Abnormality

Chapter 3

The day progressed in its unusual nature. My eyes were drawn to the boy and his shy nature, as if he was afraid of the world-or me.

Finally, after many minutes, Batbayar finally spoke. He asked Nergüi, "Dad, you promised we would go ride the horses!" His tone was very whiny, as if he had been looking forward to it all year. His eyes widened and his lips pouted, making the ultimate puppy dog face. His father seemed sympathetic at first, but then replied, "I'd like to spend time with my friends, Baatar, why don't you ask somebody else?"

This sentence made my heart skip a beat. Or several. I caught myself feeling my heart to make sure it was still beating. Batbayar had the exact same nickname as me. Is this a coincidence?

Nergüi then added, "Why don't you go with Bayani?" Startled, I nodded my head saying I could go with him. I needed to investigate this strange connection privately.

Passing a group of men assembling the round yurts, a round nomadic home native to the steppes of Mongolia, we walk towards the horses.

I pick my favorite horse, named Yalagdashgüi, meaning unbeatable. Something about this horse made me feel at home. Was this my horse? When Batbayar and I were just about to leave, two more children came to us asking if they could join.

These two children and Batbayar combined made my heart race faster than an airplane. They all seemed so familiar. Why couldn't I remember? Why was I having the same feeling seeing them that I had when I dreamed last night?

We invite the two other children along. One is very thin and around 4 feet 9 inches. He seemed around eleven to twelve years old. His hair was, like Batbayar's, as dark as the night sky without the stars and the moon. His eyes were an astonishingly multicolored hazel. He introduced himself as Khadagan. The other was also very thin but much shorter, probably around 4 feet tall. His hair, like the others was very dark and his eyes were Amber. He introduced himself as Bulaqadar.

We set off into the beautiful scenery, looking at the deep blue sky with not a single cloud in sight. We started at the massive mountains and hills, as green can be but without a single tree. For the first time ever, I felt home.

While we were riding, I had time to think. I wondered if these kids thought something was off too. I wondered if maybe they knew more than I did. Just being with them made me tear in the eye, blurring the beautiful scenery.

We pass by the beautiful lake that I always go to. It is as clear as glass and the color of the water reminds me of the pure, light blue in the Caribbean. We all get off our horses simultaneously and tie them to posts. We all go and sit on the edge of the lake without even saying a word about it. It almost seemed like a tradition, a habit. What did this mean?

I put my feet in the water. It was the perfect temperature for swimming. After a very long silence, I ask, "Who wants to go swimming?" The little boys' eyes light up. Almost on command, they all jump in. Usually, I put on a fake smile, hiding all the sadness and confusion in my life. But that day, I am proud to say I had a real smile on my face. We must've been in the lake for about two hours. Laughing, smiling playing. The two smaller ones even caught some fish for dinner. They even made me be a judge in a "who does the best flip into the lake" contest. After those two hours, it felt like we've known each other our whole lives. The sun was starting to set, the beautiful colors of the Mongolian sunset reflecting on the water, making the lake a homemade light show. We decided we should probably head back. Batbayar asked, "How about we have a race back?" Everybody agreed. Everybody, including myself, was eager to win. We all got on our horses and took off. About halfway there, I heard a piercing screech. As I look back, Batbayar's horse is freaking out, running frantically. More importantly, Batbayar was not on the horse. I yelled for Bulaqadar and Khadagan. Only Khadagan heard and turned around to see what the commotion was about. Bulaqadar will soon get back and think he has won. I hope he gets worried and comes back because we may need help. I get off of my horse and yell for Batbayar. "BATBAYAR?" I screamed, "WHERE ARE YOU?" Khadagan and I frantically ran, searching for the fragile little boy. The sound of Batbayar's name being screamed echoes for 10 minutes. Then I hear my name. "BAYANI," Khadagan shouts, "COME HERE NOW!" I rush over towards Khadagan's voice, faster than I've ever run before. The sight astonished me. Batbayar was spazzing violently on the ground. "I think he's having a seizure," I tell Khadagan, "We need help. NOW!" Many screams for help echo through the vast and open steppe of Mongolia. Nobody could hear us. It's at least another ten minutes back to the camp. What do we do? My heart is beating faster than when I first saw Batbayar. All of a sudden, the spazzing stopped. But something else started. I could've sworn his coloring was changing. His beautiful, tan skin was changing. At this point Khadagan and I were freaking out. We yell for help one last time. When we turn back around, I almost pass out. Batbayar, once full of life, lays lifelessly on the ground. Not just that, but he has turned a shade of blue. Is he dead? What happened? A million questions ran through my head. I had to stop myself and say, "We need to get him to a hospital!" I hope we can get him to a hospital in time. We are not in Ulaanbaatar with hospitals and health care. We are in the steppe, separated from the rest of society.

"We'd need a car to get him to a hospital." Khadagan tells me. I nod my head in agreement. We're both on the brink of tears. "Our first priority is getting him back to camp. We need to hurry." I exclaim. I get on my horse and put the limp young boy on my lap. Khadagan speeds away first, much faster, warning that we need help and that Batbayar is in trouble. I then try to get to the camp as fast as possible, leaving behind his horse, which was not my main priority at the moment. I hold on to both the horse and Batbayar, trying to keep his head still. We get back to the camp and I jump off, carrying Batbayar, sprinting to a car. "WE NEED TO GET TO A HOSPITAL NOW!" I yell. Nergüi pushes through the crowd to see his limp, blue son. With tears in his eyes, he gets in the car and lays him down in the back seat. He then motions for me and Khadagan to come as well, as his witnesses. We then race off in the old van, in a speed limit not allowed in the city. But here in the steppes, there are no speed limits.