Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 218

“At least we tried,” Scimmia said quietly.
Piggy nodded. “The journey was actually kind of fun, you know. Scimmia, you’re not too bad. It’s kind of
fun arguing with you. I’ll miss it,” he admitted. “You know, we should all stay friends after the journey.”
“I think this journey changed us. It made us wiser and stronger. Even if we fail, I won’t regret this.” Monje
said thoughtfully.
*****
The night passed, and morning came quickly. After waking, the travellers immediately went to the Palace to
hear the King’s reply.
They were surprised to find a whole line of people already waiting outside.
“Why are they lining up?” Piggy asked one of the guards.
“To list all the people who are missing. They’re just dreaming. The missing people will never come back.
They’re dead,” the guard replied bitterly.
The group said nothing. There was nothing to say. Silently, they let the guard escort them to the King.
They found him in the throne room. He held the Peace Treaty with trembling hands. “You were right,” he
said. “This morning, I remembered what you said. I remembered the past - of how wonderful Westopia
was, of how peaceful my realm had been.” Quietly, he laughed. “And then I looked out the window, and
saw a line of people coming to give me a list of the dead. I saw a dark sky, and dark faces. You are right.
The war is damaging us. It’s making us evil.”
He handed the Peace Treaty back to the group.
It was signed.
*****
The travellers returned to the Tang Dynasty, and gave the Peace Treaty, now signed, to the Tang King.
They each received their rewards, along with money, and other treasures.
The travellers had returned late at night. Almost immediately, they went to sleep.
The next morning, when Scimmia woke up, her room was bright. She peered out of the window, and
saw … a blue sky and a sun.
It had been years since she had seen a blue sky. All of the nuclear battles in World War Three had made the
sky grey and dull. Darkness had blanketed the world, like a black cloud that refused to leave.
Yet, here it was, back again. A blue sky. A sun.
Outside, there was laughter.
There were faces filled with smiles.
There were tears, but a different kind - tears of joy.
Words were spoken. Words that were lovely. Words that healed the wounds that had been made.
Love and hope filled the air.
The Journey to Peace had finally ended.