Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 176

A Tale of Old Shanghai
Glenealy School, Leung, Charlie – 10
T
akashi sighed angrily as he tugged at his rough army uniform. He had joined the army to distract him from
his father’s death and to take revenge on those responsible if he could. Instead of distracting him, it only
made him think about his father more. His father had been a soldier in the Japanese army who died when they had
invaded China. He was the nimblest, fastest, and smartest soldier they had. They decided he would now be a spy
for Japan and he would use his father’s most prized and secret possessions, magic potions, to get into China.
“Thinking about how to murder the Chinese?’’ asked a burly, heavily muscled boy named Hiroshi. Takashi didn’t
reply.
“Takashi! Don’t you want world domination and freedom?” roared Hiroshi.
“No, I don’t.” rasped Takashi. Hiroshi noticed the steel in his voice and realised he wanted to be alone. So he left,
gently closing the door on his way out. Takashi felt heartbroken about his father’s death, and realised that he still
wanted revenge.
Early the next day, Takashi and the Colonels discussed how he could get into Shanghai without being seen by the
security guards outside the defensive wall. First, he would use his father’s potions to transform into an eagle to fly
into the city, then swallow an invisibility potion and sneak into the Chinese army headquarters. After that he
would steal their war plans so they could be defeated! That’s if Takashi ever got that far.
That night, Takashi tossed and turned, tomorrow’s adventure frightened him deeply. He couldn’t sleep. When he
heard the ring of a bell, he sat upright as if jolted from a nightmare. He quickly got dressed and rushed down to
breakfast. After a filling meal of egg rolls and pork, Takashi felt more refreshed and took off his uniform to put on
comfortable black clothes to help him blend in with the shadows. He was ready.
He ran to the front yard of the army training facility and he sipped three drops of the bittersweet shapeshifting
potion, imagining what he wanted to be. An eagle! He flew with force and determination, and soared over the
defensive wall, ready to see a city full of bandits. But there wasn’t any there. Instead with his sharp eyesight he
could see a busy and beautiful city, the streets filled with rich and pretty women dashing around. The smell of
spices was thick in the air, and Takashi had never seen anything as stunning as this before. Tears sprang in his eyes,
and he realised he didn’t have to do this even with the whole of Japan’s hopes resting on his shoulders. Whoosh! A
sudden gust of wind knocked him spiralling into the city as he lost control and as he started spinning towards the
ground he lost consciousness.
When he finally woke up, he found himself in a dark, dim alley. He tried to fly to the army headquarters but he
was still woozy from his fall. A few minutes later, Takashi felt stronger. So he lifted his wings and flew up. Soon,
he arrived in the Chinese army headquarters. Suddenly, heavy net traps were flung at him, and he was forced to
change back knocking his head and passing out. Takashi woke to the sound of someone laughing.
“Well, well, well. Who do we have here? sneered a rugged Chinese sergeant “Another arrogant Japanese boy
hoping to save Japan? I’m quite impressed though, none have ever made it this far before.”
Takashi knew his mission was over and was just about to surrender when he realised it didn’t have to end this way.
He spoke in a calm and clear voice about how they could finally come to peace.
Takashi’s words softened the sergeant’s twisted and ice cold heart and soon enough, the sergeant began to see that
Takashi’s plan could work.