rested. Soon, morning came. The clouds rose and the sky cleared up. Their spirits lifted a little. On the way down, they spotted mountain guides attending to the injured, strapping people into stretchers to carry them down. Robbi knew them and they conversed in their own dialect before moving off.
This was in stark contrast to the rescue officers who were of little help. The soldiers were just congregating in groups, sharing smokes and food meant for survivors. It made the kids feel so mad.
Finally, they reached the starting point where the site was strewn with medics, military and media. Paramedics rushed forward and rendered help to the injured duo. Penny was doing alright but Robbi was dying. He was actually suffering from a fractured skull and severe internal injuries but had kept it to himself.
Night fell. In the freezing dark, some were getting hypothermia and huddling one another for body warmth. Fitfully, they rested. Soon, morning came. The clouds rose and the sky cleared up. Their spirits lifted a little. On the way down, they spotted mountain guides attending to the injured, strapping people into stretchers to carry them down. Robbi knew them and they conversed in their own dialect before moving off.
This was in stark contrast to the rescue officers who were of little help. The soldiers were just congregating in groups, sharing smokes and food meant for survivors. It made the kids feel so mad.
Finally, they reached the starting point where the site was strewn with medics, military and media. Paramedics rushed forward and rendered help to the injured duo. Penny was doing alright but Robbi was dying. He was actually suffering from a fractured skull and severe internal injuries but had kept it to himself.
In the ambulance, as the siren wailed, whisking the two to the nearest hospital, Penny stayed by Uncle Robbi's side, sobbing.
“Uncle Robbi, Uncle Robbi. Please don’t die,” Penny pleaded in between tears, this time her small hand clutching his big hand tightly instead.
Robbi flashed his toothy signature grin once more. “Penny, don’t be sad. Promise me, you will live well, okay?” Robbi spoke laboriously with shallow breaths. With that, he closed his eyes for good. Uncle Robbi left for eternity.
"Uncle Robbi? Uncle Robbi?" Penny was devastated at the loss of her newfound friend. Silent tears gushed down like a broken dam. Instead of rushing down the mountain to seek medical help, he had sacrificed himself for a mere acquaintance like herself. His willingness to risk life and limb for others touched her deeply. She vowed never to let Uncle Robbi down. To learn always to lay down her life for others, just like him.
As the ambulance raced towards the nearest hospital, Penny whispered softly, “Live well, I will, Uncle Robbi. Live well, I will.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This story is written in honour of the mountain guides who have perished at Mount Kinabalu in order to let others live. It is also to remember the precious children and teachers who have passed on. It is very hard for me to write this as I feel the agony that the parents are feeling.
I have renamed "Peony" as "Penny". Penny has survived in the end because it is painful to write a story of a real child who has just passed on in a real disaster.
I believe that Peony and her deceased friends and the 2 teachers would most probably want their families and friends to overcome their grief and sadness. So my parting words in the story is to - live well.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-07/australian-climber-describes-rescue-from-mt-kinabalu-quake/6527618
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/sabah-quake-anxious-parents-await-return-tanjong-katong-
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/07/Tributes-for-guide-who-gave-his-all-for-climbers/
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/sabah-quake-update-8/1898114.html
“Uncle Robbi, Uncle Robbi. Please don’t die,” Penny pleaded in between tears, this time her small hand clutching his big hand tightly instead.
Robbi flashed his toothy signature grin once more. “Penny, don’t be sad. Promise me, you will live well, okay?” Robbi spoke laboriously with shallow breaths. With that, he closed his eyes for good. Uncle Robbi left for eternity.
"Uncle Robbi? Uncle Robbi?" Penny was devastated at the loss of her newfound friend. Silent tears gushed down like a broken dam. Instead of rushing down the mountain to seek medical help, he had sacrificed himself for a mere acquaintance like herself. His willingness to risk life and limb for others touched her deeply. She vowed never to let Uncle Robbi down. To learn always to lay down her life for others, just like him.
As the ambulance raced towards the nearest hospital, Penny whispered softly, “Live well, I will, Uncle Robbi. Live well, I will.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This story is written in honour of the mountain guides who have perished at Mount Kinabalu in order to let others live. It is also to remember the precious children and teachers who have passed on. It is very hard for me to write this as I feel the agony that the parents are feeling.
I have renamed "Peony" as "Penny". Penny has survived in the end because it is painful to write a story of a real child who has just passed on in a real disaster.
I believe that Peony and her deceased friends and the 2 teachers would most probably want their families and friends to overcome their grief and sadness. So my parting words in the story is to - live well.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-07/australian-climber-describes-rescue-from-mt-kinabalu-quake/6527618
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/sabah-quake-anxious-parents-await-return-tanjong-katong-
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/06/07/Tributes-for-guide-who-gave-his-all-for-climbers/
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/sabah-quake-update-8/1898114.html
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