“What Pegman saw” is a weekly challenge based on Google Streetview. Using the location provided, you must write a piece of flash fiction of no more than 150 words. You can read the rules here. You can find today’s location on this page, from where you can also get the Inlinkz code. This week’s prompt is the Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar.
Uprising
The soldiers’ guns were loaded, and they had orders to shoot to kill. They patrolled the streets; we slipped through the night from shadow to shadow, through gardens and parks, behind hedges and shrubs, taking turns to carry our old, frail leader pick-a-back.
From the People’s Park we could see the stupa shimmering spectral gold.
“Quickly,” said our guide, ushering us into the tunnel that took us into the pagoda, “It will soon be dawn.”
As the sun’s fire rose blazing above the horizon, our leader struck the Tharrawaddy Min bell.
“My people – all my people – shall be free!”
The great bell sang, awakening resonances from the Maha Gandha bell. Across the city, thousands of bells were rung, spreading the word of resistance. A flame of sound raced over the countryside from end to end.
Aung San Suu Kyi slumped, her work at last complete.
Autumn Leaves 