Return to the Motherland

     Oh! That was a Pere David’s deer, strong and grand with beautiful and spectacular antlers, holding its head high and watching the rising sun.

    The Pere David’s deer world is located off the shore of the Yellow Sea, the original location of the ancient Yun-meng Lakes. We have been there three times to search for the lost and regained beauty, for its abundant historical implications, and for its special scientific value.
    Late on a night in early May 2000, with flowers in blossom and sea wind blowing, we arrived at Dafeng National-level Pere David’s Deer Nature Reserve.
    With a chirp of morning birds, it brightened in the east with the first rays of the morning sun shining while the stars were still blinking quietly.
    Throstles, mynahs, white-headed bulbuls and the like, raised their voices singing in chorus.
    Ground vapor was floating swiftly from the marsh.
    We hid in the bushes, scouting the situation on the marsh. From afar there were rows of poplars and robinia. The grasses were knee high. Of all the grasses,      pennisetums and cogongrasses had the densest concentration. The high pennisetums had wide leaves, with glittering dews gathering on the tips of their leaves.
    The fresh smell of grasses and the fragrance of flowers were blending in the air.
    The abhorrent mosquitoes were stinging us continuously, which made us hard to guard against, forcing us to cover our heads with clothes.
    I nudged Ms. Li, reminding her to watch the changes at the ten o’clock direction: the grasses looked unusual; something blur was moving.
    The sky was all bright, with rays of morning sunshine shooting into the sky.
    Oh! That was a Pere David’s deer, strong and grand with beautiful and spectacular antlers, holding its head high and watching the rising sun.
    The red sun quickly jumped out of the sea, and the sunshine prevailed over the whole world!
    Suddenly, the deer began to send off golden light standing there like a statue.
    The deer leant backwards. With a long bark, it rose from the ground.
    A herd of deer sprang from the grass instantaneously, dashing after the buck.
    The hooves of the deer struck on the ground sounding like thunder or ten thousand drums being played together.
    The handsome male deer ran so fast in the grass as if flying, leaving a white mist beside them. It looked as if they were riding on a cloud.
    The herd ran towards the sun vastly and mightily.