"The ground is shaking!" Tong had felt the tremors first since his bed was in the floor of the alcove.
"What?"
The trembling of the earth was more obvious this time. Small rocks were dislodged from the rough ceiling. Screaming and shouting men were heard from outside.
"Let's go, Tong! Now is the time!"
"Wait! Ava!" Tong scrambled to the wall of the cave.
"I'll gather the others!" Li uttered disgustedly.
"Ava!" he shouted against the hole. "Can you hear me?"
Ava did not answer him but he could hear her voice. She was screaming. The babies were crying.
"No! No! Not my babies! Nooo!"
The babies stopped bawling suddenly. There was a momentary silence.
"My babies! My babies!"
Tong could imagine what happened by the crunching sounds. He was ready to puke!
The quake resumed again.
