No one knows whether this collapse was man-made or a natural disaster. The survivors are racing against ti, using whatever they can find. While digging, they call out, and hearing responses from inside instantly boosts everyone’s morale.
However, the further west they go, the deeper the train cars are buried. At first, those dug out could crawl through gaps to get out, but eventually, as they dug, the soil above kept flowing downward. As more soil accumulated, the diggers beca exhausted.
Although the situation inside is unknown, the iron skin of the train should at least prevent imdiate loss of life, but the thinner air and dwindling food will inevitably take their toll over ti.
Given the current situation, even if they wait for rescue, it won’t be until at least tomorrow.
Either the rear train detects their plight, or the train fails to arrive on ti, triggering an alarm. Regardless, those buried face more danger than they do.
They dug until about three or four in the morning, completely worn out, and finally stopped to rest at the side.
Those with food ate to replenish themselves; those without drank water. Despite this, no one dared to waste any, as no one knew how long they would endure this.
At six in the morning, after discussing with the survivors, the train crew decided to first dig a way out, at least allowing those alive to escape. After all, they were too exhausted to deal with the rear train cars. If they kept digging below, and the top continued caving in, they might end up being buried themselves.
They gathered about 120 to 200 people, taking turns to dig outwards, but the distance, initially thought to be close, only grew more daunting as they dug.
They reached the tunnel entrance, yet the soil outside was far more than they had imagined. By 8 a.m., they were still digging. No one knew what the situation was outside or if rescue was on its way.
If it was so difficult on the east, the west was unimaginable. They attempted to dig a passage from various directions such as the train cars and the periphery, but the loose soil made rescue exceptionally challenging. A newly dug hole would soon collapse for lack of support.
By then, at least eight hours had passed since the collapse.
When Ye Huan was thirsty, she would moisten her throat with a watering can from space or nibble on a piece of fruit, which quenched her thirst and filled her stomach.
She took turns looking after the elderly, pregnant won, and children, offering them her food unconditionally whenever she noticed soone in need.
After all, in the pitch-black darkness, she could see them, but they couldn’t see her—her disappearing acts went unnoticed.
From night to day, and from day to night, she thought they might get out before the rescue arrived.
No one expected this side to collapse after holding out for a day, catching everyone off guard.
A pile of dirt struck her hard, and then the world went black. Her consciousness dimd because it happened too quickly for her to retreat into space.
She thought she might et her end in this life but had not expected a chance for survival.
While semi-conscious, it seed soone was patting her face. Then she felt the weight lifted off her body, as if held by soone.
She struggled to open her eyes and seed to see a grey military uniform worn by the Eight Route Army. Was she seeing things? Had help really arrived?
...
When Ye Huan woke up again, she found herself leaning against a corner of a military truck, draped in an army coat. The people in the truck were covered in dust, so awake, so unconscious. The truck was drafty and particularly cold. She curled up into a ball, trying to see what was happening outside, but she couldn’t move, surrounded as she was.
In the end, they were transferred by the army to a hospital in Hubei Yichang, and the collapsed section lay within Tujia territory.
She rested in the hospital for three days before being allowed to discharge. The local governnt even bought them hard-seat train tickets; after boarding, she switched to a sleeper.
About the specifics of the collapse, she didn’t know, and no one nearby offered any information. The injured had been transferred to different locations.
But she could well imagine the difficulties of the rescue.
Once on the sleeper, she fished out a chest badge embroidered with the regint number from her pocket, having no idea how it ended up with her, but she knew it was the people from that regint who saved her.
Five days later, after traveling over a thousand kiloters, she finally returned to her long-awaited ho on the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.
When the Ye Family learned that Ye Huan had been in that buried train car and got rescued, their faces showed a deep sense of gratefulness for having survived such an ordeal.
"Our Huanhuan indeed has great fortune. I hear more than 300 people died. This daughter of ours, didn’t even inform us of her return. We never connected you to the accident. Who would have thought you were buried under it? Oh, dear heavens, thank you for your protection,"
More than 300 people died?
"How did you find out?"
"The village chief goes to the township to attend etings every week. It was written in the newspapers he brings back. Your Third Brother read it during his studies."
Back in those days, information was scarce, and the only way to stay grounded was through reading, newspapers, and listening to the radio. The weekly etings with the village chief beca the best learning opportunity. The chief and the literate party secretary would listen, then return to educate the villagers, ensuring everyone stayed inford about higher-up policies.
The incident had now been ten days past, and information had gradually surfaced.
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