Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4 - 7 2018 | Page 3

The girl pointed to her face mask. “The air pollution is really bad today. It’s been like this for a couple days.
Are you new to the city?”
“I have been here before, but it is much changed. Do you live here?”
“Yeah, I’m actually on my way to work,” she answered, checking her watch. “We should probably start
walking. I don’t want to block the sidewalk.”
He noticed her rectangular bag, and her strange outfit. “Where do you work?” he queried as they began to
walk.
“I work with the All China Environment Federation. I try to solve issues like the air pollution in Beijing.”
“Are you able to?” he asked with a frown.
“Able to what?”
“Solve issues like air pollution.”
Her brows drew together as she contemplated his question. “I don’t know if we can solve all of these
problems completely, but what we’re doing is better than doing nothing.”
They stopped in front of a squat gray building. Before Xuanzang could thank the woman and leave, he
heard someone shout his name.
The front door of the building was thrown open, and when he saw the face in the doorway, he jumped.
Smiling at him was Sun Wukong, looking strangely human. The girl looked on in obvious confusion.
She turned towards Xuanzang. “Do you two know each other?”
“Yes, we travelled together not too long ago.”
Sun Wukong motioned for both of them to enter the building. His signature staff was now a much shorter
walking stick, but Xuanzang had no doubt it could be a weapon if needed.
“Xuanzang! It’s been too long!” Sun Wukong boomed.
He had to smile at how his friend remained unchanged. “I agree, friend. If I am being frank, this was the last
place I expected to find you. Even so, I am very glad to see you.”
“I imagine that you are very confused by what you’ve seen, but there is a reason we are here. This is my
assistant Li Meiwen. She will soon be leaving to collect data from other countries about the state of the
environment and how they are combating pollution. I was wondering if you would go as well.”
Xuanzang blinked. “Go where? Back to India?” He had spent so much time there, only having returned
two years ago. After he and Sun Wukong achieved Buddhahood, they had not talked much. It was not due
to ill will, rather that they were both busy and had little chance to interact.
“Yes, and another place. It will be a somewhere you have never been, so someone will meet you there. Li
Meiwen, you’re departing tomorrow afternoon. Feel free to take the rest of today off to prepare.”
She dipped her head and left, softly shutting the door behind her. As soon as she did, both men relaxed a
little. They were now able to speak more freely about the situation.
“What is this place? It looks nothing like Peking. Those strange carts are unlike anything I have seen, and
the air is filled with grit! Why are we here?” Xuanzang’s voice had risen in pitch and volume as he spoke,
the confusion of the day finally catching up with him.