Hu Erbing loved to sleep. Because every time he slept, he dreamed of his old dog. In the dream, the old dog w…
Hu Erbing loved to sleep. Because every time he slept, he dreamed of his old dog.
In the dream, the old dog would hobble towards him, nuzzle affectionately into his arms, its sturdy tail thumping against his leg. So strange—people shouldn't feel pain in dreams, yet Hu Erbing always felt his calf stinging from those tail thumps. He couldn't bear to scold the dog, only endlessly ruffled its head.
In the dream, he and the old dog had a home, right there in Karez. They even packed dry rations and went adventuring in the desert together. One man, one dog, just like at the very beginning.
Good dreams always end. Hu Erbing would look at the never-setting warm sun of Hexi, his heart always feeling hollow.
But Hu Erbing's hands never stopped. Lighting the naan oven, kneading dough, boiling syrup—another day of hard, weary work.
Chewing on freshly baked naan, watching children crowd around eating walnut brittle, his eyes crinkled with joy.
He rubbed his sore shoulders, content.
Tonight, he would surely sleep deeper, more soundly.
The old dog must still be waiting for him in the dream, Hu Erbing thought happily.