Fire Stones - A Short Story on Tsunami

Fire Stones, is a short story written by Eoin Colfer. The story is set in the Nicobar islands, and the date is 26th Dec 2004, the day the killer tsunami waves struck. Fire Stones is one of the 16 short stories in a collection titled, Higher Ground.

Higher Ground Project was started on 16th Nov, 2005. The chief editor is Anuj Goyal, former director of Blue Peter. The project is aimed at bring to the world, the trauma of disaster that struck the world on 26th Dec 2004, through the eyes of children.

The project contains 16 stories by best selling children’s story authors; these stories are based on real life experiences. There is also a music CD, reading of the stories by famous personalities.

Fire Stone is the story of a 13 year old Nicobarese boy. He survived the killer waves, he was taken away from danger and rescued by a Shompenese boy. Shompens are the tribes who inhabit the dense Nicobar forests.

The Nicobari boy, was on the beach on the fateful day. He experienced the earthquake, and also saw the sea retreat – which is another feature before a tsunami; the sea retreats initially and then comes back with giant waves – he also saw the giant waves, crashing towards the shores.

The waves would have been 30 feet high, but instead of getting scared, the boy was amazed at its gigantic size, and wanted to stay on the beach, and see the huge wave crash on the shore.

That’s when the Shompen boy appears on the scene. He warns the Nocobari boy to run for his safety. The Nicobari boy does not heed to the advice of the young Shompen, and continues to watch the wave closing in. He had been advised by his elders to keep his distance from the Shompen tribesmen.

The rest of the story tells us how the young Shompen saves the life of the Nicobari boy. The story is titled Fire Stones, after the stones which the Shompen uses to light a fire to feed the Nicobari boy after saving him. The Shompen later gifts those stones to the Nicobari boy as token of his friendship.

The simple storyline, narration and the emotions of the characters are good. Looking forward to lay my hands on the book or an online version of the book.

The story Fire Stones can be accessed here.

Higher Ground Project’s official site can be accessed here.