Li Long was even more worried than they were that something would happen to the man who had rushed down. He raced toward the riverbank, shouting as he ran:
"Don't go into the river! Use a rope! Pull him out with a rope, don't go in!"
The flood had come rushing down without warning. The current was powerful, carrying plenty of wood, grass roots, stones, and other debris. Anyone who went in without enough strength would soon be knocked unconscious by the debris, and then they would be left to fend for themselves.
Some of Meng Hai's group heard him and hurried to the Small Four-Wheel Tractor to find a rope. Others ran alongside the man in the water, looking for a suitable spot to rescue him.
Ma Xiaoyan ran along with them, but she was a little slow. The riverbank was uneven, too, with some stretches difficult to walk on, so she fell behind.
When Li Long reached her, he thrust his rifle into her hands, then grabbed her arm and hauled her uphill.
"Don't get close! The water's still rising. Don't get swept in yourself!"
With that, Li Long rushed off in long strides.
The Type 56 Semi-Automatic Rifle weighed three or four kilograms. Ma Xiaoyan felt her hands sink under the weight, and then she was lifted to higher ground.
Then, in a blur, Li Long was already far away. He was incredibly fast, already past Meng Hai and the others and running level with the man tumbling among the waves and debris.
Ma Xiaoyan had a keen nose for news. She immediately thrust the rifle into the hands of a villager who had just caught up and said, "Hold on to this! Head for higher ground!"
Then she raised her camera and chased after them again.