New Journeys to the West
Dulwich College Beijing , Foo , Nathaniel - 11
There was once a time when humanity had hope . There was once a time where , under a peaceful and democratic society , humanity thrived and grew . But at the peak of mankind ' s power , out came the evil ones with greed to match . The governments and ruthless dictators that would exploit a planet with limited resources . If our ancestors had just been a little smarter , we would not have been in this mess . As of the year 2170 , China is all but a dead country , desolate and deserted , except for a few pockets of life in the major cities . More than a century ago , most of Eastern China fell victim to the unrelenting rising sea levels . In the year 2048 , the government relocated to Chongqing , which was swiftly destroyed a year later in a week-long exchange of tactical nuclear missiles with the North American Federation and the European Bloc . In a desperate bid for peace , the Pacific alliance sold the vast majority of the shattered remnants of a once-lively country to the power-hungry Australasian Empire . Decades ago , the capital of Xi ' an , along with the city of Chengdu and the underwater metropolis New Beijing were obliterated after a war with the Korean Confederation , throwing a desperate country into chaos . Only India remained , an oasis of peace and order through troubled times , and more than a thousand miles to the west , a last hope for humanity . Meanwhile , war after war crippled the rest of the globe . Although India had sealed off its borders half a decade ago , many a Chinese migrant had sought to spend the rest of their somewhat miserable lives there . I started my journey years ago , in New Chengdu . The sky was pitch-black and the wind howled as I walked . I trudged down the seemingly endless streets , and stared at the towering skyscrapers that buried what used to be nature , ravaged after a century of relentless construction . Although it was past midnight , the bustling cityscape teemed with life . The cool , although polluted breeze embraced me as I walked . Around the corner , a familiar , neon-green E-taxi awaited me . " I can take you as far as New Kunming ," a voice called out from two large speakers . I grimaced in frustration , but I knew that was the best deal I was going to get . The more porous parts of the wall were located just south of New Kunming City , and the Indian military had set up an 80-mile radius around the border , and any trespassers were to be shot on sight . In other words , not an easy way out . The Great Partition Line lies 86 miles south of New Kunming city , a thin , fragile wall that lies between turmoil and freedom . I had been walking for countless hours until I caught sight of it . Many had told me the Great Partition Line bore a resemblance to the Great Wall of China . They had no idea how far from the truth that was . It was a 20-metre tall concrete fortress , spanning the entire border . Monstrous guard towers rose from the bulk of the wall , bristling with automatic machine guns and tripod-mounted pulse carbines . Hundreds of armed guard robots littered the base of the wall . The only way in was through the security checkpoints . Unfortunately , India was only open to who they found useful . I wondered what that category included . Certainly not myself . I gazed longingly over the colossal fortification , and I knew what to do . Suddenly , a cry rang out from one of the other checkpoints : a migrant had been caught attempting to sneak past ! In the midst of the melee and excitement , I watched calmly as a guard left his post and discreetly ducked under the gate , and fled . For miles , I did not look back . The world seemed to shake as I ran . I could vaguely hear the faint cries of the soldiers as they readied their weapons . Bullets streaked past and narrowly missed me . I kept moving . After what seemed like days later , and still unsure if I was being followed or not , I stopped to rest . I pulled out my portable locator . For a minute , my eyesight wavered , but when it returned , I realised I was in the middle of the desert . For a moment , I stared at the silvery haze the pollution had created flush out the life from the plants . I then realized that this world was already doomed to die out . We might as well let it , I thought . I quickly shook out that thought . Suddenly , an E-truck whizzed past me , leaving a trail of dust behind , and came to a halt just in front of me . I strode up to the window . " What do you want ?" asked the driver . " A lift , please ," I said