Flames roared, carrying burned-out ashes into the night sky. Mingling with the sparks, they danced and twined around the brilliant white moon.
An unusual beauty unfolded before the crowd.
Yet none of them had the heart to appreciate it.
"Put out the fire! Put out the fire!"
The cries rang through the street.
The crank on the well turned without pause.
Basins and buckets were filled with clean water one after another, then emptied over the burning general store.
But it was a drop in the ocean.
The flames showed no sign of weakening. Instead, they grew fiercer.
To limit the damage, the townspeople had no choice but to prepare to knock down the walls adjoining either side of the general store, cutting off the fire's spread.
However, those two walls proved far sturdier and heavier than anyone had imagined.
"Get a few more people over here!"
"Hurry!"
"We can't let the fire spread!"
A middle-aged man who clearly commanded considerable respect shouted, and several strong young men immediately ran over, but...
It still did no good.
Even with everyone gritting their teeth and straining with all their might, the result was the same. The two walls seemed welded to the ground, refusing to budge.
"Leave these two walls alone! We'll knock down the walls of the houses behind them!"
The middle-aged man shouted.
After a moment's hesitation, everyone finally did as he said.
Destroying two perfectly intact houses was not something they wanted to do.
But they understood even more clearly that unless they did, the blaze would spread through the entire neighborhood.
The neighborhood they depended on for their livelihoods.
"Move!"
Just as the crowd had taken a couple of steps, a low shout rang out.
Then came a gust of wind.
Carrying the scorching heat of the