Chapter 4: A Hard Journey

The next morning, Han Sangmu arranged four off-road vehicles to deliver the Sino-US archaeological team from Urumqi to Qiemo County.

After a day of rest, the Chinese and American archaeological team made all preparations to enter the thousand-mile yellow sand to find the ancient city of Qiemo: guides, food, water, tents, and even camels.

...

‘Takramakan’ is the largest desert in China, with an area of ​​up to 330,000 square kilometers. The sun is scorching and sandstorms all year round. In Uyghur, it means ‘you can go in, you can’t get out’.

Although the name is a bit terrifying, it is indeed a true portrayal of the situation in the "Takramakan" desert: uninhabited thousands of miles, with few oasis and water sources, and the natural environment is extremely harsh. If you do not have sufficient preparation and experienced guides, you will really be "can go in and cannot get out"!

At this moment, it was still early in the morning, and the edge of the desert was already hot, and the thick yellow sand was so hot that it could almost boil eggs.

Four members of the Chinese and American archaeological teams, one guide, and four armed police officers, a total of thirteen. This is the entire lineup of this archaeological expedition.

At this moment, everyone is doing the final preparations on the edge of the desert.

Ouyang Xuan squatted down, tightened his leather boots, and carefully fastened his shoelaces.

Perhaps many friends who have never entered the desert will be very strange: the desert is hot and still wearing leather boots, isn't it hot? But truly experienced desert travelers will tell you: the surface of the desert is either rolling heat or extremely cold, and your exposed feet will definitely not withstand such cruel tests. Once you are sunburned, frostbite, or worn by sand, in a desert with no medical treatment, it often means you lose your ability to walk, and then you are not far from death.

After checking the leather boots to ensure that quicksand does not flow into the cracks of the shoes and hurts their feet. Ouyang Xuan stood up and put on a sun hat and sunglasses, and applied a thick layer of sunscreen to his exposed skin.

The sun in the desert is too vicious, Ouyang Xuan must make sure that his skin will not be damaged. Otherwise, unless it is a god, no one can withstand the torture of injuries.

A few minutes later, everything was ready, Ouyang Xuan looked around the others and was ready.

The local guide Yerhan is a kind old man with a big beard, strong and smiling, and waved his hand: "Everyone, bless God, we can come back safely this time."

The group immediately got on the camel and rode swaying towards the depths of the desert.

"Oh, my dear desert, I, George Bell, are here to conquer you." George sat on the tall camel, looking very excited.

Ouyang Xuan was also riding a camel, and happened to be by his side, and smiled and said, "What, George, is this your first time entering the desert?"

"Yes, the first time, I praise God. My friend, look, the desert is so magnificent and boundless. Standing on the desert, I feel like I have become smaller, but my heart has become vast. I think this archaeological expedition will definitely leave a beautiful and magnificent mark in my life." George looked very longing.

Ouyang Xuan was a little funny: "I said George, don't think about things so well, wait. If you still have such a good mood tomorrow, then I will congratulate you."

George was a little confused: "Zhang, why, I don't understand what you mean?"

Ouyang Xuan said meaningfully: "George, my friend, you only see the beautiful side of the desert now, but you will soon learn the tyrannical side of the desert. I hope you can hold on by then."

George was stunned for a moment, pulled out the cool sunglasses at the corner of his eyes and smiled, "Haha, there is no difficulty that can scare us Americans, my friend, don't scare me."

"I'll say George," Michael said, with a sarcastic tone: "The desert is indeed very scary. You idiot, you don't know anything about it. You will be complaining later."

"Tsk, you two bad guys are trying to hit me, I'm too lazy to pay attention to you, so I'd better go and chat with Laura. "George slapped the camel's big butt hard, and the camel roared, and ran forward.

"Zhang, it seems that this is not the first time you have entered the desert?" Michael saw George slipping away, and he talked to Ouyang Xuan.

"Yes, I've been here before, but I've been walking around the edge, unlike this time I might have to travel thousands of miles." Ouyang Xuan was also a little scared. The desert is not a good place to travel.

"Friends, don't worry, as long as you get the temper of the desert, it is still quite cute. I have been to many deserts, the Middle East, South America, and the Sahara in North America, praising God. Although I have encountered many dangers, I am still alive." Michael said with a smile.

"Oh?" Ouyang Xuan's eyes lit up and he smiled, "I haven't been to so many places. Can you tell me any interesting news?"

"Okay, no problem." Michael was as talkative as ordinary Americans, and seemed to be happy to show off his adventures to Ouyang Xuan, and he talked endlessly.

From the climate characteristics of each desert to the customs and habits of each desert nation, as well as many historical monuments, Michael's knowledge is really profound, eloquent, and vivid, which makes Ouyang Xuan feel immersive for a while.

Fortunately, there was someone to accompany me, and the morning of the first desert was not difficult and it passed quickly.

However, Ouyang Xuan drank a small pot of water in one breath. The desert was too hot and sweating too fast, and constantly replenishing water became the most effective way to regulate body temperature.

Suddenly, the guide Yerhan looked up at the sky and shouted: "It's too hot. It's easy to get heatstroke when you are on the road at noon, so let's rest on the spot. I'll teach you to dig a temporary resting place."

Everyone was so hot, especially the three ladies in the team felt shaky, and they could only walk off the camel with the help of men.

Yerhan took a small shovel from the camel and began to dig on the thick sand. While digging, he explained: "The temperature in the desert is too high at noon. If you hurry, it will not only cause life danger if you are in danger of heatstroke, but it will also evaporate a large amount of water in your body and waste your precious fresh water. Therefore, digging a temporary resting place is the best choice.

Dig down the rest room about eighty or ninety centimeters, enough for you to lie alone. Although the sand temperature on the surface of the desert is quite high, the sand layer below is still very cool. Sometimes, the temperature in the sand pit will be even twenty to thirty degrees lower than outside, which is very comfortable."

The sand was soft and in just two or three minutes, Yerhan dug a large sand pit. He took a small bag from the camel, took out a large piece of fabric and spread it at the bottom of the sand pit, explaining: "Although the sand at the bottom of the sand pit is cooler, it is recommended that you lay something, and it will be troublesome if you get worn by the sand."

Next, Yerhan took out a piece of fabric and spread it on the surface of the sand pit. He covered the four corners with sand and stomped it. A thin layer of sand was sprinkled on it, explaining: "This is to reflect the light from the sun and keep the sand pit cool. Of course, don't forget to leave an entrance and exit for yourself. In addition, if you want to get better results, you can also build another roof and use sand to fix it at the four corners."

As he said that, Yerhan made another demonstration. It took only five minutes to build a simple double-ceiling restroom.

"Oh, it's so amazing, it's so cool. You Chinese really have a way." Mrs. Smith got in curiously and tried it, appreciating the effect of summer escape.

"Okay, everyone can do this. Let's take a break for two hours, eat something, and then continue on the road." The simple Yerhan said a little proudly.

It was a very simple way. Everyone hurriedly took the tools and began to build their own restroom as they were. Mrs. Smith, who was freely aware of Chinese in the United States, was responsible for the guidance.

In a while, under the scorching sun, more than a dozen resting rooms were completed. Of course, the resting rooms of several ladies were served by men.

Everyone tied up their camels and rushed into their restrooms to avoid the hot sunlight outside.

Although Ouyang Xuan has supernatural powers to protect himself and has strong immunity to the heat, the vicious ultraviolet rays are a great test for Ouyang Xuan's skin. In addition, he is thirsty, so he also took some food and water and quickly got into the resting place.

Sure enough, as soon as he entered the resting room, the temperature suddenly became cooler. The moist sand layer below made the temperature in the resting room at least ten degrees lower than outside. Ouyang Xuan quickly filled his stomach, and then squinted his eyes and began to accumulate energy.

Soon, the sun was slightly westward, the temperature was not so high, and the restroom was obviously cooler.

At this time, the bearded Yerhan crawled out of the rest room and shouted: "We are all out, we are on the way, otherwise we will be in trouble if we can't get to the campsite tonight."

When Ouyang Xuan and everyone heard the call, they climbed into the restroom and quickly packed up the fabric for next time.

Then, the people who were energetic stepped onto the camels and followed Yerhan to the depths of the desert.

At this time, somehow, George became interested in Li Ying, ran over happily, and asked, "hi, a beautiful Chinese girl."

Li Ying nodded politely and smiled: "Hello George, you are in good spirits."

"Haha, you Chinese guides are really good. The restroom we taught us to build has helped us recover a lot of our energy." George was also very talkative.

"Yes, Uncle Yerhan is the best living map in Qiemo County. He has been in the desert with his grandfather since he was a child." Li Ying nodded.

"Well, it's a great person." George suddenly changed the topic: "Ying, have you been to the United States?"

"No, I just graduated not long ago. This is the third time I went out for archaeology with my father. It is even the first time I entered the desert." Li Ying seemed a little shy.

"Oh, that's a pity. As an archaeologist, you should go around the world for more walks." George was very experienced and authentic.

At this time, Michael, who was standing beside him, cursing his lips and said sarcastically: "I said, George, it seems that you have been graduating from school for less than two years, and there are not many places to go, and you are so embarrassed to say that you are a Chinese girl."

"Hahaha..." Ouyang Xuan, who was beside him, couldn't help laughing.

George also turned red and fought back: "I know you've been to many places, okay. I'd better chat with Laura. She's not as mean as you." As he said that, he patted the camel's butt and slipped away again.

Li Ying couldn't believe it and laughed: "George is really an interesting person."

Michael shrugged and smiled, "Yes, he has always been the pistachio in our team. With him, the atmosphere will never be dull."

Everyone was talking and laughing slowly and began to walk deep into the desert.

...

I don’t know how long I left, just as everyone was dizzy in the sun and was suddenly yelling in front of me: “Hey, friends, come and see, what did I find?”

Ouyang Xuan raised his head and saw George riding a camel yelling among the mounds of more than a dozen people, his face full of excitement.

Ouyang Xuan hadn't understood what was going on when he came over, suddenly Yerhan's face changed drastically and he shouted: "Hey, that American, come back soon, come back soon."

"What, I don't understand?" George couldn't understand Yerhan's words.

Mrs. Smith understood what Yerhan meant and shouted: "George, you're crazy, come back soon, there's a nest of red 'gold ants'."

Sure enough, more than a dozen large mounds seemed to be angered by George's screams. Countless red ants suddenly gushed out from countless entrances and rushed towards George with murderous intent.

Ouyang Xuan suddenly realized: What is the most terrifying thing in the desert? It is not a poisonous snake, a scorpion, or a wolf pack, it is just this red "gold-eating ants". These ants gathered hundreds of millions of times and made a living by eating meat. Not to mention gnawing on people, even steel can bite through it, hence the name "gold-eating ants". Once the huge ant colony is set out to find food, no grass will grow wherever it passes. No matter what kind of beast it is, as long as it is caught, it will be gnawed into a skeleton within a few minutes, and no one will be spared.

Poor George was immediately scared and slapped the camel wildly, and shouted: "Oh, God, my dear, go quickly, go quickly!"

He stomped on many red ants as he fled back to his team.

The large number of "gold-eating ants" refused to give up, and instantly gathered into a huge red carpet and rushed towards Ouyang Xuan and his group, obviously having a strong desire to use Ouyang Xuan and others as temporary meals.

Yerhan shouted: "Escape quickly, be caught up, and you will be gnawed into a skeleton within a few minutes." The camel turned around and fled to the north first.

Everyone was panicked and dared not stay. They slapped the camels and ran away like a gust of wind.

He ran for several miles in one breath, chased Yu and threw away the terrible red "gold-eating ant". Everyone stopped the camel and kicked the heavy breath frantically. The hot sweat on his forehead flowed down like a waterfall.

"My God, finally lost his face." Mrs. Smith kept drawing crosses in front of her, looking like she was still scared on her face.

Michael stared at the poor George viciously and shouted: "I said George, do you want to kill us all? Why do you provoke that terrible 'gold ants'!"

"Yes," even Laura, who had always been gentle, came over, looking scared as if she was 'lost', and said gritting her teeth: "George, you always get into trouble, and this time you almost killed us."

"I'm sorry, I, I don't know that it was the nest of the 'gold ants'." George saw that he was angry with the public, and he looked like a child was shrunk.

"Okay, kids, don't blame him anymore, he doesn't know either. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to borrow his courage." Professor Li was more sensible and came up to help George clear the siege.

"Thank you Professor Li." George looked grateful and wanted to hug Professor Li and kiss him.

"Hmph." Michael and Laura couldn't say anything, so they glared at George, then slapped the camel, far away from George, as if they were hiding from the plague god.

Mrs. Smith also frowned and said, "George, don't run around, you almost died just now."

"Yes, the leader." George lowered his head and said pitifully.

"Haha, friend." Ouyang Xuan patted George on the shoulder and squeezed his eyes and said, "Is it true that the desert is powerful this time?"
To be continued...