Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 4-7 2019 | Page 119

The food onboard begins to tell on my tired body, everything smells rancid and has an overbearing amount of salt for
preservation. My grumbling stomach, as the food is so meagre, made me sometimes wonder if I would return as a
skeleton. The rice is undercooked, and everything
seemed to be in some form of a soup of which the liquid part was cold and exceptionally salty. How I hanker for some
of my moms home cooked food. For many keeping food down has become an occupational hazard as the rough seas
of-late are enough to give anyone indigestion and the feeling of nausea. Changing conditions from baking hot days to
freezing nights are also playing havoc with my body. It is like having sunburn on the long days, and frostbites during the
equally long nights. Getting used to doing our private business over the side of the ship was embarrassing but at least not
as bad as the stench from the unwashed garments and body odors which I have never smelt the like of before.
From my perspective, I am relatively unaffected by the poor conditions we were faced with on board. I believe I am
tolerant to most sicknesses and pursue my daily tasks with energy that I wouldn’t make a good patient, unlike my
bunkmates who visit the sick room every few days. I guess truth be told I am more of a realist than a dreamer. I forge
ahead hoping to better my prospects. One day my life will be changed.
Today was not a pleasant one, we lost a valuable crew member who fell from the topsail as the captain tried to navigate
the rough seas. He was straight overboard, a rather large man who would make a tasty dinner for the sharks. Our efforts
to save him were in vain as Captain Zheng seemed not to care for the life of one able seaman. At one point, I really
thought mutiny was inevitable. Although it seemed to be averted but my feeling was that the crew could turn any day
as the atmosphere was tense. Apart from anything else, seeing Captain Zheng and his trusted officers living the high life
whilst we suffer below deck was too much for any man to bear.
Third Entry — Summer, Mid June, 1408
“A storm within the ship”
My diary entries are getting scarce, this is mainly due to the monotony of life on board this ship. Apart from hitting
some rough weather, I have one important aspect of this trip to tell which will never leave my soul. With the cargo
being so valuable, at least if rumors are to be believed, two days ago my life changed and changed somewhat for the
better. I had overheard a dozen or more rebellious crewmen plotting to steal the weapons stored above, taking over the
ship and plundering the gold. Upon hearing this plot, I deliberated for some time as to whether to inform the captain
and his officers or follow the crews. Pride and annoyance came about inside me before thinking and logic took over. I
decided for the former, formulating the plan to join the upper deck and officers. Not so much by betraying my crew-
mates, but more for my desire to better myself and to fulfill my future ambitions. My education would not go to waste.
Upon receiving my news, the captain sent officers around the armory finding two men hiding behind the wooden
barrels. They were immediately arrested and spat out the whole plot fairly rapidly. All the ringleaders were named and
rounded up. Undoubtedly with the proof of malice and intent, Captain Zheng would make an example of these
ringleaders which would ensure no more rebellions would take place for the rest of this trip. After being soaked in dead
men’s blood, blindfolded and forced to walk the plank, a flurry of sharks appeared from nowhere to enjoy their dinner.