I quickly scanned the stuffy basement and tried to assess the best escape route. I didn’t have time to feel the terror of claustrophobia that grips my mind when I’m underground. It appeared that the only way out was back through the trapdoor. The Chinese folks were huddled together assuaging each other’s nerves and didn’t seem in any hurry to move. It was our chance to climb the wooden stairs unimpeded and head for the street above. In survival mode, I pulled Claudette to her feet and we climbed up the steps in single file. Above ground Chinatown was in full throttle pandemonium. The sidewalks and streets were covered in debris as rows and rows of buildings had crumbled face down. Standing at an intersection we noticed the same catastrophic view in all four directions. Frightened people scurried past amid the dust and destruction as Claudette and I huddled to devise a plan.
“Paulette, the fire is coming and it’s going to wipe out everything in its path, let’s try heading towards the water.”
Without waiting for a response Claudette took off down the road trying to side step obstacles of glass, rubble and ruptures. I trusted my sister’s keen radar sense as we began maneuvering away from the central point of chaos. As we scurried along in our long woolen skirts and pointed boots, I pondered what were we doing in a ravaged Chinatown circa 1906. I asked myself, did we disappear into another dimension when “our” earthquake hit? Were we experiencing some kind of paranormal time traveling adventure? Whatever the case, I was sorry we ended up in such a ghastly time frame. Too bad it wasn’t SF in the 60’s, at least we could listen to some radical music. I started humming. “And if you go chasing rabbits, And you know you’re going to fall.” Obviously I was feeling mad as a hatter and lost in a flight of ideas.
Just as I started to hum another verse my sister yanked me out of my fugue state. “Hey, look behind you.” I turned around and saw a small group of beleaguered people following in our footsteps. Two were quietly conversing in Mandarin and the rest were speaking English. When we halted abruptly they stopped too. Claudette commanded attention. “I realize you’re following us and we don’t mind, there is safety in numbers. Unfortunately, it’s like the blind leading the blind. I’m not sure what road to take to avoid the coming fires.” All but two of the stragglers looked at each other in confusion.
Claudette didn’t know how to explain what was happening to us or to them. “Most of this city burned, um, I mean is going to burn to the ground friends so if any of you know the quickest route to the water, speak up.”
A Chinese man in a dark gray jacket stepped forward and addressed my sister and I in English. “Ah, my wife and I were standing on the curb outside the produce market before the quake hit, we were right behind you in 2011. I do understand what you are saying about the fires. I’m Li and this is my wife, Jia.” Li and Jia Chen.”
“I’m Paulette and this is my sister Claudette.” We nodded at each other and I addressed both Chens. “I’m glad my sister and I aren’t the only ones lost in the wrong time zone.”
Jia stood shyly at Li’s side and didn’t say a word. He twisted his long goatee and eyed us carefully before speaking. “In Chinese culture twins are considered good luck, even girl twins.” Claudette and I smiled for the first time in what seemed like a century. He cleared his throat to speak again, but changed the subject. “I wish to tell you about my grandfather, Peng, who lived through the 1906 earthquake and fires.”
The six people who’d tagged along behind us were mumbling amongst themselves. Obviously they didn’t understand why Li spoke in the past tense, it was still 1906 to them. They showed their discomfort by keeping a silent distance. I understood their reticence to join the discussion, but insisted they pay attention. “We should all listen to him, he may be able to help us.”
Li politely nodded at them and turned his attention back to us. “As a child grandfather told me many stories about how the earth dragon had awakened early one April morning and consumed his beloved Chinatown. He and his family lost everything, except their lives.”
Claudette waved her hand and gestured at the scope of ruin before us. “I’d like to say it’s a hard scenario to imagine but here we are in the thick of it.”
Li continued talking in an urgent tone. “Long after the earthquake and in the latter portion of his life grandfather lived with our family. I remember he often picked me up after school and we took circuitous routes home through Chinatown. He talked endlessly about his earthquake survival strategies. His abject fear of earthquakes and its devilish companion, fire, never left him. Once he told me about a secret passageway, a place to go if the earth dragon ever returned.”
We looked at Li and Jia then spoke in unison. “Do you know a way out of here?
Claudette looked at them beseechingly. “Maybe we’ll even find a way back home too, real home.” The four of us eyed each other again and wordlessly agreed. In a matter of minutes our conversation had led to a shift in power. Claudette had abdicated her post as troop leader and Li moved to the head of the line.
Thankfully, our little pod of survivors starting moving again with Li and Jia guiding the group. As we crept along cracked roadways strewn with human wreckage, Li continued his story. “My grandfather said the fires came fast and unexpectedly. He and his family had been scavenging through the ruins in search of food, clothing, blankets, or anything to aid with survival. The quake had hit early that day but the morning sky was quickly obscured by dark smoke. They thought it was dust, but soon they could see red flames swirling menacingly closer to Chinatown. Grandfather explained that the water mains had broken so there was no water to put out the fires.” Li stopped talking and stood very still. "The bay is downhill and dead ahead. OK, follow me. Walk slowly, and choose your steps wisely.”
As we inched along Li kept looking for something, a sign, or a recognizable landmark. I searched along with him although I had no clue what it was he sought. Jia followed at a close distance and never uttered a sound.
We stopped at an intersection while Li got his bearings. “Do you know where we are?” I thought he might be lost.
He tossed his long braid over his shoulder and it fell down his backside. “Yes, this is the correct way. I’ve been down this road many times in my mind.”
I turned around to check on the rest of the group and found that the four of us were alone. The six followers had disappeared. I pulled on Claudette’s jacket to get her attention. “Sis, they’re gone. The other people aren’t behind us anymore.”
Claudette shook her head. “I don’t know what happened to them, they were behind us few minutes ago. Maybe they thought we were dangerous, all that talk about 2011. I don’t blame them as I don’t feel quite all here myself.”
I shook my head. “Claudette, there has to be an explanation, this can’t be real. Funny thing, I have the strangest feeling that we’re being watched. Isn’t that odd?”
She looked at me suspiciously. “What? Now you’re scaring me.”
I heard the sound of clapping hands. Li and Jia were signaling for us to join them. Li was standing in front of an old brick building which was surprisingly intact and he was grinning. Above a big red door emblazoned with one black Chinese symbol was a name, "Shanghai." Before I had time to think, Li held the door open and pushed us inside. “Hurry, we must move along.”
The heavy door closed behind me and I stood still in pitch blackness. I could sense the space around me was narrow. Claudette gently grabbed my hand and I felt we were being tugged down a hallway. She could sense my panic rising just by listening to my breath. She called out to Li and Jia, “Wait a minute.” I heard something tear and then felt her tie a soft blindfold over my eyes. “Paulette, you know this helps with the claustrophobia. I’ll get you through this but your job is to breathe.”
The passageway became quite cold and I felt mist on my face.
Quite suddenly the floor started moving and I fell forward, loosing my sister’s grip. A loud roaring noise filled the dark space. I yelled out. “Claudette, where are you?”
