A Single Pebble
by John Hersey
Nomination: National Book Finalist 1957
Date Read: August 25, 2022
A young American engineer is sent to China to assess the possibility of building a dam somewhere along the Yangtze River to improve farm irrigation and to make the journey upriver safer and faster. Although we never learn the name of our narrator, he spends considerable time preparing for his journey by learning the language and customs of his host country.
Upon arrival, the actual sights, sounds and smells of the junk upon the river are nothing like what he expected. Our engineer is shocked that the Chinese men operating the junk seem complacent, with no real drive to arrive or succeed or progress beyond their means. This is in direct opposition to the entire mission of our narrator, who is exclusively focused on the engineering project for which he was sent and which he hopes will establish his career.
One worker on the junk particularly stands out to him, a leader by the name of Old Pebble. This is a man who knows the river backwards and forwards. He is able to lead the other trackers through harrowing waters and, perhaps more remarkably, enjoys a job well-done, friends with which he can share and a good burial when his time has come. Before the journey is out, Old Pebble’s time does come.
Old Big is the owner of the junk and he is often seen playing a game with stones with his wife, Su-Ling (Mancala?). Su-Ling is much younger than her husband and also seems to have affection for Old Pebble, which Old Big is vaguely aware of. Su-Ling is kindhearted and helps Engineer through a week’s long illness and takes the time to explain locations and folklore along their journey.
In one gorge of no particular note, having believed the most harrowing part of the journey is behind them, Engineer watches as Old Pebble slips on a path higher up the mountain and is seen hanging by his harness. The only option afforded him is to cut him down, which will mean certain death in the river. Engineer is incredulous that this is the only option. During the chaos of determining what to do, Old Big also disappears and no one knows where.
Like a bad omen, Old Pebble is indeed cut down and drowns in the river. After several days of absence, Old Big returns to find his entire crew at a banquet at the inn where Engineer is staying. Once he has cleaned himself up and is on dry land, he realizes he has made a mistake in inviting his junk-mates to this more upscale inn. He sees them through new eyes – a rag-tag of men and women, unkempt and in dirty clothing. One more lesson learned for our fair explorer.
Unfortunately, the trip up the Yangtze was to be the beginning and end of his career. He submitted his report and the powers that be determined his proposal of a dam was so absurd, that the author himself was deemed an impractical man.
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