The Treasure of Khara Baatar (1st Place)

The howling wind carved intricate grooves into the shifting sand, as Gansükh plodded along atop his camel. The intense heat bore down on him. He held a map in the ancient language of the Mongols, and examined the inscriptions written by Khara Baatar Janjin himself.

“The treasure must be here. They say his spirit guards the riches. But where? This looks like where Khara-Hot was. The rocky outcrops match perfectly.”

Gansükh dismounted. He untied a satchel full of digging tools, and they fell to the sand with a clattered thud. The hot wind seared his cracking skin, as he set up a small canvas tent to escape the swelter. He tied the camel to a withered tree trunk which provided paltry shade. He lay inside the tent, examining his bandage from his last digging attempt, where a pick ax met his shin.

The sand beneath the tent swirled like a whirlpool, and Gansükh dove outside. The hungry vortex swallowed the canvas and stakes, and halted. A shining blue sapphire lay where the tent had been. Gansükh grinned. He tested the sand with his foot and cradled the gem in his palm.

Suddenly, the winds erupted throwing sand everywhere. He attempted to take cover, but the only shelter was the restless camel and the old tree. Rough-hewn stone walls formed around him.

A hearty laugh echoed through the walls. “You want my treasure? You may have it Mongol, as much as you want. My daughter’s sacrifice was to save me, and hide my treasure forever.” The sand whittled away, and Gansükh’s eyes widened at the hoard of treasure sparkling before him.

“Black magic,” He whispered.

“But know this, the city of the dead will forever hold its treasure. Enjoy your short stay here, as you have found your tomb.”


300 words
Flash Story Must contain: Bandage, Rough, Blue


Further reference: Khara Baatar Janjin was an actual ruler of a fortress in the middle of the Gobi desert. His black magic was rumored to have withered most plant life as he fled from the Chinese army. His daughter remained as the only resident of Khara-Hot after a ruse was pulled off to trick the Chinese. She hid the treasure down a deep well, and she was executed. Black magic was said to cover the entire city in sand to hide the treasure, and make it the "City of the Dead" forever.

http://www.edgarcayce.org/_ancientmysteriestemp/kara-hot.html