Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 12 | Page 85

Fāng and Jacob chose a small table at the Teahouse next to Yu Garden.
“So... Where do you come from?”
“Master Colston’s mansion. I work for him. He sent me to future for you!”
“What!? My great-grandfather? He died a long time ago!” There were wild stories of time machines, but
that was crazy-talk. Fāng seemed to have read Jacob thoughts.
“Master Colston smart, he invent machine. He said family in danger, he taught me to use machine, and
schwa! I’m here!” Fāng pointed to the wooden box.
“The telescope?” Jacob pulled the telescope out and looked at it again. It sounded unrealistic.
Jacob took out his tablet. Click. He took a picture of Fāng gulping his tea while staring at Jacob with his
dark eyes.
“What you doing?” Fāng was perplexed.
“Taking a photo.” Jacob showed his tablet to Fāng.
“What’s that?” Fāng cried out; this was fancier than all that Master Colston ever invented!
“It’s, a modern gadget we use to type, read, and watch things. Here, wanna read today’s newspaper?”
Fāng took it enthusiastically. He tried to read it as a book, but frowned at his inability to do so.
Jacob laughed.
“Fāng! That’s not how to read it!” Jacob reached over and turned the tablet the right way around. He
changed the topic.
“So, you’re saying, you came from 1915, and somehow you ended up in 2015? And you were looking
for your young master in 1937?” Jacob frowned. “I can’t believe it.”
“I go back to 1937. I warn young master of Shanghai battle, the Japanese invasion, he needs take his
family to London. I go back now, I need telescope. You need helmet.”
Jacob suddenly realised, his grandfather Edward was stranded in the French Concession when Shanghai
fell.
“Wait! I have to help. Where do we go?”
A few hours later, Jacob and Fāng were ambling through the majestic Bridge of Nine Turnings of Yu
Garden. It was beautiful.
They needed to wait until the tourists left, and try the telescope at the Pavilion, where Master Colston
chose for time travel.
The hours ticked by, they grew anxious. Finally, the sun set and the guards left. Jacob and Fāng sneaked
to the Pavilion in the dark. Once there, Fāng emptied Jacob’s backpack and started to prepare for his long journey.
“Master, wear helmet, it keeps you here!” Jacob sighed and nodded. Fāng adjusted the telescope to
February 12th, 1937, he turned around and nodded at Jacob, “I go, Master.”
Jacob was unable to mutter a word. He gave Fāng a big hug. Fāng placed the telescope to his right eye.
He pushed two buttons alternately, carefully timing each pause.
Beaming, blue light leaked out of the telescope and grew ginormous, wrapping Fāng in a shining
cocoon. In a sudden flash, the light disappeared, leaving no trace behind.
Jacob woke up. He had a feeling he should have been rooting for someone, but whom? ‘It started with
someone who travelled in time... Jacob closed his eyes.