Hu Erbing escaped from an earthquake. All he had with him was an old dog and a few remaining pieces of baked …
Hu Erbing escaped from an earthquake.
All he had with him was an old dog and a few remaining pieces of baked naan.
The old dog didn't understand what wandering meant. It only knew to walk with its master. Where the master was, there was home.
Crossing the sea of sand, the road was endless. Hu Erbing divided each piece of naan in two. Though man and dog weren't full, they were inseparable.
Until the pack was empty, and man and dog had walked a long way further.
Hu Erbing collapsed in the desert from thirst and hunger. In the end, he only saw the old dog anxiously pawing at him, then barking wildly and running off.
Go on, old friend. Remember to fill your belly...
Hu Erbing woke up in Karez.
The villagers said they had found an old dog suffering from heatstroke lying at the village entrance, tongue lolling, gasping for breath. Seeing people approach, it struggled to stand up, tugged at their pant legs trying to lead them into the desert, then wobbled and fell again. People followed the direction and found Hu Erbing unconscious in the desert.
Hu Erbing asked, where was the old dog?
The villagers were silent, leading Hu Erbing to a shaded shelter. Seeing Hu Erbing arrive, the old dog used its last bit of strength to lift its head, wagging its tail and panting.
That day, Hu Erbing talked to the old dog for a long time, until the old dog's tail gently drooped and moved no more.
Hu Erbing blamed himself. In the end, he hadn't even let the old dog leave on a full stomach.