一辆旅游大巴进入山区

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?201011

First Reaction at a Narrow Escaped Disaster

Wang Zhaogui

The tourist bus winded its way into a mountainous area. When it was about to make a turn two passengers?a couple of young lovers?were so attracted by the beautiful scenery that they called for a halt to get down. They were left behind and the bus went on. As they were admiring the landscape they heard a loud boom ahead the road. It was a huge rock rolling down in a landslide hit the bus and fell with it into a deep valley. The lovers were greatly struck by the news that no passengers on board survived. When they calmed down they sighed and expressed their feelings in a few words.

The above story was told by a woman guide when were riding a tourist bus to a scenic mountain. She left us in a mysterious suspense and asked us to guess what the lovers said immediately after the catastrophe that they had narrowly escaped.

Often we read reports about traffic accidents, among which there were lucky ones who missed the bus and avoided the disaster. Those people usually uttered a sigh of relief. ?Fortunately I was not on board.?

On our bus passengers? response to the guide were various, all possible guesses were given.

But the answer was quite out of our expectation.

If we hadn?t got down1 and delayed the bus, it would have passed the dangerous spot and all the passengers would have been saved.?

The story passed from person to person as a sort of wit test, but I think otherwise. It actually serves as an examination of a person?s mind. I pay my heartfelt respect to the couple of lovers who, instead of feeling lucky for their narrow escape, blamed themselves for causing the loss of lives inadvertently. People all have a heart for mercy, but it is often a flashing thought across one?s mind that decides whether it is good or evil.