Shangri La
The excerpts of the following diary pages were found in the Kunlun Mountains. The pages were scattered across what looks like a campsite that may have been used by the diary’s writer. Some of the pages are missing and others look like they were used for kindling to start a fire.
Diary Entry #341: I found it! I found it! Shangri La is in the Kunlun Mountains. I am this much closer to living forever. There are two of the three guides who were hired to show me around the mountain range still with me. One is leaving as he thinks we will upset the gods of the lost city and be given immortal life only to be tortured.
Diary Entry #346: We have made our way into the outskirts of the city. We have come across a handful of creatures thought to be extinct. One of the guides left for fear of the unknown creatures from myths attacking us. I am not sure if he is just being paranoid.
Diary Entry #355: We are just outside the city walls now, I see people down there. My last guide isn't sure if he wants to follow me into the city. At this point I have to agree with him, but I have been waiting my whole life for this. The city seems to be dazzling with the misty rain falling. My eyes are either playing tricks on me or I actually see the end of a rainbow in the heart of the city.
Diary Entry #356: I am alone, on the way into the heart of the city; my guide took off. I am now walking through this magical city by my lonesome. All of the people I was watching from afar seem to have disappeared. I am not sure what to think of this, the city looked like it was bustling with life and looked like something out of a fairy tale. And now, with all that life vanishing from sight it almost seems like it has been deserted for centuries. The buildings look older than they first appeared, all made from what I believe is hand carved wood.
Diary Entry #357: I don’t remember what happened. I came to Shangri La, now I am locked up in a prison. Could I still be in the city, just locked in some dungeon? Nobody has come to talk to me, I am not sure if they plan to leave me here to die. Did I do something to threaten them?
Diary Entry #385: If my day count is correct, I have been locked up for 23 days. Still no word from anyone and I am sure they are leaving me here to die. No food left in my pack. I am almost out of the water I was carrying with me as well.
Diary Entry #386: Last night I was startled from my sleep. I think someone was watching me in my cell. A shadow moved away when I woke, I could also be going insane from lack of food and water that I am imagining it. I need to find away out of here, not going to survive much longer without food.
Diary Entry #387: I stayed up all night tonight; I was laying there hopefully looking like I was asleep. Waiting for the unknown person(s)? watching me while I slept. Not one person came, so either they knew I was awake or I am really going insane and my eyes were playing cruel tricks on me.
Diary Entry #388: Day 25 and I have officially run out of water. I can barely move and don’t expect to make it past the night. This could be one of my last entries and if this diary is ever found hopefully you can piece together what happened to me here.
Diary Entry #414: Shangri La in the myths always talks about immortal life, the fact that I am still alive a week with no food and water could mean I am still in the fabled city. Maybe I have immortal life while in the city? But I am still so very weak I am not sure if I had immortal life would I still be this weak?
Diary Entry #415: I woke up this morning to a gallon of water and some bread. Clearly I am not alone, but I just wonder why they waited this long to give me water and food? And why haven’t they showed themselves.
Diary Entry #416: The food and water have given me some strength back. Still weak but there was more water left again last night along with an apple. Assuming they still give me some food I could be back on my feet soon.
Diary Entry #417: Today there are clothes left for me, as well as a loaf of bread and some kind of jam. I wonder when they will show themselves to me. At this rate of them giving me bigger rations and much better rations as well as clothing they must not find me threatening.
Diary Entry #418: I am feeling much better, probably the best I have since I started the climb up the mountains. That jam was probably the best thing I have ever eaten. Not sure if that is because I haven’t had anything with flavour in the past month or it was really that good.
Diary Entry #419: My cage has been unlocked, I am free. But am I suppose to leave the city or introduce myself to them.
Diary Entry #429: I have waited in this cage for a week and they still bring me bread and water while I sleep. Tomorrow if nobody shows themselves I am leaving to venture into the city without their consent. I just hope that won’t be a mistake.
Diary Entry #430: As I leave the bars that have confined me a man approaches. He is tall and wearing a robe that a monk might wear. Long black hair tied into a pony tail almost looks funny next to his pale white skin. The nameless man brings me to a hut made with a straw roof and lots of hand carved wood furniture. It is uninhabited and says “Here is your new home and welcome to the city of Shangri La”
Diary Entry #431: My new friend leaves me to look around and I notice a letter on the small wood table. (The letter was stapled to this page)
Dear lost soul,
You have come looking for our lost city and found us. We wonder if you are here to stay or leave. We understand that you may have a family and friends that you may want to contact, but we cannot allow that. You have a pure heart and that is what kept you alive during your days locked up. It was a test that all must endure to become part of Shangri La. Only those with a pure heart can get eternal life while still in Shangri La. You may live our forever lives with us if you choose, but we cannot allow you inviting anyone into our city. To protect ourselves we will keep you here for 1 year as to create an alibi if you do choose to leave. Lost in the mountains for a year or so will make you sound crazy enough for others not to believe your story. Magical things happen in our city and we can keep the magic going outside the city if you were to ever get close again…..
The bottom of the letter had burn marks and was brittle to touch; we believe this was tossed into the fire just before we arrived.
Diary Entry #567: 6 months have passed and I have come no closer to a decision. I can stay and live life for eternity. Or I can go back and attempt to figure out a way to bring others to this place. I have made a few friends here but none that seem to enjoy living in this wonderful city for as long as they have.
Diary Entry #568: Could it be that living forever isn’t for me. Though I wanted it when I came here, I expected a little more. My days consist of hard labour preparing crops to grow or hunting the wild animals. Fetching water from the brook and cleaning my clothing downstream. That is all everyone does, nobody is different they all pull there own weight.
Diary Entry #569: I won’t have much time to write in my diary for the next month due to a hunting trip outside the walls that give us our eternal life. I know now that they leave for periods of time to bring down some great beasts in the mountain to feed us. I felt this strange feeling come over me the moment we left the city but it seems normal when all that live there leave. Could it be us aging again?
Diary Entry #570: The great beast we are stalking are gigantic, strong and travel in small herds. It is going to be tough to take one down let alone the whole herd as we are planning to do. Time is of the essence for us, I was told we are aging rapidly while out of the city. They do not know how fast you age, but I am told it varies person to person.
Diary Entry #571: Gorged by the horns of the beast, thrown over the cliffs or trampled by there giant legs are one of the fates waiting for us if the plan does not work. Picture a bull three times the normal size, with long straight hair walking on two legs. Massive arms like a gorilla could tear us limb from limb. How in the hell do they think they can take down a pack of seven of these creatures. Seven of these large beasts against fifteen of us with bows, arrows and spears as weapons. Here is me wishing I brought some new technology to these people.
Diary Entry #572: Tactics are key I am told, we have laid low long enough. Like the hunters of the Buffalo in the 19th century all the shots from the arrows must pierce the lungs as you would not have enough force to break the skull most of the time. Covered in mud, leaves and branches should get us close enough to spring our trap. I am told to stay back as it is my first hunt and only if needed will I attack.
Diary Entry #573: It was magnificent, pure poetry watching how the beasts were taken down. A half circle perimeter around the herd and we waited almost until the sun was almost down before we attacked. Split off into five groups, I watched as the arrows sprung forward. Knocking one of the beasts down fast as all three arrows fired pierced his lung. As the beasts scrambled in there confusion two more were taken down with well placed shots. Another two beasts rushed one of the groups and was put down with spears but they took one of our own. A total of six of the beasts fell with the final beast running away.
Diary Entry #580: Maybe less is more. Everything I can do in this city can be done out in the normal world. Could I lead a normal life? I could make a nice living myself, farming and making wine with the knowledge I have learned the past year. Tilling the fields all day and relaxing with friends in the evenings. The more I see of the life I will live here the more I want to get….
The rest of the entry above was cut off due to being burned in the fire.
Diary Entry #601: Time to make the big decision, I need to let them know by the end of the week. I am the last person to stumble upon Shangri La in 500 years. That means I have met everyone living here, and I may not see another new face again for 500 or so years. Also they do not know how much society and the rest of the world have changed. I may be able to escape and bring others back to this land. I miss certain aspects of life, small things really. Reading a novel in the park, sleeping in on weekends and flirting with a cute girl you just met. I can’t do anything like that while I live in this city.
Diary Entry #602: My plan is to leave this city. I have informed the council that watches over Shangri La. Once they leave me outside their walls I plan to never come back myself, but I do plan on showing others where it is. Hopefully my body lasts a few years outside of this city. If I do age faster then I may not have long left. But it is a trade worth taking. I am trading eternal life in the wonderful city that never changes for a small life in world that is always changing. It is freedom compared to Shangri La,
Diary Entry #603: On my out of Shangri La, leaving the city is easy. Finding my way back to civilization won’t be that easy. It will be a long hike down the mountains with only a little fruit and some water. I will set up a camp and my escorts will abandon me from that point on. I believe they may try to take my diary from me, or at least remove the pages about Shangri La. Here is hoping I get “home” again.
Colin Enquist
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