Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020 | Page 28

Fiction – Group 2
lightly at his glasses …
Sasha stretches one arm as if to reach Martin. Her scream is not heard. The whole
environment seems to have quietened and things seem to be moving in slow motion. In a
matter of seconds, sounds of clink, crack, clink, crack appear, followed by a major vibration as
if there is an Earthquake. A loud explosion. The thick glass tank shatters and water rushes out
like a tsunami. The Great White Shark and the Star of Africa very quickly disappear into the
sea below.
Meanwhile, the high technology floating train comes to an emergency stop. At the same
time, it automatically triggers an alarm to the marine police. Train marshals gather at the tips
of train compartments, before and after the wrecked glass tank compartment.
In a matter of minutes, two rescue helicopters hover over the train. With no time to
waste, a marshal points at a direction toward the sea and is seen tapping to the temple of his
glasses, presumably communicating with the helicopters. A few marine police can be seen
jumping from helicopters into the sea.
Minds are racing. It is not known if the anxieties are about the largest great white shark
in the world, the largest diamond in the world, the most famous influencers in the world or
the culprit that causes the whole ruckus.
It has been thirty minutes since the start of the whole saga. The helicopters are flying
further and higher in an effort to continue the search and rescue operation. A few lifeboats
with marine police dressed in dive gears are onboard, scattered around in a general direction.
‘Right there, right there…’ Everyone’s eyes dart toward the sound of the scream. It is
Sasha. Fingers are crossed, prayers are said.
From a near distance, two marine police are hauling an unconscious Martin onto the
lifeboat.
The floating train continues toward Macau.
There are all kinds of stories that evolved from the incident. Some are real, while others
aren’t. During the police investigation, Martin reveals that he didn’t mean to cause injury or
death of anyone. In a plea, he says, he did what he did only to pay for his mother’s medical
costs. Martin is sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter.
The world mourns the loss of Sasha. 15 million candles were posted on Instagram at the
same time, breaking a world record.
The great white shark swims its way to freedom and the ‘Star of Africa’ is lost forever.
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