Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 1-2 | Page 507

A Race to India The Independent Schools Foundation Academy, Schrantz, James - 10 To: [email protected] From: Xuanzang Re: WHO Formula D ear Wu Lao Shi, I am going to India to pick up a formula for a cure to a new, menacing disease that is killing thousands of innocent citizens in China. The WHO has requested that I retrieve the formula in person, since piracy is a concern in China. I will travel past the border by train and foot. I cannot tell anyone about my journey, as rivals are trying to steal the formula and sell it for profit. I dearly hope to succeed because my journey will save millions of lives. I am traveling alone, so that I do not attract unwanted attention. But, this journey frightens me, and I would very much appreciate a traveling companion. I will keep in contact with you by regular emails, but you must not reply. My Iphone 9 has been installed with a program from the WHO, which is supposed to show that my phone is still in China, so that nobody can track me. Unfortunately, the program only works on my phone.  Okay, I must leave now. Just remember, never reply to my emails! Sincerely, Xuan Zang To: [email protected] From: Xuanzang Re: Stopped at the border Dear Wu Lao Shi, Today I got stopped at the border. They said that my visa was expired, which made me flip out. As the border guards tried to wrestle me out of immigration, a man walked up and said, “I’m sorry, this is my brother. I’m sure that his visa was renewed last month. You must check it again, please.” One of the border guards snatched my passport out of my hands and stared at it in astonishment. “But…It just…” he muttered. The mysterious man said, ”Thank you kind sir, but we must go now.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me past the border guards. The last I heard was “You forgot your passport!” The man dragged me over to a cafe and said, “My name is Sun Wu Kong. The government has requested that I accompany you on your journey, yet they have not told me who you are or the purpose of your journey.” I replied, “My name is Xuan Zang. We must talk somewhere, more private , but first let’s get going.” After explaining my journey and my destination, he told me that he was some kind of magician, a trickster, who was somewhat like Loki, which is pretty cool. He got my passport back with a sneaky sleight of hand. Wu Kong is a tall, lanky man, with big ears and leathery hands, which make a sleight of hand look like monkey play. Sun Wu Kong and I rushed to board the train just in time. Sincerely, Xuan Zang