Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 354

Christopher Columbus and the Battle of the Yacumama
St. Paul's Convent School (secondary section), Chong, Chloe - 13
T
hree lone ships were sailing on the open sea, and aboard one a middle-aged man, sunlight reflecting
off his semi-white hair.
"Are you even sure that this, 'Canaan on earth', really exists?" Christopher frowned at the childlike
figure perched precariously on the prow.
Finn looked back at him, exasperation evident in his scrunched features. "Just trust me,” grumbled the elf.
"I've foreseen that you would succeed, boy. I'm three times older than you, just so you know,"
Christopher scowled at him. He had persuaded a couple of merchants, but even that took a lot of hard work
and money. "It better exist, or else-"
"Well, I'll be stumped." He turned. Juan De la Cosa smirked at him, cigar in mouth, a mess of greasy hair
framing his round face. He was fat for one in his early thirties, but he was cunning and sailed ships like
nobody's business. "The infamous sea-merchant, would stoop so low ter attack a lad?"
Christopher rolled his eyes.
"Besides, why are we trusting 'is laddie, ter go on a journey ter the west anyway?" challenged the Captain.
"Maybe he's one of 'em blast’d pirates, leadin' us towards 'em lairs,"
"Or he could be telling the truth that could lead us to great riches,"countered Christopher.
“‘Yeh trust 'is midget?"
"I'll be kind this time, Master De la Cosa, and not take offence," clipped Finn, blue eyes flashing. "You
insult me again, I shall take you to the pirates, and laugh as they disembowel you,"
"'Ow frightenin'." The Captain laughed. "I know all pirate routes,"
Finn snorted.
"Finn," warned Christopher. He didn't want the three ships that he spent a fortune on hijacked.
"I'd watch my tongue, Master Finn," said a boy as he sauntered up front. His long, curly brown hair was
tucked under a red bandanna tied pirate-style around his head. He wore nothing but loose breeches and a
vest. "Master Columbus," He greeted, swinging a wooden stick around, watching it spin with boyish
delight.
Christopher gave him a small smile. Edon was his servant, but he, as man and wolf, feared none, a survivor
and a savage predator fused into one body. But he could not transform for more than one day. More than
that, he'd lose his humanity.
"The lob hombre looks more like a pirate than I do,"
The shapeshifter looked mournfully at the stick, which clattered to the ground at Finn's words. "Stop calling
me that," He pinched Finn's cheeks and picked him up, dangling him as they bickered. Then Edon dropped
Finn, vexed by his stubbornness. He scrambled up the rigging instead, deciding to make himself comfortable
in the crow's nest as a lookout.
*******************
After three turns of an hourglass, blue skies clouded over, and grey storm clouds churned above. Waves
battered relentlessly against the hull. Rain pelted the crew, icy droplets chilling their skin. Fierce wind
clawed at their sails, as if trying to tear the ship apart.