Eugene Burdicks wrote a book...
Illustration
Eugene Burdicks wrote a book entitled The 480, which was the story of Thatch, a young American engineer, assigned for four years to India to construct a bridge across the river that separated India from Pakistan. The two countries were tense and on edge, on the verge of war. And when he almost had the bridge completed there were already thousands and thousands of refugees on both sides who were kin to each other, who wanted to cross and mix once again as one. But a stray plane from Pakistan was shot down by the Indian Air Force artillery. It created a real panic and a terrible crisis. The U.N. sent in representatives. Reporters came from all over the world; they stood tense, waiting. Any minute war could begin. Politicians in both countries hoped war would occur. Pakistan sent troops to the edge of the bridge, on the banks of the river. So did India. There they stood entrenched with their machine guns loaded, ready to start war. Seeing the thousands who wanted to be joined together, Thatch, the young engineer, risked his life. He told his driver to crank up a bulldozer and pick up the keystone girder and drive out in the middle of the bridge. While standing on it, holding onto the chain and directing him, he lowered that keystone girder into place and the bridge was connected. The peopIe began to move behind him and cross and mingle. I hope at this advent season, you and I will build a highway in the wilderness.
