00:00The winter of 1962 was exceptionally harsh in the small village of Zoj, nestled high up in the mountains of western China.
00:07The biting wind howled through the village, rattling the windows of the villagers' homes and whipping the snow into frenzied dances.
00:15The people of Zoj huddled around their fires, seeking solace from the relentless cold.
00:21But even the warmth of the fire couldn't melt the fear that had frozen in their hearts.
00:26For many days, a terrifying sound had been echoing through the mountains.
00:32A sound that chilled them to the bone and made their blood run cold.
00:37A rumble, a growl, a scream that seemed to shake the very foundations of their world.
00:43They called it the roar of the beast.
00:47At first, it had been a distant, infrequent occurrence.
00:51A rumble in the distance that they could easily dismiss.
00:54But now it was closer, more frequent, and it sent shivers down their spines.
01:01One evening, as the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the snow-covered rooftops, the roar came again.
01:08It was closer this time, and the villagers could feel the ground tremble beneath their feet.
01:14As they huddled together, whispering in hushed tones, an old woman spoke up.
01:18Her name was Yanna, and she was known for her wisdom and her knowledge of the mountain's secret.
01:23The roar you hear, she began, her voice trembling slightly.
01:27It is not the sound of a beast.
01:29It is the sound of the mountain itself.
01:31The mountain is angry!
01:33The villagers looked at each other, their eyes wide with fear and confusion.
01:38They had always considered themselves to be in harmony with the mountain.
01:41They lived in its embrace, drawing strength from its slopes and sustenance from its bounty.
01:47But if the mountain was angry, what had they done to deserve its wrath?
01:52Yanna, sensing their fear, continued,
01:55The mountain is angry because its heart is cold.
01:59The glaciers in its chest are melting, and its tears freeze on its face, forming a mask of ice.
02:05She pointed to the peak of the mountain, where a glistening white peak seemed to pierce the very heavens.
02:11There, on the highest peak, lies the heart of the mountain.
02:16It is said that as long as it remains frozen, the mountain will remain dormant.
02:21But if it does, the mountain will weep, and its tears will bring great sorrow.
02:27The villagers gasped.
02:28They had heard tales of the mountain's icy heart, a legend passed down from their ancestors.
02:33But they had always dismissed it as just that, a story to keep the young ones in line.
02:39Now, however, faced with the fury of the mountain and the wisdom of the old woman, they began to believe.
02:47Days turned into weeks, and the roar of the mountain grew louder and more frequent.
02:52The villagers, guided by Yanna, decided to make a pilgrimage to the base of the mountain to plead for mercy.
02:59As they trekked through the knee-deep snow, the ground began to tremble beneath them, and the roar of the mountain shook the air around them.
03:07Fear tightened its grip on their hearts, and some turned back, unable to go on.
03:12But Yanna, with a determined look on her face, continued on, knowing that the fate of her village rested on her shoulder.
03:20When they finally reached the base of the mountain, they were met with a sight that took their breath away.
03:24At the foot of the mountain, hidden amongst the snow, an ice, was a small cave.
03:30And from within the cave, they could hear the sound of running water.
03:34Hope surged through them.
03:36Perhaps Yanna was right.
03:37Perhaps the mountain was crying, and perhaps they could help alleviate its pain.
03:43With renewed determination, they followed the sound of running water and discovered a frozen stream.
03:49The ice was thick, and at first they thought it would be impossible to break.
03:53But then they remembered the stories of their ancestors, stories of how the mountain's heart could be thawed with acts of great love and sacrifice.
04:02And so, with all their might, they began to chip away at the ice.
04:07There are hammers ringing out like the tolling of a bell.
04:10As the ice gave way and the stream began to flow, they felt the temperature around them begin to rise.
04:16The sun seemed to shine a little brighter, and the wind, which had been howling like a wounded beast, died down to a gentle breeze.
04:26When they looked up, they saw that the once angry peak now glistened in the sunlight,
04:31and the glaciers that had been its icy tears were now sparkling diamonds against the blue sky.
