The mayor of Baotong made a raspy sound, his best approximation of a growl. Would no one let him sleep? He opened his eyes in irritation. The thunder had come back even louder this time he thought, and the light was so bright the glare penetrated his curtains. He needed new blinds, he decided.
Rising with a grunt, he went to the window to see what he could see.
The first thing to catch his eye was a bright flare in the sky. As it faded into the distance the thunder subsided as well, leading him to swiftly deduce that they came from the same source. Odd, but hardly important. He looked down to watch the peasants work in the field, a sight that always cheered him up.
Finally, he realized something was terribly wrong. No peasants worked the growing crops. No crops grew. Where just last nig
